ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION DESIGN

Module 4: Lighting Sub-Circuits

Dr. Kumari Swati

Department of Electrical Engineering
National Institute of Technology Rourkela
India
 Content
1. Circuit and sub-circuit
2. Types of lighting circuits
3. Various circuit diagrams of parallel lighting circuit
4. Two way switching
5. Bedroom lighting
 1. Circuit and Sub-circuit
• Electrical apparatus is connected to the supply main (by cables) and to the
associated protective device (usually fuse) and controlling device (usually
switch). This arrangement of cables ⇒ Circuit
• A circuit is always a closed path
• A circuit that feeds apparatus directly ⇒ Sub-circuit

2. Types of lighting circuits

• Various lighting circuits have been developed for
– Maximum convenience, and
– Economic use of electrical lighting
• Generally divided into two classes:
– Series circuits
– Parallel circuits
 2.1 Series Lighting Circuits
• This is the simplest arrangement
• If a lightning point controlled by 1 switch is to
be wired, then
– one cable will be taken from one terminal
of the distribution board (Live) to one side
of the single pole switch
– From the other side of the switch to one
terminal of light, and then
– from the second terminal of light to the
second terminal of distribution board
(Neutral).
– Illustrated in Fig. 1
– This arrangement is satisfactory if
additional lighting points are not required. Fig. 1: Series lighting circuit with 1
lamp and 1 switch
• In case more than one lighting points are to be connected in series in the
same sub-circuit, they will be controlled by one switch (Fig.2).
• Application: its use is restricted to decoration purpose lighting circuits and
not used for general house wiring circuits due to associated
disadvantages.

Fig. 2: Series lighting circuit with 2 lamp and 1 switch in series

Disadvantages:
• Since all the lighting points are controlled from one switch →all lighting points will
be switched on irrespective of the desire to be switched on.
• If additional switched are connected in series → no advantage, but complication →
necessary to have all switches in “ON” position to get any light at all.
• If switches are connected across the lighting points instead of in series with them
(Fig.3), then when one switch will be closed, it will short out a lighting point and
remaining points will be subjected to a higher voltage than that for which they are
designed.
• Since voltage across any lamp is dependent on the total number of lamps across
supply voltage, lamps of different rating will be required.
• If one lamp fails, the other lamps would go out due to break in circuit.

Fig. 3: Series lighting circuit with 2 lamp with switches connected across the lighting points
 Parallel lightning circuits
• All the lightning points are connected directly across the distribution
board terminals (across the supply) and controlled by individual switches.
• The lamps can be connected in parallel by two methods
– “T-connection” method (Fig. 4), and
– “Looping-in” method (Fig. 5) {universally employed for connection of various appliances}

Fig. 4: T–connection method Fig. 5: Looping-in method

 3. Various circuit diagrams of parallel
lighting circuit
i. 1 lamp controlled from 1 point
ii.Socket outlet controlled by 1 pole switch
iii.
2 lamps controlled by individual switches
iv.3 lamps and 1 socket outlet controlled by
individual switches
v. 1 lamp, 1 fan and 1 socket outlet controlled
by individual switches
i. 1 lamp controlled from one point

• Live wire from distribution

board is connected to one
terminal of 1 pole switch

• Brown wire is connected

between second terminal of
switch to one terminal of lamp

• Neutral wire from distribution

board is connected to second
terminal of lamp.
3 pin socket terminals
ii. Socket outlet controlled by 1 pole switch
• Earth socket terminal is
connected to Earth wire
coming from meter
board
• Live wire from
distribution board is
connected to one
terminal of 1 pole
switch
• Brown wire is
connected between
second terminal of
switch to the phase
socket terminal.
• Neutral wire from
distribution board is
connected to neutral
socket terminal.
iii. 2 lamps controlled by individual switches
• Live wire from distribution board/ sub-distribution board loop in at one terminal of
switch 1, then goes to switch 2 and terminates at one terminal.
• Another Brown coloured wire is connected between second terminal of switch S1
and one terminal of lamp 1, similarly from second terminal of S2 to one terminal
of lamp.
• Neutral wire from distribution board/ sub-distribution board loop in at second
terminal of Lamp 1 and then goes to second terminal of lamp 2 and terminates
 iv. 3 lamps and 1 socket outlet controlled by individual switches
From Distribution board
• Connection of Fan through regulator
 v. 1 lamp, 1 fan and 1 socket outlet controlled by individual switches
From Distribution board
 4. Two way switching
• One way Switch → used for controlling a point/points from one position
only
– Normally has two terminals
• Two one way switches can not give complete control of a light point from
two different positions, such as stair and landing of a house
S1 S2 Lamp controlled by S1 and S2

Off Off Off

On On On

On Off On

Off On On

• For independent control from two different positions, two-way switches

are required.
• A two-way switch has four terminals, two of them being permanently
connected together → called “Bar Side”.
– 1 of the bar terminals is blanked off by a screw → not available for connection
Connection of two way swicthes to a lamp
• Phase wire is taken to the bar terminal of 1st two-way switch
• Bar terminal of the other switch is connected to the one terminal of lamp
• Other two terminals of two-way switches are interconnected externally by
wire
• Neutral wire is connected to second terminal of lamp
Staircase Wiring Circuits
 5. Bedroom Lighting
• Bedroom is usually provided with 2 lamps,
– 1 lamp at the centre of room controlled by one-way switch
– Second lamp near the bed controlled by two-way switches
• One of these two-way switch should be a Surface/Flush switch and
• Another two-way switch should be a pendant type suspended from a 3-
plate (3-way) ceiling rose
• Note: Ceiling rose provides a tapping point for the pendant lamp switch via
flexible wire

Fig. 3-plate ceiling rose

Bedroom Lighting Circuit