Cable Size Calculation For LT & HT Motors

7/12/2019 Cable Size Calculation for LT & HT Motors | Electrical Technology
Electrical Design How To Motors Protection Troubleshooting
Cable Size Calculation for LT & HT

Motors
Electrical Technology 9  6 minutes read
How to calculate the Cable size for LT & HT Motors?

Selecting the right cable size for the motor is an important parameter
for the Industry whether it’s during Installation and Commissioning or
during running condition. It is a very important aspect for Safety, Cost
minimization and reduction of undesired losses. An undersized cable can
burn during motor operation causing risk to human life, machine,
infrastructure, loss of production and replacement cost.
Whereas an oversized conductor will incur unnecessary cost not only for
the long run cables but also for cable termination materials used along
with them i.e. lugs, glands, jointing kit (in case any fault occur in the
future) and oversized cable tray. The cost of labor for laying of higher size
cable will also be higher compared to respective lower size cable.
Considering all these vital points it’s important to make an proper cable
size calculation for our motor.
Must Read: How to Calculate the Cable Size for Different Loads
and Home Wiring (US & EU Solved Examples)
https://www.electricaltechnology.org/2017/07/cable-size-calculation-for-lt-ht-motors.html 1/14
Related Post: MV & HV Cable Termination to Equipment & Joints
Before we go in details, let’s clear the main difference between LT & HT

Motors.
What is the difference between LT and HT Motors?

Well, as the word LT (Low Tension i.e. Low Voltage) and HT (High
Tension i.e. High Voltage) or low torque and high torque respectively
describe the whole story itself.
its also depends on the availability of supply voltage,i.e. in USA and EU,
LT Motors ranges = 230V – 415V
HT Motors ranges = 3.3 kV, 6.6kV – 11kV
while keep in mind that LT motors need more current than HT motors.
in other regions, they classified LT Motor under 1kV & HT Motor Over
1kV.
Now we have to discuss the main topic that’s how to calculate the cable
size for motors?
Related Post: Cables Feeder Protection – Faults Types, Causes &

Differential Protection
Cable Size Calculation of 125 Kw LT Motor

Motor KW = 125
Pf = 0.8, Efficiency = 94%
System Voltage, V1 = 415
Cable length = 200 m
Load Current = P / (1.732 x V x Pf x Eff) —> (P = √3 x Vx I CosΦ =

for three phase circuits)
= 125000 / (1.732 x 415 x 0.8 x 0.94)
~ 230 A
This is the full load current cable needs to cater in Ideal condition. But in
practical situation, there are several derating factors which need to be
considered.
The current rating given for the cables is defined for ambient temp of 40*
C. If the ambient temp is greater than that, cable current carrying capacity
derates.
Suppose our cable is in Air laid on cable tray,
You may also read: What is Stepper Motor: Construction, Types and
Modes of Operation
Air Temperature
20° 25° 30° 35° 40° 45° 50° 55°
in Deg.
Normal
1.32 1.25 1.16 1.09 1.00 0.90 0.80 0.80
PVC
De-
HR
Rating 1.22 1.17 1.12 1.06 1.00 0.94 0.87 0.80
PVC
factors
XLPE 1.20 1.16 1.11 1.06 1.00 0.95 0.88 0.82
Rating factors related to variation in ambient air temperature
Temperature Correction Factor, K1 when cable is in the Air = 0.88 (for 50*
Amb temp & XLPE cable)
Grouping of cables also derates cable’s current carrying capacity. If many

