Cable Installation, Testing & Selection
Ahmed Younis
Cable Installation & Ampacity
De-Rating Factors of Power Cable
Soil thermal resistivity
Grouping factor (Spacing between cables )
Depth of cable
Soil temperature
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Cable Installation & Ampacity
Soil Thermal Resistivity
Soil thermal resistivity in °C m/W
Size of cables mm2 0.8 0.9 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
Up to 150 1.16 1.12 1.07 0.91 0.81 0.73 0.66
Single core cables
From 185 to 300 1.17 1.12 1.07 0.91 0.8 0.73 0.66
From 400 to 1000 1.17 1.12 1.07 0.91 0.8 0.73 0.66
Up to 16 1.12 1.08 1.05 0.93 0.84 0.77 0.72
Multi core cables
From 25 to 150 1.14 1.1 1.06 0.92 0.82 0.75 0.69
From 185 to 500 1.15 1.1 1.07 0.92 0.81 0.74 0.67
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Cable Installation & Ampacity
Grouping Factor
Touching
(0.00) 0.15 m 0.30 m 0.45 m 0.60 m
2 0.81 0.87 0.91 0.93 0.95
3 0.7 0.78 0.84 0.88 0.9
600/1000 volt cables 4 0.63 0.74 0.81 0.86 0.89
5 0.59 0.7 0.78 0.84 0.87
6 0.55 0.68 0.77 0.83 0.87
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Cable Installation & Ampacity
Depth of Cable
600/1000 Volt
Depth of laying (M) Up to 50mm2 70mm2 to 300mm2 Above 300mm2
0.5 1 1 1
0.6 0.99 0.98 0.97
0.8 0.97 0.96 0.94
1 0.95 0.93 0.92
1.25 0.94 0.92 0.89
1.5 0.93 0.9 0.87
1.75 0.92 0.89 0.86
2 0.91 0.88 0.85
2.5 0.9 0.87 0.84
5
3.00 or more 0.89 0.85 0.82
Cable Installation & Ampacity
Soil Temperature
Rating factor for ground temperature
Ground temperature °C 15 °C 20 °C 25 °C 30 °C 35 °C 40 °C 45 °C
Rating factor 1.0 0.97 0.93 0.89 0.86 0.82 0.76
Final = Temperature X Soil thermal X Depth X grouping
factor factor resistivity factor factor factor
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Cable Installation & Ampacity
The following are the current carrying capacities after de-rating for a ground temperature of 40 deg c
and a soil thermal resistivity of 300 °C/cm/W. This is the condition that exists in site tested at Mussafah
with only 4 cables and a depth of 60 cm.
(DUCAB Number of cables in group
cables) 4
current 0.15 m 0.3 m
Size capacity
without Capacity/Amp Capacity/Amp
derating/Amp s s
s Final Factor Final Factor
16 115 0.433 50 0.473 54
25 150 0.415 62 0.454 68
35 180 0.415 75 0.454 82
50 215 0.415 89 0.454 98
70 265 0.410 109 0.449 119
95 315 0.410 129 0.449 141
120 360 0.410 148 0.449 162
150 405 0.410 166 0.449 182
185 460 0.398 183 0.436 201
240 530 0.398 211 0.436 231
300 590 0.398 235 0.436 257
400 667 0.394 263 0.432 288 7
500 720 0.394 284 0.432 311
Cable Installation & Ampacity
Cable Laying
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Cable Installation & Ampacity
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Cable Installation & Ampacity
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Cable Installation & Ampacity
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Cable Installation & Ampacity
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Cable Installation & Ampacity
Cable bending radii are recommended as follows:
Single core unarmoured 20D
Single core armoured 15D
Three core unarmoured 15D
Three core armoured 12D
D is overall cable
Cable pulling forces
and the may be
A x 50 Newton's for copper
A x 30 Newton's for aluminum.
A is conductor cross section area in mm2 13
MV Cable Testing
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MV Cable Testing
International/National Standards
Type Test
Routine Test
Factory Acceptance Test ( FAT )
After installation Tests ( Site Acceptance Test )
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MV Cable Testing
Type Test
Type tests are used as basis for a new development for cable
manufacturers
Customers placing larger orders ask the manufacturer to
perform type tests
Types test are designed to gain the most complete picture
possible of all the electrical, thermal, mechanical and
chemical characteristics of the cables.
