Module 1

Building Electrical Systems

 Topics to be Discussed:

• Electricity Theory
• Building Electrical Materials and Equipment
• Building Electrical Design Principles
 Electrical Theory

• Electricity – it is a property of matter that results from the

presence or movement of electric charge. According to
modern theory, matter is electrical in nature.
 Structure of Matter
• Matter – it is anything that occupies space and has
mass.
• Atom – it is the smallest particle of an element that is
capable of independent existence.
• Molecule – it is the smallest particle of matter (an
element or a compound) that is capable of free existence.
• Element – it is a substance that cannot be decomposed
any further by chemical action.
• Compound – it is a combination of two or more
elements.
• Mixture – it is a material composed of two or more
substances, each of which retains its own characteristic
properties.
 Basic Data About the Atom
• Proton – it is a positively charged particle.
• Electron – it is negatively charged particle.
• Neutron – it is a particle with neutral charge (no charge).
• Atomic Number – it represents the number of protons or electrons
of an atom.
• Atomic Mass – it represents the sum of protons and electrons of an
atom.
• Ion – it is an atom or a group of atoms that has a net positive or
negative charge resulting from unequal number of positively charged
protons and negatively charged electrons.
• Shell – it is an energy level or region about the nucleus of an atom
in which electrons move. The atom has 5 shells, namely, the K-
shell (first orbit), the L-shell (second orbit), the M-shell (third orbit),
the N-shell (fourth orbit) and the O-shell (fifth orbit)
• Valence electrons – is the electrons found in the outermost shell
(valence shell) or orbit of an atom.
 Basic Data About the Atom

Particle Charge Mass

1.602 x 10-21 C, 1.672 x 10-27

Proton
positive kg

1.602 x 10-21 C, 9.107 x 10-31

Electron
negative kg

No charge, 1.672 x 10-27

Neutron
neutral kg
 Electrical Classification of Materials

• Electrical Conductors – these are materials that allow

the essentially free passage of current when connected
to a battery or other source of electrical energy.
• Electrical Insulators – these are materials that posses
low conductivity or offer a relatively high resistance to the
flow of electric current. They are also called as
dielectrics.
• Electric Semiconductors – these are materials that
have conductivity about midway between good
conductors and good insulators.
 Electrical Current

• Electric Current (I) – it is the motion or transfer of charges

from one region of a conductor to another. Its unit is the
Ampere (A) named after André Marie Ampère.
 Sources of Electric Current

The following are the methods by which electric current

can be produced:
• Static electricity from friction
• Thermoelectricity is electricity from heat
• Piezoelectricity is electricity from pressure
• Electrochemistry is electricity from a chemical action
• Photoelectricity is electricity from light
• Magnetoelectricity is electricity from magnetism
 Fundamental Units of Electricity

• Electric Voltage (V or E) – it is the driving force behind

current flow. The unit of voltage is the Volt (V). Voltage level
governs the amount of current flow. An increase in voltage
causes more current flow and vice versa.
• Electric Current (I) – it is the motion or transfer of charges
from one region of a conductor to another. Its unit is the
Ampere (A).
• Electric Potential Difference – it is the difference in the
electric potentials of two charged bodies. Its unit is the volt.
• Electric Resistance (R) – it is the property of a material that
limits the amount of flow of current and converts electric
energy to heat energy. Its unit is the Ohm (Ω).
 Ohm’s Law
According to Ohm’s Law, “At steady-
state condition, the voltage across a
resistor is directly proportional to the
current flowing through it with the
temperature remaining constant.”

𝑽 𝑽
𝑽 = 𝑰𝑹 𝑹= 𝑰=
𝑰 𝑹

Where: Georg Simon Ohm

V = applied voltage in volts (1787 – 1854)
I = current drawn in amperes
R = resistance in ohms
 Conditions for Ohm’s Law

• Ohm’s law can be applied either to the entire circuit or a

part of a circuit
• When Ohm’s law is applied to a part circuit, part resistance
and the potential difference across that part resistance
should be used
• Ohm’s law can be applied to both dc and ac circuits
 Limitations of Ohm’s Law
Ohm’s law is not applicable to the following:
• For metals which get heated up due to the flow of current
through them
• For electrolytes where enormous gases are produced on
either electrode
• For vacuum radio valves
• For arc lamps
• For semiconductors
• For gas-filled tubes, in which the ions are generated as a
result of current flow
• For appliances such as metal rectifier and crystal detectors,
in which the operation depends on the direction of current
 Electrical Power
Electrical Power (P) – it is defined as the
rate at which electrical energy is expended or
used up. It is the rate electric energy is
converted into another form, such as light,
heat or mechanical energy (or converted from
another form into electrical energy). Its unit is
the Watt (W).

