UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION

BCE 324 | ENGINEERING UTILITIES 1 | 8126

ELECTRICAL
MATERIALS
 UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION
BCE 324 | ENGINEERING UTILITIES 1 | 8126

CONDUCTORS
KRISHA D. YBAÑEZ
UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION
BCE 324 | ENGINEERING UTILITIES 1 | 8126

CONDUCTORS
• a material or substance that allows the flow of
electricity, heat, or light.
• Examples of good conductors of electricity
include metals, graphite, and lemon juice
 UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION
BCE 324 | ENGINEERING UTILITIES 1 | 8126

WIRE
An electrical conductor is any material that conducts electrical
current. A wire is a common electrical conductor.
Most conductors used in building applications are classified
according to a wire gauge standard and on the cross-sectional
area of the wire in units called circular mils.

A mil is equal to 1/1000 inch, so one circular mil (cmil) is equal

to the cross-sectional area of a 0.001 in diameter circle.
 UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION
BCE 324 | ENGINEERING UTILITIES 1 | 8126

WIRE
• Wires are classified based on the American Wire Gauge (AWG)
or in circular mils (cmil).
• Common materials: Copper, Aluminum.
• Wire sizes are categorized by AWG or cmil.
• AWG is inversely proportional to wire thickness (smaller AWG
= thicker wire).
• Resistance is measured in ohms/1000 ft, varying by material
(Copper, Aluminum).
 UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION
BCE 324 | ENGINEERING UTILITIES 1 | 8126

WIRE
Solid vs. Stranded Wires

• Solid Wire: Single solid length, better for fixed installations.

• Stranded Wire: Multiple wire strands, more flexible, preferred
for portable or movable installations.
• Stranded wires generally have slightly larger diameters than
solid wires.
 UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION
BCE 324 | ENGINEERING UTILITIES 1 | 8126

BUSES
• Buses (or bus bars) are electrical conductors used to connect
multiple circuits.

• Typically made of copper or aluminum, buses dissipate heat

efficiently due to their high surface-to-area ratio.

• They are commonly found in panelboards, switchboards, and

other power distribution equipment.
 UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION
BCE 324 | ENGINEERING UTILITIES 1 | 8126

CONDUCTOR MATERIALS
• Silver and Gold: Best conductor but very expensive.

• Copper: Most common, balances conductivity and cost.

• Aluminum: Lightweight and cost-effective, requires care in

installation.
 UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION
BCE 324 | ENGINEERING UTILITIES 1 | 8126

CONDUCTOR MATERIALS
Copper clad aluminum wire offers an alternative, featuring
an aluminum core coated with a thin layer of bonded copper.
This wire resembles copper but performs like aluminum.

Old aluminum wiring manufactured before 1972 poses an increased fire

hazard, particularly with small-gauge solid aluminum conductors (No.
10 and No. 12 AWG). Due to these risks, the industry limits aluminum
conductor use to larger gauges (No. 6 AWG and above) for installations
involving large appliances.
 UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION
BCE 324 | ENGINEERING UTILITIES 1 | 8126

CONDUCTOR INSULATION
• Insulation ensures electrical isolation and protects against
faults.
• Indoor wires require less protection than outdoor wires.
• Outdoor and underground wires need resistance to water, UV
light, and corrosive conditions.
• Jackets provide extra protection in specific cases.
 UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION
BCE 324 | ENGINEERING UTILITIES 1 | 8126

CONDUCTOR INSULATION
Insulation is rated for dry, damp, or wet locations.

• Dry Location: Applies to conductors inside buildings, staying

dry except during construction.
• Damp Location: Includes protected outdoor wiring like in
covered decks and canopies.
• Wet Location: Involves exposure to weather, moisture, or
water-heavy applications (e.g., buried conductors, car washes).
 UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION
BCE 324 | ENGINEERING UTILITIES 1 | 8126

CABLE
A 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.
 UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION
BCE 324 | ENGINEERING UTILITIES 1 | 8126

CABLE
Nonmetallic-Sheathed Cable
• Nonmetallic-sheathed cables, NM and NMC, are flexible
cables with insulated conductors. NM is for dry indoor use,
while NMC is suited for dry and damp environments. They are
primarily used in residential and certain multifamily dwellings.

