Cable sizing for camping pods

[Fac_man]

Hi all, I know it's hard to tell without seeing a job but, we're wanting to put some camping pods in at one of our sites. We're only looking at basic electrics, LED lighting and a couple of sockets for phone charging but no heaters as they won't be used all year round. We considered 16A caravan hook up points but I think we'd rather wire them direct. There will be 5 of them at 16A so total load would be 80A and the length of cable will need to be about 140metres. The cable will be SWA buried underground. Someone said they had worked out that the cable size would need to be 35mm because of the voltage drop on that length of cable, it seems kind of big to me but it's not my area so thought I'd ask those in the know. Thanks

 

[buzzlightyear]

There will be 5 of them at 16A so total load would be 80A and the length of cable will need to be about 140metres. The cable will be SWA buried underground. Someone said they had worked out that the cable size would need to be 35mm

Multicore 90°C Armoured Thermosetting Insulated Cables​

Tables Apply to: H6942XL, H6943XL, H6944XL, H6945XL, Tuff Sheath,

Voltage:230V

Load:18.4kW / 80A

Length:140m

Method of Installation direct in ground or in ducting in ground

Cable Size:50mm²

 

[littlespark]

I’d advise getting an electrician involved. They will know to add diversity to your calculation, which means your 16A times 5 pods won’t actually need 80A

You say no heating, but what about appliances that heat, such as kettles?
Without any high load, and it’s just lighting and chargers, tv, etc…. They won’t pull 6A never mind 16

 

[Yozza19]

I would be more inclined to install 3 phase supply if available and tap of phase and neutral per hook up point you could use 16mm and still have scope for additional load should it be required

 

[Avo Mk8]

And also it's a distributed load, so only the incoming section of cable takes full load, and each sequential section takes correspondingly less. Does reducing cable size along the run help cost, or just complicate the job?