The calculator estimates cable weight from its type designation and cross-section. From the designation it reads the construction: conductor material (copper or aluminium), insulation (PVC, XLPE, rubber, paper), armour, sheath and voltage. Then it adds up the weight of each layer: conductors, insulation, filler, armour and sheath.
How to enter the cable type
Write the type and cross-section on one line, as in a specification: ВВГнг(А)-LS 4х50, АВБбШв 4х120, АПвПу2г 1х240/35-10 (screen cross-section after the slash, voltage after the hyphen), СИП-2 3х70+1х54,6, КГ 3х4+1х2,5. Russian (GOST) designations are used. To weigh an empty drum, enter “Drum 12”.
Drums
Drum sizes are taken from GOST 5151-79. The calculator picks the most compact drum that holds the whole length. The barrel diameter must be at least 10–20 cable diameters, depending on the cable type, so that the cable is not bent too tightly when wound. If the length does not fit on one drum, several are counted. The drum weight is estimated from the volume of wood, the drum volume from its overall dimensions: flange diameter × flange diameter × width.
The weight from the construction is an estimate, usually within 5–10% of the catalogue figure. If you know the weight from the manufacturer’s catalogue, enter it in the “kg/km” column and the calculator will use it.