Lecture 4

Building Electrical
Materials and
Equipment
Engr. Gerard Ang
School of EECE
Power Generation and Transmission

Power Station – it is an industrial facility that houses the prime mover,

electric generator and auxiliaries for conversion of mechanical energy,
chemical energy and/or nuclear energy into electrical energy. It is a
facility or system for the generation of electric power.
 Building Electrical
Service Equipment
Building electrical service equipment includes the following:
• Service Entrance Conductors
• Service Entrance
• Switchboards
• Panelboards
• Building Transformer
 Service Entrance Conductors
• Service Entrance Conductors –
conductors that carry power from the
transformer through a metering
device to the building’s service
disconnects. These may be overhead
or underground.
• Service drop – overhead wires extend
from a pole-mounted distribution
transformer to the building’s service
entrance. Overhead service entrance
conductors extending from pole-
mounted transformers
• Service Lateral – underground
(buried) service entrance conductors.
 Service Entrance
• Service Entrance – it includes the components that connect the
utility-supplied wiring (the service lateral or service drop) to the
service disconnect, excluding the utility’s metering equipment.
• Service Entrance Equipment – receives the service entrance
conductors. The service equipment includes a method of measuring
power (metering equipment), a method of cutting off power (main
disconnect or switch gear), and overcurrent protection devices
(circuit breakers or fuses) that protect the service entrance
conductors.
• Service Disconnect – it is a required part of the service entrance
equipment that allows electrical service from the utility company to
be switched off so that power is disconnected to the building
installation. It is a set of fuses or a circuit breaker that protects the
service entrance conductors.
Switchboards and Panelboards

• Switchboard – it is a large cabinet or assembly of metal cabinets

in which is connected disconnecting switches, overcurrent
protection devices (fuses or circuit breakers), other protective
devices, and instruments designed to divide large amounts of
electrical current into smaller amounts of current used by
electrical equipment.
• Panelboard – it is one or more metal cabinets that serve as a
single unit, including buses, automatic overcurrent protection
devices (fuses or circuit breakers). It is equipped with or without
switches for the control of light, heat, and power circuits.
Switchboards and Panelboards
 Building Transformers
• Transformers – are used in transmitting and distributing power from
the power plant to a substation. The operation of a large commercial
installation depends on power distribution that, in turn, depends on
transformers used to change voltage, current, and phase of electrical
power nearby and within a building.
• Building transformers are rated in kVA. Typical sizes used in buildings
include 3, 6, 9, 15, 25, 30, 37.5, 45, 50, 75, 112.5, 150, 225, 300, 500,
750, 1000, 1500 kVA, and larger.
• A step-down transformer steps down the voltage applied to it. A
step-up transformer is steps up the voltage applied to it. Step-down
transformers are typically used in buildings to reduce building system
voltages to useable levels.
 Overcurrent Protection

• Overcurrent protection (OCP) devices – they safeguard the building

service or an individual circuit from excessive current flows. It protects
the circuit components from severe overheating when current flowing
through the circuit reaches an amperage that will cause an excessive or
dangerous temperature rise in conductors.
• Fuses and circuit breakers serve as automatic overcurrent protection
devices. They are designed to open a circuit if the amount of current,
in amps, that flows through the circuit exceeds the OCP device rating.
 Circuit Breakers
• Circuit Breaker – it is a device designed to
open (or trip) and close a circuit by non- Circuit Symbol
automatic means and to open the circuit
automatically on a predetermined
overcurrent without damage to itself when
properly applied within its rating.
 Fuses
• Fuse – it is an overcurrent protective device with a circuit-opening
fusible part that is heated and severed by the passage of overcurrent
through it.

Circuit Symbols
General Classification of Fuses
1. Cartridge Fuse – it is enclosed in insulating
tube.
2. Plug Fuse – it is enclosed in porcelain or
rubber commonly used in various electrical
appliances.
3. Fuse Wire – opened wire of low melting point
commonly used in the safety power switch.
4. Non-time delay fuse – holds five times its
rating for ¼ to 2 seconds (not ideal to loads
which requires more than 2 seconds to
accelerate).
5. Dual-element time delay fuse – holds five
times the rating for 10 seconds.
Standard Ampere Ratings of Fuses and Fixed
Trip Circuit Breakers based on the PEC

PEC – Philippine Electrical Code

 OCP Device Ratings

OPDs have two current ratings: overcurrent and amperes interrupting

current.
• Overcurrent Rating – is the highest current it can carry
continuously without exceeding a specific temperature limit (e.g.,
without overheating).
• Interrupting Capacity – it is the current that a fuse is able to
interrupt without being destroyed or causing an electric arc with
unacceptable duration.
 Utilization Equipment
and Devices
• Utilization equipment – it is a broad category of electrical or
electronic machine or instrument designed to perform a specific
mechanical, chemical, heating, or lighting function through the use
of electrical energy.
• Electric Appliance – it is an end-use piece of utilization equipment
designed to perform a specific function such as cooking, cleaning,
cooling, or heating.
• Electrical Device – it is a component in an electrical system that is
designed to carry but not use electricity. This includes components
such as switches, receptacles, and relays.
Outlets, Receptacles and Plugs

• Outlet – it is the location in a branch circuit where electricity is

used. For example, a lighting outlet is the location in a branch
circuit where conductors provide power to a light fixture.
• Receptacle – it is a female connecting device with slotted contacts.
It is installed at an outlet or on equipment, where it is intended to
easily establish an electrical connection with an inserted plug.
• Plug – it is a male connecting device that has two or more prongs
that are inserted into a receptacle to connect to an electrical circuit.
 Switches
Switch – it is an electrical component that
can break an electrical circuit, interrupting
the current or diverting it from one
conductor to another.

