Sizing Electrical Cables and Switchgear

Please explain your exact appication with some data if available.

I know this sounds condescending, but I feel compelled to express it.

What the heck has happened to us? Are we losing the ability to think and calculate for ourselves without a "software program" to do it all for us? This is a most basic of electrical engineering functions.

I agree with you to day generally i find engineers have forgotten their basics and try to either work on thumb rules most of the time wrong once or cut paste from some one else's work .Whole intention seems to be i completed all the work in less then an hour and give me my fees.this app-lyes to all branches of engineering i am surprised that many Senior consultants are resorting to this i want quick money with out any efforts.

crm

Grate

you make me lough, you are right. Even if such software exists, which doesnt, how an electrical engineer will deal with day to day electrical problems and faults, running looking for software to diagnose and tackle the problem, while the production is down?

One of the most useful documents an Electrical Engineer can own is a copy of the latest edition of the Wiring Regulations, published and maintained by the Institution of Electrical Engineers. Cable sizing algorithms can be found within its pages.

Reinvention of the wheel is seldom necessary......

Yes Sir. Try Electrical Engineering solutions suite under Mcgraw Hill's interactive engineering calculation series.This may be useful to certain extent as it covers all general requirements.

I totally agree that for single cable installations then all the detials need can be found in the IEE regs here in the UK.

for larger systems then its worth using software from AMTECH power software for electical design.

Its expensive, but a great package that will pay fits itself in no time at all if you are doing a large amount of eletrical design.

JRaef, crm, melshamy - when soemone asks a question they do not need plonkers like yourselves having a go. If I was going to check a single cable then I would not need a s/w package but since this is a much larger project then some assistance would be appreciated/ needed - I actually have a life outside of this forum so I do not wish to spend all my time repeating the same work - this activity may suit tossers like yourselves.

To everyone else, thanks for you input. It was greatly appreciated.

you are not a registered member first second you are expecting free lunch hence you are getting the response like Jref,Melshamy if you are so keen you should put efforts like contacting shnider electric or ABB they will help you.if you have a big project.as a non member you cannot cry

crm

I do not agree with many contributors.

What is wrong in using genuine softwares like SIMARIS,ETAP,EASYPOWER or DOCWIN.?

These software gives you the correct cable selection,switchgear selection based on site conditions,environment conditions and application

These software does not give you wrong answers, also you require expertise to give various inputs to select the appropriate cable/switch gear.

For Big projects it is essential to go through the software as these software give different outputs like SLDs,BOQs,TCC,selectivity etc

I do agree with the views of ramvinod. In the present day situation of extreme urgency and limited staff strength one cannot compile a tender proposal or initial project proposal in less than a weeks time( which is the normal demand of the day) with out the help of a software. The software is user friendly and almost dependable. But depending up on the local conditions and availability of material in the local market suitable variations need to be made if the data available does not tally with the standard data specified in the software. It is always good to depend on software designed by reputed engineering firms since years of experience of these company and their expertise go in to their design which is normally not available with us. But one caution even when one use these tools he should have a strong knowledge of fundamentals and basics. What I mean is unknowingly we may provide wrong data and receive bad results( garbage in garbage out) which you may be able to identify and do corrective steps.

ramvinod's comment is partially correct and partially wrong. One should learn manual calculation first then use software. This way young engineers will built more confidence on what they are doing and how.

OK CRM- so this forum is only for "Registered members" and those who already know the answer - If I knew that Schneider, ABB or Siemens had a s/w package that was of use then I would have contacted them and not wasted my time reading responses from ignorant tossers like yourself.

We are not all as lucky as yourself that we know everything and do not need assistance - Oh by the way I am a registered member. I posted the query anonymously as it was my fist time posting a query - so I guess you do no know everything.

I will no longer post any queries or replies on this Forum.

To those of you that assisted me, thanks very much your assistance was greatly appreciated.

Dear friend

Why do you get agitated so fast. This is a global forum and the attitude of people vary. The opinions are different and one may not like the answer given by another because every one think that he is right. The fact is that no one is an expert. Even after 40 years of electrical project experience I learn lot from these members.I feel spending time here is at least useful to me if not to others. At times you can see very silly questions asked here. But still I have seen people patiently replying to it. Have patience. You will enjoy this site. Be happy . See Ramvinod has given you the names of good software which you can confidently use.

I am really sorry if you feel offended by ignorant tossers like us. I know you misunderstood the message. Between the lines you will read you should do your home work first. Your Q is a request for info rather than an electrical problem. In google search bar I just typed "electrical engineering software" the result is 42.000.000

We could have learned from your homework if you questioned softwares you came across. Let us cool down, we are here to learn and exchange experience, nothing personal.

Please check this link

http://www.voltimum.co.uk/find/page-1-10-1/collec-searchvlt/free-bs7671-calculation-software.html

VI Abhram - thanks for your help. I have contacted suppliers for a copy of their software. Hope this ends this discussion.

Yes it is better not to get agitated by comments by others- I will keep that in mind for the future

Dear friend

You are right in your views Just a friendly suggestion you need to be in touch with Manufacturers for design inputs thats how i learnt a lot i am not a electrical engineer purely i am a mechanical engineer but i have handled electrical issues with out any problem .ABB gives the DOC WIN software free only you have to ask for it.secondly you can become a member of IEEE you will find wealth of design information there at a nominal cost which is very valuable .lot of handbooks available on the subject which is of grate value and help best of luck (my experience is unless you know the subject you will end up at the receiving end.)

crm