Predictika · 1.1 kV XLPE single-core power cables

An AI sales agent's single-core cable circuit, checked before it goes out

An AI sales agent proposes a single-core XLPE power cable for a circuit: conductor, armour, size, how it is installed, the load and the fault current. Before the quote goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the rating, derating and short-circuit tables in the published catalogue and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.

Scope: 1.1 kV XLPE single-core cables, copper and aluminium, 4 to 1000 sq mm: size, construction, current rating at the site, short-circuit rating and voltage. See everything this validator covers

This validator models single-core circuits from Polycab's public XLPE heavy duty cable catalogue (2022), not just the scenarios shown below.

  • Construction and size — copper or aluminium conductor; unarmoured, round-wire armoured (from 10 sq mm) or flat-strip armoured (from 95 sq mm); the 4 to 1000 sq mm sizes in the catalogue's standard steps.
  • Current rating — the catalogue rating for two or three cables laid in the ground, in a duct or in air, the catalogue's temperature rating factors (air 25 to 60 C, ground 15 to 50 C), and a check that the quote's stated rating and the circuit load fit the derated figure.
  • Short-circuit and voltage — the catalogue's 1 second short-circuit rating for each size, scaled for other durations by the square-root rule, and the 1,100 V AC and 1,500 V DC limits. Circuits that share a route need an engineer to confirm the rating.

Any single-core circuit that touches these rules is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: prices (the catalogue publishes none, so this validator produces no price build-up or line-item quote), multi-core cables, grouping factors for circuits that share a route (the catalogue gives none, so these go to an engineer), soil thermal resistivity other than the catalogue's, cable lengths, voltage drop, and other Polycab cable ranges.

The AI sales agentBuilds the cable circuit from the conversation and says it is ready.
Predictika validatorChecks every rule at once and returns the verdict, each finding, and the computed figures.

7 scenarios in 3 groups · each group runs from the agent’s first attempt to the outcome · click one to switch

What the agent proposes

The AI sales agent says

Illustrative agent statement. The validator receives the structured request below.

Proposing agent: AI sales agent (scripted)

Before sending, the agent must call Recorded run

Predictika validator


      

        
        
        
      

      
Waiting for the call.

      
    

  

  
  

    
Where rules-based CPQ gets it wrong
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Our assessment of what a typical rules-based CPQ (product rules, price rules and validation rules, as in Salesforce CPQ) does with the same cases. It is a judgment about effort and reliability, not a claim that nothing can be built.

    
What the validator caughtTypical rules-based CPQPredictika
A size that is not made in the chosen constructionOnly with care
A list of allowed sizes per construction; every new construction means editing the lists.		Construction and size are in one request and checked together.
A current rating that depends on conductor, size, installation and number of cablesOnly with care
A large lookup table maintained by hand, one entry per combination.		The rating is read from the model on every call and compared with the figure the agent stated.
A temperature derating that changes the usable currentOnly with workarounds
The derated figure has to be calculated by a formula or script outside the product rules.		The derated rating is computed and the load is checked against it.
A fault current that must stay below a size-dependent short-circuit ratingOnly with workarounds
The duration scaling is a calculation; a simple rule can compare only fixed values.		The short-circuit rating is scaled for the fault duration and compared in one pass.
Every problem returned in one answerOnly with workarounds
Rules tend to fire as the quote is saved or a step is completed, so a rep often fixes one error and meets the next.		All findings come back together, whatever order the choices arrived in.

  

  

    
What this validator catches: findings from its test cases
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Every rule is checked on every call, in any order the choices arrive; one problem never hides another. Blocking findings stop the quote; approval findings need a person to sign off; everything else is computed.

