UNIT-5 (ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS)

SWITCHGEAR

Switchgear is the combination of electrical disconnect switches, fuses or circuit breakers used to control, protect and
isolate electrical equipment from the abnormal condition is called switchgear. Some examples of switchgear are given
below,
▪ switches,
▪ fuses,
▪ circuit breaker,
▪ isolator,
▪ relays,
▪ current and potential transformer,
▪ indicating instrument,
▪ lightning arresters

SFU (Switched Fuse Unit)

• A fuse is a protective device which acts quickly. In abnormal condition, it blows and disconnects the circuit
from the supply. Thus, it provides the protection by destroying itself.
• A switch is used to isolate the circuit from the supply purposely for repair and maintenance. Generally, it is
manually operated.
• A unit which consists of the combination of fuse and switch together is called SFU.

Advantages
• SFU has been used to trip the circuit, particularly for high-capacity tripping, whereas MCB & MCCB
are used for low-capacity tripping.
• The number of joints in the circuit gets reduced.
• Easy to handle
• Compact in size.

MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker)

Nowadays we use more commonly miniature circuit breaker or MCB in low voltage electrical network instead of
fuse.
The MCB has some advantages compared to fuse.
1. It automatically switches off the electrical circuit during abnormal, faulty or in overload condition. The fuse
does not sense but MCB does it in more reliable way. MCB is much more sensitive to over current than fuse.
2. Another advantage is, as the switch operating knob comes at its off position during tripping, the faulty zone
of the electrical circuit can easily be identified. But in case of fuse, fuse wire should be checked by opening
fuse grip or cutout from fuse base, for confirming the blow of fuse wire.
3. Quick restoration of supply can’t be possible in case of fuse as because fuses have to be replaced for restoring
the supply. But in the case of MCB, quick restoration is possible by just switching it on.
4. Handling MCB is more electrically safe than fuse.
Only one disadvantage of MCB over fuse is that this system is more costly than fuse unit system.
Working Principle
There are two arrangements of operation of miniature circuit breaker. One due to thermal effect of over current and
other due to electromagnetic effect of over current.
The thermal operation of miniature circuit breaker is achieved with a bimetallic strip whenever continuous over current
flows through MCB, the bimetallic strip is heated and deflects by bending. This deflection of bimetallic strip releases
mechanical latch. As this mechanical latch is attached with operating mechanism, it causes to open the miniature circuit
breaker contacts.
But during short circuit condition, sudden rising of current, causes electromechanical displacement of plunger
associated with tripping coil or solenoid of MCB. The plunger strikes the trip lever causing immediate release of latch
mechanism consequently open the circuit breaker contacts.
Construction
MCB construction is very simple, robust and maintenance free. Generally, a MCB is not repaired or maintained, it just
replaced by new one when required. A miniature circuit breaker has normally three main constructional parts. These
are:
• Frame of Miniature Circuit Breaker
• Operating Mechanism of Miniature Circuit Breaker
• Trip Unit of Miniature Circuit Breaker

Characteristics of MCB
• Rated current is not more than 100 amperes
• Normally, trip characteristics are not adjustable
• Thermal/thermal magnetic operation

MCCB (Molded case circuit breaker)

• Molded Case Circuit Breaker or MCCB is an automatic electrical device. It is a type of circuit breaker that
protects the circuit from overloading, short circuit and current surges. It is an advanced version of miniature circuit
breaker MCB. However, it offers extra features that make it a superior circuit breaker such as remote closing and
adjustable trip settings i.e., its current settings and time settings can be adjusted according to our needs.
• MCCB uses air as the dielectric medium to break a circuit. Air has a low dielectric strength as opposed to other
mediums that is why it is used for protection in low voltage circuits.
• MCCB is used to protect the low voltage distribution system. It is available in rating up to 2500 Amps and 1.1
kV.
 • An MCCB protects a circuit from fault current. It uses thermal and magnetic mechanisms to break those fault
currents. The thermal mechanism is used for overload protection while the magnetic mechanism is used for short
circuit protection.
Characteristics of MCCB
• The range of rated current us up to 2500 amperes.
• Trip current may be adjusted
• Thermal/thermal magnetic operation