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MV Cable Testing
Some type tests on XLPE insulated
Measurement of partial discharge
Bending test , followed by PD test
Measurement of tan δ at max conductor temperature
Heating cycle test , followed by PD test
Impulse voltage test at 5-10C above max conductor temp.
followed by power frequency AC Test for 15 min
Voltage test for 4 h(4 u0 )
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MV Cable Testing
Routine Test
Routine tests are carried out on each length
Routine tests are :
Measurement of the electrical resistance of the conductor
Partial discharge test
High voltage test (3.5 Uo for 5 Min)
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MV Cable Testing
Factory Acceptance Test (FAT)
Conductor examination
Check of dimensions
Voltage test for 4 h(4 u0 )
Partial discharge test
hot set test
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MV Cable Testing
Site Acceptance Test (SAT)
Cables shall be tested as indicated below after installation, but
before they are placed in normal service. The purpose of these
tests is to verify the integrity of the cable and to detect major
insulation damage that may have occurred during shipping,
storage and installation.
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MV Cable Testing
Site Acceptance Test (SAT)
Physical Site Inspection
1. Checking of the cable termination whether properly terminated and
properly marked for easy identification
1. Checking of the proper connection of the power cable
screens/shields and control cable screens to the earthing network.
2. Checking of the cable entrances to equipment, terminal box, glands
and floor openings whether appropriate sealing have been provided.
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Site Acceptance Test (SAT)
Phase identification check & Continuity test
DC conductor resistance test
Insulation resistance measurement before and after HV test
VLF AC high voltage test 3 Uo/30 min.
DC sheath test (10 kV/1 minute) between metallic sheath/
screen/armouring 22
MV Cable Testing
Phase identification check & Continuity test
After complete installation, the cables are to be identified with
respect to their phases.
Test Procedure:
The screens of all cables at one end are to be shorted and grounded.
The conductor of the cable under test is to be connected to the
negative pole of the Megger.
The positive pole of the Megger is connected to ground.
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MV Cable Testing
Through a switch ground the other end of this conductor of the cable
under test and measure the resistance.
If the resistance is negligibly small, the phase identification is
correct. Confirm that the cable is marked with the correct color
coding.
To cross check, open the switch, the meter shall read infinitely high
resistance. (Tending to infinite).
Similarly repeat the test for the other phases and verify the
correctness of the color coding.
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MV Cable Testing
Before disconnecting the Megger make sure the cable is
discharged by applying an earth lead. 25
MV Cable Testing
DC conductor resistance test
The D.C resistance (Rm) of the complete cable circuit shall be
measured at ambient temperature.
The resistance value at ambient temperature shall be corrected to the
value at 20°C, and compared with the specified value.
The test shall be performed with two cables connected in series, R+Y,
Y+B, B+R. The resistance of the connecting leads used to connect the
testing equipment, and to link the two cables at the other side, is
measured and recorded.
Then, the connecting lead resistance RCL shall be deducted and the
actual resistance calculated at 20 ºC.
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MV Cable Testing
Resistance of the connecting lead to be measured and recorded
(RCL)
Resistance of two cables, connected in series by the connecting
lead, to be measured and recorded ( m)
Resistance of two cables, at ambient temperature to be calculated: :
Rθ= Rm - Rcl
Resistance per phase at 20 ºC to be calculated.
Resistance per meter at 20 ºC for each phase to be calculated.
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MV Cable Testing
Rθ = Rm – RCL
Resistance at 20 ºC
R20 = Rθ / [1+ a (θ - 20)]
a = 0,00393 / ºC
q = Ambient Temperature
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MV Cable Testing
Test Circuit
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MV Cable Testing
Insulation resistance measurement before and after HV test
The phasing of the circuit shall be confirmed before measurement
of insulation resistance.
Before and after the High Voltage Test the insulation resistance of
the whole cable circuit per phase shall be measured.
Before starting the measurement make sure that the test circuit is
prepared correctly as shown below:
Before switching on, make sure that no one can get within reach of
parts of the cable system where the high voltage is applied. Put up
warning tapes and/or signs, which state the situation. Also station
someone at the other cable end.
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MV Cable Testing
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MV Cable Testing
VLF AC high voltage test
An AC over-voltage VLF equal to 3xU0 shall be applied between the
conductor and the metallic screen/sheath for 30 min.
Phases other than the one to be tested shall be grounded at both
sides.
Test is conducted by a competent person
No personnel shall be permitted to work in the vicinity of the cable
during test.
After testing the cable shall be completely discharged and earthed
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MV Cable Testing
Test Circuit
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MV Cable Testing
DC sheath test
The DC cable sheath test shall be carried out at various times
during installation and jointing works.
A final witnessed test shall be performed at the time of
commissioning. A 10 kV DC voltage shall be applied for 1 min to the
metallic cable sheath and any current leakage shall be recorded.
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MV Cable Testing
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