Search

Premium Membership ♕

Limited Time Offer: Save 15% on PRO Plan with discount code: LRN15 and study specialized LV/MV/HV technical articles and studies.

Home / Technical Articles / 8 steps to begin basic circuit design
8 steps to begin basic circuit design
8 steps to begin basic circuit design (photo credit: pensdown.co.uk)

How do we begin to design?

What do we need to know? Clearly, plunging into calculations of cable size is of little value unless the type of cable and its method of installation is known. This, in turn, will depend on the installation’s environment.

At the same time, we would need to know whether the supply was single or three-phase, what the earthing arrangements (learn about this) were and so on.

Here then is our starting point and it is referred to in Part 3 of the IEE Regulations as ‘Assessment of General Characteristics’.

Having ascertained all the necessary details, we can decide on an installation method, the type of cable and how we will protect against electric shock and overcurrents. We would now be ready to begin the calculation part of the design procedure.

Basically, there are eight stages in such a procedure. These are the same whatever the type of installation, be it a cooker circuit or a steel wire armoured (SWA) cable feeding a remote garage.

8 steps

Here then are the 8 steps to begin basic circuit design in a simplified form:

  1. Determine the design current Ib
  2. Select the rating of the protection In.
  3. Select the relevant rating factors (CFs).
  4. Divide In by the relevant CFs to give tabulated cable current carrying capacity It.
  5. Choose a cable size to suit It.
  6. Check the voltage drop (Use MS Excel Spreadsheet to calculate).
  7. Check for shock risk constraints.
  8. Check for thermal constraints.

Reference: Electric Wiring: Domestic – Brian Scaddan IEng, MIET

Premium Membership

Get access to premium HV/MV/LV technical articles, electrical engineering guides, research studies and much more! It helps you to shape up your technical skills in your everyday life as an electrical engineer.
More Information
author-pic

Edvard Csanyi

Electrical engineer, programmer and founder of EEP. Highly specialized for design of LV/MV switchgears and LV high power busbar trunking (<6300A) in power substations, commercial buildings and industry facilities. Professional in AutoCAD programming.

5 Comments


  1. suresh babu
    Oct 11, 2015

    i want know about 3 phase submersible motor to be operated by two different places with their respective power supply


  2. adnan
    Oct 12, 2014

    what is 3 phase moter.


  3. adnan
    Oct 12, 2014

    sir plz solve the answer


  4. kamran
    Jul 11, 2014

    Dear sir
    Thanks for your technical information. I would like to know about calculating 3 phase motors and star and delta circuits also PLC in basic style .

    Best ragard,


  5. hardikkotadiya
    Apr 13, 2014

    it’s amazing we are solve easily and clear oua doubt

Leave a Comment

Tell us what you're thinking. We care about your opinion! Please keep in mind that comments are moderated and rel="nofollow" is in use. So, please do not use a spammy keyword or a domain as your name, or it will be deleted. Let's have a professional and meaningful conversation instead. Thanks for dropping by!

twenty three  −  twenty  =  

Learn How to Design Power Systems

Learn to design LV/MV/HV power systems through professional video courses. Lifetime access. Enjoy learning!

Subscribe to Weekly Newsletter

Subscribe to our Weekly Digest newsletter and receive free updates on new technical articles, video courses and guides (PDF).
EEP Academy Courses - A hand crafted cutting-edge electrical engineering knowledge