cables are grouped together, they will all heat up. The heat won’t be able
to dissipate properly hence it will warm up the cable itself and those in its
contact. This will raise the temperature further. Hence we have to derate
the current carrying capacity of the cable according to the grouping factor.
Let’s go for worst case scenario, i.e. 3 trays parallel to each other having
9 cables each touching to each other.
No. of
No. of Cables per Rack No. of Cables per Rack
Racks
1 2 3 6 9 1 2 3 6 9
1 1.00 0.98 0.96 0.93 0.92 1.00 0.84 0.80 0.75 0.73
2 1.00 0.95 0.93 0.90 0.89 1.00 0.80 0.76 0.71 0.69
3 1.00 0.94 0.92 0.89 0.88 1.00 0.78 0.74 0.70 0.68
6 1.00 0.93 0.90 0.87 0.86 1.00 0.76 0.72 0.65 0.66
Table: Cable Grouping Factor (No of Tray Factor), K2 = 0.68 (for 3 trays having 9 cable
each)
Total derating factor = K1 x K2
= 0.88×0.68 = 0.5984
Let’s select 1.1 KV, 3 core, 240 Sq.mm, Aluminum, XLPE, Armored cable
for single run
Click to enlarge the table
Technical Details For 1.1 KV, 3 Core, Aluminum/Copper Conductor, XLPE

Insulated, Armored Cables
Current capacity of 240 Sq.mm XLPE Armored aluminum cable in Air

is 402 Amp
Total derating current of 240 Sq.mm Cable = 402×0.5984 = 240.55 Amp
Resistance = 0.162 Ω / Km and

Reactance = 0.072 Ω / Km
You may also read: Brushless DC Motor: Construction, Working

Principle & Applications
Estimated Voltage Drops in PVC/XLPE Aluminum Cables For A.C.

System
(Voltage drop – Volts/Km/Amps)
Nominal Area
of Conductor P.V.C. Cable XLPE Cable
(Sq. mm)
Single Three Single

Three System
Phase Phase Phase
1.5 43.44 37.62 46.34 40.13
2.5 29.04 25.15 30.98 26.83
4 17.78 15.40 18.98 16.44
6 11.06 9.58 11.80 10.22
10 7.40 6.41 7.88 6.82
16 4.58 3.97 4.90 4.24
25 2.89 2.50 3.08 2.67
35 2.10 1.80 2.23 1.94
50 1.55 1.30 1.65 1.44
70 1.10 0.94 1.15 1.00
95 0.79 0.68 0.83 0.70
120 0.63 0.55 0.66 0.56
150 0.52 0.46 0.55 0.48
185 0.42 0.37 0.44 0.40
240 0.34 0.30 0.35 0.30
300 0.28 0.26 0.30 0.26
400 0.24 0.22 0.24 0.22
500 0.23 0.20 0.23 0.20
630 0.20 0.18 0.21 0.18
800 0.19 – 0.20 –
1000 0.18 – 0.18 –
Voltage drop, V2 = 0.3 Volts/Km/Amp (as per Havell’s brochure)
= 0.3 x 230 x (200 / 1000)
= 13 V
Terminal voltage at Motor, V2 = 415 -13 = 402 V
% Drop = (V2 – V1) / (V1)
= (415 – 402) x 100 / (415)
= 3.13%
To decide 240 Sq.mm cable, cable selection condition should be checked
1. Cable derating Amp (240.55 Amp)is higher than full load current of
load (230 Amp) = OK
2. Cable voltage Drop (3.13%)is less than defined voltage drop (10%)
= OK
3. Cable short circuit capacity (22.56 KA) is higher than system short
circuit capacity at that point ( X KA) = OK
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Applications
240 Sq.mm cable satisfied all three condition, so it is advisable to use

3 Core 240 Sq.mm cable.
You may also read: What is Motor Efficiency & How to improve it?
Cable Size Calculation for 350 KW HT Motor