𝑷 = 𝑽𝑰 𝑽𝟐
𝑷= 𝑷 = 𝑰 𝟐𝑹
𝑹
James Watt
Where:
P = electrical power in watts Note:
V = voltage in volts 1 horsepower (HP) = 746 W
I = current in amperes
R = resistance in ohm
 Energy

• Energy – it is the capacity to do work. It is measured in

Joules (J).
• Electrical Energy Consumption – it is the rate at which
power is consumed over a specified period of time.

𝑾 = 𝑷𝒕

Where:
P = electrical power in watt
t = time
W = electric energy consumed
 Electric Circuit
Electric Circuit – it is a collection of electrical elements
interconnected in some specific way through which
electric current flows or it is intended to flow.

A circuit consists of a
source, conducting parts
and a load.
 Closed, Open and Short Circuits

• Closed Circuit – it is an uninterrupted path that allows a

continuous flow of current through an electrical circuit. In a
building, the circuit is closed when a switch is turned on.
• Open Circuit. If the path of current flow is interrupted such
as if the switch in a circuit is open (turned off), an open
circuit results.
• Short Circuit. If an inadvertent shortcut develops in a
circuit that permits current flow through an unintentional
path, a short circuit is created. A short circuit occurs when
current leaks out of the intended conductor path such as
out of a wire with damaged insulation.
 Types of Circuit Connections

1. Series circuit
2. Parallel circuit
3. Combinational Circuit
a. Series-parallel circuit – it is a combinational
circuit when simplified will result into a series
circuit
b. Parallel-series circuit – it is a combinational
circuit when simplified will result into a parallel
circuit.
 Series Circuits
1. Series Circuit – the circuit elements are
said to be connected in series when they
all carry the same current.
2. Properties of a Series Circuit:
➢ The same current flows through all the
resistances.
➢ There will be voltage drop across each
resistance.
➢ The sum of the voltage drops is equal to
the applied voltage.
3. Equivalent Resistance of a Series
Circuit:

𝑵 𝑰𝑻 = 𝑰 𝟏 = 𝑰 𝟐 = 𝑰 𝟑
𝑹𝑻 = 𝑹 𝟏 + 𝑹𝟐 + 𝑹𝟑 + ⋯ + 𝑹𝑵 = ෍ 𝑹𝒏
𝒏=𝟏
𝑽𝑻 = 𝑽 𝟏 + 𝑽 𝟐 + 𝑽 𝟑
Where: RT = total resistance
 Sample Problems
1. Four coils having resistances of 3, 5, 10 and 12 ohms are
connected in series across 120 V. Determine (a) equivalent
resistance of the circuit, (b) current flowing through the circuit
and (c) voltage drop across individual coils.
Solution:
(a) For the equivalent resistance of the
IT circuit
V1 3
𝑅𝑇 = 3 + 5 + 10 + 12

V2 5 𝑹𝑻 = 𝟑𝟎 𝛀
VT
120 V (b) For the current flowing through the
V3 10 circuit
𝑉𝑇 120
𝐼𝑇 = 𝐼𝑇 =
V4 12 𝑅𝑇 30

𝑰𝑻 = 𝟒 𝑨
(c) For the voltage drop across individual coils.

𝑉1 = 4 3 𝑽𝟏 = 𝟏𝟐 𝑽

𝑉2 = 4 5 𝑽𝟐 = 𝟐𝟎 𝑽

𝑉3 = 4 10 𝑽𝟑 = 𝟒𝟎 𝑽

𝑉4 = 4 12 𝑽𝟒 = 𝟒𝟖 𝑽
 Sample Problems
2. An electric iron is rated at 1 kW, 250 V. Calculate the current taken
by it if it is connected to 220 V supply.
Solution:
For the electric iron, it is rated at 1 kW, 250 V
𝑉2 250 2
𝑃= 1,000 = 𝑅 = 62.5 Ω
𝑅 𝑅

When the electric iron is connected a 220 V supply

𝑉 220
𝐼= 𝐼=
𝑅 62.5

𝑰 = 𝟑. 𝟓𝟐 𝑨
 Sample Problems
3. Three resistors are connected in series across a 12 V battery.
The first resistor has a value of 1 Ω, second has a voltage drop
of 4 V and the third has a power dissipation of 12 W. Calculate
the value of the circuit current.
Solution:

