Cables types, ratings, wiring

systems and earth protection

Cables types and ratings
A cable comprises one or more conductors each covered
with an insulating material. This insulation provides
protection from shock by contact with live parts and
prevents the passage of leakage currents between
conductors.
The insulation is very important and in itself should be
protected from damage. This may be achieved by
covering the insulated conductors with a protective
sheathing during manufacture, or by enclosing them in
conduit or trunking at the installation stage.
The type of sheathing chosen and/or the installation
method will depend on the environment in which the
cable is to be installed. For example, metal conduit with
thermoplastic (PVC) singles or mineral-insulated (MI)
cable would be used in preference to PVC sheathed cable
clipped direct, in an industrial environment.
PVC insulated and sheathed cables

Domestic and commercial installations use this cable,

which may be clipped direct to a surface, sunk in plaster
or installed in conduit or trunking. It is the simplest and
least expensive cable. The conductors are covered with
a colour-coded PVC insulation and then contained singly
or with others in a PVC outer sheath.
PVC/SWA cable
PVC insulated steel wire armour cables are used for
wiring underground between buildings, for main supplies
to dwellings, rising sub-mains and industrial
installations. They are used where some mechanical
protection of the cable conductors is required. The
conductors are covered with colour-coded PVC insulation
and then contained either singly or with others in a PVC
sheath
Around this sheath is placed an armour protection of
steel wires twisted along the length of the cable, and a
final PVC sheath covering the steel wires protects them
from corrosion. The armour sheath also provides the
circuit protective conductor (CPC) and the cable is
simply terminated using a compression gland.
Mineral insulated (MI)
A mineral insulated (MI) cable has a seamless copper sheath
which makes it waterproof and fire and corrosion-resistant.
These characteristics often make it the only cable choice for
hazardous or high-temperature installations such as oil
refineries and chemical works, boiler houses and furnaces,
petrol pump and fire alarm installations.
The cable has a small overall diameter when compared to
alternative cables and may be supplied as bare copper or with
a PVC over sheath.
It is colour coded orange for general electrical wiring, white
for emergency lighting or red for fire alarm wiring. The copper
outer sheath provides the CPC, and the cable is terminated
with a pot and sealed with compound and a compression
gland.
The copper conductors are embedded in a white powder,
magnesium oxide, which is non-ageing and non-combustible,
but which is hygroscopic, which means that it readily absorbs
moisture from the surrounding air, unless adequately
terminated. The termination of an MI cable is a complicated
process requiring the electrician to demonstrate a high
Mineral insulated (MI) Cable
 High-voltage overhead cables

Suspended from cable towers or pylons, overhead cables

must be light, flexible and strong. The cable is constructed
of stranded aluminium conductors formed around a core of
steel stranded conductors.
The aluminium conductors carry the current and the steel
core provides the tensile strength required to suspend the
cable between pylons. The cable is not insulated since it is
placed out of reach and insulation would only add to the
weight of the cable.
 Wiring colours

Fixed cable core colours up to year 2006

Single-phase supplies red line conductors, black neutral
conductors, and green combined with yellow for earth conductors.
Three-phase supplies red, yellow and blue line conductors, black
neutral conductors and green combined with yellow for earth
conductors.
These core colours must not be used after 31 March 2006 .

New (harmonized) fixed cable core colours

Single-phase supplies brown line conductors, blue neutral

conductors and green combined with yellow for earth
conductors (just like flexible cords).
Three-phase supplies brown, black and grey line conductors,
blue neutral conductors and green combined with yellow for
earth conductors.

Cable core colours from 31 March 2004 onwards.