In case of LV system cable can be selected on the basis of its current
carrying capacity and voltage drop but in case of MV/HV system cable
short circuit capacity is an important/deciding factor. So in case of HT

motor, the cable short circuit capacity alone is enough to determine the
cable size as rest two parameters will automatically follow.
Consider the below example:
Motor KW = 350
Pf = 0.8, Efficiency = 94%
System Voltage, V1 = 6.6 KV
Cable length = 200 m
Load Current = P / (1.732 x V x Pf x Eff)
= 350000 / (1.732 x 6600 x 0.8 x 0.94)
= 41 A
Suppose Short circuit level/Fault level for H.T. system, Ish (for duration
t=1sec) = 26.2 KA
With Aluminum conductor, XLPE insulated cable =
= 278.72 Sq.mm
Hence nearest higher size 300 sq mm is required.
We can see from the below table also that the short circuit capacity of
300sqmm cable is 28 KA which is more than our fault level.
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Click image to enlarge
(6.6KV UNEARTHED / 11KV EARTHED GRADE)
Technical Details For 6.6 KV, 3 Core, Aluminum/Copper Conductor, XLPE

Insulated, Armored Cables
We can see that this will automatically satisfy other two conditions also.
Let’s select 6.6 KV, 3 core, 300 Sq.mm, Aluminum, XLPE, Armored cable
for single run
Temperature Correction Factor, K1 when cable is in the Air = 0.88 (for 50*
Amb temp & XLPE cable)
Cable Grouping Factor (No of Tray Factor), K2 = 0.68 (for 3 trays having 9
cable each)
Total derating factor = K1 x K2 = 0.88 x 0.68 = 0.5984
Current capacity of 300 Sq.mm XLPE Armored aluminum cable in Air

is 450 Amp
Total derating current of 300 Sq.mm Cable = 450×0.5984 = 269.28 Amp
Resistance = 0.130 Ω / Km and
Reactance = 0.0999 Ω / Km
Voltage drop = 0.26 Volts / Km / Amp (as per Havell’s brochure)
= 0.26 x 200 x 41 / 1000
= 2.132 V
Terminal voltage at Motor, V2 = 6600 – 2.132 = 6597.868 V
% Drop = (V1 – V2) / (V1)
= (6600 – 6597.8) x 100 / (6600)
= 0.032%
To decide 300 Sq.mm cable, cable selection condition should be checked
1. Cable derating Amp (269.28 Amp) is higher than full load current of
load (41 Amp) = OK
2. Cable voltage Drop (0.032%)is less than defined voltage drop (5%)
= OK
3. Cable short circuit capacity (28.20 KA) is higher than system short
circuit capacity at that point (26.2 KA) = OK
300 Sq.mm cable satisfied all three condition, so it is advisable to use

3 Core 300 Sq.mm cable.
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Motor Control Three Phase & Single Phase Motors
9 Comments
Ratna Ramesh
Please give me the Chart for the cables and glands, lugs
Reply
NGO XUAN TRIEU

Dear Sir!
Please explain help me,
For LT motor 125kw, Pf = 0.8, Efficiency = 94%, System Voltage, V1 = 415, Cable length =
200 m
1. Voltage drop, V2 = 0.3 Volts/Km/Amp (as per Havell’s brochure)
= 0.3x217x200/1000 = 13 V
I thinks this is wrong, because sysatem voltage is 415v not 217v, So:
V2=0.3x415x200/1000 = 24.9v
Is that true Sir? please anser help me. Thanks
2. About Cable voltage Drop (3.13%) is less than defined voltage drop (10%) = OK
Could you help me understand about 10%?. The voltage drop 10% is your experienced or
what’s standard?.
Thanks & have a nice day!
Reply
Sanjeev Raghav
Dear sir,
There is some typing error, instead of 217, it should be the Calculated full load Current
i.e. 230 Amp. thus 217 is not the voltage but it is current and Voltage V2 is voltage
drop in Volts in one Km length with one Amp Load current.
Now, here cable length is 200 mtr., so it is divided by 1000 to convert the 200 mtr. in
Km. & instead of 217 Amp it should be 230 Amp. Now multiply by the 0.3 i.e. Voltage
drop in one km with one amp load current. Thus, actual Voltage drop in Volts would be
V2 = 0.3*230*200/1000 = 13.8 Volts
Reply
Electrical Technology
We have changed the values. Thanks for correction.
Reply
Saumil Jain
Dear Sir,
Please specified how will select the size any type of cable like control cable and power
cable as well as core.
please provide me calculation.
Reply
Here is the step by step tutorial: How to select proper cable for installation ?
Reply
Rehan Ansari
Dear Sir,
Please specified how will select the size any type of cable like control cable and power
cable as well as core.
please provide me calculatio
Reply
You may find it here with examples
Reply
Hasnat
For underground cable CU cable, for 350KW, 6.6 KV. What will be calculation? Please
help. I need actually 1500KW, 6.6KV undergroung cable 200m calculation?
Reply

