Sets options for general properties that identify and characterize the cable. An asterisk beside a property name indicates required data.
The cables that you create in your plant must be based on existing reference cables.
Sizing required
For power cables only, when creating a power cable, the software selects this check box by default. Also, the software selects this check box if you change any cable property that affects cable sizing. After selecting the Apply Sizing button, the software clears this check box. For the list of cable and load properties that cause the automatic selection of this check box, see Automatic Switch-On of the Sizing Required Flag.
Cable tag
Identifies the cable. The cable tag appears beside the cable in the Electrical Index. You must enter a value that matches the naming convention for the cable. You define naming conventions in the Options Manager.
Description
Allows you to type a description of the cable, for information only. Note that for a parallel cable assembly, you can edit the description of each cable independently.
Cable category
Defines the purpose for which the cable is used. The cable category can be power, control, grounding, or instrumentation. The software automatically assigns the cable category according to the folder in which you create the cable, and you cannot change the value.
Cable specification
Indicates the family of cables to which the reference cable belongs. You must select a value for this property. When sizing a cable, the software searches only for those reference cables that belong to the selected cable specification. You can define and customize cable specifications in the Data Dictionary Manager.
Reference cable
Allows you to select a reference cable which serves as a basis for the current plant
cable created in the Electrical Index. The availability of reference cables on this list depends on the Cable specification and Conductor arrangement that you select. Note that reference cables whose Availability property is set to False in the Properties window will not appear on this list.
When you select a reference cable, the software completes most of the properties of
the cable automatically, and you cannot edit these values.
When creating a new power cable, the default Reference cable value is Non- sized power cable, meaning that you can enter values for the sizing data.
To sort the list of the reference cables alphabetically select 
. To sort the list by cable size, select 
.
Cable usage
If required, select a value for this property to further categorize the cable, for example, for control voltage definitions, level definitions, and so forth. You can define and customize cable usages in the Data Dictionary Manager.
Armor type
Specifies the type of armor used to protect the cable from its environment. For example, types of armor include non-armored, steel, or lead. This read-only value comes from the reference cable used as the basis for this cable.
Outer jacket insulation
Specifies the material used for the cable jacket. For example, insulation materials include polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyethylene. This read-only value comes from the reference cable used as the basis for this cable.
Notes
Allows you to type user notes, for example if you want to provide additional information regarding special features of the cable.
Insulation voltage rating
Shows the voltage that corresponds to the manufacturer voltage rating for the cable. This read-only value comes from the reference cable used as the basis for this cable.
Insulation temperature rating
Shows the temperature that corresponds to the manufacturer rating of the maximum operating temperature for the cable. This read-only value comes from the reference cable used as the basis for this cable.
Basic ampacity in air
Shows the ampere capacity of the cable in air under the basic conditions that the manufacturer specifies. The software uses this property in the sizing algorithm when you select In Air as the value for the Cable routing property on the Sizing Data tab. This read-only value comes from the reference cable used as the basis for this cable.
Basic ampacity in ground
Shows the ampere capacity of the cable in the ground under the basic conditions that the manufacturer specifies. The software uses this property in the sizing algorithm when you select Under Ground as the value for the Cable routing property on the Sizing Data tab. This read-only value comes from the reference cable used as the basis for this cable.
Custom basic ampacity
Shows the custom ampere capacity of the cable under basic conditions when the sizing of a cable was done using a custom cable routing method which is not InAir or UnderGround. The software calculates this property based on a corresponding lookup table which you specify in the Options Manager General Settings window. The software uses the custom basic ampacity value to size the current cable only after selecting a custom cable routing method from the Routing list on the Sizing Data tab of this dialog. See Define Custom Basic Ampacity for Cable Sizing.
Reactance per unit length
Shows the value of reactance per unit length that matches the manufacturer specification. Reactance per unit length applies only to cables that carry alternating current (AC). The software uses this property in the sizing algorithm. This read-only value comes from the reference cable used as the basis for this cable.
Resistance per unit length
Shows the value of resistance per unit length that matches the manufacturer specification. The software uses this property in the sizing algorithm. This read-only value comes from the reference cable used as the basis for this cable.
Construction
Describes the physical characteristics related to the construction of the cable. The available values depend on the conductor arrangement that you select.
Conductor arrangement
Defines the number and arrangement of the conductors in the cable (not applicable for instrumentation cables). Your selection filters the list of available reference cables so that only those cables that match the cable formation that you have selected are available in the Reference cable list. After you select an appropriate reference cable, the software automatically sets the values for the conductor arrangement, current-carrying, neutral, and grounding conductors. Also, when sizing a power cable, the software searches only for those reference cables that have the selected conductor arrangement. The following standard options are available:
Single core cable
Creates a current-carrying cable with a single core. For this option, you can specify an arrangement of any number of single-core conductors, for example, 3 single-core cables, but you cannot specify any additional conductors.
2-core cable
Creates a cable with two current-carrying conductors and no additional conductors. You cannot modify the cable construction for this option.
2+1-core cable
Creates a cable with two current-carrying conductors and one additional conductor. You cannot modify the cable construction for this option.
3-core cable
Creates a cable with three current-carrying conductors and no additional conductors. You cannot modify the cable construction for this option.
3+1-core cable
Creates a cable with three current-carrying conductors and one additional conductor. You cannot modify the cable construction for this option.
3+2-core cable
Creates a cable with three current-carrying conductors and two additional conductors. You cannot modify the cable construction for this option.
Multicore cable
Creates a cable with multiple conductors. For this option, you can specify any number of conductors and additional conductors.
