Module:
ENGINEERING UTILITIES 1 3
REFERENCE:
MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING, AND CONSTRUCTION-5TH ED. J. WUJEK & F. DAGOSTINO
Hi there, future Engineers!
In this module we will continue to discuss the basic BUILDING ELECTRICAL MATERIALS AND
EQUIPMENT.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After working on this module, the reader will be able to know and understand the
following:
▪ Power Generation and Transmission
▪ Building Electrical Service Equipment
▪ Overcurrent Protection: Fuses and Circuit Breakers
▪ Utilization Equipment and Devices
BUILDING ELECTRICAL
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
POWER GENERATION AND
TRANSMISSION
Electricity is conveyed through a transmission system of
overhead metal cables supported on high towers. Public utility
companies and most small power producers are
interconnected in a power grid.
DEFINITION OF TERMS….
Power Station is an industrial facility that houses equipment to generate electrical energy.
Generator is a mechanical device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.
Armature is what a generator rotates. It is a shaft with conductor windings wrapped around an iron core,
through a stationary magnetic field, to produce current flow.
Turbine is a rotary engine that is connected to the generator and drives the rotation of the armature shaft.
Power substations are small facilities in fenced yards that contain transformers, switches, and other
electrical equipment that reduce transmission voltages to safer distribution levels.
BUILDING ELECTRICAL
SERVICE EQUIPMENT
Service Entrance Conductors
Underground or overhead service entrance conductors carry
power from the transformer through a metering device to the
building’s service disconnects.
• Overhead wires extend from a pole-mounted distribution
transformer to the building’s service entrance and are
generically referred to as the service drop.
• Underground (buried) service entrance conductors are
typically called the service lateral.
• Service Entrance
It includes the components that
connect the utility-supplied
wiring (the service lateral or
service drop) to the service
disconnect, excluding the utility’s
metering equipment.
• Service entrance equipment
This receives the service entrance
conductors. The service equipment
includes a method of measuring power
(metering equipment), a method of
cutting off power (main disconnect or
switch gear), and overcurrent protection
devices (circuit breakers or fuses) that
protect the service entrance conductors.
• Electric meter
This is an instrument that is used by the
utility company to measure and record
electrical energy consumed. Essentially,
this meter is a small electric motor with a
speed that is proportional to the power
consumed.
• Service disconnect
This is a required part of
the service entrance
equipment that allows
electrical service from the
utility company to be
switched off so that
power is disconnected to
the building installation.
Switchboards
A switchboard is a large cabinet or assembly of
metal cabinets in which is connected
disconnecting switches, overcorrect protection
devices (fuses or circuit breakers), other
protective devices, and instruments designed
to divide large amounts of electrical current
into smaller amounts of current used by
electrical equipment.
Panelboards
A panelboard is one or more
metal cabinets that serve as a
single unit, including buses,
automatic overcurrent protection
devices (fuses or circuit
breakers).
Building Transformers
Transformers are used in transmitting and distributing power
from the power plant to a substation.
• A step-down transformer has a secondary voltage that is less
than its primary voltage. It steps down the voltage applied to
it.
• A step-up transformer is one with a secondary voltage that is
greater than its primary voltage.
Single-Phase Transformers
A single-phase transformer has a single primary winding and a single secondary winding.
Three-Phase Transformers
A three-phase transformer has three primary and three secondary windings.
A delta-connected transformer has its
windings connected in series in the form
of a triangle.
A wye-connected transformer (Y) has three
independent transformer windings that are
connected at a common point, called a neutral
or star point.
OVERCURRENT PROTECTION
An overcurrent protection (OCP) device safeguards the building
service or an individual circuit from excessive current flows.
It protects the circuit components from severe overheating
when current flowing through the circuit reaches an amperage
that will cause an excessive or dangerous temperature rise in
conductors.
Fuses and circuit breakers serve as automatic overcurrent
protection devices.
Circuit Breakers
A circuit breaker is an overcurrent protection device that serves two purposes:
• It acts as a switch that can be opened and closed manually.
• It automatically “trips off,” which opens the circuit when current flowing through it exceeds the circuit
rating.
Fuses
A fuse is an overcurrent protection
device that consists of a strip of metal
with a low melting temperature.
There are three basic types of fuses used in building electrical systems:
1. Plug fuses screw into sockets much like a lamp. They are rated from 5 A to 30 A.
2. Cartridge fuses are cylindrical in shape and available in two types. The ferrule-contact type have round copper
contacts at their end and are rated up to 60 A. The knifeblade type has flat blades sticking out at each end.
3. Time delay fuses can handle an overload for fraction of a second without blowing.
OCP Device Ratings
OPDs have two current ratings:
1. Overcurrent Rating
The overcurrent rating of an OCP device is the highest amperage it
can carry continuously without exceeding a specific temperature
limit (e.g., without overheating).
2. Interrupting Rating
OCP devices must have an interrupting rating sufficient for the
maximum possible fault-current (short-circuit).
UTILIZATION EQUIPMENT AND DEVICES
Utilization equipment is a broad category of electrical or electronic
machine or instrument designed to perform a specific mechanical,
chemical, heating, or lighting function through the use of electrical
energy.
An electrical device is a component in an electrical system that is
designed to carry but not use electricity. This includes components such
as
• switches
• receptacles
• relays
Outlet
It is the location in a branch circuit where
electricity is used. For example, a lighting
outlet is the location in a branch circuit
where conductors provide power to a light
fixture.
• A receptacle is a female connecting
device with slotted contacts.
• A plug is a male connecting device
that has two or more prongs that are
inserted into a receptacle to connect
to an electrical circuit.
Switches
A simple switch is a device placed between two or
more electrical conductors in a circuit to safely and
intentionally open or close the circuit or to redirect
the path of current in a circuit.
• Heavy-duty safety switches are designed for heavy
industry, commercial, and institutional applications
where safety, performance, and continuity of
service are required. Ratings up to 1200 A, 600 V
are available.
• General duty safety switches are intended for
industrial, general commercial and residential loads
where economy is important and requirements are
less stringent. Ratings up to 600 V are available.
• Single-pole, single-throw (SPST) switch is a simple on/off switch. It opens or closes a single ungrounded
conductor in a circuit.
• Single-pole, double-throw (SPDT) switch diverts current from one conductor path to another.
• Double-pole, single-throw (DPST) switch opens or closes two conductors in a circuit.
Note: Double-pole, double-throw (DPDT)
and three-pole, single-throw switches
types of switches that perform special functions.
• Automatic switches deactivate a circuit after a preset time period has lapsed.
types of switches that perform special functions.
• Dimmer switch (SD) is a device in the electrical circuit for varying power to a circuit.
types of switches that perform special functions.
• Time clocks can be used to control the time period that a piece of equipment or a lighting installation operates.
types of switches that perform special functions.
• Photocell controls sense light and open or close a circuit with the presence of light.
types of switches that perform special functions.
• Occupancy sensors control a lighting or equipment installation by sensing occupants in a space.
types of switches that perform special functions.
• Ultrasonic sensors, objects moving in the space shift the frequency of the returning signal, which in turn is
detected by the sensor.
End of the module..
