How to choose the cable cross-section for wiring?

Qualitative and properly selected electrical wiring will always help to secure any room from unpleasant "surprises" connected with short-circuit currents , insulation breakdowns, burnout of wiring, fire of household appliances and others. Avoid such unpleasant situations and incidents it is possible. To do this, you must initially pay close attention to the cross-section of the cable.

Most people who decide to do electrical wiring on their own and without the help of specialists do not fully understand the importance of the procedure, during which the cable section will be selected. Even the use of the new and modern technologies themselves can not save from the above problems if the current cable section is incorrectly selected.

When selecting the cross-section, all factors must be taken into account: the magnitude and duration of the load, the nominal current that will pass through the cable, the maximum and minimum voltage, and the load power. It is necessary to check the conductor for resistance to high temperatures (both ambient and overheating due to short circuits), mechanical strength and resistance to possible external damages. Undoubtedly, the cable cross section depends not only on the above properties and parameters. It is necessary to take into account the individual differences in wiring, and even the influence of the external environment and its factors on the conductor.

The most important indicator when choosing a section is the reliability of the cable, its quality. Here the most optimal option can be called a copper one. It is much more resistant to the negative influences listed above than the aluminum cable. The copper conductor will be more efficient, and it is much less liable to oxidation and deformation. Thus, the cross-sectional area of a copper cable will be less than that of an aluminum cable, provided the other characteristics are identical. And a purely visual copper conductor will look better.

Choosing the cross-section of the cable in terms of power, it is necessary to take into account the total power of all possible devices. It is very important. Naturally, it is more convenient to select the cross section of the cable with a margin. Also take into account its length and the possibility of voltage loss.

The term "cable cross-section" refers to its cross-section. In electrical engineering, it is determined by several design parameters: compliance with heating conditions, mechanical strength conditions, according to the estimated economic current density.

Generally speaking, correct calculation should mean the presence of formulas. However, you can use specially designed tables with basic parameters to select the cable cross section: power, current strength, and sometimes the voltage in the network. Such tables can be found in the manuals on electrical installation of equipment. There are already calculated data for cables of different cross-section, made of different materials, taking into account the majority of possible factors. Also, the values of the correction factors are indicated, for example, if necessary, lay the cable at low temperatures.