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This article provides details on the calculation of cable impedances - dc resistance, ac resistance and
inductive reactance.
Contents
1 Cable Resistance
1.1 DC Resistance
1.2 AC Resistance
2 Cable Reactance
3 References
Cable Resistance
The dc and ac resistance of cable conductors can be calculated based on IEC 60287-1 Clause 2.1.
DC Resistance
AC Resistance
The ac resistance of cable conductors is the dc resistance corrected for skin and proximity effects.
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Where
The proximity effect factor varies depending on the conductor geometry. For round conductors, the following
formulae apply.
Where
For shaped conductors, the proximity effect factor is two-thirds the values calculated above, and with:
equal to the diameter of an equivalent circular conductor of equal cross-sectional area and
degree of compaction (mm)
where is the thickness of the insulation between conductors (mm)
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Dried and
Type of Conductor
Impregnated?
Copper
Round, stranded Yes 1 0.8
Round, stranded No 1 1
Round, segmental - 0.435 0.37
Sector-shaped Yes 1 0.8
Sector-shaped No 1 1
Aluminium
Round, stranded Either 1 1
Round, 4 segment Either 0.28 0.37
Round, 5 segment Either 0.19 0.37
Round, 6 segment Either 0.12 0.37
Cable Reactance
The series inductive reactance of a cable can be approximated by the following equation:
No. of wire
strands in K
conductor
3 0.0778
7 0.0642
19 0.0554
37 0.0528
>60 0.0514
1 (solid) 0.0500
For 3C and 3 x 1C cables, the axial spacing parameter depends on the geometry of the conductors:
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References
IEC 60287-1-1, Electric cables Calculation of current rating Part 1: Current rating
equations (100% load factor) and calculation of losses Section 1: General
(http://webstore.iec.ch/p-preview/info_iec60287-1-1%7Bed1.2%7Den_d.pdf) , 2006
G.F. Moore, Electric Cables Handbook (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0632040750
/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=openelect-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&
creative=399349&creativeASIN=0632040750) , Third Edition, 1997, an excellent reference
book for cables
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