Module 2: change voltage, current, and phase of electrical power

Power Station – it is an industrial facility that houses the nearby and within a building.
prime mover, electric generator and auxiliaries for conversion Building transformers are rated in kVA. Typical sizes used in
of mechanical energy, chemical energy and/or nuclear energy buildings include 3, 6, 9, 15, 25, 30, 37.5, 45, 50, 75, 112.5,
into electrical energy. It is a facility or system for the 150, 225, 300, 500, 750, 1000, 1500 kVA, and larger
generation of electric power. A step-down transformer steps down the voltage applied to
it. A step-up transformer is steps up the voltage applied to it.
Building electrical service equipment includes the following: Step-down transformers are typically used in buildings to
• Service Entrance Conductors reduce building system voltages to useable levels.
• Service Entrance
• Switchboards Overcurrent protection (OCP) devices –they safeguard the
• Panel-boards building service or an individual circuit from excessive current
• Building Transformer flows. It protects the circuit components from severe
overheating when current flowing through the circuit reaches
Service Entrance Conductors – conductors that carry power an amperage that will cause an excessive or dangerous
from the transformer through a metering device to the temperature rise in conductors.
building’s service disconnects. These may be overhead or
underground. Fuses and circuit breakers serve as automatic overcurrent
protection devices. They are designed to open a
Service drop – overhead wires extend from a pole-mounted circuit if the amount of current, in amps, that flows through
distribution transformer to the building’s service entrance. the circuit exceeds the OCP device rating.
Overhead service entrance conductors extending from pole-
mounted transformers. Circuit Breaker – it is a device designed to open (or trip) and
close a circuit by non-automatic means and to open the
Service Lateral – underground (buried) service entrance circuit automatically on a predetermined overcurrent without
conductors. damage to itself when properly applied within its rating.

Service Entrance – it includes the components that connect Fuse – it is an overcurrent protective device with a circuit-
the utility-supplied wiring (the service lateral or service drop) opening fusible part that is heated and severed by the
to the service disconnect, excluding the utility’s metering passage of overcurrent through it.
equipment. General Classification of Fuses
1. Cartridge Fuse – it is enclosed in insulating tube.
Service Entrance Equipment – receives the service entrance 2. Plug Fuse – it is enclosed in porcelain or rubber commonly
conductors. The service equipment includes a method of used in various electrical appliances.
measuring power (metering equipment), a method of cutting 3. Fuse Wire – opened wire of low melting point commonly
off power (main disconnect or switch gear), and overcurrent used in the safety power switch.
protection devices (circuit breakers or fuses) that protect the 4. Non-time delay fuse – holds five times its rating for 1⁄4 to
service entrance conductors. 2 seconds (not ideal to loads which requires more than 2
seconds to accelerate).
Service Disconnect – it is a required part of the service 5. Dual-element time delay fuse – holds five times the rating
entrance equipment that allows electrical service from the for 10 seconds.
utility company to be switched off so that power is The standard ampere ratings for fuses and inverse time
disconnected to the building installation. It is a set of fuses or circuit breakers shall be considered:
a circuit breaker that protects the service entrance • 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 125,
conductors. 150, 175, 200, 225, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 600, 700,
800, 1000, 1200, 1600, 2000, 2500, 3000, 4000, 5000, and
Switchboard – it is a large cabinet or assembly of metal 6000 amperes
cabinets in which is connected disconnecting switches,
overcorrect protection devices (fuses or circuit breakers), • PEC – Philippine Electrical Code
other protective devices, and instruments designed to divide OPDs have two current ratings: overcurrent and amperes
large amounts of electrical current into smaller amounts of interrupting current.
current used by electrical equipment. Overcurrent Rating – is the highest current it can carry
continuously without exceeding a specific temperature limit
Panelboard – it is one or more metal cabinets that serve as a (e.g., without overheating).
single unit, including buses, automatic overcurrent protection
devices (fuses or circuit breakers). It is equipped with or Interrupting Capacity – it is the current that a fuse is able to
without switches for the control of light, heat, and power interrupt without being destroyed or causing an electric arc
circuits. with unacceptable duration.