ELCB -Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker

• ELCB or Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker is a protection device that protects against earth leakage.
• The electrical current that flows from the live conductor to the earth through an unintended path is called earth
leakage. It may flow between their poor insulation or through a person’s body & cause electrical shock. The
consequence of electrical shock may prove fatal if the leakage current exceeds the only 30mA. Therefore,
protection devices are used to disconnect the power source when such current leakage is detected.
• ELCB or Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker is a type of circuit breaker that is used for protection against leakage
current. it breaks the circuit & disconnects the power supply to the load when it senses the leakage current.
• Under normal conditions, the current from the source flows into the load through the live wire & flows out of
the load through the neutral wire. In fact, both currents are equal in amount. If the current leaks through any
unintended path, an imbalance between the live & neutral wire occurs. The ELCB can sense the imbalance
using a current transformer & break the contacts using an electromagnetic relay.
Characteristics of ELCB
• This circuit breaker connects the phase, earth wire and neutral
• The working of this circuit breaker depends on current leakage

Air Circuit Breaker

An Air Circuit Breaker (also known as an Air Blast Circuit Breaker or ACB) is an automatically operated electrical
switch that uses air to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by excess current from an overload or short
circuit.

Unlike a fuse, which operates once and then must be replaced, a circuit breaker can be reset (either manually or
automatically) to resume normal operation.

Its primary function is to interrupt current flow after a fault is detected. When this happens, an arc will appear between
the contacts that have broken the circuit. Air circuit breakers use compressed air to blow out the arc, or alternatively,
the contacts are rapidly swung into a small sealed chamber, the escaping of the displaced air, thus blowing out the arc.

For interrupting arc it creates an arc voltage in excess of the supply voltage. Arc voltage is defined as the minimum
voltage required maintaining the arc. This circuit breaker increases the arc voltage by mainly three different ways,
 1. It may increase the arc voltage by cooling the arc plasma. As the temperature of arc plasma is decreased, the
mobility of the particle in arc plasma is reduced; hence more voltage gradient is required to maintain the arc.

2. It may increase the arc voltage by lengthening the arc path. As the length of arc path is increased,
the resistance of the path is increased, and hence to maintain the same arc current more voltage is required to
be applied across the arc path. That means arc voltage is increased.

3. Splitting up the arc into a number of series arcs also increases the arc voltage.

Types of ACB
There are mainly two types of ACB are available.

1. Plain air circuit breaker.

2. Air blast Circuit Breaker.
Electrical Earthing
Definition: The process of transferring the immediate discharge of the electrical energy directly to the earth by the
help of the low resistance wire is known as the electrical earthing. The electrical earthing is done by connecting the
non-current carrying part of the equipment or neutral of supply system to the ground.
Mostly, the galvanized iron is used for the earthing. The earthing provides the simple path to the leakage current. The
short-circuit current of the equipment passes to the earth which has zero potential. Thus, protects the system and
equipment from damage.
Types of Electrical Earthing
The electrical equipment mainly consists of two non-current carrying parts. These parts are neutral of the system or
frame of the electrical equipment. From the earthing of these two non-currents carrying parts of the electrical system
earthing can be classified into two types.
• Neutral Earthing
• Equipment Earthing.
• Neutral Earthing
In neutral earthing, the neutral of the system is directly connected to earth by the help of the GI wire. The
neutral earthing is also called the system earthing. Such type of earthing is mostly provided to the system
which has star winding. For example, the neutral earthing is provided in the generator, transformer, motor etc.
• Equipment Earthing
Such type of earthing is provided to the electrical equipment. The non-current carrying part of the equipment
like their metallic frame is connected to the earth by the help of the conducting wire. If any fault occurs in the
apparatus, the short-circuit current to pass the earth by the help of wire. Thus, protect the system from damage.
Importance of Earthing
The earthing is essential because of the following reasons:
• The earthing protects the personnel from the short-circuit current.
• The earthing provides the easiest path to the flow of short-circuit current even after the failure of the insulation.
• The earthing protects the apparatus and personnel from the high voltage surges and lightning discharge.
Earthing can be done by electrically connecting the respective parts in the installation to some system of electrical
conductors or electrodes placed near the soil or below the ground level. The earthing mat or electrode under the ground
level have flat iron riser through which all the non-current-carrying metallic parts of the equipment are connected.
When the fault occurs then the fault current from the equipment flows through the earthing system to the earth and
thereby it protects the equipment from the fault current. At the time of the fault, the earth mat conductors rise to the
voltage which is equal to the resistance of the earth mat multiplied by a ground fault.

The contacting assembly is called earthing. The metallic conductors connecting the parts of the installation with the
earthing are called electrical connection. The earthing and the earthing connection together called the earthing system.

