Faculty of engineers

Computer Aided Technical Design

For Electrical Engineers
Dr Fathi Farah Fadoul

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 Faculty of engineers

Exercises section.

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 Exercise 1 Faculty of engineers

Design a Distribution Electrical Panel Layout for a Small

Office Building
Objective:

Create a distribution electrical panel layout that includes:

•A main circuit breaker
•Individual branch circuit breakers for lighting, outlets,
HVAC, and other essential equipment
•Busbar connections
•Control switches for lighting and HVAC systems
•A Bill of Materials (BOM) for the components used
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 Exercise 1 Faculty of engineers

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 Exercise 1 Faculty of engineers

Main Breaker (100A or 200A)

Main Busbar

CB1 (Lighting), CB2 (Outlets), CB3 (HVAC), CB4 (Special Equipment).

"Lighting Control Switch“,….., and "HVAC Control Switch".

Grounding Terminal

Use different wire colors (Red for Lighting, Blue for Outlets) and appropriate wire sizes (1.5mm² for lighting,
2.5mm² for outlets)

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 Exercise 2 Faculty of engineers

Problem Statement:

You are tasked with designing an electrical panel layout for a small
industrial machine control system. The panel must accommodate the
following components:

1.Main Circuit Breaker (1 unit, 150mm x 100mm).

2.Power Distribution Blocks (2 units, 100mm x 50mm each).

3.Contactor and Overload Relay (1 set, 200mm x 100mm).

4.PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) (1 unit, 300mm x 150mm).

5.Terminal Blocks (8 units, 50mm x 25mm each).

6.Indicator Lights (3 units, 25mm diameter each).

7.Wiring Ducts for cable management.

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 Exercise 2 Faculty of engineers

Divide the Panel into Functional Zones

Organize the panel into logical sections based on component functionality:

•Incoming Power Zone:

• Place main circuit breakers, power disconnects, and fuses at the top-left corner (or top-right in some
standards) for easy access.

•Control Zone:
• Allocate space in the middle of the panel for contactors, relays, PLCs, and other control components.

•Output Zone:
• Place terminal blocks, output connectors, and sensors at the bottom for outgoing connections.

•Cable Management Zone:

• Reserve space for wiring ducts and routing paths along the panel edges.

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 Exercise 3 Faculty of engineers

Design a PLC input/output (I/O)

schematic for a conveyor belt system
in AutoCAD Electrical, including the
following: a PLC with 5 digital inputs
and 5 digital outputs, sensors
(proximity sensor, limit switch, and
emergency stop), actuators (start/stop
pushbuttons, conveyor belt motor, and
indicator lamps), power supply wiring,
PLC I/O point labeling, wire
numbering.
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 Exercise 3 Faculty of engineers
Inputs (Connected to PLC Digital Inputs):
1.Start Button Outputs (Connected to PLC Digital Outputs):
1. Type: Momentary Pushbutton (Normally Open, NO)
2. PLC Input Address: I0.0
1.Conveyor Belt Motor
2.Stop Button 1. Function: Drives the conveyor belt.
1. Type: Momentary Pushbutton (Normally Closed, 2. PLC Output Address: Q0.0
NC)
2. PLC Input Address: I0.1 2.Green Indicator Lamp
1. Function: Indicates system is running.
3.Emergency Stop Pushbutton 2. PLC Output Address: Q0.1
1. Type: Latching Pushbutton (Normally Closed, NC)
2. PLC Input Address: I0.2 3.Red Indicator Lamp
1. Function: Indicates system is stopped or in
4.Proximity Sensor an error state.
1. Function: Detects objects on the conveyor. 2. PLC Output Address: Q0.2
2. PLC Input Address: I0.3

5.Limit Switch
1. Function: Detects conveyor belt position or end of
travel.
2. PLC Input Address: I0.4
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 Exercise 4 Faculty of engineers

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 Exercise 4 Faculty of engineers

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 Exercise 5 Faculty of engineers

Objective: Design a complete electrical

layout for a residential building.

Tasks:

•Create a floor plan for a 3-bedroom house.

•Include electrical symbols for switches,

outlets, lighting fixtures, and fans.