    
1The circuit carries 220 A, but the cable can carry only 212.03 A at this site temperature.
2The circuit carries 213 A, but the cable can carry only 212.03 A at this site temperature.
3The circuit carries 290 A, but the cable can carry only 269.67 A at this site temperature.
420 sq mm is not a size in the Polycab 1.1 kV single-core XLPE range (4 to 1,000 sq mm in the standard steps).
5This armour construction is not made at 6 sq mm; round-wire armoured single-core cables start at 10 sq mm and flat-strip armoured at 95 sq mm.
6This armour construction is not made at 70 sq mm; round-wire armoured single-core cables start at 10 sq mm and flat-strip armoured at 95 sq mm.
7The cable is rated for AC up to 1,100 V and DC up to 1,500 V to earth; the circuit is 1,200 V.
8The cable is rated for AC up to 1,100 V and DC up to 1,500 V to earth; the circuit is 1,600 V.
9The catalogue gives rating factors only for ambient air 25 to 60 C and ground 15 to 50 C in 5 degree steps; 42 C is not in the table.
10The catalogue gives rating factors only for ambient air 25 to 60 C and ground 15 to 50 C in 5 degree steps; 20 C is not in the table.
11The quote states a catalogue rating of 260 A, but the catalogue rating for this cable and installation is 233 A.
12The quote states a catalogue rating of 212 A, but the catalogue rating for this cable and installation is 233 A.
13A fault of 14,000 A lasting 1 s exceeds the cable; its short-circuit rating is 13,590 A for 1 s, falling with the square root of the duration.
14A fault of 8,000 A lasting 4 s exceeds the cable; its short-circuit rating is 13,590 A for 1 s, falling with the square root of the duration.
15A fault of 8,000 A lasting 1 s exceeds the cable; its short-circuit rating is 6,620 A for 1 s, falling with the square root of the duration.
162 circuits share the route, but the catalogue ratings are for a single circuit and the catalogue gives no grouping factors; an engineer must confirm the rating.
17The circuit carries 300 A, but the cable can carry only 233.0 A at this site temperature.
18The quote states a catalogue rating of 200 A, but the catalogue rating for this cable and installation is 195 A.
19A fault of 14,000 A lasting 1 s exceeds the cable; its short-circuit rating is 10,020 A for 1 s, falling with the square root of the duration.

  

  

    
Scenarios and results
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The recorded result of the validator for each scenario on this page: the request the AI agent sent, the verdict, and every finding, in the order they appear above.

    
1. Buried copper cable: A copper armoured cable buried at 40 C

    
The agent's request. Please quote a copper round-wire armoured single-core XLPE cable, 70 sq mm, buried in the ground at 40 C. The circuit carries 230 A and the fault level is 9,000 A for 1 s. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Load above the cable rating at this site. The circuit carries 230 A, but the cable can carry only 196.56 A at this site temperature.
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2. Buried copper cable: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a copper round-wire armoured single-core XLPE cable, 120 sq mm, buried in the ground at 40 C. The circuit carries 230 A and the fault level is 9,000 A for 1 s. The catalogue rating is 295 A. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Circuit summary. Catalogue rating 295 A; rating at this site 268.45 A; short-circuit rating 17,170 A for 1 s.
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3. Aluminium flat-strip cable: An aluminium flat-strip armoured cable in air

    
The agent's request. Please quote a aluminium flat-strip armoured single-core XLPE cable, 70 sq mm, in free air at 40 C. The circuit carries 150 A and the fault level is 12,000 A for 1 s. The catalogue rating is 170 A. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Size not made in this construction. This armour construction is not made at 70 sq mm; round-wire armoured single-core cables start at 10 sq mm and flat-strip armoured at 95 sq mm.
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  • Stated rating differs from the catalogue. The quote states a catalogue rating of 170 A, but the catalogue rating for this cable and installation is 185 A.
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  • Fault current above the short-circuit rating. A fault of 12,000 A lasting 1 s exceeds the cable; its short-circuit rating is 6,620 A for 1 s, falling with the square root of the duration.
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4. Aluminium flat-strip cable: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a aluminium flat-strip armoured single-core XLPE cable, 95 sq mm, in free air at 40 C. The circuit carries 150 A and the fault level is 12,000 A for 1 s. The catalogue rating is 235 A. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Fault current above the short-circuit rating. A fault of 12,000 A lasting 1 s exceeds the cable; its short-circuit rating is 8,980 A for 1 s, falling with the square root of the duration.
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5. Aluminium flat-strip cable: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a aluminium flat-strip armoured single-core XLPE cable, 185 sq mm, in free air at 40 C. The circuit carries 150 A and the fault level is 12,000 A for 1 s. The catalogue rating is 366 A. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Circuit summary. Catalogue rating 366 A; rating at this site 366.0 A; short-circuit rating 17,480 A for 1 s.
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6. Round-wire armoured cable: A round-wire armoured cable in a duct

