General Purpose Outlets Load Estimation
1. Load Estimation
For general-purpose socket outlets, the load is estimated as follows:
1st outlet: 1500
Next 4 outlets: 1000 W each, totaling 4×1000 W=4000 W
Each additional outlet: 500W each.
2. Diversity Factor Application
To account for realistic usage, the diversity factor reduces the assumed load per socket after the
first outlet. This means the total estimated load for a group of outlets will be less than the sum of
their individual maximum ratings.
3. Example Calculation
For a room with 10 socket outlets, the load estimation in watts is:
1. 1st outlet: 1500W.
2. Next 4 outlets: 4×1000W=4000W.
3. Remaining 5 outlets: 5×500W=2500W.
Total estimated load:
1500W+4000W+2500W=8000W.
4. Circuit Sizing in Watts
For a 20A circuit at 230V (single-phase):
o Maximum load capacity = 230V×20A=4600W.
o This means a maximum of 4 to 5 outlets per circuit based on the load estimation
above.
5. Voltage Drop Consideration
Ensure that the voltage drop does not exceed 5% of the supply voltage, which is:
5%×230V=11.5V.
This is critical when running long circuits to ensure outlets receive sufficient voltage under load.
2. Load Estimation for 3-Phase Outlets
For 3-phase outlets, the load estimation follows a similar approach to single-phase, but it is
scaled for the additional phase. Here's how the calculation is typically done:
First outlet: The assumed load for the first 3-phase outlet is typically 3 kVA (kilo-volt-
amperes), which is 3000 W.
Subsequent outlets: For each additional outlet, the load estimate is reduced using a
diversity factor.
o The next outlets are usually assumed to have 2 kVA each, which is 2000 W per
outlet.
o Each further outlet typically uses 1 kVA per outlet, which is 1000 W.
2. Example of Load Estimation in Watts for 3-Phase Outlets
Let's assume you are estimating the load for 10 three-phase socket outlets in a workshop.
First outlet: 3000W.
Next 4 outlets: 4×2000W=8000W.
Remaining 5 outlets: 5×1000W=5000W.
Total estimated load:
3000W+8000W+5000W=16,000W.
3. Sizing for a 3-Phase Circuit
For a 3-phase circuit with a 20A circuit breaker and 400V supply voltage, the maximum load
capacity is calculated as:
Where:
PPP is the power in watts,
VVV is the voltage (400 V for a 3-phase supply),
III is the current (20 A in this case).
This means the maximum load per 3-phase circuit is approximately 13,856 W.
4. Load Distribution and Circuit Design
Given the estimated total load of 16,000 W from the example, this load would typically require 2
separate 3-phase circuits:
First 3-phase circuit: With a capacity of 13,856 W, it would cover around 13,856 W of
the total load.
Second 3-phase circuit: The remaining load of 2,144 W (16,000 W - 13,856 W) would
be distributed across another 3-phase circuit.
5. Voltage Drop Consideration for 3-Phase Circuits
For 3-phase circuits, ensure the voltage drop does not exceed 5%:
Maximum Voltage Drop=5%×400V=20V.
Summary
For 3-phase outlets, the load estimation follows these principles:
First outlet: 3000 W.
Next 4 outlets: 2000 W each.
Remaining outlets: 1000 W each.
The estimated total load for 10 outlets would be 16,000 W.
The system should be designed with appropriate circuits, and each 3-phase circuit should
be sized according to the expected load, with careful attention to voltage drop and
diversity factors.
This ensures that the electrical system is safe, efficient, and complies with the SANS 10142-1
standards
