Applies to:

SSEPD Staff

Electrical Constants for

Underground Electricity Cables

Classification: Internal

Uncontrolled if printed

The author / owner of this document is:

This document has been

approved for Issue by:

Martin J Gillick,
Engineering Policy

Stewart Reid

TG-PS-124
Rev:1.05
Date of Issue:

Review Date:

Apr 12

Apr 17

General
The tables below give the electrical constants for current and historical designs of
cables. The information is based on manufacturers data and other standards. The R1
and X1 values are measured at the maximum conductor temperature for the design of
cable. i.e. solid paper insulated 65 C, fluid filled 85 C or modern cables 90 C, PVC
80 C and polymeric 90 C.

Low Voltage cables

2.1

LV Single and 3-core PVC insulated PVC sheathed plus copper concentric
neutral service cables.
Phase conductor
size
Material
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium

CSA mm
4
16
25
3 16
3 25
25
35
3 35

DC resistance
(ohms/km) at 20 oC
Phase
Neutral
4.52
1.13
0.712
1.15
0.727
1.18
0.851
0.868

4.8
1.20
0.75
1.21
0.765
1.24
0.900
0.912

Z1 (ohms/km)
R1

X1

5.41
1.36
0.855
1.38
0.87
1.42
1.02
1.05

0.054
0.042
0.041
0.088
0.087
0.043
0.041
0.082

2.2 LV PILCSTA, Wavecon, Districable and Consac cables.

Conductor
Material
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium

Cross Section
0.0225 in
0.04 in
0.06 in
0.1 in
0.15 in
0.2 in
0.25 in
0.3 in
0.1 in
0.15 in
0.3 in
0.5 in

DC resistance
(ohms/km)
at 20oC
1.255
0.702
0.464
0.276
0.188
0.142
0.133
0.092
0.470
0.308
0.151
0.0914

Z1 (ohms/km)
R1
X1
1.477
0.827
0.547
0.238
0.219
0.175
0.142
0.109
0.567
0.372
0.186
0.109

Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution

Page 1 of 6

0.0865
0.0794
0.0762
0.0733
0.0698
0.0684
0.0676
0.0674
0.0733
0.0698
0.0674
0.0663

Applies to:
SSEPD Staff

Electrical Constants for

Underground Electricity Cables

Classification: Internal

Uncontrolled if printed

Conductor
Material
Aluminium
PILC
Aluminium
Consac
Aluminium
Wavecon
Aluminium
Districable
Aluminium
PILC
Aluminium
Consac
Aluminium
Wavecon
Aluminium
Wavecon
(Bunched
single)
Aluminium
Districable
Aluminium
PILC
Aluminium
Wavecon
Aluminium
Wavecon
(Bunched
single)
Aluminium
Districable

TG-PS-124
Rev:1.05

DC resistance
(ohms/km)
at 20oC
0.320

0.379

0.0690

95 mm Phase
95 mm Neutral
95 mm Phase
95 mm Neutral
95 mm

0.320
0.310
0.320
0.320
0.320

0.379
0.367
0.379
0.367
0.374

0.069
0.028
0.0690
0.0280
0.0735

185 mm

0.164

0.195

0.0685

185 mm Phase
185 mm Neutral
185 mm Phase
185 mm Neutral
555 mm (185 mm
cable)

0.164
0.164
0.164
0.164
0.055

0.195
0.200
0.195
0.195
0.068

0.0685
0.0235
0.0685
0.0260
0.176

185 mm

0.164

0.195

0.0685

300 mm

0.100

0.120

0.067

300 mm Phase
300 mm Neutral
900 mm (300 mm
cable)

0.100
0.164
0.033

0.120
0.195
0.042

0.067
0.020
0.173

300 mm Phase
300 mm Neutral

0.100
0.164

0.118
0.193

0.067
0.067

Cross Section
95 mm

Z1 (ohms/km)
R1
X1

Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution

Page 2 of 6

Applies to:
SSEPD Staff

Electrical Constants for

Underground Electricity Cables

Classification: Internal

Uncontrolled if printed

Rev:1.05

6.6kV Cables
Conductor
Material

Cross
Section

DC resistance
(ohms/km)
at 20 oC

Z1
Ohms/km
X1
0.104
0.089
0.083
0.079
0.077
0.076
0.074
0.072
0.071
0.101
0.087
0.091

Per unit/km on
100 MVA base
R1
X1
3.56
0.238
1.33
0.203
0.779
0.190
0.552
0.180
0.426
0.176
0.351
0.174
0.302
0.172
0.203
0.166
0.168
0.163
1.269
0.225
0.869
0.198
0.591
0.203

