• Conductors &

Insulators
• Different Types of
Cables
• Ampacity of
Electrical
Conductors
• Raceway
• Conduit
Overview: • Outlet &
Receptacles

74

SYSTEM COMPONENTS OF BUILDING

• 3 CATEGORIES
1. Wirings and Raceways
o Conductors – offers low resistance
o Insulators – prevents flow of electric current
o Raceways - channel
2. Power Handling Equipment
o transformer, switchboard/switchgear, panelboard, service switch,
circuit breakers/fuse
3. Utilization Equipment – actual use
o Fixtures
o Switches
o Convenience Outlets

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1
 CONDUCTORS
– are materials which allow the free
flow of electrons through them.
– are substances or materials used to
convey or allow the flow of electric
current.
Wires – are single insulated
conductors No. 8 AWG (American Wire
Gauge or smaller; for the English
System, it is the B & S Gauge or
Browne and Sharpe Gauge. The
smallest size of wire permitted is No.
14.
Cables – are single insulated
conductors No. 6 AWG or larger; or
they may be several conductors of
any size assembled into a single unit.

Bus Bars – large conductors which

are not circular in cross section and
usually found only to supply the main
switch boards.

76

Wire and cable are two terms

that are used in electrical and
communication fields. They are
often confused, but in fact,
they are quite different.

A wire is a single
conductor(material most
commonly being copper or
aluminium) while cable is two
or more insulated wires
wrapped in one jacket. Multiple
Difference between conductors that have no
insulation around would be
Wire & Cable classified as a single conductor.

77

2
 CONDUCTOR SIZES – AWG/MCM STANDARD

All conductor sizes from No. 16 to

No. 0000 (also designated 4/0) are expressed in
AWG.
Beyond AWG No. 4/0, a different designation,
MCM (or thousand circular mil) is used. In
this designation, the smallest MCM size is 250
MCM or ½”  and the biggest is 500 MCM.
A circular MIL is an artificial area
measurement, representing the square of the
cable diameter (²) when the diameter is
expressed in mils (thousands of an inch).
Thus a solid conductor ½ inch in diameter is 500
mils in diameter, or 250,000 circular mils in area,
(500)2 or 250 MCM; thus;
CM/1000 = diam2 = (500)2/1000 =
250,000/1000 = 250 MCM
In the metric system, conductor sizes are given
simply as the diameter in millimeters (mm).

78

TYPES OF CABLES
Armored Cable (Type AC) – a fabricated
assembly of insulated conductors enclosed in
flexible metal sheath.

Metal Clad Cable (Type MC) – a factory

assembled cable of one or more conductors each
individually insulated and enclosed in a metallic
sheath of interlocking tape of a smooth or
corrugated tube.

Mineral Insulated Cable (Type MI) – a

factory assembled conductor/s insulated with a
highly compressed refractory mineral insulation
enclosed in a liquid and gas tight continuous
copper sheath.
Non-Metallic Sheathed Cable (Type NM or
NMC) – also known by the trade name ROMEX,
is a factory assembly of two or more insulated
conductors having a moisture resistant, flame
retardant, and non-metallic material outer
sheath.

79

3
 Shielded Non-Metallic Sheathed Cable
(Type SNM) – a factory assembly of two or more
insulated conductors in an extruded core of
moisture resistant and flame retardant material
covered within an overlapping spiral metal tape.

Underground Feeder and Branch Circuit

Cable (Type UF) – a moisture resistant cable
used for underground connections including direct
burial in the ground as feeder or branch circuit.

Service Entrance Cable (Type SE or USE) – a

single or multi-conductor assembly provided with or
without an overall covering primarily used for
service wire.
Power and Control Tray Cable (Type TC) – a
factory assembled two or more insulated conductors
with or without associated bare or covered
grounding under a metallic sheath and is used for
installation in cable trays, raceways, or where
supported by wire.

