CE 111: ENGINEERING UTILITIES 1  Service Entrance

 connects the building to the utility grid and includes

CHAPTER 3: BUILDING ELECTRICAL
components such as the main disconnect switch,
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
meter, and grounding system.
1. POWER GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION

 A power station is an industrial facility that houses

equipment to generate electrical energy.

 Panel Boards
 distribute electrical power to branch circuits,
typically located near the service entrance. They
contain circuit breakers or fuses for protection.
 equipped with or without switches for the control of
light, heat, and power circuits

 Types of Power Generation: Power generation can

be classified into fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewable
energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric.
 Transmission Networks: Electrical energy is
transmitted over long distances via high-voltage
transmission lines. These networks ensure efficient
delivery of electricity from power plants to consumers.  Switch Boards
 Transformers and Substations: Transformers step  contains one or more that can be used to manually
up the voltage for transmission and step down for and automatically disconnect a circuit from its
distribution. Substations help in managing voltage and power source
reducing power flows.  typically floor mounted, rated for current levels of
 Efficiency and Losses: Power losses during 1200 to 6000 amperes (A), and voltages below 600
transmission are minimized using high-voltage volts (V)
transmission lines, which reduce the current and thus  access is usually through the front and rear of the
the resistive losses in the wires. switchboard cabinet
 contains disconnecting switches, OCP (overcurrent
protection) devices, other protective devices, and
instruments designed to divide large amounts of
electrical current into smaller amounts of current
used by electrical equipment

 Higher voltage means lower amperage and smaller

conductor.
 Building Transformers
 It is more economical.
 used in transmitting and distributing power from
 More dangerous to transmit power at high voltage.
the power plant to a substation
2. BUILDING ELECTRICAL SERVICE  used to change voltage, current, and phase of
EQUIPMENT electrical power nearby and within a building
 sizes used in buildings include 3, 6, 9, 15, 25, 30,
37.5, 45, 50, 75, 112.5, 150, 225, 300, 500, 750,
1000, 1500 kVA, and larger
 comes with a nameplate that typically identifies:
 Rated kVA
 Primary and secondary voltage
 Impedance (if 25 kVA or larger)
 Required clearances (if it has ventilating
openings)
 Step-Down Transformer
 has a secondary voltage that is less than its primary
voltage  Grounding System
 it steps down the voltage applied to it  Grounding systems protect both equipment and
 typically used in buildings to reduce building occupants by ensuring that stray currents are safely
system voltages to useable levels discharged to the earth.
3. OVERCURRENT PROTECTION: FUSES AND
CIRCUIT BREAKERS

 Overcurrent Protection Devices: Overcurrent

protection devices, including fuses and circuit breakers,
are designed to protect electrical circuits from excessive
 Single-Phase Transformers current that can cause damage.
 has a single primary winding and a single secondary
winding
 the 7200/240/120 V AC, single-phase, three-wire
transformer is used in most residential and small
commercial applications where 120 V and 240 V
are required.
 Fuses: Fuses are single-use overcurrent protection
devices that interrupt the flow of electricity when the
current exceeds a specific value.

 Types of Fuses

 Delta-Connected Transformers
 three independent transformer windings are
connected head to toe
 has only a single voltage level available: the phase-
to-phase voltages. Other voltages can be obtained  Plug Fuse:
only by using step-up or step-down transformers.  rated from 5 A to 30 A
 Edison-base plug fuse
 Type S plug

 Wye-Connected Transformers
 has three independent transformer windings  Cartridge Fuse:
connected at a common point, called a neutral or  ferrule-contact type, have round copper
star point contacts at their end and are rated up to 60 A.
 the angular displacement between each winding of  The knife-blade type has flat blades sticking out
the Y is 120° at each end.