Lightning Protection

• Lightning Arrester is a device used for the protection of electrical equipment against lightning stroke.
• The lightning stroke is the high voltage transients caused by the traveling waves during lightning. We install
lightning protection devices to protect the transformer, transmission line, and the major electrical equipment.
• The electrical equipment is prone to damage against the transients, impulse, surge voltage, and lightning voltage
induced in the transmission line at the time of lightning or fault in the electrical network.
• If there is no protection system against these induced high voltages, it can cause damage to the electrical equipment
and the longer disruption of the power supply.
• The protective device used for protection of the electrical equipment against any power surges caused by
lightning impulse voltage and surges is a lightning arrester or surge arrester. We install the lightning arrester
between the line and the earth. Thus, its location is in parallel with the equipment.
• The lightning arrester provides the low impedance path for those frequencies which differ from the power
frequency. The surge voltage finds its path to the earth through the arrester. Thus, electrical equipment remains
protected. The surge impedance of the line provides impedance to limit the current.
Working of Lightning Arrester

• The lightning arrester has a high impedance for power frequency. Thus, under normal operation, it behaves as an
open circuit. In case of a lightning strike, there is a sudden rapid rise in voltage. Its resistance becomes very low
for the lightning-induced voltage, the current finds its discharge path to the ground. After discharging the
lightning surges, the arrester regains its resistance and behaves as an open circuit for power frequency.
• The lightning arrester provides a path of low impedance for surges. It diverts the current to the ground and
clamps the high voltage.
Characteristics of an Ideal Lightning Arrester

• The current through the lightning arrester should be minimum during normal operating condition. It should
have high impedance for power frequency.
• The current must pass through it when there is surges, transients or lightning voltage.
• It must have capacity to handle the discharge current during abnormal condition without being damage.
• It must rebuild its insulation level for power frequency quickly after quenching of surge or travelling
voltage.

Battery

Batteries are the most common power source for basic handheld devices to large scale industrial applications.
A battery can be defined as; it is a combination of one or more electrochemical cells that are capable of converting
stored chemical energy into electrical energy.
Basically, all the electrochemical cells and batteries are classified into two types:
1. Primary Batteries: As the name indicates these batteries are meant for single usage. Once these batteries are used,
they cannot be recharged as the devices are not easily reversible and active materials may not return to their original
forms. Battery manufacturers recommend against recharge of primary cells. Examples: Zinc – Carbon, Zinc – Mercuric
Oxide and Cadmium, Alkaline (Zn/Alkaline/MnO2), Lithium etc.

2. Secondary Batteries: A Secondary Battery is also called as Rechargeable Battery as they can be electrically
recharged after discharge. The chemical status of the electrochemical cells can be “recharged” to their original status
by passing a current through the cells in the opposite direction of their discharge.
Basically, secondary batteries can be used in two ways:
• In the first category of applications, the secondary batteries are essentially used as energy storage devices
where they are electrically connected to a main energy source and also charged by it and also supplying energy
when required. Examples of such applications are Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV), Uninterrupted Power
Supplies (UPS), etc.
• The second category of applications of secondary batteries are those applications where the battery is used and
discharged as a primary battery. Once it is completely discharged (or almost completely discharged), instead
of discarding it, the battery is recharged with an appropriate charging mechanism. Examples of such
applications are all the modern portable electronics like mobiles, laptops, electric vehicles, etc.
Energy Density of secondary batterie are relatively lower than that of primary batteries but have other good
characteristics like high power density, flat discharge curves, high discharge rate, low temperature performance.
There are four major types of secondary batteries are:
• Lead – Acid Batteries
• Nickel – Cadmium Batteries
• Nickel – Metal Hydride Batteries
• Lithium – Ion Batteries
Factors affecting battery capacity:
There are five primary factors that affect UPS battery life: ambient temperature, cycling, battery chemistry,
application and maintenance.
 • Ambient Temperature. The rated capacity of a battery is based on an ambient operating temperature of
25°C (77°F). ...
• Cycling. ...
• Battery Chemistry. ...
• Application. ...
• Maintenance.
Battery characteristics
The following battery characteristics must be taken into consideration when selecting a battery:
• Type
• Voltage
• Discharge curve
• Capacity
• Energy density
• Specific energy density
• Power density
• Temperature dependence
• Service life
• Physical requirements
• Charge/discharge cycle
• Cycle life
• Cost
• Ability to deep discharge
• Application requirements
 Battery backup (UPS)
An uninterruptible power supply or uninterruptible power source (UPS) is an electrical apparatus that provides
emergency power to a load when the input power source or mains power fails. A UPS differs from an auxiliary
or emergency power system or standby generator in that it will provide near-instantaneous protection from input power
interruptions, by supplying energy stored in batteries, super capacitors, or flywheels. The on-battery run-time of most
uninterruptible power sources is relatively short (only a few minutes) but sufficient to start a standby power source or
properly shut down the protected equipment. It is a type of continual power system.

