ILOILO SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & ARCHITECTURE

Department of Architecture
MIDTERM EXAMINATION 1ST Semester AY 2020-2021
ARU 302- BUILDING UTILITIES 2 ELECTRICAL,
ELECTRONICS & MECHANICAL SYSTEMS

Name: BARREDO, CHRISTINE ANNE D. Section: BS ARCHITECTURE 3A-1

I. Enumeration, Identification and definition, etc. 40 pts.

1-6------Give 3 different types of switches and their functions?

ANSWER:
• 1 Gang Switch – this switch will control a single lighting circuit.
• 2 Gang Switch – this switch will control two lighting circuits.
• 3-way Switch – allows switching a circuit from 2 locations.

7-15----Give 3 things that can be found in an electrical plan. Describe each.

ANSWER:

• Lighting Layout is a plan that shows the lighting and switch layout of every floorplan. It is mainly
composed of circuit homerun, wires and the lightings on the floorplan and how they connect as
one circuit.
• Electrical Plan Specification - are the general notes and/or specifications about the number
of wires, standard heights of the different electrical components, the nature of electrical
service, the voltage and the frequency and the use of requirements based on Philippine
electrical code.

• Electrical Plan Design analysis- shows the computations of the lighting loads of a lighting in a
lighting layout. It also shoes the value of the loads in terms of the amperes, this data also
serves as a guide on how much are the loads, the type of wires that will be used, how big the
conduit that is needed and the appropriate circuit breakers base on the computed amperes.
The data also shows branch circuits, sub feeders, feeders, busways and service entrance.

16-21---Differentiate the following “production, transmission and distribution” and provide some
examples of groups or companies involved in each aspect.
ANSWER:

Production is the point of generation to where electricity came from, it is produced by certain
power plant like diesel coaled power plant, nuclear power plant, hydroelectric powerplant, solar farms,
wind farms, geothermal power plant and many more.

Transmission is the process where the electricity coming from the point of generation is being
transmitted to the distributors through the use of the transmission towers and transmission lines.
Transmission lines are commissioned by the NAPOCOR or the National Power Corporation, Transco or the
National Transmission Corporation and many more.

And the last is the distribution process, after the electricity is being transmitted by the
transmission towers to the distributors. The distributers like MORE, PECO, ILECO, MERALCO, have their
own substations, and these substations are connected to the transmitter towers and their main task is to
distribute the electricity to the household, offices, building and other establishments.

22-30---Give 3 parts of the electrical system and describe the function of each.
ANSWER:

• Service Entrance- or the service entrance is where the electricity coming from the distribution
line and distribution company is connected to the residential buildings or other
establishments. Then coming from the service entrance, it will connect to the electric meter.
• Service Meter or Electric meter- shows how much electricity are being consumed in a
household or in an establishment per month. However, in some small establishments or
commercial buildings, before the electricity goes to the panel board, it first needs to go to the
transformer where the electricity is converted into the suitable number of loads needed for
the building.
• Main Panel – serves as the main control point of electricity in a household or in an
establishment.

31-40---Give 3 examples of electrical wires being used in electrical system and describe the purpose
of each.
• 600v wire – used in service entrance, feeders and branch circuits for permanent installations.
It is also ideal for installing in petrochemical plants or service stations. It is also ideal for
installing in petrochemical plants service stations.
• NM – B: NM stands for Non-metallic, this is commonly is used for general indoor circuit wiring
in locations that are normally dry. Due to its versatility and ease of use, NM-B is by far the
most popular type of cable used in the US residential.
• 14-2 G Wire: The cable contains two insulated wires and a ground wire (provides a safe path
for electricity if a short circuit accidentally occurs); individual wire is 14- gauge.

II. Essay 60 pts.

1-------What is a Panel Board in an electrical system? Explain the purpose and how does it function
in the system? 10 pts.
ANSWER:

The panel board or the panel box is a metallic box that is compose of an electrical distribution
system which divides an electrical power feed into branch circuits while providing a protective circuit
breaker or fuse for each circuit in a common enclosure. Panel boards can either be surface type or
embedded inside the wall. The panel board usually contains, 5 – 10 spaces for smaller buildings or
for residential and more than 10 spaces for medium projects. It is also composed of main breaker
which allows all power to be switched off and a smaller circuit breaker which allows individual circuits
to be switched off. The panel board also has a sticker containing a table, this table will serve as a
guide for to locate its corresponding circuits. The purpose of the panel boards is to protect branch
circuits from overloads and short circuits.