•Develop a wiring diagram to connect all

electrical components to the main distribution
panel.

•Add annotations and a bill of materials.

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 Exercise 6 Faculty of engineers

Objective: Design an electrical wiring diagram for a

solar power system.

Tasks:

•Include solar panels, inverters, batteries, and a

distribution panel.

•Show connections between components with proper

symbols.

•Create a load calculation table to determine system

capacity.

•Add protective devices like fuses and circuit breakers.

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 Exercise 7 Faculty of engineers

Objective: Create the electrical layout for an HVAC

system in a commercial building.

Tasks:

•Include schematics for compressors, blowers, fan

and chillers.

•Show wiring for thermostats, sensors, and control

relays.

•Annotate the diagram with voltage levels and

control sequences.

•Provide a list of all electrical components used.

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 Exercise 7 Faculty of engineers

https://mepacademy.com/how-to-read-wiring-diagrams-in-hvac-systems/

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 Exercise 8 Faculty of engineers

Objective: Design the electrical wiring for a backup

power system with a generator.

Tasks:

•Create a transfer switch wiring diagram to switch

between grid and generator.
•Include connections for essential and non-essential
loads.
•Show protective devices like circuit breakers and
fuses.
•Annotate with component ratings and operating
instructions.

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 Exercise 8 Faculty of engineers

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 Load calculation for residential house installation Faculty of engineers

1. List Electrical Appliances and Equipment

Identify all appliances, lighting fixtures, HVAC systems, and other electrical loads in the house :

•Lighting fixtures

•Kitchen appliances (refrigerator, microwave, etc.)

•Heating and cooling systems (AC units, water heaters)

•Entertainment devices (TV, audio systems)

•Small appliances (fans, chargers, etc.)

•Other loads (computers, washing machines, etc.)

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 Load calculation for residential house installation Faculty of engineers

2. Determine the Power Rating for Each Appliance

Check the power rating (in watts or kilowatts) of each appliance. This information is usually on the nameplate
or in the user manual. Convert all ratings to watts if needed.

3. Estimate Usage Hours (for Energy Calculation)

For each appliance, estimate how many hours per day it operates.

4. Calculate Individual Load

Multiply the power rating by the estimated usage time (in hours) to get the energy consumption:

Energy (kWh)=Power (kW)×Time (hours)

5. Account for Diversity Factor

Not all appliances run at full capacity or simultaneously. Apply a diversity factor (typically 0.6–0.8) to the total
load.

6. Add Safety Margin

Add a safety margin (usually 20–25%) to the final load to accommodate future expansion or unexpected28loads.
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 Load calculation for residential house installation Faculty of engineers

Example Calculation

House Specifications:

•Living room: 6 LED lights (10W each), 1 TV (120W)

•Kitchen: 1 refrigerator (300W), 1 microwave (800W), 1 electric kettle (1500W)

•Bedrooms: 4 LED lights (10W each), 2 fans (50W each)

•Bathroom: 1 water heater (2000W), 2 LED lights (10W each)

Ptotal = 4940 W

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 Load calculation for residential house installation Faculty of engineers

1. Selecting the Main Panel

Main Panel Size: A typical recommendation is to size the main panel

at least 25–50% larger than the calculated load for future
expansion.
Recommended Panel Capacity= 21.5 A

2. Circuit Breakers

Breakers are sized based on the branch circuit loads and the wire
size. Breakers must handle 125% of the continuous load to prevent
nuisance tripping.

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 Load calculation for residential house installation Faculty of engineers

3. Wiring Selection

Wiring is selected based on the current (amperage) and length of the circuit.
Use the following guidelines for copper conductors:

Standard Wire Sizes (Copper):

Voltage Drop < 3% (for

Current (A) Wire Size (AWG)
≤30m)
≤10 1.5 mm² (16 AWG) Suitable for small loads
Suitable for medium
≤16 2.5 mm² (14 AWG)
loads
Suitable for high-load
≤25 4.0 mm² (12 AWG)
circuits

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 Load calculation for residential house installation Faculty of engineers

4. Backup Generator

The generator must meet or exceed the total load demand with a safety margin.