IT R1
V1 𝑉𝑇 = 𝑉1 + 𝑉2 + 𝑉3
1

12 = 𝑉1 + 4 + 𝑉3
VT
V2 R2
12 V
4V 𝑉1 + 𝑉3 = 8

V3 R3

P3 = 12 W
For V1,
𝑉1 = 𝐼𝑅 1 𝑉1 = 𝐼 1 𝑉1 = 𝐼 (numerically)

For V3,
12
𝑃3 = 𝑉3 𝐼 12 = 𝑉3 𝐼 𝑉3 =
𝐼

Substituting,

𝑉1 + 𝑉3 = 8
12
𝐼+ =8 𝐼2 − 8𝐼 + 12 = 0
𝐼

𝑰=𝟔𝑨 𝑰=𝟐𝑨
 Parallel Circuits
1. Parallel Circuit – circuit elements
are connected in parallel when the
same voltage is common to all of
them.
2. Properties of a Parallel Circuit:
➢ The voltage across each
resistance of the parallel
combination is the same.
➢ There are as many current paths
as the number of branches.
➢ The current in each branch is
given by Ohm’s law.
➢ The total current of the circuit is
equal to the sum of branch
currents.
3. Equivalent Resistance of a Parallel 𝑽𝑻 = 𝑽 𝟏 = 𝑽 𝟐 = 𝑽 𝟑
Circuit
𝟏 𝑰𝑻 = 𝑰 𝟏 + 𝑰 𝟐 + 𝑰 𝟑
𝑹𝑻 =
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
+ + +⋯+ = σ𝑵
𝑹𝟏 𝑹𝟐 𝑹𝟑 𝑹𝑵 𝒏=𝟏 𝑹
𝒏
Where: RT = total resistance
 Sample Problems
1. The equivalent resistance of four resistors joined in parallel
is 20 ohms. The currents flowing through them are 0.6, 0.3,
0.2 and 0.1 ampere. Find the value of each resistor.

Solution:
24
𝑅1 = 𝑹𝟏 = 𝟒𝟎 𝛀
IT 0.6
VT R1 R2 R3 R4 24
𝑅2 = 𝑹𝟐 = 𝟖𝟎 𝛀
0.3
I1 I2 I3 I4
24 𝑹𝟑 = 𝟏𝟐𝟎 𝛀
𝑅3 =
𝐼𝑇 = 0.6 + 0.3 + 0.2 + 0.1 = 1.2 A 0.2

𝑉𝑇 = 𝐼𝑇 𝑅𝑇 = 1.2 20 = 24 𝑉 24
𝑅4 = 𝑹𝟒 = 𝟐𝟒𝟎 𝛀
0.1
 Sample Problems
2. Two bulbs of 250 W, 230 V each, are connected across a
200 V supply. Calculate the total power drawn from the
supply if the bulbs are connected (a) in parallel and (b) in
series.
Solution:

For each bulb,

𝑉2 (230)2
𝑃= 250 = 𝑅𝑏𝑢𝑙𝑏 = 211.6 Ω
𝑅 𝑅𝑏𝑢𝑙𝑏
 (a) When the bulbs are connected in parallel,
𝑅𝑏𝑢𝑙𝑏 211.6
𝑅𝑇 = = = 105.8 Ω
2 2
VT Rbulb Rbulb 𝑉𝑇2 200 2
200 V 𝑃𝑇 = 𝑃𝑇 =
𝑅𝑇 105.8

𝑷𝑻 = 𝟑𝟕𝟖. 𝟎𝟕 𝑾
(b) When the bulbs are connected in series,
Rbulb Rbulb
𝑅𝑇 = 2𝑅 𝑏𝑢𝑙𝑏 = 2 211.6 = 423.2 Ω
VT 𝑉𝑇2 200 2
200 V 𝑃𝑇 = 𝑃𝑇 =
𝑅𝑇 423.2

𝑷𝑻 = 𝟗𝟒. 𝟓𝟐 𝑾
 Sample Problems
3. Two resistances, one of 30 ohms and another of unknown value
are connected in parallel, the total power dissipated in the circuit
is 450 watts when the applied voltage is 90 volts. Find the value
of the unknown resistance.