Copper
0.0225 in
Copper
0.06 in
Copper
0.1 in
Copper
0.15 in
Copper
0.2 in
Copper
0.25 in
Copper
0.3 in
Copper
0.4 in
Copper
0.5 in
Aluminium 70 mm*
Aluminium 95 mm
Aluminium 150 mm*

1.257
0.464
0.276
0.188
0.141
0.113
0.092
0.069
0.056
0.443
0.320
0.206

R1
1.552
0.580
0.339
0.240
0.186
0.153
0.131
0.089
0.073
0.569
0.379
0.265

Aluminium

0.164

0.195

0.080

0.446

0.183

0.125
0.100
0.100

0.161
0.120
0.120

0.085
0.077
0.082

0.359
0.274
0.274

0.190
0.176
0.187

185mm

Aluminium 240 mm*

Aluminium 300 mm
Aluminium 300 mm*
* 11kV polymeric cable
4

TG-PS-124

11kV Cables
Conductor
Material

Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper

Cross
Section
0.0225 in
0.06 in
0.1 in
0.15 in
0.2 in
0.25 in
0.3 in
0.4 in
0.5 in
300 mm
400 mm
500 mm

DC resistance
(ohms/km)
at 20 oC
1.257
0.464
0.276
0.188
0.141
0.113
0.092
0.069
0.056
0.061
0.047
0.036

Z1
Ohms/km
R1
1.477
0.547
0.329
0.219
0.175
0.142
0.109
0.083
0.070
0.080
0.064
0.051

X1
0.114
0.096
0.090
0.084
0.082
0.080
0.078
0.077
0.074
0.097
0.094
0.091

Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution

Page 3 of 6

Per unit/km on
100 MVA base
R1
X1
1.22
0.0941
0.452
0.0795
0.272
0.0741
0.181
0.0696
0.144
0.0678
0.117
0.0661
0.0904
0.0641
0.0686
0.0632
0.0580
0.0614
0.0661
0.0802
0.0529
0.0777
0.0421
0.0752

Applies to:
SSEPD Staff

Electrical Constants for

Underground Electricity Cables

Classification: Internal

Uncontrolled if printed

Conductor

DC resistance
(ohms/km)
at 20 oC

Rev:1.05
Z1

Copper
630 mm
Aluminium 0.15 in
Aluminium
0.3 in
Aluminium
0.4 in
Aluminium
0.5 in
Aluminium 70 mm*
Aluminium 95 mm
Aluminium 150 mm*

0.280
0.312
0.152
0.113
0.092
0.443
0.320
0.206

R1
0.042
0.372
0.186
0.142
0.109
0.569
0.379
0.265

X1
0.089
0.084
0.078
0.077
0.074
0.101
0.087
0.091

Per unit/km on
100 MVA base
R1
X1
0.0347
0.0735
0.307
0.0696
0.1453
0.0641
0.1176
0.0632
0.0906
0.0614
0.4694
0.0834
0.313
0.0720
0.2186
0.0752

Aluminium

185 mm

0.164

0.195

0.080

0.161

0.0661

Aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium
* Polymeric

240 mm*
300 mm
300 mm*
Insulation

0.125
0.100
0.100

0.161
0.120
0.120

0.085
0.077
0.082

0.1328
0.099
0.099

0.0702
0.0636
0.0678

Material

TG-PS-124

Cross
Section

Ohms/km

22kV Cables
Conductor
Material

Cross
Section

DC resistance
(ohms/km)
at 20 oC

Z1
Ohms/km

Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Aluminium
Aluminium

0.04 in
0.06 in
0.1 in
0.15 in
0.2 in
0.25 in
0.3 in
185 mm
95 mm
185 mm

0.702
0.464
0.276
0.188
0.141
0.113
0.092
0.099
0.320
0.164

R1
0.799
0.525
0.317
0.219
0.164
0.131
0.106
0.118
0.379
0.195

Aluminium

300 mm

0.100

0.120

X1
0.118
0.110
0.102
0.096
0.092
0.090
0.088
0.091
0.101
0.091

Per unit/km on
100 MVA base
R1
X1
0.165
0.0244
0.109
0.0229
0.0655
0.0210
0.0452
0.0199
0.0339
0.0190
0.0271
0.0184
0.0219
0.0180
0.0244
0.0188
0.078
0.0209
0.0403
0.0188