Common power problems

The primary role of any UPS is to provide short-term power when the input power source fails. However, most UPS
units are also capable in varying degrees of correcting common utility power problems:

1. Voltage spike or sustained overvoltage

2. Momentary or sustained reduction in input voltage
3. Voltage sag
4. Noise, defined as a high frequency transient or oscillation, usually injected into the line by nearby equipment
5. Instability of the mains frequency
6. Harmonic distortion, defined as a departure from the ideal sinusoidal waveform expected on the line
 Uninterruptible Power Supply devices are classified into three types such as
• The Standby UPS (off line UPS)
• The Line Interactive UPS
• Online UPS
The Standby UPS (off line UPS)
The standby Uninterruptible Power Supply is also called as off line UPS that is generally used for PCs. The block
diagram of this UPS is shown below. This UPS includes a battery, an AC or DC & DC or AC inverter, a static switch
and a LPF which is used to decrease the switching frequency from the o/p voltage & a surge suppressor. The standby
UPS system works with the switch arrangement to select the AC i/p as a primary power source, and interchanging to
the battery & inverter as backup sources in case of primary power gets disrupted. The inverter normally relies on
standby, only triggering when the power fails and the transfer switch routinely switches the load to the backup units.
This kind of UPS system offers a small size, high degree of efficiency, & pretty low costs, making of this UPS is easy.

The Line Interactive UPS

The block diagram of Line Interactive UPS is shown below, it is the most common UPS used for small business. The
designing of line interactive UPS is alike to a standby UPS, in addition the design Line Interactive generally includes
an automatic voltage regulator (AVR) or a tap-changing transformer. This enhances the regulation of voltage by
regulating transformer taps as the i/p voltage differs. Voltage regulation is a significant feature when the conditions of
a low voltage exist, otherwise the UPS would transfer to battery & then finally down the load. The usage of more
common battery can cause early battery failure. The features of this UPS are small size; low cost, high efficiency can
make the UPS in the range of 0.5-5kVA power.

Online UPS
The online UPS is also called as double conversion online uninterruptible power supply. This is the most commonly
used UPS and the block diagram of this UPS is shown below. The designing of this UPS is similar to the Standby
UPS, excluding that the primary power source is the inverter instead of the AC main. In this UPS design, damage of
the i/p AC does not cause triggering of the transfer switch, because the i/p AC is charging the backup battery source
which delivers power to the o/p inverter. So, during failure of an i/p AC power, this UPS operation results in no transfer
time.

In this design, both the inverter and the battery charger change the total load power flow, resulting in reduced efficiency
with its associated increased heat generation. This UPS affords nearly perfect electrical o/p performance. But the
constant wear on the power components decreases reliability over further designs and the energy spent by the electrical
power inefficiency is an important part of the life-cycle cost of the UPS. Also, the i/p power drawn by the large battery
charger has been frequently non-linear and can interfere with the building power wiring with standby generators.
Electrical Wires

Here’s some detailed information on the various features of electrical wire:

1. Size of Wires – Each application requires a certain wire size for installation, and the right size for a specific
application is determined by the wire gauge. Sizing of wire is done by the American wire gauge system. Common wire
sizes are 10, 12 and 14 – a higher number means a smaller wire size, and affects the amount of power it can carry. For
example, a low-voltage lamp cord with 10 Amps will require 18-gauge wire, while service panels or subpanels with
100 Amps will require 2-gauge wire.
2. Wire Lettering – The letters THHN, THWN, THW and XHHN represent the main insulation types of individual
wires. These letters depict the following NEC requirements:
• T – Thermoplastic insulation
• H – Heat resistance
• HH – High heat resistance (up to 194°F)
• W – Suitable for wet locations
• N – Nylon coating, resistant to damage by oil or gas
• X – Synthetic polymer that is flame-resistant
3. Types of Wires: Based on the type of insulation used electrical wires are mainly classified into the following
types:
1) V.I.R.( Vulcanized India Rubber) wire.
2) C.T.S. or T.R.S. (Cab Tyre Sheathed or Tough Rubber Sheathed) wire.
3) Weather proof wire.
4) L.C.(Lead Covered) wire.
5) MICC (Mineral insulated copper covered) wire.
6) PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride) wire.
7) Flexible wire.
3.1) VIR (Vulcanized India rubber) wire:
 Single Braided VIR Wire Double Braided VIR Wire

