Cable and Wire Size Calculator – Copper and Aluminum
Copper and Aluminum Cable and Wire Sizing Calculator
Several factors influence the selection of cable and wire sizes in electrical installations. One crucial factor is the current carrying capacity required for the intended application. The magnitude of the electrical load, measured in amperes, determines the size of the conductors needed to safely carry and distribute the current.
Voltage drop is another critical consideration, particularly for long-distance installations, where excessive voltage drop can lead to operational inefficiencies.
Temperature conditions in the environment also play a role, as higher temperatures can affect the conductor’s capacity and insulation properties. Additionally, the type of insulation and the installation method impact cable and wire sizing, ensuring compliance with safety codes and standards.
The combination of these factors requires careful consideration to optimize the performance, safety, and efficiency of electrical systems.
In our previous tutorial, we have discussed in detail the topic of how to calculate the proper wire size for electrical wiring installations. If you are allergic to those complex calculations, you may use the following copper and aluminum wire size calculator to properly size any wire for single phase and three-phase load circuits.
- Related Post: Wire and Cable Size Calculator in AWG
Calculating Wire/Cable Size formula for single Phase Circuits
Wire Circular mils = 2 x ρ x I x L / (% Allowable Voltage drop of source voltage)
Calculating Wire/Cable Size formula for Three Phase Circuits
Wire Circular mils = √3 x 2 x ρ x I x L / (% Allowable Voltage drop of source voltage)
Where;
- ρ = Specific resistance or resistivity of Conductor
- D = Distance in Feet (One way) i.e. ½ the total circuit length
- I = Load Current
Note: the Value of ρ = Specific resistance or resistivity of Conductor is used here for copper and aluminum is 11.2 and 17.4 respectively at 53° C (127° F)
- Note: See the ‘Good to Know’ section right after the calculator for a proper and clear understanding of the terms used in wire sizing.
Enter the values, And click on calculate. Result will shows the required quantity.
Good to Know:
If the wire size is greater than all gauges (i.e 0000 is largest one size of wire in), then electrical engineer measure it in CM, kCM or MCM instead of inches, because inch is a small unit of these kinds of wires. Where;
A circular mil (CM) is a unit of circular area with a diameter of one mil (one thousandth of an inch). It corresponds to 5.067×10-4 mm².
Where:
1000 CM (circular mils) = 1 MCM or 1 kcmil = 0.5067 mm², so 2 kcmil.
It is a unit for referring to the area of a wire with a circular cross section.
Related Posts & Calculators:
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- AWG/SWG to mm/mm2, inch/inch2 & kcmil Calculator & Conversion
- American Wire Gauge “AWG” Chart – Wire Size & Ampacity Table
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Thanky Thanky for all this good inortmaoifn!
i am balwinder singh ELECTRICIAN controller
i install 2ac in my house. i want seperate line from meter. is the 4mm cable best for this?
4mm cable is the size acceptable ,but again depending on the hp of the AC if is like 1-1.5 hp you can use 2.5mm cable I believe it will be ok
above show how to calculate the size of the cable and wire bt it is theoretical right..bt practical not working when i input the data value single phase 230 current 5 A single phase 10 feet voltage drop take 2.5 v ..so please solve my problem
That’s interesting
i need electrical important q&answer
ashfaq.aldawaighri@gmail.com
Hello,
Sir I need cables and wire calculations apps
We are Working on it. Thanks for feedback.
sir
we want to feed 3phase supply to 70 ton air-conditioning load. what will be the size of cable(3 phase) require to feed the 70 ton A.C. load.
35mm copper cable if lenth is less than 50 meter
and if lenth is above than 50 meter the cable size is 50mm
the standard voltage is 3 phase 400 volt 50HZ
jainmahinder@gmail.com
M.S.JAIN
what is the copper cable sizing for a 8 kw single phase load 220 volt , 0.8 power factor and 3% voltage drop
8 AWG-CU,6 AWG-AL
Nice information
4Cx120mm2 XLPE/SWA/PVC.
———————————–
1Cx70mm2 PVC/ECC
Sir i have lode 132 kw three phase witch size mm cable proper work
150 sq.mm or 185 sq.mm but length between power source and load should be limited/not very far.
120 sq mm or 150 sq mm. 185 sq mm is not required .
what is cuurent load bearing capacity of 1 sq.mm multi stand copper cable?