    
The agent's request. Please quote a copper round-wire armoured single-core XLPE cable, 6 sq mm, in a duct at 30 C. The circuit carries 55 A and the fault level is 500 A for 1 s. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Size not made in this construction. This armour construction is not made at 6 sq mm; round-wire armoured single-core cables start at 10 sq mm and flat-strip armoured at 95 sq mm.
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  • Load above the cable rating at this site. The circuit carries 55 A, but the cable can carry only 53.0 A at this site temperature.
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7. Round-wire armoured cable: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a copper round-wire armoured single-core XLPE cable, 10 sq mm, in a duct at 30 C. The circuit carries 55 A and the fault level is 500 A for 1 s. The catalogue rating is 70 A. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Circuit summary. Catalogue rating 70 A; rating at this site 70.0 A; short-circuit rating 1,430 A for 1 s.
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Narration transcript
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The text of the narrated walkthrough, step by step.

    
    
      
  1. Welcome to a demo of Predictika's Validator. An AI sales agent proposes a single-core XLPE power cable for a circuit: conductor, armour, size, and more. Before the quote goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the rating, derating and short-circuit tables in the published catalogue and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.
    2. 
      
  2. I will start with the first request by the agent.
    3. 
      
  3. The agent says. Please quote a aluminium flat-strip armoured single-core XLPE cable, 70 sq mm, in free air at 40 C. The circuit carries 150 A and the fault level is 12,000 A for 1 s. The rest of the request is on screen.
    4. 
      
  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
    5. 
      
  5. Blocked, with three findings, all in one answer. This armour construction is not made at 70 sq mm; round-wire armoured single-core cables start at 10 sq mm and flat-strip armoured at 95 sq mm. The quote states a catalogue rating of 170 A, but the catalogue rating for this cable and installation is 185 A. A fault of 12,000 A lasting 1 s exceeds the cable; its short-circuit rating is 6,620 A for 1 s, falling with the square root of the duration.
    6. 
      
  6. The validator returned three blocking findings in one answer. A check that reads one field at a time would pass most of this; it shows only when the choices in the quote are checked against each other.
    7. 
      
  7. What this shows: for a fault current that must stay below a size-dependent short-circuit rating, a rules-based CPQ can do this only with workarounds.
    8. 
      
  8. Now the agent resubmits.
    9. 
      
  9. The corrected request. It changes the size to 95 sq mm and the stated catalogue rating to 235 A.
    10. 
      
  10. It calls the validator again.
    11. 
      
  11. Still blocked, with one finding, all in one answer. A fault of 12,000 A lasting 1 s exceeds the cable; its short-circuit rating is 8,980 A for 1 s, falling with the square root of the duration.
    12. 
      
  12. Two findings cleared. Still blocking: fault current above the short-circuit rating.
    13. 
      
  13. The agent resubmits once more.
    14. 
      
  14. The revised request. It changes the size to 185 sq mm and the stated catalogue rating to 366 A.
    15. 
      
  15. It calls the validator once more.
    16. 
      
  16. This time the validator clears it.
    17. 
      
  17. The earlier finding is cleared, and the validator's figure matches the quote.
    18. 
      
  18. Three problems caught in one call, fixed in two passes, and a clean quote. That is the value of Predictika's validator: catching mistakes before they reach the customer. Now you can try the other scenarios yourself.
    19.