 Time delay Fuse:

 Delta-Wye-Connected Transformers  can handle an overload for fraction of a second
 an electrical device that converts three-phase without blowing.
electric power without a neutral wire into three-  desirable on circuits serving electric motors
phase power with a neutral wire
such as air conditioners and machinery
  Plug
 Circuit Breaker  a male connecting device that has two or more
prongs that are inserted into a receptacle to connect
 Acts as a switch that can be opened and closed
to an electrical circuit
manually
 typically connected to a flexible cord that is
 It automatically “trips off”, which opens the circuit
attached to a portable appliance, light, or equipment
when current flowing through it exceeds the circuit
rating  (Most common types of electrical switches)
 Types of Circuit Breakers
 Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCBs)
 MCBs are commonly used in residential and
commercial buildings.
 They protect circuits from overloads and short
circuits and are designed for low current
ratings.
 Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs)  SPST (Single Pole Single Throw)
 GFCIs detect ground faults and immediately  most commonly used to control a lighting
cut off power to prevent electric shock in wet installation from a single location
or damp environments, such as bathrooms and
kitchens.

 Molded Case Circuit Breaker (MCCBs)  SPDT (Single Pole Double Throw)
 MCCBs are designed for higher current ratings  diverts current from one conductor path to another
and are used in industrial and large commercial  three-way switch (S3) that allows the control of an
applications. installation from two locations

4. UTILIZATION EQUIPMENT AND DEVICES

 Utilization of Equipment: Electrical utilization

equipment refers to devices and machines that use
electrical power, such as lighting, appliances, HVAC
systems, and motors.

 DPST (Double Pole Single Throw)

 can be used to switch off the ungrounded and
grounded conductors in a single lighting circuit that
 Outlet is serving a paint spray booth containing explosive
 the location in a branch circuit where electricity is vapors
used

 Receptacle
 a female connecting device with slotted contacts
 it is installed at an outlet or on equipment, where it
 DPDT (Double Pole Double Throw)
is intended to easily establish an electrical
connection with an inserted plug  can be used on any application that requires an open
and closed wiring system, an example of which is
railroad modeling, which makes use of small scaled
trains and railways, bridges and cars.
5. CONDUCTORS  the type of insulation determines the environment
in which it can be used safely
 a jacket provides the necessary chemical, physical,
or thermal protection required by the application
 plastic, cloth, or rubber insulation

CONDUCTORS: CABLE
 Wires
 a single solid length of conductor used in building
applications classified according to a wire gauge
standard and on the cross-sectional area of the wire
 AWG gauge number is inversely proportional
to the cross-section diameter of the wire—that
is, a smaller number identifies a thicker wire.  Nonmetallic-Sheathed Cable
 In building electrical systems, conductor sizes No.  consists of two or more insulated conductors
14 AWG through about No. 8 AWG are typically enclosed within a moisture-resistant, flame-
solid conductors. retardant outer sheathing or jacket that is very
 On occasion, stranded conductors are used in flexible.
these sizes because stranded wiring is easier to  reserved for use in dry, indoor applications
snake through a conduit.  can be used in dry and damp applications but not
 Larger conductors are typically stranded. wet and exposed conditions

 Underground Feeder Cable

 Bus/Bus Bar (Buses)  flame retardant and moisture, fungus, and corrosion
 an electrical conductor (usually copper or resistant
aluminum) that serves as a common connection for  available in No. 14 AWG copper and No. 12
two or more electrical circuits aluminum AWG through No. 4/0 AWG
 buses are typically solid bars used for power  used in direct-burial applications as a feeder or
distribution branch circuit provided it is protected by an
 commonly found in panelboards, switchboards, and overcurrent protection device (fuse or circuit
other power distribution equipment breaker) before if leaves the panelboard.

 Service Entrance Cable

 Aluminum (Conductor Material)  flame retardant and moisture, fungus, and corrosion
 Aluminum has significant weight and cost resistant
advantages over copper.  suitable for exposed above-grade conditions
 An aluminum wiring installation requires a thicker  Example: Underground service entrance (USE)
gauge. cable is used in underground service applications
 Extra care in splicing and terminating aluminum
wire is important.