I have 377 Ampere 3-phase connected load to be sourced from 250 KVA 11 KV/440 Volt Distribution Transformer at a distance of 115 metres. What minimum size of 3.5 core Aluminium armoured cable will be suitable for my use.
2 x 120sqmmx 4core
How to calculate cable sizes plz.
Sir, I have plan to install 8.3 ton three phase a/c distance between a/c and panel is 45′ voltage drop is 3%. which is the correct size of copper wire i have to use.
Thanks.
10sqmmx4core
10 mm2 * 3 core or 6 mm2
A 30m long twin PVC installation cable carrying current from a switch bulb in a domestic installation to a 4kv electric heater.
(1) Determine the minimum size of cable with reference to the electrical installation regulation.
(2) calculate the size of the cable for the light of 120m distance long is to be lighted by 40w lamp
Hello,
I need cables and wire calculations for aluminium and copper, table for diameters and Amp. Thanks.
Hello,
I need cables and wire calculations for aluminium and copper, table for diameters and Amp. Thanks.
Show nice cable matches
how to calculate below
250 meter cable size and 105kw please solve the problem with formula
Please sovle 90m , 274kw calculate size of cable
Hi Everyone,
Kindly give me guidance for the calculation of cable size.
Suppose I have 40A load and 25KA is rating and I don’t have specified lentgh of cable,Voltage ratings but I need to give just size of cable for Phase conductor and ECC is there any way to calculate it directly using some direct formula…?
It is recommended that follow these simple steps then Here and Here. thanks
How to calculate Electrical cable size … Please give me ideas
sir,
what is the distance between high tension electric wire to any building just like ware house, residential building, any factory. thanks
How to calculate mechanical dimensions of Electric cable viz. Aerial bunched cables
Know electrical
What should be the cable size for the following conditions.
1. amps: 3000
2. 3 phase, 440 V
3. Distance : 100 m
3. Laid in trunking, copper cable
Appreciate if you could suggest a cable size?
Thank You
Hello Dear… You can use the online Copper & Aluminum Wire Size calculator with explanation here
nice information
nice information
a generator feeding 420 volt to 380/420 transformer cabble length is 1300 meter.load is of 200 kw.now how to find voltage drop and which cable suits alluminium or copper . and find the diameter of both. please help me out..
Electric cable size wise how much load can be take. I need chart minimum 4 numbers of cable size i.e 1mm, 1.5mm, 2.5mm and 6mm
Example:
Cable 1mm = ?? Amp or, ?? W
Thanks
What should be the cable size for the following conditions.
1. amps: 250
2. 3 phase, 440 V
3. Distance : 100 m
3. Laid in trunking, copper and Aluminumcable
Appreciate if you could suggest a cable size?
Thank You
250 MCM 130mm
250 MCM 130mm2
Sir, I have plan to install 4 no’s of 4 ton three phase a/c distance between a/c and panel is 45′ voltage drop is 3%. which is the correct size of copper wire i have to use.
Thanks.
sir we have 3 kw hot plate it cable is burnout i want to replace it cable high tempatur fiber insulation type length 1mtr only plse helpe me
Your appliance is drawing 13Amps and you can use 20A breaker and 2.5 mm square
Dear my supply has 230/380 voltage. But i dont find 380 voltage option in the cable size calculator….?
Hi
How would I determine the size of the main cable to feed 12 houses from a transformer to the main distribution box.
Conditions:
220v
Single phase
45Amp per house x 12
150 Meter (500Feet)
Much appreciated
R
Run is 300 ft. 120/240 volt system 170 amps 3% V.D.
Using wire size 3/0 copper or 250MCM Aluminum.
Is this the correct wire sizing for this project.
Sir
suggest XLPE alluminium Cable for 130A load distance is 500M
Sir.cable & wire(aluminum or copper) how to selection. the load for example..10kw,50kw,125kw,25okw etc. i need to simple formula reply please.
70 kw 3 phase 415 voltwill 50 mm cable carry it
Hi
Kindly help me for selection of wire for my new industry.
actually my all machine and acceries load is about 20 kw. in future i will add another 20 kw. machine wire from control board i know. but i don’t know from eb to main board and control board for 40kw. Above calculator is very useful for single phase. but i dont know how to enter voltage range for 3 phase. because each phase has 220v (L to N). i dont know exactly what i have to enter in 3phase..(415v or 220v). kindly help me. distance about 110feet.
respected sir
I want information how I m find cable rating or amp or electrical network. how to decide cable rating 70 ton air conditioning in amp..
how to calculate copper cabale size, i have only currant and voltage
Hi Dears,
I have a new Air-conditioner is working on power 220V/60Hz and my country’s power is 220V/50Hz, my questions are how can fix it this air-condition on (220V/50Hz)? Is there an easy converter or electronic board/ diagram can I fix this issue by myself? If I run this air-condition on 50Hz what will happen ? is there any simple or shortest way for fix this problem.