Transformers – are used in transmitting and distributing Utilization Equipment and Devices
power from the power plant to a substation. The operation Utilization equipment – it is a broad category of electrical or
of a large commercial installation depends on power electronic machine or instrument designed to perform a
distribution that, in turn, depends on transformers used to
specific mechanical, chemical, heating, or lighting function and protects the conductors, simplifying installation of
through the use of electrical energy. multiple wiring.

Electric Appliance – it an end-use piece of utilization Insulated Conductor – conductor encased within material of
equipment designed to perform a specific function such as composition or thickness recognized by the PEC as electrical
cooking, cleaning, cooling, or heating. insulation.

Electrical Device – it is a component in an electrical system Covered Conductor – conductor encased within material of
that is designed to carry but not use electricity. This includes composition or thickness that is not recognized by the PEC as
components such as switches, receptacles, and relays. electrical insulation.

Outlet – it is the location in a branch circuit where electricity Bare Conductor – a conductor having no covering or
is used. For example, a lighting outlet is the location in a electrical insulation whatsoever.
branch circuit where conductors provide power to a light
fixture. Cable – a stranded conductor or a group of conductors
insulated from one another.
Receptacle – it is a female connecting device with slotted
contacts. It is installed at an outlet or on equipment, where it Raceway – an enclosed channel for holding wires, cables or
is intended to easily establish an electrical connection with busbars.
an inserted plug.
Thermoplastic Cables. Single insulated conductor of solid or
Plug – it is a male connecting device that has two or more stranded bare annealed high conductivity copper, with
prongs that are inserted into a receptacle to connect to an thermoplastic lead free insulation of PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
electrical circuit. and protected by a nylon jacket; normally designed to
operate up to 600 V.
Switch – it is an electrical component that can break an
electrical circuit, interrupting the current or diverting Conductor’s Ampacity – it is the maximum current it can
it from one conductor to another. carry continuously without exceeding the temperature
Switches for Lamp Controls limitations of the insulation and sheathing material.
1. SPST (single pole single throw) switch – used to control a Ampacity is based on the following:
single or group of lamps from one location. The switch has a. Wire thickness
only two terminals. b. Type of conductor material
2. SPDT (single pole double throw) or three way switch – c. Insulation and sheathing type
used to control a single lamp from two different locations. d. Number of conductors bundled in the sheathing
The switch has three terminals. e. Temperature and exposure of the conductor
3. Four-way switch – used to control a single lamp from
three or more different locations. The switch has four Enclosures and Raceways
terminals. Enclosures – are electrical boxes and cabinets made of metal
(e.g., steel, galvanized steel, aluminum, and so on) or
Disconnect (Safety Power Switch) – a mechanical switching nonmetallic (plastic) materials that provide protection for
device used to isolate a circuit or an equipment from the conductors, connections, controls, and other electrical
supply side. It could either be fused or non-fuse type. equipment.