Cables types and ratings

The current-carrying capacity of the cables differs

considerably according to the method of installation
which is to be used . The first next table t provides the
Current carrying capacity or rating of cables according
to the reference installation methods used, (ie A, B, E)
and while the second table gives the Cable size or
rating for standard domestic circuits
Current carrying capacity or rating of cables.
Cable size or rating for standard domestic circuits
 Wiring Systems and Methods of Electrical Wiring
 Electrical Wiring system is a process of connecting cables
and wires to the related devices such as fuse, switches,
sockets, lights, fans etc to the main distribution board is a
specific structure to the utility pole for continues power
supply.

Methods of Making connections accessories on installation

 Wiring (a process of connecting various accessories for
distribution of electrical energy from supplier’s meter
board to home appliances such as lamps, fans and other
domestic appliances is known as Electrical Wiring) can be
done using two methods which are Joint box system or
Tee system and Loop- in system
 Joint Box or Tee or Jointing System

 In this method of wiring, connections to appliances are

made through joints. These joints are made in joint boxes
by means of suitable connectors or joints cutouts. This
method of wiring doesn’t consume too much cables size.

 You might think because this method of wiring doesn’t

require too much cable it is therefore cheaper. It is of
course but the money you saved from buying cables will
be used in buying joint boxes, thus equation is balanced.
This method is suitable for temporary installations and it
is cheap.
Joint Box or Tee or Jointing System
Loop-in or Looping System

This method of wiring is universally used in wiring.

Lamps and other appliances are connected in parallel so
that each of the appliances can be controlled
individually. When a connection is required at a light or
switch, the feed conductor is looped in by bringing it
directly to the terminal and then carrying it forward again
to the next point to be fed.

The switch and light feeds are carried round the circuit in
a series of loops from one point to another until the last
on the circuit is reached. The phase or line conductors
are looped either in switchboard or box and neutrals are
looped either in switchboard or from light or fan. Line or
phase should never be looped from light or fan.
Loop-in or Looping System
Advantages of Loop-In Method of Wiring

1. It doesn’t require joint boxes and so money is saved

2. In loop – in systems, no joint is concealed beneath floors or in
roof spaces.
3. Fault location is made easy as the points are made only at outlets
so that they are accessible.

Disadvantages of Loop-In Method of Wiring

4. Length of wire or cables required is more and voltage drop and

copper losses are therefore more
5. Looping – in switches and lamp holders is usually difficult.
Different Types of Electrical Wiring Systems

Different types of wiring systems in electrical installations

exist, such:
 Cleat wiring
 Capping wiring
 PVC sheath wiring
 Lead sheathed or metal sheathed wiring
 Conduit wiring (Surface or open Conduit type Recessed or
concealed or underground type Conduit)

Cleat Wiring

This system of wiring comprise of ordinary PVC insulated

wires (occasionally, sheathed and weather proof cable) braided
and compounded held on walls or ceilings by means of
porcelain cleats, Plastic or wood.

Cleat wiring system is a temporary wiring system therefore it

is not suitable for domestic premises. The use of cleat wiring
system is over nowadays.
Cleat wiring
Advantages of Cleat Wiring:

• It is simple and cheap wiring system

• Most suitable for temporary use i.e. under construction
building or army camping
• As the cables and wires of cleat wiring system is in open
air, Therefore fault in cables can be seen and repair
easily.
• Cleat wiring system installation is easy and simple.
• Customization can be easily done in this wiring system
e.g. alteration and addition.
• Inspection is easy and simple.
Disadvantages of Cleat Wiring:
• Not attractive in appearance.
• Cleat wiring can’t be use for permanent case
• In this wiring system, the cables and wiring is in open
air, therefore, oil, Steam, humidity, smoke, rain, chemical
and acidic effect may damage the cables and wires.
• it is not lasting wire system because of the weather
effect , risk of fire and wear & tear.
• There is always a risk of fire and electric shock.
• It is not lasting, reliable and sustainable wiring system.
 Casing and Capping wiring

