cable selection 600amp 3 phase

Nigel · Jan 9, 2019

Johnthefixer said:
whats dual feeder?

Instead of one cable that holds 600A you install two that hold 300A each.

Upton Sparks · Jan 9, 2019

or running 3 or 4 cables, conductors in parallel.
advantage are ease of installation....

davesparks · Jan 10, 2019

From memory the larger size of powerlock connector takes a maximum of 300mm so that's going to limit the size of the cable.

Why do you need 600A if its only being split to 3x 125A? That would work quite happily on a normal 400A powerlock set.

Is this a temporary installation? If not why use powerlock? And if it is then surely you'd just hire in the required standard sized cables or use from stock?

davesparks · Jan 10, 2019

essex said:
Have you considered dual feeder?

Technically it would be possible to do this with powerlocks but it would require the distribution equipment at each end to be well designed and custom built as no one is likely to have that on the shelf. Powerlocks are basically single pole plug/socket connectors used to make high current extension leads, they are used by DNO's to connect generators into the network (usually a bright orange cable) and in the entertainment industry for anything and everything.

Darkwood · Jan 10, 2019

I would be looking at installing in a tri-foil cable arrangement with either 3 or four runs, the arrangement of the phasing here in this setup is crucial and should be researched if you are new to it, the magnetic fields generated need to be arranged correctly so you cannot simply run a tri-foil of each individual phase and N you need to arrange them correctly, you can also lay them all flat and adjacent on a wider tray/ladder but again the arrangement is crucial.
This will thus vastly reduce cable size, installation issues and connection issues if the gear is chosen carefully, there are many hurdles here to get around so it would be wise to get in a designer or manufacturer of chosen equipment to ensure it is the correct solution, a minor error can be a costly outcome here.

Johnthefixer · Jan 10, 2019

Thanks fo all the input so far, going over some of the responses, firstly there is cost, running secondary feed may be an option but that puts us from 5 cables to 9 ( considering a single cpc ),
Most 660amp power locks only take up to 300m, but you can get 750amp and 800amp just trying now to find out if the can take larger cables. the distribution equipment is not a problem as I will make that to suite if we haven't already got it. this is for a temporary event, but I am used to multiple source and not such long runs which is why I am picking you clever lots brains in case I can find an alternative way of achiving the same thing as I think i will have to do, which is split the load at source and run secondary feeds to second distro and split the loads to smaller chunks.
Oh and one other thing sorry Dave sparks the 3x125 are 3 phase 100amps per phase. so 600amp max draw.
Darkwood sugested tri foil cable, but mentioned difficulties layout, I Have not worked with this, so I will have a look at it. do it need extra protection?

Darkwood · Jan 10, 2019

Tri-foil cable is how you would arrange the singles not a type of cable, it requires the phasing magnetic fields be configured in a standard arrangement, this is also applicable when running parallel singles so you will need to look for the phasing arrangment anyway. If your supply and load solutions can take multiple cores per phase then this is the way to go most definately, it is quicker install, simpler termination and can reduce allover copper equivelant sizing.
If you want to see what I mean then google tri-foil cable arrangement 3 phase to understand your options.

davesparks · Jan 10, 2019

Johnthefixer said:
Oh and one other thing sorry Dave sparks the 3x125 are 3 phase 100amps per phase. so 600amp max draw.

3 x 3 phase 100 amps per phase gives a total of 300 amps per phase so you need a 300A supply, not 600A.
Different companies rate the same connector design differently because it isn't governed by a standard the way that other connectors are such as cee type connectors or 13A plugs. They all, as far as I know, accept up to 300mm on the larger sized connector.

davesparks · Jan 10, 2019

For those who haven't seen powerlock connectors before, this is a 125A up to 400A powerlock adaptor out of our hire stock. The cable is 35mm H07RNF singles.

Normal powerlock cables are a set of 5 single core H07RNF cables with the source and drain (male and female) single pole connectors at each end.

[ElectriciansForums.net] cable selection 600amp 3 phase

Ian1981 · Jan 10, 2019

davesparks said:
For those who haven't seen powerlock connectors before, this is a 125A up to 400A powerlock adaptor out of our hire stock. The cable is 35mm H07RNF singles.

Normal powerlock cables are a set of 5 single core H07RNF cables with the source and drain (male and female) single pole connectors at each end.

View attachment 47069 View attachment 47070

nice boots!