Underground Feeder Cable

• Underground feeder (UF) cables are durable, fully sheathed
conductors designed for direct burial and are protected by
overcurrent devices before leaving the panel board.
 UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION
BCE 324 | ENGINEERING UTILITIES 1 | 8126

CABLE
Service Entrance Cable
• Service entrance (SE) cables are used for exposed, above-
ground applications, while underground service entrance (USE)
cables are designed for underground use. Conductors marked
only as USE or USE-2 cannot be installed in conduits inside
buildings due to their lack of flame-retardant properties.
However, USE cables with RHW markings or USE-2 cables with
RHW-2 markings are dual-rated, allowing them to be used both
as exposed single conductors and inside conduits within
buildings.
 UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION
BCE 324 | ENGINEERING UTILITIES 1 | 8126

CABLE
Armored Cable
• Armored (BX) cable has 2-4 copper conductors (14 AWG to 1
AWG) in flexible metal armor. It’s classified as ACT with
thermoplastic insulation or AC with rubber. AC cable includes a
16 AWG bonding strip for grounding.

Metal Clad Cable

• Metal-clad (MC) cable uses a variety of conductor sizes and
materials, with armor that doesn’t serve as a ground but works
with an internal grounding conductor. It can be used in more
locations than AC cable.
 UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION
BCE 324 | ENGINEERING UTILITIES 1 | 8126

CABLE
Flat Conductor Cable
• Flat conductor cable (FCC) is a thin cable with three or more
conductors, designed to fit between a smooth subfloor and
carpet squares. It supports general and appliance circuits up to
20 A and individual circuits up to 30 A, with a voltage limit of 300
V between ungrounded conductors.

Thermostat Cable
• Thermostat cable is used for low-voltage applications (<30V)
like doorbells and thermostats, typically with No. 16 AWG or No.
18 AWG conductors in thin plastic sheathing.
 UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION
BCE 324 | ENGINEERING UTILITIES 1 | 8126

CORDS
Cords consist of stranded conductors in flexible insulation for
bending. Typically made with lighter gauges (e.g., AWG 18 or
AWG 16), they are used for power tools, equipment, and
extension cords, requiring flexibility without stressing the
conductors.
 UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION
BCE 324 | ENGINEERING UTILITIES 1 | 8126

CONCEALED KNOB-&-TUBE
WIRING
Concealed knob-and-tube (K&T) wiring, used until the 1930s,
features insulated wires run between knobs and tubes along
joists. It’s not allowed in insulated framing cavities due to heat
build-up. Though outdated, it’s still permitted in original
installations, with insurance companies often requiring an
inspection. K&T is also used temporarily in construction and for
aesthetics but is banned in hazardous areas.
 UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION
BCE 324 | ENGINEERING UTILITIES 1 | 8126

CONDUCTOR POWER LOSS

 UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION
BCE 324 | ENGINEERING UTILITIES 1 | 8126

CONDUCTOR AMPACITY
Electrical current generates heat due to the resistance of
conductor material, which can damage insulation if excessive.
Ampacity refers to the maximum current a conductor can carry
without overheating. It depends on wire thickness, conductor
material, insulation and sheathing type, conductor bundling,
and temperature exposure. Ampacity tables from codes and
technical literature provide guidelines with safety margins,
though certain situations may require detailed calculations by
engineers or inspectors.
 UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION
BCE 324 | ENGINEERING UTILITIES 1 | 8126

VOLTAGE DROPS IN
CONDUCTORS
Voltage drop reduces efficiency and can be hazardous,
especially for heating devices and motors. A 10% drop in
voltage can decrease heat output by 19% and increase motor
current by 11%, raising the risk of overheating. Voltage drop,
proportional to power loss, is a concern in long conductor runs.
For instance, a 250 ft run results in an unacceptable voltage of
103.8 V at the usage point.
UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION
BCE 324 | ENGINEERING UTILITIES 1 | 8126

A voltage drop below the 110-130 V

range in a 120 V system leads to poor
equipment performance, such as
motors running at reduced capacity,
lights flickering, and electronic
devices malfunctioning. Long
conductor runs cause resistance,
increasing voltage drop. To limit this,
conductor size must be increased.
The analysis of voltage drop should
consider the entire system, not just
individual sections, for accurate
results.
 UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION
BCE 324 | ENGINEERING UTILITIES 1 | 8126

SOURCES

Wujek, J. B., & Dagostino, F. R. (2010). Mechanical and electrical

systems in architecture, engineering, and construction (5th ed.).