Standard Ratings of Disconnects in Amperes: Electrical boxes – are metal and non-metallic (plastic)
30, 60, 100, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1200, 1400, 1600 and 1800 enclosures that hold devices such as switches or outlets and
safely permit wiring connections. Boxes are available in four
Conductors primary shapes: square, rectangular, octagonal, or round.
Electrical Conductor – it is any material that conducts
electrical current. Electrical conductors are either solid or unction boxes (J-boxes) – are a special type of electrical box
stranded. Solid conductors are a single solid length of used to enclose conductor connections. Connections are
conductor called a wire. Stranded conductors consist of commonly called junctions in the trade.
smaller wire strands. Conductors may be insulated or bare.
Pull box – is a type of junction box that allows access to a
Bus bar – it is an electrical conductor (usually copper or raceway for snaking conductors through the raceway.
aluminum) that serves as a common connection for two or Knockouts in most boxes and other enclosures can be easily
more electrical circuits. Buses are typically solid bars used for removed to allow wiring to enter the box.
power distribution. They are commonly found in panelboards,
switchboards, and other power distribution equipment. Raceway – is an enclosed channel such as a conduit, tube, or
Busbars are either flat strips or hollow tubes. gutter designed for holding wires, cables, or busbars.
• Types of Conduits:
Cable – contains more than one conductor bundled together a. Rigid metal conduit
in a factory assembly of wires. An outer sheathing encases b. Intermediate metal conduit (IMC)
c. Electrical metallic tubing (EMT)
d. Electrical nonmetallic tubing (ENT) Location Plan- The location plan will guide the electrical
e. Rigid nonmetallic conduit design engineers, inspectors from the office of the local
f. Flexible metal conduit building official, inspectors from the local electric utility,
g. Liquid tight flexible metal conduit prospective bidders, and other persons who have interests in
h. Liquid tight flexible nonmetallic conduit the project.
i. Cellular concrete floor raceways
Electrical Layout- The electrical layout is similar to the
Busway – is of a standardized, factory-assembled enclosure architectural layout except that the electrical layout contains
consists of outer duct-like housing, bus bars, and insulators. the interconnection of the service drop/lateral, service
entrance, service equipment, feeder, subfeeder, load center,
Wire gutters or wireways – are metal sheet or nonmetallic, panelboards, branch circuit, and nomenclature ofoccupancies
flame-resistant plastic troughs that serve as a housing that
encloses and protects conductors. Legend or Symbol- These help in understanding the electrical
plan. The recommended symbols are shown in Appendix A of
Electric Motors - In homes, electric motors are found in the Philippine Electrical Code Part 1 2009. However, other
refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, kitchen sink waste symbols can be used, especially the local symbols which are
disposal, portable kitchen appliances, exhaust and ventilation easily understood in the area.
fans, clothes washers and dryers, furnaces, air conditioners,
and paddle fans. Design Analysis
This is a computation or selection of the following:
Module 3 a. Size/type/number of wires and size/type of conduits for
Building Electrical Design Principles branch circuits, sub-feeders, feeders, busways and service
Electrical Code entrance.
Design of an electrical system involves applying the standards b.Type, rating and trip setting of overload protective devices
written into the building code. An electrical code specifies the c. Short circuit current and interrupting capacity of
minimum provisions necessary for protecting people and overcurrent
property from the improper use of electricity and electrical protection device.
equipment. It applies to both the manufacture and Single Line or Riser Diagram- This shows a comprehensive
installation of electrical equipment. interconnection, size, and rating of the service drop/lateral,
Philippine Electrical Code (PEC) - The Philippine Electrical service entrance, service equipment, feeder, subfeeders, load
Code is used nationally as the basis for safeguarding persons, centers, and panelboard. This is necessary in the
buildings and its contents from hazards that may arise from computation of short circuit current and voltage drops.
the use of electricity. This Code contains provisions which is Title Block- This is a standard strip of 40 mm height at the
necessary for safety and thus is used as basis for the legal bottom of the sheet and contains the following:
enforcement in the installation of electrical system design in a. Name and location of installation or project
the country. Design Analysis
Licensing- Most municipalities have ordinances (local laws) b. This is a computation or selection of the following:
that require that any person who wishes to engage in the c. a. Size/type/number of wires and size/type of conduits for
business of installing electrical systems must be licensed branch circuits, sub-feeders, feeders,
(usually by the state or province). busways and service entrance
General
Permits- Most municipalities require that a permit be issued Although the electrical design of a low-rise residential
before any electrical installations may be made on a project. building is already a project design subject in most colleges, it
is discussed here because the design processes, criteria,
Electrical construction drawings show the layout and design methods, requirements of the owners, architect, electric
of an electrical installation. utility, and others are almost similar to the electrical design
The following construction drawings and details are generally of a high-rise condominium building.
required: Design Processes - In most cases, the electrical design starts
1. Complete plans and specifications of all electrical work from an architectural layout and other drawings, such as the
2. Labeling criteria of all electrical equipment drawing shown in Figure 1.
3. Lighting floor plan(s) including electrical circuits indicating Preparations- With the architectural layout and other
conduit and wiring sizes drawings, the development of the initial electrical design
4. Power floor plans including electrical circuits indicating starts. A preliminary arrangement of the electrical plan
conduit and wiring sizes, equipment, and disconnect requirements helps in the determination of the number of
switches drawing sets to be prepared to avoid overcrowding in the
5. Exit sign/means of egress lighting location and power electrical plan.
supply Residential Electrical Systems Design
6. Panelboard schedule Provide the following:
7. Lighting fixture schedule 1. Lighting layout
8. Symbol schedule and diagrams 2. Power layout
3. Schedule of loads4. Riser diagram
5. Branch circuit computations
6. Service entrance computations