An Instructive Flow Chart for Optimising the Electrical Cable Sizing Design Procedure

Abstract

In this paper, the analysis is focused on the methodology of installation design and cable sizing assessment. Cable overheating leads to melting of the insulation, resulting in exposed conductors and short circuits or electric shock, and possibly fire. Therefore, reliable power network, supply and operation have gained an increasing importance for the modern world. Cabling in a system is the means by which the source of energy is distributed to load. The size of the cable is directly proportion to the size of the load. Selecting a small size cable for a load could lead to overload and a catastrophic failure. Hence the correct selection procedure for the cable is of critical importance for both functionality and safety. This paper is addressed to electrical installation design engineers, learners and programmers with an interest in the optimisation of the cabling design by following the Instructive Cable Sizing Flow Chart (ICSFC). The proposed ICSFC, attached in Appendix A in this article, is considered a phase-gate technique planned and designed to get better results with less effort. Due to the fact that every installation is different, this paper aims to show the major principles and decisions involved in cable sizing as well as giving a prescriptive step-by-step flow chart to do the job precisely.