2-------What is a Circuit Breaker in an electrical system? How does it function in an electrical system?
10 pts.
ANSWER:

Circuit Breaker is an automatically operated electrical switch designed to protect an electrical

circuit from damage caused by an overload or short circuit, it is mainly defined as circuit protection of
each circuit. Its main purpose is to control each circuit and to provide protection and a part of safety
measures in the electrical system.
Another function of circuit breaker is to detect a fault condition and, by interrupting continuity,
to immediately discontinue electrical flow. In case there is a short circuit or there are problems in the
wires, the circuit breakers automatically switched off the power without affecting other circuits to avoid
further damages such as fires, accidents or harm towards someone in the area, in the place or in the
house. A circuit breaker can also be reset to resume normal operation.

3-------What is a Service entrance in an electrical system? Explain the purpose and how does it
function in the system? 10 pts.
ANSWER:

A service entrance is a place where power enters the residence. It consists of the electric meter
and the service panel. A mast service drop is an overhead service drop where the service drop is connected
to the mast knob. Service entrance drops is the wire connecting from the post to the service entrance are
used to supply power to your home. They can be fed overhead or underground from the utility company’s
power pole. In a large more complicated commercial or industrial electrical systems, the service entrance
may be a main disconnect panel or a through where up to six main switches are present.

One of the components of the service entrance is the conductors through which the current flows.
The conductors may consist of individual wires run through a protective raceway; however, power may
also be brought into the building by means of service entrance cable.

4-------What is the difference between a junction box and a utility box? 5 pts.
ANSWER:

Utility Box is a rectangular shaped metallic or plastic (PVC) material in which flush type
convenient outlet and switched are attached. However, the difference between the metallic and the
plastic utility box is that the metallic box, due to its nature is a great conductor of electricity so the
chances for an electrical ground is higher than the plastic. The utility box is embedded where the
switch, convenience outlets are located and this is where the wires coming from different electrical
equipment converge.
 While a junction box is an octagonal shaped electrical material where the connections or
joints of wires are being done. The junction box could either be made of metal or plastic namely as
the PVC or Polyvinylchloride. Junction box is also where the flush type lamp holder is attached. ‘
Junction box serves as the spot where the electrical wires meet, where the wires connect before
moving on. These boxes protect grounding electrical wires and may contain wire colors for secondary
functions and lighting.

5--------What is a circuit home run in an electrical plan? 5pts.

ANSWER:

Circuit home run gives us the idea that these group of lights connected by the wires belongs to
one circuit. Circuit home run graphically represents the wiring of a circuit to a central location that acts
as the distribution point for the power, typically, a panel. You can draw the home run in the direction of
the panel, as is common practice.

6. ------As an architecture student why do you think you need to study or learn this course Electrical,
Electronic and Mechanical Systems? What do you think is the importance of this course to the
practice of architecture?
20 pts.
ANSWER:

Building construction is not a task done by one man alone, to accomplish such task, a greater
number is needed for a big project. Studying the electrical, electronics and mechanical systems is an
important responsibility for us, the students, as later on in our profession, we will be working with other
people that is expert on the field of engineering.
The reasons why we need to study architectural building utilities is first, to acquire the significant
knowledge about the different systems that is involved in relation to the activities occurring within the
confines of a building. The subject will help us understand the relationship of architecture with the
electrical, electronics and mechanical engineering and at the same time it teaches us the importance of
these fields to the profession we are taking.
The second reason is that learning electrical, electronics, and mechanical system teaches the skill
to exhibit familiarity about the scope of practice of Electrical, Electronics and Mechanical Engineers. It is
important for us learners to be familiar with the terms and the environment of these systems because as
I have said, construction is a team effort and having these skills will help us to communicate effectively
with allied professionals with the common engineering language associated with electrical and
mechanical systems.
Lastly, the reason why building utilities is important with the practice of architecture is that to
acquire the knowledge of the basic principles of these systems in terms of their function, application and
maintenance. Having a project, no matter how small or big it is and no matter what profession it is, it is
mostly done by group of individuals rather than a lone person. Building utilities, gives us fundamental
knowledge about these systems and their function and teaches us how to respect other allied profession.
Because later on in the future, we will be working with these individuals. This subject makes us understand
that construction is not done by architects alone and that we needed these professionals as much they
needed us at the same time it enlightens us that no work is being done alone in the field that we are taking
and we have to work hand in hand with other professions for our projects in the future to succeed.

----------NOTHING FOLLOWS---------
Prepared by: Noted by: Approved by:
Ar. JAN RAE G. BERDEJO Ar. GELMAR MONTEFRIO Engr. JOMAR DADOR
Instructor Dept.Head, Architecture Dean, CEA