Cable Size Calculation For LT & HT Motors

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7/12/2019 Cable Size Calculation for LT & HT Motors | Electrical Technology

Electrical Design How To Motors Protection Troubleshooting

Cable Size Calculation for LT & HT

How to calculate the Cable size for LT & HT Motors?

Related Post: MV & HV Cable Termination to Equipment & Joints

Before we go in details, let’s clear the main difference between LT & HT

What is the difference between LT and HT Motors?

LT Motors ranges = 230V – 415V

HT Motors ranges = 3.3 kV, 6.6kV – 11kV

Related Post: Cables Feeder Protection – Faults Types, Causes &

Cable Size Calculation of 125 Kw LT Motor

Pf = 0.8, Efficiency = 94%

System Voltage, V1 = 415

Cable length = 200 m

Load Current = P / (1.732 x V x Pf x Eff) —> (P = √3 x Vx I CosΦ =

= 125000 / (1.732 x 415 x 0.8 x 0.94)

Suppose our cable is in Air laid on cable tray,

XLPE 1.20 1.16 1.11 1.06 1.00 0.95 0.88 0.82

Rating factors related to variation in ambient air temperature

Grouping of cables also derates cable’s current carrying capacity. If many

Total derating factor = K1 x K2

Click to enlarge the table

Technical Details For 1.1 KV, 3 Core, Aluminum/Copper Conductor, XLPE

Current capacity of 240 Sq.mm XLPE Armored aluminum cable in Air

Total derating current of 240 Sq.mm Cable = 402×0.5984 = 240.55 Amp

Resistance = 0.162 Ω / Km and

You may also read: Brushless DC Motor: Construction, Working

Estimated Voltage Drops in PVC/XLPE Aluminum Cables For A.C.

(Voltage drop – Volts/Km/Amps)

Single Three Single

1.5 43.44 37.62 46.34 40.13

2.5 29.04 25.15 30.98 26.83

4 17.78 15.40 18.98 16.44

6 11.06 9.58 11.80 10.22

10 7.40 6.41 7.88 6.82

16 4.58 3.97 4.90 4.24

25 2.89 2.50 3.08 2.67

35 2.10 1.80 2.23 1.94

50 1.55 1.30 1.65 1.44

70 1.10 0.94 1.15 1.00

95 0.79 0.68 0.83 0.70

120 0.63 0.55 0.66 0.56

150 0.52 0.46 0.55 0.48

185 0.42 0.37 0.44 0.40

240 0.34 0.30 0.35 0.30

300 0.28 0.26 0.30 0.26

400 0.24 0.22 0.24 0.22

500 0.23 0.20 0.23 0.20

630 0.20 0.18 0.21 0.18

800 0.19 – 0.20 –

1000 0.18 – 0.18 –

Voltage drop, V2 = 0.3 Volts/Km/Amp (as per Havell’s brochure)

= 0.3 x 230 x (200 / 1000)

Terminal voltage at Motor, V2 = 415 -13 = 402 V

% Drop = (V2 – V1) / (V1)

= (415 – 402) x 100 / (415)

To decide 240 Sq.mm cable, cable selection condition should be checked

Related Post: Servo Motor – Types, Construction, Working, Controlling &

240 Sq.mm cable satisfied all three condition, so it is advisable to use

Cable Size Calculation for 350 KW HT Motor

short circuit capacity is an important/deciding factor. So in case of HT

Consider the below example:

Pf = 0.8, Efficiency = 94%