Switches Symbol Switches Symbol

Three Way/Four-
Single Pole S S3W / S4W
Way
Duplex (2 single pole
switch on one switch S2 Automatic Door SAD
plate)
Triplex (3 single pole
switch on one switch S3 Key Operated SK
plate)
Double Pole S2P Master Selector SM
Three-Pole S3P Remote Control SRM
 Switches
Switches Description Symbol
A simple on-off switch: The two
Single pole, terminals are either connected
SPST
single throw together or disconnected from each
other. An example is a light switch.

A simple changeover switch: C

Single pole,
SPDT (COM, Common) is connected to L1
double throw
or to L2.

Double pole, Equivalent to two SPST switches

DPST
single throw controlled by a single mechanism

Double pole, Equivalent to two SPDT switches

DPDT
double throw controlled by a single mechanism.
Switches for Lamp Controls
1. SPST (single pole single throw) switch – used to control a single or
group of lamps from one location. The switch has only two terminals.
Switches for Lamp Controls
2. SPDT (single pole double throw) or three way switch – used to
control a single lamp from two different locations. The switch has
three terminals.
 Switches for Lamp Controls
3. Four-way switch – used to control a single lamp from three or more different
locations. The switch has four terminals.

For lamp’s control from three or more locations, there should always be two 3-
way switches and the rest, are 4 way switches.
4 locations – two 3-way switches and two 4-way switches
5 locations – two 3-way switches and three 4-way switches
6 locations – two 3-way switches and four 4-way switches
 Disconnects

Disconnect (Safety Power Switch) – a

mechanical switching device used to isolate a
circuit or an equipment from the supply side.
It could either be fused or non-fuse type.

Standard Ratings of Disconnects in Amperes:

30, 60, 100, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1200, 1400,
1600 and 1800
 Conductors
• Electrical Conductor – it is any material that conducts electrical
current. Electrical conductors are either solid or stranded. Solid
conductors are a single solid length of conductor called a wire.
Stranded conductors consist of smaller wire strands. Conductors may
be insulated or bare.
• Bus bar – it is an electrical conductor (usually copper or aluminum)
that serves as a common connection for two or more electrical
circuits. Buses are typically solid bars used for power distribution.
They are commonly found in panelboards, switchboards, and other
power distribution equipment. Busbars are either flat strips or hollow
tubes.
• Cable – contains more than one conductor bundled together in a
factory assembly of wires. An outer sheathing encases and protects
the conductors, simplifying installation of multiple wiring
 Conductors

• Insulated Conductor – conductor encased within material of

composition or thickness recognized by the PEC as electrical insulation.
• Covered Conductor – conductor encased within material of
composition or thickness that is not recognized by the PEC as electrical
insulation.
• Bare Conductor – a conductor having no covering or electrical
insulation whatsoever.
• Cable – a stranded conductor or a group of conductors insulated from
one another.
• Raceway – an enclosed channel for holding wires, cables or busbars.
 Building Wires
Thermoplastic Cables. Single insulated conductor of solid or stranded
bare annealed high conductivity copper, with thermoplastic lead free
insulation of PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) and protected by a nylon jacket;
normally designed to operate up to 600 V.
Conductor Application
and Insulations
Wire Coding and Identification

Codes printed on the thermoplastic insulation.

Identify the wire as suitable for use in conduit: (a) THHN; (b) THWN
 Conductor Ampacity
Conductor’s Ampacity – it is the maximum current it can carry
continuously without exceeding the temperature limitations of the
insulation and sheathing material.
Ampacity is based on the following:
a. Wire thickness
b. Type of conductor material
c. Insulation and sheathing type
d. Number of conductors bundled in the sheathing
e. Temperature and exposure of the conductor
Ampacity Table based on the PEC
 Enclosures and Raceways
• Enclosures – are electrical boxes and cabinets made of metal (e.g.,
steel, galvanized steel, aluminum, and so on) or nonmetallic (plastic)
materials that provide protection for conductors, connections,
controls, and other electrical equipment.
• Electrical boxes – are metal and non-metallic (plastic) enclosures that
hold devices such as switches or outlets and safely permit wiring
connections. Boxes are available in four primary shapes: square,
rectangular, octagonal, or round.
• Junction boxes (J-boxes) – are a special type of electrical box used to
enclose conductor connections. Connections are commonly called
junctions in the trade.
• Pull box – is a type of junction box that allows access to a raceway for
snaking conductors through the raceway. Knockouts in most boxes and
other enclosures can be easily removed to allow wiring to enter the
box.
Conduit and Other Raceways
Raceway – is an enclosed channel such as a conduit, tube, or gutter
designed for holding wires, cables, or busbars.

Types of Conduits:
a. Rigid metal conduit
b. Intermediate metal conduit (IMC)
c. Electrical metallic tubing (EMT)
d. Electrical nonmetallic tubing (ENT)
e. Rigid nonmetallic conduit
f. Flexible metal conduit
g. Liquid tight flexible metal conduit
h. Liquid tight flexible nonmetallic conduit
i. Cellular concrete floor raceways
Conduit Sizes based on the PEC
 Busways and Wireways
• Busway – is of a standardized, factory-assembled enclosure consists of
outer duct-like housing, bus bars, and insulators.
• Wire gutters or wireways – are metal sheet or nonmetallic, flame-
resistant plastic troughs that serve as a housing that encloses and
protects conductors.
 Electric Motors

• In homes, electric motors are found in refrigerators, freezers,

dishwashers, kitchen sink waste disposal, portable kitchen
appliances, exhaust and ventilation fans, clothes washers and
dryers, furnaces, air conditioners, and paddle fans.
Motor Ratings based on the PEC