Generator Sizing:

•Total load: 4.15 kW

•Add 25% margin for startup loads:

•Generator Size=4.15×1.25=5.19 kW

•Choose a generator with at least 5.5 kW capacity.

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 Load calculation for industrial house installation Faculty of engineers

Industrial installations involves a more detailed and systematic approach compared to residential settings
due to the higher power demands and complexity of equipment.

Step 1: List Equipment and Their Ratings

•Identify all machinery, tools, HVAC systems, lighting, and other electrical loads.

•Collect their power ratings (in kW or HP), voltages, and operational hours.

Step 2: Categorize Loads

•Continuous Loads: Equipment that runs continuously for more than 3 hours (compressors, HVAC systems).

•Intermittent Loads: Equipment used for specific operations (welding machines, presses).

•Non-Motor Loads: Lighting, heating, and small appliances.

•Motor Loads: Motors for machinery, conveyors, pumps, etc.

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 Load calculation for industrial house installation Faculty of engineers

Step 3: Calculate Total Load

For Motor Loads

•Use the formula to find motor current:

HP×0.746
Motor Power (kW)=
Efficiency

Where Efficiency is typically 0.9 for motors.

•Add a starting current multiplier (typically 6-8 times the running current for induction motors).

Total Load (kVA)

Add all categories and convert to kVA:

S(Load (kVA))= Total Power (kW) * Power Factor (typically 0.8−0.95 )

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 Load calculation for industrial house installation Faculty of engineers

S(Load (kVA))
I=
3 ∗ 𝑉

Step 4: Add Safety Margin

Add 25–50% margin to the total calculated load to account for future expansion.

Step 5: Select main circuit breaker

Step 6: Select wiring types

Step 7: Verify Transformer Size

Select a transformer with a capacity of at least a kVA bigger to handle the S kva apparent load
with a safety margin.

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 Load calculation for Solar PV array Faculty of engineers

Designing a solar PV array system involves calculating the energy demand and determining
the size of the PV array, battery storage (if applicable), and inverter capacity.

Step 1: Calculate the Energy Demand

Determine the total daily energy consumption of the system in kilowatt-hours (kWh).

Daily Energy
Appliance Power (W) Quantity Hours/Day
(Wh)
Lights 10 10 5 10×10×5=500
Fan 50 2 6 50×2×6=600
Refrigerator 150 1 24 150×1×24=3600
TV 100 1 4 100*1*4=400

Total Daily Energy:

Total Energy (Wh)=500+600+3600+400=5100 Wh/day=5.1 kWh/day

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 Load calculation for Solar PV array Faculty of engineers

Step 2: Adjust for System Losses

Solar PV systems have losses due to inefficiencies in wiring, inverter,

and battery storage. Use a loss factor (ex : 20%):

Adjusted Energy (kWh)=Total Energy×(1+Loss Factor)

Step 3: Determine Solar Panel Size

Solar panels generate energy based on sunlight availability, usually

measured in peak sun hours (PSH). Assume 5 PSH per day:

Required PV Capacity: PV Capacity (kW)= Adjusted Energy (kWh) / PSH (hours)

PV Capacity=6.12​ / 5 = 1.224kW.

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 Load calculation for Solar PV array Faculty of engineers

Choose panels based on their wattage.

For 330W panels:

Number of Panels= PV Capacity (kW) / Panel Wattage (kW)

Number of Panels = 1.224 /0.334 ≈ 4 panels.

Step 4: Battery Storage

For off-grid systems, calculate battery storage to meet the daily energy demand:

Required Battery Capacity:

Battery Capacity (Wh)=Daily Energy (Wh)×Days of Autonomy

For 2 days of autonomy:

Battery Capacity=5100 Wh×2=10,200 Wh

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 Load calculation for Solar PV array Faculty of engineers

Convert to ampere-hours (Ah) for a 12V battery:

Battery Capacity (Ah) = Battery Capacity (Wh) / Battery Voltage (V)

Battery Capacity=10,200 / 12=850Ah.

Step 5: Inverter Sizing

The inverter should handle the maximum power load at any time.

Inverter Size (W)≥Sum of Simultaneous Loads

For example, if simultaneous loads equal 1500W, choose a 2000W inverter.

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