80

Flat Cable Assemblies (Type FC) – an

assembly of parallel conductors formed integrally
with an insulating material web designed specially
for field installation in square structural channels.

Flat Conductor Cable (Type FCC) – consists

of three or more flat copper conductors placed
edge to edge separated and enclosed within a
insulating assembly. This type of cable is used for
appliance or individual branch circuits installed
inside floor surfaces.

Medium Voltage Cable (MV) – a single or

multi-conductor solid dielectric insulated cable
rated at 2,000 to 35,000 volts. Trade name is
Medium Voltage Solid Dielectric.

81

4
 INSULATORS TYPES OF INSULATORS
- are materials which prevent the flow General Wiring
of electrons through them.
- are substances or materials that Trade name Type Maximum Application
resist the flow of electric current. Letter Operating
Temperatur
Provisions

e
Moisture-& heat-resistant RHW 75O C Dry and wet
rubber 167O F Locations
Thermoplastic T 60O C Dry locations
140O F
Moisture-resistant TW 60O C Dry and wet
thermoplastic 140O F Locations
Heat-resistant THHN 90O C Dry locations
thermoplastic 194O F
Moisture-& heat-resistant THW 75O C Dry and wet
thermoplastic 167O F Locations
Moisture-& heat-resistant THWN 75O C Dry and wet
thermoplastic 167O F Locations
Moisture-& heat resistant XHHW 90O C Dry locations
cross-linked 194O F Wet
thermosetting 75O C locations
polyethelene 167O C
Silicone-asbestos SA 90O C Dry locations
194O F
Asbestos and Varnished AVA 110O C Dry locations
Cambric 230O F only

82

Conductors and Insulators

Conductors Insulators

Electrons flow easily Electron flow is difficult

between atoms between atoms

1-3 valence electrons in 5-8 valence electrons in

outer orbit outer orbit

Examples: Silver, Examples: Mica, Glass,

Copper, Gold, Aluminum Quartz

83

5
 Conductors and Insulators
Identify conductors and insulators

Conductors Insulators

84

CONDUCTOR AMPACITY

• Ampacity (or the conductor current carrying capacity) is the maximum

operating temperature that its insulation can stand continuously.
• Heat is generated as a result of the current flowing and the conductor resistance.
When conductors are placed in an enclosed conduit, the heat generated is not as
easily dissipated as it would be if the conductor were free in the air.
• Thus, the current rating of a conductor in free air is much higher than that for the
same were it in a conduit.

85

6
 RACEWAYS – are channels or wiring accessories so
designed for holding wires, cables and bus bars that are
either made of metal, plastic, or any insulating medium.

The common types of raceways for household wiring

installations are:
1. the Conduits
2. the Connectors and other accessories

86

CONDUITS
CONDUITS are circular raceways used
to enclose wires and cables and are of
metal or plastic (PVC). To provide a system ground path.

To protect the enclosed conductors

To protect the surroundings against fire
from mechanical injury and chemical
hazard as a result of overheating or short
damage.
circuiting of the enclosed conductors.
To protect people from shock hazards
by providing a grounded enclosure. To support the conductors.

87

7
 CONDUITS
According to its type of materials, With respect to its make, CONDUITS may be
CONDUITS may be classified as: classified as:

Rigid Metal
Metallic such as steel pipes,
aluminum, etc.
Flexible Metal

Non-metallic such as plastic and the Rigid Non-metal

like
Flexible Non-metal

88

CONNECTOR
CONNECTOR is a metal sleeve usually made of Connector is otherwise called Splicing Sleeve.
copper that is slipped over and secured to the
butted ends of conductors in making a joint.

89

8
  FLOOR RACEWAYS – The NEC recognizes
three types of floor raceways:

1. Underfloor Ducts (UF) installed beneath or

flush with the floor. These underfloor ducts
usually requires a triple duct system for power,
telephone and signal cabling.

