Wiring Systems Edt
Wiring Systems Edt
WIRING SYSTEMS
A wiring system is an assembly made up of cables/busbar and parts which secure, and if
necessary, enclose the cable/busbar. Hence a wiring system is made up of cables and their
enclosures as well as the accessories required for securing them.
The choice of a wiring system used on a building is affected mainly by the type of
installation and the environmental conditions.
a) TYPE OF INSTALLATION
(i) Type of building construction – this will enable one to decide the routing, fixing
and termination of a wiring system. The building fabric will determine whether the
wiring system runs on the surface or under the plaster, in the screed or in the ceiling.
(ii) Appearance of the finished installation – the aesthetics of the installation may
or may not be important depending on the type of building. This will determine whether
the wiring system will be flush or surface, or whether decorative accessories are required.
(iii) Durability – This has to do with the life span of the installation, whether it is a
temporary or permant installation will determine the quality and type of wiring system
used.
(iv) Economics –This has to do with the cost of the installation compared to the
money available.
(i) Flexibility of the system – This has to do with the likelihood to have to change
the location of electrical equipment within the building. Some installations require
frequent modifications e.g in a machine shop where the location of electrical machines
may have to be change from time to time.
(iii) Ambient temperature – The wiring system may need top be able to withstand
extreme temperature conditions e.g in cold rooms or near a boiler.
(iv) Safety – Is of utmost importance. The presence of children and animals may
require special considerations in the selection of a wiring system.
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CABLES
Generally wiring systems consist of cables and their enclosures. A cable is an insulated
conductor.
1) POWER CABLES
Widely used in H.V. AND L.V. circuits as under ground feeders and distributors.
They include:
(i) Polyvinyl Chloride Steel Wire Armored Cables. PVC (SWA)
(ii) Paper Insulated Lead Sheathed Cables. PILS.
(iii) Paper Insulated lead Sheathed oil Filled Cable.
(iv) Split Concentric Cables.
2) INSTALLATION CABLES
Generally used for final circuits within the installation, They include:
(i) Single core P.V.C. insulated and sheathed cables.
(ii) Cross Linked Polyethylene Cables. XLPE.
(iii) Mineral Insulated Metal sheathed Cables. MIMS.
3) FLEXIBLE CORDS
These are generally used to make the final connected to the electrical equipment.
They include:
(i) Fine stranded.
(ii) Flat twin
(iii) Rubber insulated.
Definition Of Terms.
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7) Serving – The protective material over the metal sheathing or wire armoring
of a cable. This is provided to protect the cable against corrosion. The serving
may be of fibrous material like paper, cloth, jute etc or non-fibrous material
like PVC, glass tape etc.
TYPES OF INSULATION
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TYPES OF CABLES
These are cables with pvc insulation and a pvc sheath for protection agnist
mechanical damage and moisture.
The common sizes of the cables range from 1mm2 to 16mm2. They may single
twin or multi-core with or without a sheath.
They find application in domestic and similar installations, where cables are
unlikely to be exposed to mechanical damage.
Their operation temperature range is from 0oC to 65oC. Below 0oC pvc hardens
and will crack above 65oC pvc softens.
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In some situations they may require additional protection and hence will need to
be installed in a cable enclosure (eg. Conduit or trunking.)
When installed on the surface they are fixed in position by means of hardened pvc
clips, which are fitted with hardened nails capable of driving into most surfaces.
The distance between the clips should be around 300mm for horizontal distances
and 350mm for vertical runs.
The minimum radius of the bend is as is given in the IEE regulations.
The temperatures such cables can withstand is limited by the material used in
sealing of terminations.
MIMS can carry a higher current than its pvc counter parts because it can
withstand high temperatures.
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These cables are used in situations where temperature exceeds the normal ambient
temperatures.
Its ideal for fire alarm (category 3) circuits, emergency lighting and in boiler
rooms. The cable is fireproof, waterproof and oil proof.
MIMS cables should be supported at distances recommended by the IEE
regulations.
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Oil impregnated paper has a higher dielectric strength than pvc and can also
withstand higher temperatures.
These cables are used mainly for main and sub-main distribution of higher voltage
power supplies both under ground and on the surface.
The purpose of the lead sheath is to exclude moisture from the paper insulation.
Jointing and termination hence requires a high level of care and skill.