 Armored Cable
 classified as either AC or ACT, is sometimes
referred to by the trade name, BX cable
 consists of two to four copper conductors between
 Insulation (Conductor Insulation) 14 AWG and 1 AWG in size that are enclosed
 provides electrical isolation and some physical within a flexible spiral-shaped metallic enclosure.
protection of the conductor material
 prevents loss of power and the danger of short
circuits and ground faults.
CONDUCTORS: CORDS

 Raceway
 Cords  an enclosed channel such as a conduit, tube, or
 made of stranded conductors within a flexible gutter designed for holding wires, cables, or
insulated sheathing material busbars
 designed for flexibility and bending
 generally manufactured of a lighter gauge (e.g., No.
AWG 18 or No. AWG 16) stranded conductors
 designed for use on power tools, large stationary
equipment, or detachable computer power cords
 Example: extension cords are made of stranded
wires because they require flexibility, allowing the  Busway
cord to be bent and twisted without stressing the  A standardized, factory-assembled enclosure
conductors consists of outer duct-like housing, bus bars, and
insulators
 typically used in service equipment or as feeders
because these systems are designed to carry large
amounts of current

 Concealed Knob-and-Tube Wiring

 consists of an old-style wiring technique using
insulated conductors strung between glass or
porcelain knobs and tubes  Wireway/wire gutters
 installed in walls or ceilings so it is concealed from  sheet metal or nonmetallic, flame-resistant plastic
view when finish materials such as plaster is troughs that serve as a housing that encloses and
applied protects conductors
 was the general wiring method until the 1930s,  typically carry large conductors
when it was replaced by armored cable
 Conductor Ampacity 7. ELECTRIC MOTORS
 maximum current (in amperes) it can carry
continuously without exceeding the temperature
limitations of the insulation and sheathing material
 conductor’s maximum current-carrying capacity
 Wire thickness
 Type of conductor material
 Insulation and sheathing type
 Number of conductors bundled in the sheathing  Motor ratings
or in proximity of one another  Electric motors are rated in horsepower (hp).
 Temperature and exposure of the conductor  One horsepower is equivalent to 33 000 foot-
pounds (ft-lb) of work per minute (550 ft-lb/s).
6. ENCLOSURES AND RACEWAYS  In theory, one horsepower is equivalent to 746 W.
 Motor controllers
 A motor controller is a switching device designed
to start, stop, and protect the motor.
 A controller might also be called on to provide
functions such as reversing, jogging (repeated
starting and stopping), plugging (rapid stopping by
 Enclosures momentarily reversing the polarity of the motor),
 electrical boxes and cabinets made of metal operating at several speeds, or at reduced levels of
materials that provide protection for conductors, current and motor torque.
connections, controls, and other electrical
equipment
 protect the wiring, devices, and equipment from
damage and deterioration from accidental contact,
wear, corrosive atmospheric exposure, and sunlight
TYPES OF ELECTRIC MOTORS 9. EQUIPMENT PROTECTION

 Universal Motor  Ground Fault Protection of Equipment

 a fractional horsepower (less than one horsepower)  Surge Protection
motor designed to operate on both AC and DC  Inrush Current Protection
powerup to 20 000 rpm  Lightning Protection
 used on appliances such as blenders and vacuum  Equipment for Hazardous Locations
cleaners and power tools such as routers and
electric drills
 Split-Phase Motor
 operates on single-phase AC only
 available in sizes up to 1⁄3 horsepower
 Capacitor Motor
 have a capacitor that stores and discharges energy
to help start the motor rotor
 more efficient and has a better starting torque than
the split-phase motor.
8. OCCUPANT PROTECTION

 Tamper-Resistant Receptacles
 have built-in shutter systems that prevent foreign
objects from touching electrically live components
when these are inserted into the slots.
 The shutters protect against electrical burns
without impairing normal plug insertion, removal,
or function.

 Ground Fault Interruption

 an electrical device that detects an extremely low
leak (6 mA) of electrical current (called ground
faults) and acts quickly to shut off power

 Arc Fault Interruption

 a safety device which provides enhanced protection
from fires resulting from arc faults
 uses electronics to recognize an arc fault and
interrupts the circuit when the fault occurs