2. Cellular Metal Floor Raceway – Found usually

in office landscaping, it is an integrated
structural/electrical system in a cellular metal
floor.

3. Precast Cellular Concrete – made of

concrete cells fed from header ducts, which are
normally installed in concrete fill above the
hollow core structural slab or fed from the
ceiling void below. The cells can be used for air
distribution and for piping.

90

RACEWAYS
1. Floor Raceway
• underfloor raceway – conventional installation
• cellular metal floor raceway – rib decking/raised floor system
• cellular concrete floor raceways – T-joist/ precast concrete
slab with built in pipes
2. Ceiling Raceway
• Power and Control Tray Cable (TC)
• Busbar
• Cablebus

91

9
 TRANSFORMERS

92

POWER HANDLING EQUIPMENTS

1. TRANSFORMER – voltage to voltage
• Outdoor Transformers
H-frame – 1000 kva
Cluster mounted – 225 kva
Pad mounted – 120V to 240V
• Indoor Transformers
Dry Type – pad mounted; switchboard
Askarel – synthetic non-flammable liquid
Oil-insulated – for transformer vault
• Transformer Rating: stepped up/stepped down

93

10
 POWER HANDLING EQUIPMENTS

1. SWITCHBOARD/SWITCHGEAR – free standing assemblies

of switches, fuses/circuit breakers
• Unit Substations (Transformer Load Center) – large facility
2. PANELBOARD – final distribution point; PP/LP
• Main Panelboard
• Distribution Panelboard
3. SERVICE SWITCH – large switch
• disconnecting apparatus
• service disconnecting means
• applied on apartments: meter banks

94

PANELBOARDS – popularly known as “panel” or

“electrical panel”, it is simply the box wherein the
protective devises are housed from which the
circuits and bus bars terminate.

SWITCHBOARDS – are free standing assemblies

of switches, fuses, and/or circuit breakers whose
function normally is to provide switching and feeder
protection to a number of circuits connected to a
main source.

UNIT SUBSTATIONS – (Transfer Load Centers)

an assembly of primary switch-fuse-breaker, step-
down transformer, meters, controls, bus bars and
secondary switchboard. It is used to supply power
from a primary voltage line to any large facility.

95

11
 OVER-CURRENT CIRCUIT PROTECTIVE DEVICES

– are devices whose sole purpose is to protect insulation, wiring, switches and other
apparatus from overheating or burning, due to overloads, to faults or to short circuits, by
automatically cutting off the circuit.

FUSE
– is a device consisting of an alloy link of
wire with a low melting temperature which is
inserted in the circuit, in such a way, that all
current which passes through the circuit, must also
pass through this metal.

96

POWER HANDLING EQUIPMENTS

4. CIRCUIT PROTECTIVE DEVICES – overload/short circuit

• FUSE – alloy link or wire; fusible link; nonrenewable
Plug Fuse – dwelling (5-30 amps)
Cartridge Fuse – (5-60 amps)
Knife Blade Fuse – (61-600 amps); DE/SE

• CIRCUIT BREAKERS – electromechanical device

Thermal Pigtail (Copper) – senses heat
Magnetic Pigtail (Copper) – senses load

97

12
 CIRCUIT BREAKERS
– is an over-current protective device
designed to function as a switch, or it can be manually
tripped and thus act as a circuit switch. It breaks a
circuit with an automatic tripping device without injury
to itself.

GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERS

(GFCI or GFI)
– is an over current protective device that
will provide ground fault protection as well as function
as an ordinary circuit breaker.

98

OUTLETS and RECEPTACLES

– An outlet is a point in the wiring system at

which current is taken to supply utilization
equipment. It refers only to the box. A
receptacle is the wiring device in which the
utilization equipment (appliance) cord is
plugged into.

KINDS OF OUTLET:

•Convenience Outlet or Attachment Cap

- the complete set-up which establishes
connection between the conductor of the
flexible cord and the conductors connected
permanently to the receptacle.

