Top 5 Considerations To Look Into Before Purchasing The Right Power Cables

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The most important factor to consider when determining a suitable cable size is how

well it can deal with the needed current load in your installation setting

without generating an excessive voltage drop from the supply voltage.

Here are a few important conditions that will affect the eventual cable

the size you choose once you know the load that the cable will carry (Ampere).

The considerations summarized below may lead you to a different recommended conductor size.

The key is that the least conductor size you choose must be the very least cable size that can

cover all the circumstances you've investigated.

So, the following points are some considerations you should look into before purchasing power cables:

Method of Installation: The first thing we look at is how and where the cable will be installed because how and where a cable is installed has a direct impact on whether it can be overloaded. In general, the more confined the cables are (e.g., in conduit versus open air), the larger the cable size is required to ensure that it can resist the current and allow proper heat dissipation.

Material of the Cable: The cable insulation material (the extruded layer that follows after the conductor) is critical for cable sizing because it directly impacts the maximum operating temperature of your cable. For your convenience, we've included common insulation materials such as PVC, XLPE, and EPR in the guide. PVC has a maximum working temperature in typical cable materials. Given the lower maximum working temperature of PVC, you might question why we would choose it over XLPE. This would be due to the material's other qualities that are more appropriate for your installation setting. PVC, for example, is far more flexible than XLPE and hence may be a better choice where the cable must bend in confined places.

Depending on the installation requirements, you can pick between single-core and multi-core cables, which will affect the cable's current carrying capability. A single-core cable can disperse heat more effectively than a multi-core cable, resulting in a larger current carrying capability. However, you may still choose the multi-core cable because installing all the essential conductors at once may be easier.

1. Length of the Cable: To calculate the Voltage Drop, which is the loss of electrical potential along your cable run, we need the length of your cable. The voltage drop of a cable run in Singapore must not exceed 4%, according to the SS638 (previously known as CP5) wiring regulations. The cable size and length of a cable line determine the voltage drop of a circuit. The greater the voltage loss, the smaller the cable size employed, or the longer the cable length required for your circuit. If the voltage drop of the circuit exceeds the specified 4%, you will need to upgrade your cable.

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