Casing and Capping wiring system was famous wiring

system in the past but, it is considered obsolete this
days because of Conduit and sheathed wiring system.
The cables used in this kind of wiring were PVC or any
other approved insulated cables.
The cables were carried through the plastic casing
enclosures. The casing is made up of a strip of plastic
with parallel grooves cut length wise so as to
accommodate PVC cables. The grooves were made to
separate opposite polarity. the capping used to cover the
wires and cables installed and fitted in the casing.
Advantages of Casing Capping Wiring:
• It is cheap wiring system as compared to sheathed and
conduit wiring systems.
• It is strong and long-lasting wiring system.
• Customization can be easily done in this wiring system.
• Stay for long time in the field due to strong insulation of
capping and casing
• It stays safe from oil, Steam, smoke and rain.
• No risk of electric shock due to covered wires and cables in
casing & capping.
Casing and Capping wiring
Disadvantages Casing Capping Wiring:

There is a high risk of fire in casing & capping wiring system.

Not suitable in the acidic, alkalies and humidity conditions
Costly repairing and need more material.
Material can’t be found easily in the contemporary

Batten Wiring
Single core or double core or three core cables with a
circular oval shape cables are used in this kind of
wiring. Mostly, single core cables are preferred. The
cables are chemical proof, water proof, steam proof,
but are slightly affected by lubricating oil. The cables
are run on well seasoned and straight teak wood
batten with at least a thickness of 10mm The cables
are held on the wooden batten by means of tinned
brass link clips (buckle clip) already fixed on the
batten with brass pins and spaced at an interval of
10cm for horizontal runs and 15cm for vertical runs.
Batten Wiring
Advantages of Batten Wiring

• Wiring installation is simple and easy

• Cheap as compared to other electrical wiring systems
• Repairing is easy
• strong and long-lasting
• Customization can be easily done in this wiring system.
• less chance of leakage current in batten wiring system

Disadvantages of Batten Wiring

• Can’t be install in the humidity, Chemical effects, open

and outdoor areas.
• High risk of firs
• Not safe from external wear & tear and weather effects
(because, the wires are openly visible to heat, dust, steam
and smoke.
• Heavy wires can’t be used in batten wiring system.
• Only suitable below then 250V.
 Conduit Wiring

There are two types of conduit wiring according to pipe

installation:
• Surface Conduit Wiring
• Concealed Conduit Wiring
Surface Conduit Wiring
If conduits installed on roof or wall, It is known as
surface conduit wiring. in this wiring method, they make
holes on the surface of wall on equal distances and
conduit is installed then with the help of rawal plugs.

Concealed Conduit wiring

If the conduits is hidden inside the wall slots with the
help of plastering, it is called concealed conduit wiring.
In other words, the electrical wiring system inside wall,
roof or floor with the help of plastic or metallic piping is
called concealed conduit wiring. obliviously, It is the
most popular, beautiful, stronger and common electrical
wiring system nowadays.
Surface Conduit Wiring
Surface Conduit Wiring
In conduit wiring, steel tubes known as conduits are
installed on the surface of walls by means of pipe hooks
(surface conduit wiring) or buried in walls under plaster and
PVC cables are afterwards drawn into the conduit.
In Conduit wiring system, The conduits should be
electrically continuous and connected to earth at some
suitable points in case of steel conduit. Conduit wiring is a
professional way of wiring a building. Mostly PVC conduits
are used in domestic wiring.

The conduit protects the cables from being damaged by

rodents (when rodents bites the cables it will cause short
circuit) that is why circuit breakers are in place. Lead
conduits are used in factories or when the building is prone
to fire accident.