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13
 •Lighting Outlet
– is an outlet intended for direct
connection to a lamp holder, lighting
fixture, or pendant cord terminating in
a lamp holder.

•Receptacle Outlet
– is an outlet where one or more receptacles
are installed.

100

OTHER WIRING ACCESSORIES:

•Junction Box - is an enclosure housing electrical •Pull Box - is a box with a blank cover that is inserted in
connections, to protect the connections and one or more runs or raceways to facilitate pulling-in the
provide a safety barrier. conductors. (It may also serve to distribute conductors.)

101

14
 ELECTRICAL BOXES

• Outlet Box – cable ends

• Utility Box – outlets, switches
• Pull Box – facilitates pulling
• Junction Box – joining, splicing
• Cut-out Box – metal box
OUTLETS
Lighting Outlet – Single Gang, Two Gang, Three gang (PLATE)
Convenience Outlet – Receptacle Outlet
Duplex Convenience Outlet/Single Convenience Outlet
FM – Flash mounted SM – Surface mounted

102

SWITCHES  TYPE OF SWITCH – ACCORDING

– are devices for making, breaking, or changing TO INTENSITY OF USE
conditions in an electrical circuit under the conditions
of load which they are rated. 1. Normal Duty (ND) – intended for
normal use in light and power circuits
as in general-purpose switches.
TYPE OF SWITCH – ACCORDING 2. Heavy Duty (HD) – intended for
TO VOLTAGE frequent interrupting.
Switches are rated as 250V, 600V,or 5KV
as required. 3. Light Duty (LD) –intended to connect
the loads occasionally, such as service
switches.

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15
  TYPE OF SWITCH - ACCORDING TO TYPE
OF SERVICE

1. Service Switch – intended to disconnect all 3. Wiring Switches – include all the relatively
the electric service in the building except small switches that are employed in interior
emergency equipment. This may comprise one wiring installations for the control of branch
to six properly rated switches that are circuits, individual lamps or appliances.
assembled into a switchboard.
a) General–purpose switches – are single-pole or
double-pole switches for the general-purpose use
2. Power Switches –
of connecting or cutting-off circuits for the control
of lamps or other loads from a single point.
a) General –purpose switches – are intended for
use in general distribution and branch circuits.
b) Three-way switches – are used where it is desired
to control lamps from two different points, as in a
stairwell.
b) Disconnecting or isolating switches – are
intended for disconnecting or isolating circuits;
used for circuits rated at more than 600 volts.
c) Four-way switches – are used in conjunction with
two 3-wire switches where it is desired to control
lamps from three or more desired points.

104

4 Types of Electrical
Switches in Homes

Single-Pole Switch
• The single-pole switch is
the general-purpose
workhorse of switches. It
is used to control a light,
receptacle, or other
device from a single
location. A characteristic
feature of a single-pole
toggle switch is that it
has on and off markings
on the toggle.

105

16
 4 Types of
Electrical Switches
in Homes

Three-Way Switch
• Three-way switches are
always used in pairs and
allow you to control a
light or receptacle from
two different locations.
These switches have no
on/off markings because
the on and off positions
will vary as the switches
are used.

106

4 Types of
Electrical Switches
in Homes

Three-Way Switch
• The name "three-way" is
at first glance a little
confusing.
• The term refers to the
fact that there are three
different ways the switch
toggles can be arranged:
both toggle levers up,
both toggle levers
down, or the toggle
levers in opposite
positions.

107

17
 4 Types of
Electrical Switches
in Homes

Three-Way Switch
• When both toggles are up
or both are down, the
circuit is complete, and the
light fixture will be
illuminated. When the
toggles are in opposite
positions, the circuit is
interrupted, and the light
fixture turns off. This allows
either switch to control the
on-off function of the light
fixture at any time.

