Cable cross-section for power cables, underground cables and domestic installations
A common question is: What cable cross-section should I choose for sockets? As a rule, a cable cross-section of 1.5 mm² is sufficient for individual sockets in a conventional domestic installation; if there are several sockets on a single-phase line, the cross-section should be at least 2.5 mm². What cable cross-section for domestic connections? The cross-section must be at least 16 mm².
Cable cross-sections for domestic installations
What cable cross-section should I choose for sockets?
As a rule, a cable cross-section of 1.5 mm² is sufficient for individual sockets in a conventional domestic installation; if there are several sockets on a single-phase line, the cross-section should be at least 2.5 mm².
What cable cross-section for underground cables?
The recommended cable cross-section for underground cables to supply house connections or building supply lines should be 16 or 25 mm². For individual consumers, e.g. in the garden, 1.5 mm² to 2.5 mm² is sufficient, depending on the application and power of the consumer.
What cross-section for power cables?
The respective cable cross-section of a NYM cable is standardized according to DIN VDE 0295 and IEC 60228.
How much power (watts) or current (amperes) can a NYM power cable withstand? In this case too, the size of the cross-section depends on the maximum power of the consumer and the cable length. NYM cables with a cable cross-section of 1.5, 2.5 or 4 mm² are mainly used in the home.
Our NYM table provides information about the common NYM cables whose cable cross-section has already been derived from the respective diameter.
| Common NYM cables | Protective conductor | Number of cables x cross-section in mm² |
|---|---|---|
| NYM-J (earthing cable) | with protective conductor | 1x4mm² |
| NYM-J | with protective conductor | 3x1.5mm² |
| NYM-J | with protective conductor | 3x2.5mm² |
| NYM-O | without protective conductor | 4x10mm² |
| NYM-JZ | with protective conductor and tensile strength | 7x1,5mm² |
| NYM-OZ | without protective conductor and tensile strength | 7x1.5mm² |