BASIC BUILDING ELECTRICAL UNIT 111

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT AT HOME

INTRODUCTION

This chapter deals more of the electrical equipment and materials used in the
assembly of basic electrical gadgets . These are developed for a special purpose
such as to:
(a) Control the flow of current in an electric circuit
(b) carry electrical current from the source to the load or current consuming apparatus.
(c) Hold and secure wires to its fixtures inside and outside houses and buildings
(d) Protect the houses, buildings, appliances and instruments from any destruction
and damage .

OBJECTIVES

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

1. Identifies the different building materials and supplies and it uses
2. Specify the appropriate conductors sizes, breaker ratings and its uses.
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CONVENIENCE OUTLET
A device that acts as a convenient source of electrical energy
for current consuming appliances.

Grounded Outlet – has two vertical slots as hot wire , neutral wire and ground wire.
Grounded wire acts as a failsafe.
Ungrounded Outlet - contain two prongs sitting across from each other. One is the
hot wire and the other is neutral. Ungrounded outlets may present a risk in health
hazards such as shock, electrical fires such as any error that occurs with the outlet
allows electricity to travel outside the proper channel (called arcing), sparks, and
electrical charges that can travel onto and ignite nearby materials such as carpet,
furniture or curtains.

Surface Type – mounted on top of a surface’s face

Flush Type outlet - an electrical outlet mounted with only its face exposed and with
its sides surrounded by a wall.
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MALE / AC PLUG

A device inserted to a convenience outlet to conduct electric

Current. A flat cord is attached to it on one end and the other
end is connected to a current consuming instrument or appliance.

LAMP HOLDER
A device that is used to hold and protect incandescent or compact fluorescent lamp. It
is also called as “lamp socket or receptable”.
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SWITCH
A device that connects and disconnects the flow of electric
current in a circuit. Classified as hanging, flush and surface types.

FUSE
A circuit protective device that automatically blows and cuts the current when overload
or short circuit happens
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CIRCUIT BREAKER
A protective device used to cut or interrupt automatically the
Current when trouble in the circuit such as short circuit or overload
occurs.

AWG mm2 Breaker Usage

Capacity
14 2.0 15 amperes Light fixtures, lamps, lighting circuits
12 3.5 20 amperes Kitchen, bathroom, outdoor
receptacles
10 5.5 30 amperes Dryers, Air conditioners, electric
water heaters, appliances
8 8.0 40 amperes Feeder and large appliance wire
6 14 60 amperes Feeder and large appliance wire
4 22 75 amperes Feeder and large appliance wire
2 30 100 amperes Service entrance and feeder wire
1 38 125 amperes
1/0 50 150 amperes Service entrance and feeder wire
2/0 60 175 amperes
3/0 80 200 amperes Service entrance
4/0 100 225 amperes
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CIRCUIT BREAKER
An automatically operated electrical switch designed to protect
an electrical circuit from damage caused by excess current from
an overload or short circuit. Its basic function is to interrupt current
flow after a fault is detected. Unlike a fuse, which operates once and then must be
replaced, a circuit breaker can be reset (either manually or automatically) to resume
normal operation.

TYPE OF STANDARD BREAKERS:

1. Single-pole breakers - are the type most often found in homes today. They're
named single-pole because they're designed to monitor the current of a single wire
and trip in the event of a short or electrical overload. Single-pole breakers are
intended to accommodate between 15 and 30 amps and deliver 120 volts to the
circuit.

• Appliances/circuits they’re used for:

• General lighting outlets
• Fans
• Curling irons/hair dryers
• Vacuums
• Outdoor lighting
• Power tools
• Air compressors
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2. Double-pole breakers – are double-wide breakers that

take up two slots in the breaker box. They have a toggle switch
that is twice the length of the toggle on single-pole breakers.
Provide 240 volts, 20-60 amps and have two hot wires that share
one neutral wire.

• Appliances/circuits they’re used for:

• Central air conditioners
• Electric dryers
• Electric ranges
• Electric water heaters

Available ratings:
15 amp, 20 amp, 30 amp, 40 amp, 60 amp, 100 amp

SAFETY SWITCH BREAKER

a device that monitors electric current in various applications and designed to protect
people from electric shocks.
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DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CIRCUIT BREAKER AND

SAFETY SWITCH BREAKER

• A safety disconnect, or safety switch, is a device that monitors electric current in

various applications. Safety switches are available for major equipment
applications (conveyor belts, line equipment, heavy appliances) and also for
whole-system electrical protection. A safety switch works by monitoring the current
and detecting faults in the electrical. This means in the event of an electrical leak, a
short-circuit, an overload, or equipment failure, the safety switch will nearly
instantaneously (within milliseconds) shut off power to the system in trouble.