Please, nobody answer on my questions if he is not qualifying and professional in Electric because I have information but I need assistance from qualifying and professional people kindly?
Thanks in Advance
Yes it can work..they normally have a tolerance and work on 50/60 hz.
That’s the times it alternates in a second..it should work normally.
I like your work guys,
But what is this AWG thing now? I am in South Africa and I need the conductor size in mm for each wire, please help.
AWG = American wire Gauge.
I need Nigeria’s cable sizes
sir i want to know we have 200hp load so how much cable size should i use.
If you may provide instant D.C. Cable size calculator if given: 12;24;48 Voltage D.C. and load current with cable length?
Dear sir
Can you Please send me the furmula of 3phase and single phase for calculation of cable.
FOR 50 KW ,3 PHASE SUPPLY, NEED CABLE SIZE WITH EQUATION? ALSO I NEED EQN FOR KA RATING?
How can I use cable size for 3 Phase 440 kW load? Please suggest Me?
Require to run a 3 phase / 50 Hz, 2 hp submersible pump
at 1 km distance from the source of current supply.
Appreciate advice re cable cross section, type, etc.
I need to install 500hp ,700amp motor plz suggest me the proper size of abc cable
Sir, i have to install a machine of about 250 Amps.. and the distance is about 100 meters… What should be the size of aluminum cable in mm2… Plz answer…
Sir I can use cable for 7 DB box ? And 1DB box 60amp.
Distance 10 metar
pl give me all detels of all 4core amroud cable amp kw
WHAT SHOULD BE THE CONDUCTOR SIZE (ALUMINUM) FOR AN ELECTROMAGNET OF 32KW , 220 DC , 135A
Sir,
I want to know 350 kw star delta motor what type of cable size reqrequired copper or aluminium. With gland size both.
Thsnks
D. China kumar
Mega paper
Kenya
I want to know how to calculate for select cable size for 3phase and single phase?
I want to know a formula
the formula calculate cable size in single phase
2xPx1xL(%allowable voltage drop of source voltage
In three phase
3under root x 2xPx1xL(%allowable drop of soucrce voltage
240mm2 armourd 4 core cable, What is the current carrying capacity between phase & nutral?
we have 1600kva transformer and connected with 95mm2 xlp cable lenght 500mtr.Due to excess load we will replace this transformer with 2000kva.what will be the cable size with 500mtr lenght xlp cable.
Thank you for providing this, I was really struggling with cable sizes and this has been an absolute life saver.
I want to know the formula for calculating wire size & turns of each set.
For a motor LRA 117 amp 230 volt three phase how many amps for safety box and the contactor.
I want to know if the LRA 117 amp divide by 3 or mult by 3
kw=2
line to line=2.7a
v=415
pf-1
what size cu cable using?
u can use 2.5 cable
What is the Aluminum cable sizing for a 150 kw three phase load 415 volt , 0.8 power factor and 6% voltage drop
sir we need 70KVA power for our office. 3 Phase 5 wire to be taken.
What gauge of copper / aluminum cable is needed for 80 feet distance.
i have 100 amp singl phas load in bilding
and i have 100 kva jarnter 3 phas
plz tell me recmnded size of cable
I want the wire thickness and heat it may produce for 500kva load at 480v . Lets take the current to be 700amp approx.
sir if the total load is 60 to 70 amp. what type of cable should i select? Distance is less than 15 meter. is 10sq mm armoured cable is sufficient?
What size of cable for 25kva dg, distance 100 meter, aluminium cable or copper cable, please….. if it is aluminium cable what is the size or copper…
You write:
“A circular mil (CM) is a unit of circular area with a diameter of one mil (one thousandth of an inch). It corresponds to 5.067×10-4 mm².
Where:
1000 CM (circular mils) = 1 MCM or 1 kcmil = 0.5067 mm², so 2 kcmil.”
You may want to look at that last sentence: 1kcmil=0.5067mm2 = 2kcmil?
what will be cable length of 9mm2 cable where there is no voltage drop