Module 2 other protective devices, and instruments designed to

divide large amounts of electrical current into smaller

Building Electrical Materials and Equipment
amounts of current used by electrical equipment.
Power Generation and Transmission • Panelboard – it is one or more metal cabinets that serve
Power Station – it is an industrial facility that houses the as a single unit, including buses, automatic overcurrent
prime mover, electric generator and auxiliaries for conversion protection devices (fuses or circuit breakers). It is
of mechanical energy, chemical energy and/or nuclear energy equipped with or without switches for the control of light,
into electrical energy. It is a facility or system for the heat, and power circuits.
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
Building Transformers
or underground.
• Transformers – are used in transmitting and distributing
• Service drop – overhead wires extend from a pole-
power from the power plant to a substation. The operation
mounted distribution transformer to the building’s service
of a large commercial installation depends on power
entrance. Overhead service entrance conductors
distribution that, in turn, depends on transformers used to
extending from pole mounted transformers
change voltage, current, and phase of electrical power
• Service Lateral – underground (buried) service entrance nearby and within a building.
conductors.
• Building transformers are rated in kVA. Typical sizes used
Service Entrance 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.
• Service Entrance – it includes the components that
connect the utility-supplied wiring (the service lateral or • A step-down transformer steps down the voltage applied
service drop) to the service disconnect, excluding the to it. A step-up transformer is steps up the voltage applied
utility’s metering equipment. to it. Step-down transformers are typically used in
buildings to reduce building system voltages to useable
• Service Entrance Equipment – receives the service levels.
entrance conductors. The service equipment includes a
method of measuring power (metering equipment), a Overcurrent Protection
method of cutting off power (main disconnect or switch
• Overcurrent protection (OCP) devices – they safeguard
gear), and overcurrent protection devices (circuit breakers
or fuses) that protect the service entrance conductors. the building service or an individual circuit from excessive
current flows. It protects the circuit components from
• Service Disconnect – it is a required part of the service severe overheating when current flowing through the
entrance equipment that allows electrical service from the circuit reaches an amperage that will cause an excessive
utility company to be switched off so that power is or dangerous temperature rise in conductors.
disconnected to the building installation. It is a set of fuses
or a circuit breaker that protects the service entrance • Fuses and circuit breakers serve as automatic
conductors. overcurrent protection devices. They are designed to
Switchboards and Panelboards open a circuit if the amount of current, in amps, that
flows through the circuit exceeds the OCP device rating.
• Switchboard – it is a large cabinet or assembly of metal
cabinets in which is connected disconnecting switches,
overcorrect protection devices (fuses or circuit breakers),
Circuit Breakers

Circuit Breaker – it is a device designed to open (or trip)

and close a circuit by non-automatic means and to open
the circuit automatically on a predetermined overcurrent
without damage to itself when properly applied within its
rating.

Standard Ampere Ratings of Fuses and Fixed Trip Circuit

Breakers based on the PEC

• The standard ampere ratings for fuses and inverse time

circuit breakers shall be considered:

• 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110,
125, 150, 175, 200, 225, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 600,
700, 800, 1000, 1200, 1600, 2000, 2500, 3000, 4000, 5000,
and 6000 amperes

• PEC – Philippine Electrical Code

OCP Device Ratings

OPDs have two current ratings: overcurrent and amperes

interrupting current.
Fuses • Overcurrent Rating – is the highest current it can carry
continuously without exceeding a specific temperature
Fuse – it is an overcurrent protective device with a circuit
limit (e.g., without overheating).
opening fusible part that is heated and severed by the
passage of overcurrent through it. • 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 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 2. SPDT (single pole double throw) or three way switch –
more prongs that are inserted into a receptacle to connect used to control a single lamp from two different locations.
to an electrical circuit. The switch has three terminals.

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
Switches for Lamp Controls
to isolate a circuit or an equipment
1. SPST (single pole single throw) switch – used to control from the supply side. It could either
a single or group of lamps from one location. The switch be fused or non-fuse type. Standard
has only two terminals.
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.
Wire Coding and Identification
• 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.
• 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. Codes printed on the thermoplastic insulation. Identify the
• Bare Conductor – a conductor having no covering or wire as suitable for use in conduit: (a) THHN; (b) THWN
electrical insulation whatsoever.
• Cable – a stranded conductor or a group of conductors Conductor Ampacity
insulated from one another. • Conductor’s Ampacity – it is the maximum current it can
• Raceway – an enclosed channel for holding wires, cables carry continuously without exceeding the temperature
or busbars. limitations of the insulation and sheathing material.
• Ampacity is based on the following:
Building Wires a. Wire thickness
Thermoplastic Cables. Single insulated conductor of solid b. Type of conductor material
or stranded bare annealed high conductivity copper, with c. Insulation and sheathing type
thermoplastic lead free insulation of PVC (Polyvinyl d. Number of conductors bundled in the sheathing
Chloride) and protected by a nylon jacket; normally e. Tmperature and exposure of the conductor
designed to operate up to 600 V.
Ampacity Table based on the PEC

Conductor Application and Insulations

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 Electric Motors
equipment. • In homes, electric motors are found in refrigerators,
• Electrical boxes – are metal and non-metallic (plastic) freezers, dishwashers, kitchen sink waste disposal,
enclosures that hold devices such as switches or outlets portable kitchen appliances, exhaust and ventilation fans,
and safely permit wiring connections. Boxes are available clothes washers and dryers, furnaces, air conditioners, and
in four primary shapes: square, rectangular, octagonal, or paddle fans.
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.

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.