Trunking is more of like surface conduit wiring. It’s gaining

popularity. It is done by screwing a PVC trunking pipe to a
wall then passing the cables through the pipe. The cables in
conduit should not be too tight. Space factor have to be put
into consideration.
Types of Conduit

Following conduits are used in the conduit wiring systems

(both concealed and surface conduit wiring) which are
shown in the above:
• Metallic Conduit
• Non-metallic conduit

Metallic Conduit:
Metallic conduits are made of steel which are very strong
but costly as well. There are two types of metallic conduits.
• Class A Conduit: Low gauge conduit (Thin layer steel sheet
conduit)
• Class B Conduit: High gauge conduit (Thick sheet of steel
conduit)
Non-metallic Conduit:
A solid PVC conduit is used as non-metallic conduit now a
days, which is flexible and easy to bend.
Advantage of Conduit Wiring Systems

• It is the safest wiring system (Concealed conduit

wring)
• Appearance is very beautiful (in case of concealed
conduit wiring)
• No risk of mechanical wear & tear and fire in case of
metallic pipes.
• Customization can be easily done according to the
future needs.
• Repairing and maintenance is easy.
• There is no risk of damage the cables insulation.
• it is safe from corrosion (in case of PVC conduit) and
risk of fire.
• It can be used even in humidity , chemical effect and
smoky areas.
• No risk of electric shock (In case of proper earthing
and grounding of metallic pipes).
• It is reliable and popular wiring system.
• sustainable and long-lasting wiring system.
Disadvantages of Conduit Wiring Systems
• It is expensive wiring system (Due to PVC and Metallic
pipes, Additional earthing for metallic pipes Tee(s) and
elbows etc.
• Very hard to find the defects in the wiring.
• installation is not easy and simple.
• Risk of Electric shock (In case of metallic pipes without
proper earthing system)
• Very complicated to manage additional connection in the
future.
Comparison between Different Wiring Systems
Protection against ingress of solid objects and liquid

• In order to protect equipment from damage by foreign

bodies, liquid and also to prevent persons from
coming into contact with live or moving parts, such
equipment is housed inside enclosures or cable
management systems such as conduit, trunking ducts,
etc.
• The degree of protection offered by such an enclosure
is the subject of BS EN 60529 and commonly known as
the IP code, It will be seen from the IP table that, for
instance, an enclosure to IP56 is dustproof and
waterproof.
• The most commonly quoted IP codes in the
Regulations are IPXXB and IP2X (the X denotes that no
protection is specified, not that no protection exists).
 First numeral : Mechanical protection

0. No protection of persons against contact with live or moving parts

inside the
enclosure. No protection of equipment against ingress of solid foreign
bodies.
1. Protection against accidental or inadvertent contact with live or
moving parts inside the enclosure by a large surface of the human
body, for example a hand, not for protection against deliberate access
to such parts. Protection against ingress of large solid foreign bodies.
2. Protection against contact with live or moving parts inside the
enclosure by fingers. Protection against ingress of medium-sized solid
foreign bodies.
3. Protection against contact with live or moving parts inside the
enclosure by tools, wires or such objects of thickness greater than 2.5
mm. Protection against ingress of small foreign bodies.
4. Protection against contact with live or moving parts inside the
enclosure by tools, wires or such objects of thickness greater than 1
mm. Protection against ingress of small foreign bodies.
5. Complete protection against contact with live or moving parts inside
the enclosures. Protection against harmful deposits of dust. The
ingress of dust is not totally prevented, but dust cannot enter in an
amount sufficient to interfere with satisfactory operation of the
equipment enclosed.
6. Complete protection against contact with live or moving parts inside
the enclosures. Protection against ingress of dust.
Second numeral: Liquid protection

