New Temporary Electricity Supply

[cardholder]

I have a 180m overhead cable run and PEA recommend 95 mm. I would like touse 70 mm but am loathe to against their advice.

If you are going for a 30/100 meter then the 95mm² is the cable to use, if you are going with a 15/45 then you could get away with 70mm² but there'd be no spare capacity for a meter upgrade.

A better (cheaper) solution now you're going overhead would be to go for 120mm² Aluminium, much cheaper and significantly less of a magnet for copper thieves.With a cable that size there is no way it will fit in the meter or consumer unit so your contractor will have to splice on a 25mm² copper pigtail at each end (don't let him trim strands).

Run the idea of Al cable past PEA and see what they say.

Thanks Crossy.

[electau]

First . What is your proposed max demand in amps? 100A, 45A etc.

1.5km is a very long run for a LV distribution spur line. Far more economical is to have the transformer as close as practical to your property boundry, or the PEA may permit it on your property and locate it as close as practicable to the proposed mainswitch board. this way you will have short route length for the LV consumers mains.

Dependant on your max demand you it may be advantageous to you from an economic perspective ( ie cost) to install a 3 phase 4 wire supply in lieu of a 2 wire single phase one.

Smaller conductors mean less cost per metre for your consumers mains.

On the downside you will have to pay for the capital cost of the HV line extension and transformer.

Edited December 6, 2012 by electau