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(ii) A large voltage drop – A small cross–sectional area conductor will have a
large resistance particularly for long cable runs. This may result in a large
voltage drop along the length of the cable. An under voltage will hence be
delivered to the load, which may damage the electrical equipment.
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will overheat during the over current period. Smaller cross-sectional area
cables may be used with protective devices that operate faster.
c) Ambient temperature.
The temperature of the environment in which the cable is to be used will
affect the heat dissipation of the cable. A cable with a large cross-sectional
area will have to be used in an environment with high temperature compared
to where there is a lower environmental temperature. Since such cables are
more likely to overheat.
d) Grouping
This refers to the number of cables grouped together in the same enclosure (i.e.
conduit, trunking, ducting etc). Grouped cables are likely to overheat faster
than single cables. Hence grouped cables should have a large cross-sectional
area than single cables.
e) Thermal insulation.
Some cables pass on/through thermal insulating materials of buildings. This
reduces their heat dissipating capabilities; hence a cable that passes
on/through thermal insulation can easily overheat.
The IEE regulations require that the choice of a cable for a particular circuit must give
due regard to the following factors besides the circuit current:
- the ambient temperature
- installation conditions (no of cables in the same enclosure)
- presence of thermal insulation
- type of protective device.
Step 1
Calculate the current rating of the circuit IB.
Power
IB = voltage (single phase)
P
IB = VCos 3 (3 phase)
Step 2
Select a suitable type of protective device and its rating. IN.
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Step 3
Find the correction factors.
Step 4
Calculate the current rating of the cable. IZ
IN
IZ =
GATS
Step5
Select the appropriate cable size from the tables using the current rating of the cable
calculated in step 4
Step 6
Calculate the maximum permissible volt drop.
Step 7
Calculate the actual volt drop. It should be less than the maximum permissible volt drop
obtained in step 6.
Step 8
Ensure that thermal constraints are met.
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Installations are grouped into three groups for the purpose of diversity;
(i) Individual domestic installations.
(ii) Hotels, boarding houses, lodge etc.
(iii) Shops, stores, offices, and business premises.
It can be noticed that allowance for diversity is different for different types of loads. E.g.
in a domestic installation lights are likely to be ON for shorter periods than for
commercial installations like shops and stores.
For a final circuit the current demand is obtained by summing the current demands of all
the points of utilization and equipment in the circuit.
Current demand for points of utilization (socket outlets) is to be assumed as follows:
For standard circuits using BS 1363 socket outlets no diversity is applied to the final
circuits and the current demand is taken as the protective device rating.
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CABLE ENCLOSURES
CONDUITS
They are tubes through which cables are run, they fall into two groups;
a) Non-metallic conduits.
Usually made of polyvinyl chloride PVC. They usually come in 4m lengths. They
also fall into two groups
(i) The Rigid type – Which can be bent by applying a flame to soften it,
then bending it while it is soft. They can be easily threaded by means
of a stocks and die.
(ii) The Flexible type – It bends easily without the use of many tools,in
cold weather they may need to be rubbed to warm them by means of
friction. Conduit joints are usually made by means of unthreaded
couplings and nipples. At times it may be necessary to use an
adhesive to seal the joint system.
Advantages
- Easily manipulated without the use of many tools.
- Less expensive than metallic conduits.
- Need not be earthed.
- Resistant to corrosion from most industrial chemicals.
- Has no internal condensation.
- Easy to erect hence saves on erection time and labour.
- Non-flammable.
- Damp proof.
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Disadvantages
- A separate C.P.C. must be run in the tubing.
- Do not provide mechanical protection which is as good as metallic
conduits.
- Subject to kinking if not warmed properly.
Uses
- Generally used in moist conditions where the probability of mechanical
damage is low.
- Also used in flash mounted installations where the conduit is buried in the
plaster of the wall.
b) Metallic conduits.
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Advantages.
- They can be bent or set without kinking.
- Provide good mechanical protection.
- Can be used as a c.p.c.
- Do not support combustion.
Disadvantages
- Subject to corrosion.
- Risk of electric shock if not propely earthed.
- Installation is labour intensive.
Uses
Their uses vary with the type of finish used on the conduit. Metallic conduits
come in three finishes;
(i) Black enamel – for indoor situations where there is no moisture.
(ii) Silver-grey – decorative conduit that is used indoor to match
decorations.