Solution:
𝑉𝑇2 (90)2
𝑃𝑇 = 450 = 𝑅𝑇 = 18 Ω
𝑅𝑇 𝑅𝑇
VT 1 1 1 1 1 1
30 R = +
90 V = +
18 30 𝑅
𝑅𝑇 30 𝑅

PT = 45 W 𝑹 = 𝟒𝟓 𝛀
 Sample Problems

4. Find the equivalent resistance of the circuit given in figure 1

between the following points (a) A and B (b) C and D (c) E and F
(d) A and F and (e) A and C.
Solution:

(a) Between A and B

1
𝑅𝐴𝐵 = 𝟓
1 1 𝑹𝑨𝑩 = 𝛀
+ 𝟔
1 5
(b) Between C and D

1 𝟑
𝑅𝐶𝐷 = 𝑹𝑪𝑫 = 𝛀
1 1 1 𝟐
3+6+6
(c) Between E and F

1 𝟑
𝑅𝐸𝐹 = 𝑹𝑬𝑭 = 𝛀
1 1
6+2 𝟐
(d) Between A and F

By inspection,

𝑅𝐴𝐹 = 𝑅𝐴𝐵

𝟓
𝑹𝑨𝑭 = 𝛀
𝟔
(e) Between A and C

1
𝑅𝐴𝐶 = 𝟒
1 1 𝑹𝑨𝑪 = 𝛀
+
2 1+3 𝟑
 Sample Problems

5. What is the value of the unknown resistor R in figure 2 if the

voltage drop across the 500-Ω resistor is 2.5 volts?
Solution: 𝑉𝑅 = 𝑉500 + 𝑉50
𝑉𝑅 = 2.5 + 0.25 = 2.75 𝑉
𝑉550 = 12 − 𝑉𝑅
𝑉550 = 12 − 2.75 = 9.25 𝑉
𝑉550 9.25
𝐼= =
550 550
37
𝐼= A
2,200
𝑉500 = 2.5 𝑉 37 1
2.5 1 𝐼1 = 𝐼 − 𝐼 2 = −
𝐼2 = = 𝐴 2,200 200
500 200 13
𝐼1 = 𝐴
1 1,100
𝑉50 = 𝐼2 50 = 50
200 𝑉𝑅 2.75
𝑉50 = 0.25 𝑉 𝑅= =
𝐼1 13Τ1,100

𝑹 = 𝟐𝟑𝟐. 𝟔𝟗 𝛀
 Sample Problems
6. A resistance R is connected in series with a parallel
combination of two resistances 12 Ω and 8 Ω. Calculate R if
the power dissipated in the circuit is 70 W when the applied
voltage is 20 V across the circuit.
Solution:
R 1 24
𝑅𝑥 = = Ω
1 1 5
+
12 8
VT
20 V 12 18 𝑅𝑇 = 𝑅 + 𝑅 𝑥
PT = 70 W 40 24
=𝑅+
7 5
𝑉𝑇2 (20)2
𝑃𝑇 = 70 =
𝑅𝑇 𝑅𝑇 𝟑𝟐
𝑹= 𝛀 = 𝟎. 𝟗𝟏 𝛀
40 𝟑𝟓
𝑅𝑇 = Ω
7
 Cost of Electrical Energy
A utility company will charge its customers for the electric
energy consumed.
• Energy Charge – is the cost of electrical energy
consumed.
• Maximum Demand – is the user’s highest rate at which
energy is consumed in kilowatts.
• Demand Charge – is the billing fee related to the maximum
charge.
 Sample Problems
1. A 60 W lamp remains lighted for 24 hours per day for 30 days.
Determine (a) the electrical energy consumed over this period,
(b) the energy charge for the billing period at a rate of Php
5.93/kWh.

Solution:

(a) For the electrical energy consumed over this period

𝑊 = 𝑃𝑡
ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠
𝑊 = 60 𝑊 × 24 × 30
𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑑

𝑾 = 𝟒𝟑, 𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝑾𝒉 = 𝟒𝟑. 𝟐 𝒌𝑾𝒉

 Sample Problems

(b) For the energy charge for the billing period at a rate of
Php 5.93/kWh

𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 = 𝑊 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦

𝑃ℎ𝑝 5.93
𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 = 43.2 𝑘𝑊ℎ ×
𝑘𝑊ℎ

𝑬𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒚 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒆 = 𝑷𝒉𝒑 𝟐𝟓𝟔. 𝟏𝟕𝟔

 Sample Problems
2. A large residence consumes 1155 kWh of electrical energy over
a billing period. Determine the total charge for billing period
based on the rate schedule given below:
Service Charge Php 261.18
First 1,000 kWh of billing period Php 5.92 per kWh
Next 2,000 kWh of billing period Php 5.52 per kWh

Solution:
𝑃ℎ𝑝 5.92
𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 = 𝑃ℎ𝑝 261.18 + × 1000 𝑘𝑊ℎ
𝑘𝑊ℎ
𝑃ℎ𝑝 5.52
+ × 155 𝑘𝑊ℎ
𝑘𝑊ℎ

𝑬𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒚 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒆 = 𝑷𝒉𝒑 𝟕, 𝟎𝟑𝟔. 𝟕𝟖