In this type of wires conductors are made up of aluminum or copper. A layer of vulcanized rubber is provided
over it. There may one or two layers. Over this a cotton tape is wound and braiding of impregnated cotton is
wound over it. Single braided wire and double braided wire is shown in figure. These types of wires can bear
little mechanical stress. Due to the effect of water, moisture etc. its insulation properties are reduced. Chemicals
also effect the insulation and it may be cut due to the sharp tools etc. Due to excessive heat the rubber may melt.
3.2) CTS or TRS (Cab tire Sheath or tough rubber sheath) wire:
In this type of wire layer of strong and durable rubber is provided over the conductor. Its mechanical strength is
more than that of the VIR wire. Effect of heat, moisture and water is less in it. This type of wire is available in
varieties of single core, twin cores and three cores. It is used in house wiring and industrial wiring. Single core
and twin core wire is shown in figure.

Single Core TRS Wire Twin Core TRS Wire

3.3) Weather proof wire:
On this type of wire there is no effect of atmosphere. A layer of rubber is provided on copper conductor. Braiding
of cotton is provided on this. It is made waterproof by dipping it into waterproof compound. This type of wire is
available in single core or double core types.

3.4) LC (Lead Covered) wire:

In this type of wire coating of insulated rubber is provided on the conductor. A tube made of lead is kept over it.
Due to there is no effect of moisture on the rubber. So it is used in the place where there is presence of moisture.
As Lead is soft. It is easily affected by mechanical stresses. So care has to be taken while using it. This wire can
be used directly on wooden batten.
3.5) MICC (Mineral insulated copper covered) wire:
In this type of wire coating of magnesium oxide is provided as insulation on the copper conductor. Over this
copper sheath is provided. When this wire has to be used in moist atmosphere, a serving made of PVC is provided
over this. This wire is less affected by temperature. This type of wire is used in wiring in mines, factories,
refineries, furnace, boilers, rolling mills etc.

MICC Wire

3.6)PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride) Wire:

In this type of wire insulation made of poly vinyl chloride is provided over copper or aluminum conductor. PVC
wires are widely used and use of paper and rubber insulated wires is reduced. This type of wire is manufactured
for voltage rating of 11 KV. It is available in single PVC and double PVC Types. This type of wire is also available
in twin core and three core circular and two core flat types.

Single PVC Wire Double PVC Wire

3.7) Flexible wire:

Flexible Wire

In this type of wire instead of using thick conductor many thin copper conductors of 36 gauges are used. This is
called stranding. These wires are available in the size of 14/36, 23/36, 40/36 etc. These strands are twisted and
PVC insulation is provided over it. Such two wires of different colors of insulation are twisted together and coil
is prepared. As the flexible wire is used instead of thick wire, the wire can be bent in any direction. This type of
wire is used in giving connections to table lamp, fan, tube light etc.
4. Color Codes – Different color wires serve different purposes, like:
• Black: Hot wire, for switches or outlets.
• Red: Hot wire, for switch legs. Also for connecting wire between 2 hardwired smoke detectors.
• Blue and Yellow: Hot wires, pulled in conduit. Blue for 3-4 way switch application, and yellow for switch
legs to control fan, lights etc.
• White: Always neutral.
• Green and Bare Copper: Only for grounding.
5. Wire Gauge, Ampacity and Wattage Load – To determine the correct wire, it is important to understand
what ampacity and wattage a wire can carry per gauge. Wire gauge is the size of the wire, ampacity is how
much electricity can flow through the wire and wattage is the load a wire can take, which is always mentioned
on the appliances.

Electrical Cable

An electrical cable also has different types, color and application as its determining factors.

