Electricity – principally made up of atoms (electron, neutron, proton)
o 2 general classes: Dynamic & Static
Electrical Current – flow in an electric circuit
o Classifications: Direct Current (DC) & Alternating Current (AC)
Direct Current (DC)
o Flows in1 direction (- to +)
o Uniform in strength
o Battery/dry cell
o 2 types: Continuous/pulsating (fluctuating)
Alternating Current (AC) – reverses direction of flow at
regular intervals
o Reverses in direction
o Frequency: 60cps (60 hertz)
Electric Circuit – path for electric current w/ EMF
Applied
Electromotive Force (EMF) – force which causes
Movement of electricity in a conductor
Circuit Diagram – electrical layout
o Close Circuit – complete; continuous path
o Open Circuit – broken, incomplete, disconnected
Two Types: Parallel & Series
Ohm’s Law – relationship of EMF, Current, Resistance
Voltage (volts) – EMF; pressure or force; voltmeter
Amperes (amps) – inherent in wires (conductor)
o Ampacity – current carrying capacity (w/o undue heating)
Ohms – friction; inherent in insulator/Ohmmeter
Watt – rate of power; power consumption
o Watt meter – any one time; Watt-hour meter – periodic/ KWH meter/ Electricity meter
Alternator – AC Generator
Generator – ME to EE
Motor – EE to ME
Battery – electrochemical; electrolysis
o Primary – nonrenewable
o Secondary – rechargeable
Electrical Power Sources & Alternative Power Sources
Electric Power Generation/ Distribution
o Service Entrance (SE – aerial)
o Underground Service Entrance (USE)
Service Entrance (SE – Aerial)
o Power supplied to a building through a service entrance
o 3 heavy wires (drop), extend from utility pole overhead;
wires are fastened to the structure and splice to service
entrance wires that enter a conduit through a service head
o Rigid conduit is used
Underground Service Entrance (USE)
o Three wires are placed in a rigid conduit
o An underground service conduit is brought to the meter
socket
o Includes a watt-hour meter, main breaker, lighting
Protection
System Components of a Building
Category 1: Wirings & Raceways
Conductors – offers low resistance
Insulators – prevents flow of electric current
Raceways – channel
Category 2: Power Handling Equipments
Transformer, switchboard/switchgear, panel board, service
switch/safety switch, Circuit breaker/Fuse
o Service Distribution – delivered through a
distribution panel, or service panel
Category 3: Utilization Equipments – actual use
Fixtures, switches, convenience outlets, branch circuits
Branch Circuits
From the distribution panel (panel board), electricity is routed to the building through branch
circuits. Each circuit delivers electricity to a limited number of outlets ore devices & protected
with a circuit breaker
o Branch circuits are divided into 3 types by the PEC:
Lighting circuits
Small appliance circuits
Individual circuits
Wires & Cables
Flexible Metal Clad / Metal Clad / Armored Cable (FMC, MC, AC)
o BX; Flexible
Non-Metallic sheated cable (NMC/NM) – Romex; Sheat
General Wiring – thermoplastic (PEC)
Mineral Insulated (MI) – jacketed • Shielded Non Metallic Sheated Cable (SNM)
o Telecommunication/submarine cable
Service Entrance Cable – aerial/underground
Underground feeder (UF) – direct to burial ground
Power & Control Tray Cable (TC)
Flat Cable Assemblies (FC) – system furniture application
/cable management
Flat Conductor Cable (FCC) – general purpose
Busbar – busway, busduct
Cable Bus – Rounded
Raceways
Floor Raceway
o Underfloor raceway – conventional installation
o Cellular Metal Floor raceway – rib decking/raised
floor system
o Cellular concrete floor raceways – T-joist/ Precast
concrete slab with built in pipes
Ceiling Raceway
o Power & Control Tray Cable (TC)
o Busbar
o Cablebus
Power Handling Equipments
Transformer – voltage to voltage
o Outdoor Transformer
H-Frame – 1000kva
Cluster Mounted – 225 kva
Pad Mouunted – 120v to 240v
o Indoor Transformers
Dry Type – pad mounted; switchboard
Askarel – synthetic; non-flammable liquid
Oil-insulated – for transformer vault
o Transformer Rating – stepped up or stepped down
Switchboard/Switchgear – free standing assemblies of switches, fuses/circuit breakers
o Unit Substations (Transformer Load Center) – large facility
Panelboard – final distribution point; PP/LP
o Main Panelboard
o Distribution Panel Board
Service Switch – large switch
o Disconnecting apparatus; service disonnecting means
Applied on apartments
Circuit Protective Devices – overload/short circuit
o Fuse – alloy link or wire; fusible link; nonrenewable
Plug Fuse – dwelling (5-30 amps)
Cartridge Fuse (5-60 amps)
Knife Blade fuse – (61-100 amps); DE/SE
Circuit Breakers – electromechanical device
o Thermal Pigtail – senses heat
o Magnetic Pigatil – senses load
Utilization Equipment
Fixtures/ Luminaires
o Incandescent Lamp/ Bulb – Filament
o Fluorescent Lamp
Cylindrical Glass Tube – Phosphor
.Cathode – argon & low pressure mercur vapor
Ballast – limits current
Starter – switch
Types of Fluorescent Lamp
o Pre-heat starting – CFL
o Instant Start (slimline) – w/o a starter
o Rapid start – bi-pins
Conduits – pipes, tubings, (electrical raceway)
o Materials (Metallic or Nonmetallic)
Rigid Metal Conduit (RMS);
Rigid Steel Conduit (RSC)
Intermediate Metal Conduit (IMC); IMT
Electric Metal Conduit (EMC); EMT
Flexible Metal (BX)
Rigid Nonmetal (Plastic, etc.)
Flexible Nonmetal (plastic, etc.)
Condulets – conduit fittings
o Straight and angle couplings
o Elbow fittings
o Tee & cross connections
Electrical Boxes
o Outlet Box – cable ends
o Utility box – outlets, switches
o Pull Box – facilitates pulling
o
o Junction box – joining, splicing
o Cut-out box – metal box
Switches
o Controls the flow of electricity to outlets &
To individual devices
Types of switches
o Small Appliance Circuits & Individual Circuits
Usually “hot” meaning electricity is
available at all times
o Lighting Circuits
May be hot or controlled by switches
o Single Pole Switches
Controls one fixture, device or outlet
To control light from 2 different switches,
a 3-way switching circuit (3 wires & 2
switches) is used. Often installed for the
top & bottom of stairways
Electrical Wiring
Power Wiring
Misc. Wiring
Convenience Outlets & Receptacles
o Outlet – point in a circuit where other devices can be connected
o Receptacle – a device (at an outlet box) to which any plug-in extension line,
appliance, or device can be connected
Types of Oulets & Receptacles
Type A Convenience Receptacles – for small appliances & lamps ;available
in single, double, or multiple units
Lighting outlets for lamp holders, surface-mounted fixtures, flush or
recessed fixtures, lighting fixtures
Special purpose receptacles – for one electrical device
Type B