You can change the names of the standard conductor arrangement items in the Data
Dictionary Manager. However, the software performs calculations according to the position
in the list of the item that you select. For example, a 2-core cable is always the
second item in the list.
Current-carrying conductors
For the Multicore conductor arrangement, allows you to specify the number of conductors within the cable used for carrying the current (not applicable for instrumentation cables). For all other conductor arrangements, specifies the number of power-carrying conductors depending on the specific conductor arrangement that you have selected.
Size
Allows you to select a standard size for the current- carrying conductors. You can define and customize the available cable sizes in the Data Dictionary Manager.
Neutral conductors
Allows you to specify the number of neutral conductors. The availability of this setting depends on the conductor arrangement that you select.
Size
Allows you to select a standard size for the neutral-conductors. You can define and customize the available cable sizes in the Data Dictionary Manager.
Grounding conductors
Allows you to specify the number of grounding conductors. The availability of this setting depends on the conductor arrangement that you select.
Size
Allows you to select a standard size for the grounding-conductors. You can define and customize the available cable sizes in the Data Dictionary Manager.
Cable formation
Displays computed information based on the total number and the size of the conductors or cable sets specified. The size appears as a question mark when the reference cable type is Non-sized power cable or when you have not sized a power cable.
Set type (available for instrumentation cables only)
Allows you to select a standard value that represents the arrangement of the wires in the set, such as Wire, Pair, Pair w/Shield, Triad, Triad w/Shield, and so forth. You can select values of this property for a new cable only; you cannot select a different value for an existing or duplicated cable.
The value Other is available for future use. If you do not want this value to appear in the list,
make it invisible in the Data Dictionary Manager.
Number of sets (available for instrumentation cables only)
Allows you to type the number of cable sets that the cable contains. Select the ellipsis
button 
to open the Cable Set Properties Dialog where you can modify the set definitions if required.
Size
Displays the standard size for the current-carrying conductors or cable sets.
Material
Specifies the conductor material used for the current-carrying conductors or cable sets. This read-only value comes from the reference cable used as the basis for this cable. For power cables, the software uses this property in conjunction with the Conductor Material Coefficients lookup table for performing short circuit cable sizing.
Insulation
Specifies the material used for insulating the current-carrying conductors or cable sets. For example, insulation materials include polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyethylene. This read-only value comes from the reference cable used as the basis for this cable. For power cables, the software uses this property in conjunction with the Conductor Insulation Temperatures lookup table for performing short circuit cable sizing.
Additional conductors
Depending on the selected conductor arrangement, this property specifies the number of additional non-current-carrying conductors, such as ground wires (not applicable for instrumentation cables).
Overall shield
For instrumentation cables only, select to specify an overall shield for the cable. When you select this option, you need to specify the size and material of the overall shield.
Size
Displays the standard size for the additional conductors or overall shield.
Material
For instrumentation cables only, allows you to select the material used for an overall shield. You can define and customize the available materials in the Data Dictionary Manager.
Communication wire
For instrumentation cables only, select to specify a communication wire for the cable.
Color pattern
Select a color pattern for the cable from one of the patterns available. Select the
ellipsis button to define or modify a color pattern.
Use for neutral grounding
For grounding cables only, select this option to make the cable available for selection as a grounding cable on the Transformer Connections and Tapping dialog.
Parallel cables
Describes the number of cables in parallel and the list of cable names. The software calculates these values based on the result of a cable sizing operation or you can specify the number of parallel cables manually in order to create a parallel cable assembly.
When defining naming conventions for parallel cables, you can determine where in the
cable tag name you want to include the parallel cable suffix. In Options Manager,
on the Define Naming Conventions dialog (Options > Naming Conventions > Define), define the parallel cable suffix in the Segment definitions section. You can move the parallel cable suffix property up or down the list to set
the position of this property in the segment definition. If you do not select this
check box, the suffix for the parallel cables will appear at the end of the cable
tag name.
Total number
Specifies the number of parallel cables where the current cable is part of a cable assembly that shares the load current and constitutes an inseparable group. When you perform and apply cable sizing where the recommended number of parallel cables shown on the Sizing Data tab exceeds the value in this box, the software copies the calculated value to this box after you select Apply. You can also select the number of parallel cables manually without performing sizing. To specify a single cable, select the blank value. In the Options Manager, you can specify the minimum conductor size and the maximum number of parallel cables allowed.
List
Allows you to select any cable from the list to view its common properties. The name of the cable in the Cable tag box changes accordingly. If you change a property of a parallel cable, this change affects all the parallel cables in the list. The only property that does not affect the other parallel cables is Description.
When generating parallel cables, either through cable sizing or when you increase
the total number of parallel cables, the software creates the additional cables based
on the original cable name and adds a suffix. In Options Manager, you can specify
whether to use a numeric or alphanumeric suffix by default; you can overwrite the
default suffix for each parallel cable by typing a value for the Parallel Cable Suffix property in the Properties window. Note that if you rename a parallel cable in an assembly, the software does
not update the Parallel Cable Suffix property for that cable. These cables behave as individual cables, so that if you
delete one of the cables, the software leaves the other cables intact. However, if
you change a parameter for one of the cables, the software updates the same parameter
for all the cables.
Command Buttons
Synchronize With Reference
Opens the Synchronize Plant and Reference Cable Data Dialog, which enables you to see if there are any differences between the values in the properties of the current plant cable and the values in the associated reference cable. You can then copy the reference data to the plant cable so that the plant and reference cable data is fully synchronized. Note that this command becomes available only when there is a difference between plant and reference data for the current item.