Parallel Cable Group Configuration Planner — Compare Conductor Sets
Estimate how many parallel cable runs are required under your chosen planning assumptions, then compare a few possible group sizes before detailed design.
Load and cable assumptions
How parallel-run planning works
The required current is increased by the design-margin factor, then divided by the effective planning capacity of one cable run after the entered derating factor.
Why the effective capacity matters
A nominal cable rating and the capacity you choose for preliminary planning are not automatically the same number. Keeping the derating input visible prevents a hidden assumption from changing the result.
Why compare several run counts?
The minimum mathematical run count may not be the preferred configuration. Comparing one additional run can reveal how much current each run carries after the configuration changes.
Example
A 420 A requirement with a 10% design margin becomes 462 A. At 180 A per run and an 85% derating factor, each run has an entered planning capacity of 153 A, so four runs are required by this model.
Limitations
Parallel cable design is highly installation-specific. This calculator is a comparison aid and should not be treated as a final electrical design.
Frequently asked questions
Does this select the cable size?
No. You enter the per-run planning capacity.
Can the minimum number of runs be increased?
Yes. The result compares several run counts where practical.
Does this balance phases?
No. Phase configuration is outside this simplified current-allocation model.