(iii) Hot galvanized/ sheradised - for indoor and outdoor situations
where there is moisture. Galvanized conduits are coated with zinc,
sheradised conduits are heated in zinc.
c) Flexible Conduits/Sprague
Uses
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For connecting machinery where there may be some vibration or where the
position of the electrical equipment may need to be adjusted from time to time.
e.g. electric cookers and electric motors.
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SPACE FACTOR
The number of cables that can be drawn in or laid in any enclosure must be such that no
damage will occur during installation.
Space Factor is a ratio of the total cross sectional area of cables installed in a conduit to
the internal cross sectional area of the conduit.
Cables that may be installed safely into a conduit can be obtained by referring to tables
12A, 12B, 12C & 12D, of the IEE regulations (see appendix).
Step 1
Find the cables factor for each cable to be installed in the conduit, from the appropriate
table. (i.e table 12A/12C), and multiply each cable factor with the number of cables of
that size to be installed in the conduit.
NB
a short straight run is a conduit not exceeding 3m without any bends.
Step 2
Add the cable factors to obtain the conduit factor.
Step 3
Select the smallest conduit with a conduit factor that exceeds the on calculated in step 2
from the appropriate table (i.e. table 12B/12D).
NB
A bend refers to a 90o turn, a double off set is considered to be equivalent to one bend.
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TRUNKING
It is in the form of a square or rectangular metallic or non-metallic enclosure, with a
cover that can be removed to lay or permit access to cables. It is used where there is a
large number of cables that follow one route, where it would be expensive to install a
large number of separate conduits. Because the cover can be removed it is easier to install
more cables in one enclosure as compared to drawing them in trunking is commonly
installed in factories or offices where the introduction of new equipment and the
relocation of existing equipment may involve frequent modification of the installation/
They come in 3m lengths of the metallic pvc type. Sizes range from 38mm2 to 225mm X
100mm.
TYPES OF TRUNKNG
1) SQUARE STEEL TRUNKING
They come with various accessories for connections and terminations, so that they
can be run with the contours of the wall.
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2) MULTICOMPARTMENT TRUNKING
This trunking has compartments and is used were segregation is desired. Different
category circuits can be placed in the same enclosure in different compartments.
3) FLOOR TUNKING
Used extensively in schools hospitals and industrial installations. It can be layed
below the floor surface where access is by means of a number of inspection
covers or below the floor level and covered with a steel chequer plate.
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4) SKIRTING TRUNKING.
It runs along the wall usually replacing the skirting. It is used mainly in offices,
schools and colleges to provide a large number of power and telecom socket
outlets. It is made with compartments so that segregation is possible. Power,
telephone and networking socket outlets can be placed on the face of the trunking.
5) BUSBAR TRUNKING
It consists of a broad, flat trunking in which 3 or 4 busbars are rigidly fixed on to
a molded block of insulator. The busbars are usually made of copper or aluminum
with either a round oval or rectangular. The trunking has tap off points to supply
power to machinery on the shop floor. It is commonly used for distribution in
machine shops.
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supplied via a service entry on the ground floor. A fixed fuse box is mounted on
each floor to supply the floor with power.
IEE REGULATIONS
- Where trunking passes through floors, walls, ceilings or partitions, the
surrounding wall should be made of no combustible material and internal
fire barriers are to installed with the trunking.
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SPACE FACTOR
The number of cables that can be drawn in or laid in any enclosure must be such that no
damage will occur during installation.
Space Factor is a ratio of the total cross sectional area of cables installed in a trunking to
the internal cross sectional area of the trunking.
Step 1
Find the cable factors for each cable to be installed in the trunking, from the appropriate
table. (i.e. table 12E), and multiply each cable factor with the number of cables of that
size to be installed in the conduit.
Step 2
Add the cable factors to obtain the trunking factor.
Step 3
Select the smallest trunking with a trunking factor that exceeds the on calculated in step 2
from the appropriate table (i.e. table 12F).
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CABLE TRAYS
Usually used where power cables with steel wire armouring or mineral insulated cables
are grouped through out a common route. They can be made of mild steel stainless steel
or glass reinforced polyester. Finishes for steel trays include; epoxy paint, chromate
painted, galvanized, PVC coated and red oxide.
There are two types selected according to the type of installation being made
1) Heavy Gauge Cable Tray
Used to accommodate a large number of cables or for external use and for
situation where a high degree of mechanical protection is required.
SPACE FACTOR
A space factor of 60% is used if the installation is covered or installed in a enclosed
environment.
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APPENDIX
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