108

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18
 Three-Way Switch
There are two clear giveaways that identify a switch as being a
three-way type:
• There are no ON/OFF markings on the switch toggle. Such
markings are not needed with this type of switch, as they are
with a single-pole switch.
• There are three screw terminals on the body of the switch, in
addition to the green grounding screw. One screw, known as
the common, is a darker color than the others. The other two
screws, usually a lighter brass color, are known as
the traveler terminals.

110

Double-Pole Switch
• The double-pole switch is commonly
used in industrial applications but can be
found in some home wiring systems. Like
the single-pole switch, a double-pole
switch has on/off markings and controls a
device or equipment from one location.
• The main difference is that a double-pole
switch has four hot brass terminals,
instead of two, plus a ground terminal.
This allows the user to connect it to two
pairs of hot wires from a 240-volt circuit.

111

19
 4 Types of
Electrical Switches
in Homes

Four-Way Switch
• The four-way switch is used
between two three-way
switches to provide control
for an outlet or light fixture
from three or more different
locations. If you want to
have control from more than
three locations—for
example, five locations—you
would still use two three-way
switches (one on each end)
and three four-way switches
between the two three-ways.
112

d) Electrolier or multi-circuit
switches – are used for the control Electrolier was the name for a
of lights in multi-lamp fixtures so fixture, usually pendent from the
that one lamp or set of lamps may ceiling, for holding electric lamps.
be turned on alone or in The word is analogous to chandelier,
combination with other lamps. from which it was formed

e) Momentary contact switches –

are used where it is desired to
connect or cut-off a circuit for only a
short duration. The switch is
provided with a spring so that it will
return to its original position as soon
as the handle or button is released.

f) Dimmer switches – a rheostat or

similar device for regulating the
intensity of an electric light without Rheostat–
appreciably affecting spatial a resistor for regulating a current by
distribution. Also called a dimmer. means of variable resistances.
Wiring switches may either be the
flush type, surface type or the
pendant type.

113

20
  TYPE OF SWITCH - ACCORDING TO OPERATION
MECHANISM

Wiring switches may also be classified according to the

operating mechanism as:

1. Rotary switch
2. Push-button switch
3. Toggle or tumbler switch

 TYPE OF SWITCH - ACCORDING TO NUMBER OF

POLES AND THROWS

1. Poles – that part of the switch which is used for making or

breaking of a connection and which is electrically
insulated from other contact making or breaking parts.

2. Throws - a single throw switch is one which will make a

closed circuit only when the switch is thrown in one
position. A double throw switch will make a closed circuit
when thrown in either of two positions.

114

Contactor– is an electrically-controlled switch used for

SPECIAL SWITCHES switching an electrical power circuit.
Relay– an electrical device, typically incorporating an
1. Time Controlled Switches – This electromagnet, which is activated by a current or signal in one
device comprises a precision low circuit to open or close another circuit.
speed miniature drive motor (timer)
to which some type of electric
contact-making device is connected.

2. Remote Control (RC) Switches –

A contactor, or more specifically, a
relay, that latches after being
operated wireless from a distance.

3. Air Switch – a switch in which the

interruption of a circuit occurs in air.

4. Knife Switch – a form of air switch

in which a hinged copper blade
is placed between two
contact clips.

115

21
 SPECIAL SWITCHES
5. Float Switch – a switch controlled
by a conductor floating in a liquid.

6. Mercury Switch – an especially

quiet switch that opens and closes an
electric circuit by shifting a sealed glass
tube of mercury to uncover or cover
the contacts.

7. Key Switch – a switch operated

only by inserting a key or a card. Also
called a card switch.

8. Automatic Transfer Switch

(ATS) – This device, an essential part
of an emergency or standby service, is
basically a double throw switch,
generally 3-pole, so arranged that on
failure of normal power, emergency
service is automatically supplied.

116

WALL PLATES OR FACEPLATES - These are coverings for switches and wall outlets usually made of
metal or of phenolic compound (Bakelite).

117

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 …end of part ii.
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