0. No protection.
1. Protection against drops of condensed water. Drops of
condensed water falling on the enclosure shall have no effect.
2. Protection against drops of liquid. Drops of falling liquid shall
have no harmful effect when the enclosure is tilted at any angle
up to 15° from the vertical.
3. Protection against rain. Water falling in rain at an angle equal to
or smaller than 60° with respect to the vertical shall have no
harmful effect.
4. Protection against splashing. Liquid splashed from any direction
shall have no harmful effect.
5. Protection against water jets. Water projected by a nozzle from
any direction under stated conditions shall have no harmful
effect.
6. Protection against conditions on ships ’ decks (deck with
watertight equipment). Water from heavy seas shall not enter the
enclosures under prescribed conditions.
7. Protection against immersion in water. It must not be possible
for water to enter the enclosure under stated conditions of
pressure and time.
8. Protection against indefinite immersion in water under specified
pressure. It must not be possible for water to enter the enclosure.
X Indicates no specified protections.
 Earth protection
The definition of earth is the conductive mass of earth, whose electric
potential at any point is conventionally taken as zero. Hence, if a voltmeter
is connected between a live part (e.g. the line conductor of, say, a socket
outlet circuit) and earth, we may read 230 V; the conductor is at 230 V, the
earth at zero. The earth provides a path to complete the circuit.

• A person in an installation touching a live part whilst standing on the earth

would take the place of the voltmeter in Figure 2.1a , and could suffer a
severe electric shock.
• Remember that the accepted lethal level of shock current passing through a
person is only 50 mA or 1/20 A.
• The same situation would arise if the person were touching, say, a faulty
appliance and a gas or water pipe

• one method of providing some measure of protection against

these effects is to join together (bond) all metallic parts and
connect them to earth. This ensures that all metalwork in a
healthy situation is at or near zero volts, and under fault
conditions all metalwork will rise to a similar potential.
Complete earth path
Shock path to ground/earth
 Connecting to Earth
• It is required to have as low an earth path resistance as
possible, and the point of connection to earth is one place
where such resistance may be reduced.
• There are several methods of making a connection to
earth, including the use of rods, plates and tapes. By far
the most popular method in everyday use is the rod earth
electrode. The plate type needs to be buried at a
sufficient depth to be effective and, as such plates may
be 1 or 2 metres square, considerable excavation may be
necessary.
• The tape type is predominantly used in the earthing of
large electricity substations, where the tape is laid in
trenches in a mesh formation over the whole site. Items
of plant are then earthed to this mesh
Rod electrodes

These are usually of solid copper or copper-clad carbon

steel, the latter being used for the larger-diameter rods
with extension facilities. These facilities comprise: a
thread at each end of the rod
to enable a coupler to be used for connection of the next
rod; a steel cap to protect the thread from damage when
the rod is being driven in; a steel driving tip; and a clamp
for the connection of an earth tape or conductor.

The choice of length and diameter of such a rod will, as

previously mentioned, depend on the soil conditions. For
example, a long thick electrode is used for earth with
little moisture retention. Generally, a 1–2 m rod, 16 mm
in diameter, will give a relatively low resistance
Earth Electrode/Rod
Earth Rod Installation for Earthing terminal Source
 EARTHING SYSTEMS (IEE REGULATIONS
DEFINITIONS (SYSTEMS))

The earthing systems are described using the designated T,

N, C and S. These letters stand for:
 T terre (French for earth) and meaning a direct
connection to earth
 N neutral
 C combined
 S separate.

When these letters are grouped they form the classification

of a type of system. The first letter in such a classification
denotes how the supply source is earthed. The second
denotes how the metalwork of an installation is earthed.
The third and fourth indicate the functions of neutral and
protective conductors.
 TT system

A TT system has a direct connection of the supply source

neutral to earth and a direct connection of the installation
metalwork to earth. An example is an overhead line supply
with earth electrodes, and the mass of earth as a return
path
TN-S system
A TN-S system has the supply source neutral directly
connected to earth, the installation metalwork
connected to the earthed neutral of the supply source
via the lead sheath of the supply cable, and the neutral
and protective conductors throughout the whole system
performing separate functions.
 TN-C-S system

 A TN-C-S system is as the TN-S but the supply cable

sheath is also the neutral, i.e. it forms a combined earth/
neutral conductor known as a PEN (protective earthed
neutral) conductor. The installation earth and neutral are
separate conductors. This system is also known as PME.