Safety Switch Breaker will monitor for any inconsistencies in electrical, and will shut off
power if anything is out of sorts at all. In short, breakers protect wiring, and safety
switches protect people and appliances.

• A circuit breaker, on the other hand, specifically monitors for overloading a circuit.
If too much power is being drawn by any particular circuit, the breaker will simply
trip, cutting off power. You’re probably most familiar with this in a home
applications, such as trying to plug a space heater or hair dryer into a circuit that is
already at capacity, which will cause a trip.

Circuit breaker will only look for excess or overloading, and will do nothing in the event
of short circuiting or electrical leak. This means there is still a considerable potential for
harm present if you only rely on a breaker.
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CIRCUIT BREAKER SIZE CALCULATION FOR SINGLE

PHASE SUPPLY

• To determine the appropriate size of circuit breaker for single

phase supply, it depends on multiple factors like type of load, cable material and
environment temperature etc..

• The general rule of thumb is that circuit breaker size should be 125% of the
ampacity of cable and wire or the circuit which has to be protected by the CB.

Example:
1. A 12 gauge wire is used for 20 amperes lighting circuit having 120V single phase
supply. What is the best size of circuit breaker for that 20 A circuit?

Circuit Current: 12A

CB size should be 125% of the circuit current.
= 125% x 20A
= 1.25 x 20A

Circuit Breaker Size = 25A

2. What is the appropriate size of circuit breaker for 2000W, single phase 120V
Supply?

Load: 2000W
Voltage: 120V (Single Phase)
Circuit Current:
According to the ohm’s law,
I=P/V
I = 2000W / 120V
I = 16.66 A.
Circuit Breaker Size:
Simply, Multiply 1.2 or 1.25 to the load current.
1.2 x 16.66 A

Circuit Breaker Size = 20 A

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CIRCUIT BREAKER SIZE CALCULATION FOR THREE

PHASE SUPPLY

To find the breaker size for three phase supply voltage, we must
know the exact kind of load as there are many factors affecting the load current. In
other words, same rule won’t apply to the different types of loads i.e. light, motor,
inductive or capacitive load as motor takes initially very high current during the starting
process as well as power factor involvement. For residential use, we may follow the
same formula as above for single phase with taking the √3 (1.732) due to three phase
power formula.

Good to know: For the same load, the breaker size in three phase is less than the
breaker size used in single phase AC circuits.

EXAMPLE:

1. Which size circuit breaker is needed for 6.5kW, three phase 480V load

Power in Three Phase: P = V x I x √3

Current: P / V x √3
I = 6.5kW / (480V x 1.732) … (√3 = 1.732)
I = 6.5kW / 831.36
I = 7.82A
The recommended size of circuit breaker is
1.25 x 7.82A = 9.77A
The next closest standard of circuit breaker is 10A.
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Suitable circuit breaker sizes with wire gauge and different

level of voltages.
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SINGLE PHASE POWER SUPPLY

most common system and is mainly used in homes and refers
to distribution using a system in which all the voltages of the
supply vary in unison.
In simple terms, single-phase electricity can be viewed very much like a single-person
canoe. The paddle enters the water to deliver power and then leaves the water before
the second paddle re-enters the water to deliver more power, resulting in a variation of
power.
At times there will be zero output of power and in the cycle there will be two peak
power outputs, see diagram below.

THREE PHASE POWER SUPPLY

Common in industrial or commercial buildings, where heavy loads of power are
required.
In simple terms, three-phase electricity can be viewed as three single-phase electricity
supplies that supply their peak power 120° apart.
As an analogy, consider a canoe with three canoeists, paddling the canoe in rotation.
Unlike with a single canoeist, there is always a power output and never a zero output,
which makes this power supply more suitable for industrial motors and equipment
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UTILITY BOX
A rectangular shaped metallic or plastic (PVC) material in which
Flush type convenience outlet and switch are attached.

JUNCTION BOX
An octagonal shaped electrical material where the connections or joints of wires are
being done. It is also where the flush type lamp holder is attached. This could be made
of metal or plastic (PVC).
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ELECTRICAL CONDUITS/PIPES
Electrical materials used as the passage of wires for protection
And insulation. These could be the rigid metallic, flexible metallic
Conduit (FMC), rigid non-metallic (PVC), flexible non-metallic or
Corrugated plastic conduit (CPC).

ELECTRICAL TAPE
Used to protect and cover live or open wires.

Colors are used to indicate the voltage level and phase of wire.
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CLAMPS
Electrical materials used to hold and anchor electrical conduits
In its proper position.

CONNECTORS
Used to attach metallic or non metallic conduit to the junction or utility boxes.

ENERGY METER OR WATT-HOUR METER

An electrical instrument that measures the amount of electrical energy used by the
consumers.
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WEATHER HEAD CAP

A weatherproof service drop entry point where overhead power
or telephone wires enter a building, or where wires transition
between overhead and underground cables.