0.086

0.0248

Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution

Page 4 of 6

0.0178

Applies to:
SSEPD Staff

Electrical Constants for

Underground Electricity Cables

Classification: Internal

TG-PS-124

Uncontrolled if printed

Rev:1.05

33kV Cables
6.1 33kV Solid Paper Insulated Cables
Conductor

DC resistance
(ohms/km)
at 20 oC

Z1

Material

Cross
Section

Ohms/km

Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Aluminium
Aluminium

0.06 in
0.1 in
0.15 in
0.2 in
0.25 in
0.3 in
0.4 in
0.5 in
50 mm
70 mm
95 mm
185 mm
240 mm
300 mm
95 mm
185 mm

0.464
0.276
0.188
0.141
0.113
0.092
0.068
0.056
0.387
0.268
0.193
0.099
0.075
0.060
0.318
0.164

R1
0.534
0.328
0.219
0.164
0.131
0.109
0.082
0.068
0.456
0.316
0.228
0.118
0.090
0.073
0.379
0.195

X1
0.137
0.139
0.128
0.123
0.116
0.113
0.108
0.105
0.126
0.119
0.112
0.101
0.097
0.094
0.112
0.101

Per unit/km on
100 MVA base
R1
X1
0.04904 0.01258
0.03010 0.01275
0.02010 0.01172
0.01504 0.01127
0.01203 0.01067
0.01004 0.01034
0.00753 0.00996
0.00622 0.00963
0.03550 0.01157
0.02902 0.01093
0.02094 0.01025
0.0108
0.0093
0.0083
0.0089
0.0067
0.0086
0.0348
0.0103
0.01791 0.0093

Aluminium
Aluminium

240 mm
300 mm

0.125
0.100

0.149
0.120

0.097
0.094

0.0137
0.0110

0.0089
0.0086

6.2 33kV Fluid Filled Cables

Conductor
Material

Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper

Cross
Section
0.1 in
0.15 in
0.2 in
0.25 in
0.3 in
0.4 in
0.5 in
0.6 in
185 mm

DC resistance
(ohms/km)
at 20 oC
0.276
0.188
0.141
0.113
0.092
0.068
0.056
0.046
0.099

Z1
Ohms/km
R1
0.347
0.238
0.179
0.143
0.117
0.089
0.073
0.061
0.127

X1
0.093
0.088
0.084
0.083
0.080
0.078
0.075
0.074
0.078

Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution

Page 5 of 6

Per unit/km on
100 MVA base
R1
X1
0.03184 0.00853
0.02184 0.00804
0.01652 0.00771
0.01324 0.00763
0.01074 0.00733
0.00814 0.00711
0.00673 0.00694
0.00563 0.00684
0.01166 0.00711

Applies to:
SSEPD Staff

Electrical Constants for

Underground Electricity Cables

Classification: Internal

TG-PS-124

Uncontrolled if printed

Conductor

DC resistance
(ohms/km)
at 20 oC

Rev:1.05
Z1

Material

Cross
Section

Ohms/km

Copper
Copper
Copper
Aluminium

240 mm
300 mm
400 mm
185 mm

0.075
0.060
0.047
0.164

R1
0.097
0.078
0.063
0.211

X1
0.083
0.081
0.079
0.085

Per unit/km on
100 MVA base
R1
X1
0.0089
0.0076
0.0072
0.0074
0.0058
0.0073
0.0194
0.0078

Aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium

240 mm
300 mm
400 mm

0.125
0.100
0.078

0.160
0.130
0.102

0.083
0.081
0.079

0.0147
0.0119
0.0094

0.0076
0.0074
0.0073

6.3 33kV Polymeric Single Core Cables in Trefoil Formation

Conductor
Material

Cross
Section

DC resistance
(ohms/km)
at 20 oC

Z1
Ohms/km
X1
0.137
0.124
0.118
0.114
0.114
0.110
0.110
0.106
0.106
0,103

Per unit/km on
100 MVA base
R1
X1
0.0358
0.0126
0.0117
0.0139
0.0090
0.0108
0.0119
0.0105
0.0072
0.0105
0.0093
0.0101
0.0057
0.0101
0.0073
0.0097
0.0046
0.0097
0,0063
0,0103

Aluminium
Copper
Copper
Aluminium
Copper
Aluminium
Copper
Aluminium
Copper
Aluminium

95 mm
185 mm
240 mm
300 mm
300 mm
400 mm
400 mm
500 mm
500 mm
630 mm

0.3200
0.0991
0.0754
0.1000
0.0601
0.0778
0.0470
0.0605
0.0366
0,0469

R1
0.3894
0.1274
0.0976
0.1293
0.0785
0.1013
0.0624
0.0797
0.0500
0,068

Copper

630 mm

0.0283

0.0404

0.102

0.0037

0.0094

Copper

800 mm

0.0221

0.0336

0.098

0.0031

0.0090

Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution

Page 6 of 6