Types of Electrical Cables – There are more than 20 different types of cables available today, designed for
applications ranging from transmission to heavy industrial use. Some of the most commonly-used ones include:
• Non-Metallic Sheathed Cable: These cables are also known as non-metallic building wire or NM cables.
They feature a flexible plastic jacket with two to four wires (TECK cables are covered with thermoplastic
insulation) and a bare wire for grounding. Special varieties of this cable are used for underground or
outdoor use, but NM-B and NM-C non-metallic sheathed cables are the most common form of indoor
residential cabling.
• Underground Feeder Cable: These cables are quite similar to NM cables, but instead of each wire being
individually wrapped in thermoplastic, wires are grouped together and embedded in the flexible material.
Available in a variety of gauge sizes, UF cables are often used for outdoor lighting and in-ground
applications. Their high water-resistance makes them ideal for damp areas like gardens as well as open-
to-air lamps, pumps, etc.
• Metallic Sheathed Cable: Also known as armored or BX cables, metal-sheathed cables are often used to
supply mains electricity or for large appliances. They feature three plain stranded copper wires (one wire
 for the current, one grounding wire and one neutral wire) that are insulated with cross-linked polyethylene,
PVC bedding and a black PVC sheathing. BX cables with steel wire sheathing are often used for outdoor
applications and high-stress installations.
• Multi-Conductor Cable: This is a cable type that is commonly used in homes, since it is simple to use
and well-insulated. Multi-conductor or multi-core (MC) cables feature more than one conductor, each of
which is insulated individually. In addition, an outer insulation layer is added for extra security. Different
varieties are used in industries, like the audio multi-core ‘snake cable’ used in the music industry.
• Coaxial Cable : A coaxial (sometimes heliax) cable features a tubular insulating layer that protects an
inner conductor which is further surrounded by a tubular conducting shield, and might also feature an
outer sheath for extra insulation. Called ‘coaxial’ since the two inner shields share the same geometric
axis, these cables are normally used for carrying television signals and connecting video equipment.
• Unshielded Twisted Pair Cable: Like the name suggests, this type consists of two wires that are twisted
together. The individual wires are not insulated, which makes this cable perfect for signal transmission
and video applications. Since they are more affordable than coaxial or optical fiber cables, UTP cables
are often used in telephones, security cameras and data networks. For indoor use, UTP cables with copper
wires or solid copper cores are a popular choice, since they are flexible and can be easily bent for in-wall
installation.
• Ribbon Cable: Ribbon cables are often used in computers and peripherals, with various conducting wires
that run parallel to each other on a flat plane, leading to a visual resemblance to flat ribbons. These cables
are quite flexible and can only handle low voltage applications.
• Direct-Buried Cable: Also known as DBCs, these cables are specially-designed coaxial or bundled fiber-
optic cables, which do not require any added sheathing, insulation or piping before being buried
underground. They feature a heavy metal core with many layers of banded metal sheathing, heavy rubber
coverings, shock-absorbing gel and waterproof wrapped thread-fortified tape. High tolerance to
temperature changes, moisture and other environmental factors makes them a popular choice for
transmission or communication requirements.
• Twin-Lead Cable: These are flat two-wire cables that are used for transmission between an antenna and
receiver, like TV and radio.
• Twin-axial Cable: This is a variant of coaxial cables, which features two inner conductors instead of one
and is used for very-short-range high-speed signals.
• Paired Cable: With two individually insulated conductors, this cable is normally used in DC or low-
frequency AC applications.
• Twisted Pair: This cable is similar to paired cables, but the inner insulated wires are twisted or
intertwined.

Bus Bar

The conducting material or a conductor used to collect power from the input terminals of an electrical system and
distribute it to various output circuits is known as an electrical bus bar or bus system.
It acts as a junction, where the incoming power and outgoing power meets. It is used to collect all the electrical
power in one place.
Electrical Busbar consists the number of lines electrically, which are operating at the same voltage and
frequencies.
It is available in the form of rectangular strips, round tubes, round bars, and square bars made up of aluminum,
copper, and brass.
Mostly rectangular type is used in electrical power distribution systems.
Types of bus bars
Based on the construction of the bus bar, they are divided as follows.

• Single bus-bar system.

• Double bus-bar system.
• Ring bus-bar system.
Single bus-bar System

As the name itself indicates, that a single bus-bar is used in this system. To the same single bus-bar few
incoming and outgoing line are connected.
Advantages of Single bus-bar System
• The advantage of this system is that fault on one part of the bus-bar does not completely shut
down the total system.
• It has low maintenance cost.
Disadvantages of Single bus-bar System
• In case of fault, the complete system will be switched off.
• For any expansion, complete shutdown is to be carried out.
Double Bus-bar System
In case of double bus-bar system, low voltage and high voltage bus-bars are duplicated. Among the two,
any one of the bus-bar sections can be used as desired.
There is an arrangement of a bus-bar coupling switch for transferring operation from one bus-bar to
another.
Ring Bus-bar System

This ring bus-bar system has the advantage that there are always two parallel paths to the circuit and failure of
one path does not interrupt the service completely.