Electrical Wiring System

 Simply a network of wires connecting various

accessories for distribution of electrical energy from
the supplier meter board to devices that consumes the
energy such as televisions, refrigerators, fans, lamps etc

HN 1
Choice of Wiring Systems
 Cost of wiring
 Durability
 Accessibility
 Appearance
 Mechanical Protection
 Safety
 Maintenance Cost
 Load
 Type of building

HN 2
Conduit Wiring
 It is a system where Poly vinyl chloride (PVC) or VIR
cables are run through metallic or PVC pipes providing
good protection against mechanical injury.
 It’s suitable for;
 public buildings
 industries
 Workshops.
 Temporally structures

HN 3
4
There are two additional types of conduit wiring
according to pipe installation
 Surface Conduit Wiring
 Concealed Conduit Wiring
Concealed Conduit wiring
A system by which a conduit type is hidden inside the
wall slots of the building with the help of plastering. In
other words, the electrical wiring system inside wall,
roof or floor with the help of plastic or metallic piping is
called concealed conduit wiring
They can further be classified into;
 Half conduit system
 Full conduitHN
system 5
Full Conduit System
 This installation in which all wires run through pipes
both in the ceiling, floor and the walls.
 It has full protection of wires from mechanical damage.

Half Conduit.
 This is a system in which part of the installation wires
are run through pipes and in other parts are clipped on
the surface for example;- Choice
 Conduits can be plastered into the wall to power switch
sockets on.
 In the ceiling wires are clipped along the timber however
in the ceiling wires can face mechanical damage.
 It’s cheap compared
HN to full conduit 6
Surface Conduit wiring

 Conduits are installed on walls, roofs and are clearly

visible.
 They are installed with the aid of saddles and wall
plugs.
 Holes are drilled on the wall surface with equal
distances between each of them, then a conduit is
installed and other associated components for
example power outlets.

7
Concealed Conduit wiring Surface Conduit Wiring Metallic Conduit Steel Non-metallic Conduit PVC

HN 8
Types of Conduits
A conduit is a channel, tube or pipe in which insulated
conductors are contained

 Non-metallic conduit
 Metallic Conduit

Metallic conduit
 Class A- Low gauge (Thin layer of steel)
 Class B- High gauge (Thick layer of steel)
Steel conduits are normally used in factory set ups, where
cables are prone to multiple damages due to ongoing
works. HN 9
 Steel conduits
 There are various types depending on where it is to be
installed.
 Galvanized steel conduits best suit damp conditions
where they may be prone to corrosion. There fore the
galvanized finish prevents corrosion.
 Steel conduits may be cut to required design with the aid
of a hack saw, threaded using specialized dies.
 The internal burrs can be removed to using a file to avoid
damage of the cables while drawing.

HN 10
Steel conduits cont’d
 Threaded ends must screwed tightly to ensure earth
continuity.
 Finally conduits are fixed with the aid of saddles.
 Steel conduits can be bent using bending a machine.
 Provision should be created to drain out water.
 Metallic Conduits can be earthed by running an earth
conductor with in the conduit it’s self.

HN 11
Non-metallic Conduit
 A solid PVC conduit is used as non-metallic conduit
now a days, which is flexible and easy to bend.
 Size of Conduit:

Conduit sizes
The common conduit pipes are available in different
sizes genially, 13, 16.2, 18.75, 20, 25, 37, 50, and 63 mm
(diameter) or 1/2, 5/8, 3/4, 1, 1.25, 1.5, and 2 inch in
diameter.
HN 12
What is conduit fill
 Conduit fill is the amount, in square inches,
of conductors inside a section of conduit

13
HN 14
Why do we need to worry about Conduit
fill?
 When conduits are filled beyond recommended
capacity, it results into eddy currents that lead to
an increase in temperature rise of cables and
conduits.
 Pulling of wires.
 Potential high cost change orders when the
conductors that you specified do not fit inside the
conduit.
HN 15
Allowable conduit fill?
 The maximum allowable fill for new conduit is
26% full.
 The maximum allowable fill for existing conduits
is 40% full.
Conduit Size Max Fill 26% Max fill 40%
(inches) (square inches) (square inches)

½” 0.082 0.125

¾” 0.143 0.220

1” 0.231 0.355

1 ¼” 0.329 0.610

1 ½” 0.539 0.829

2” 0.886 1.363

2 ½” 1.265 1.946

3” 1.950 3.000

3 ½” 2.603 4.004

HN 16
Things to remember when sizing
conduit
 Every time you cross a roadway put a spare conduit in.
 If the conduit crossing is for illumination or power
supply, put in a spare 2” conduit.
 If the conduit crossing is for signal conduits at an
intersection put in a spare 3” conduit. If the crossing is
not at the intersection put in a spare 2” conduit.
 A 2” conduit should be the minimum size used for all
crossings.

HN 17
 Install a spare 2” conduit into a service cabinet.
 Install a spare 2” conduit between all transformers and the
improvement the transformer is serving. (ITS cabinet, VMS
cabinet, etc.)
 Try not to use too many different sizes of conduit. It makes
it easier to design your job and makes it easier for the
contractor to build when you use less conduit sizes. Stick
with even sized conduits (1”, 2” 3”, or 4”).
 Leave room for future conductors. Running 2” conduit near
the service or where there is potential for future expansion
usually provides plenty of future room.
 The conduit from the luminaire pole to the adjacent
junction box 5’-10’ away shall be 1”. This is usually the only
place you would ever run a 1” conduit in grade (except the
grounded electrode conductor).
HN 18
Pros and cons of steel conduits
Pros Cons
 Good mechanical  Expensive as compared
protection to other wiring systems.
 Permits easy rewiring  Moisture formation
(Threaded) inside the conduit.
 Minimizes fire risks.  Can corrode in
 Can be utilized as the applications where there
Circuit Protective are acids, alkalis and
Conductor. ( CPC ) corrosive fumes.

HN 19
Applications of Steel conduits
 Factories
 Workshops
 Commercial buildings
 Public buildings

HN 20
Non metallic conduits
Poly vinyl chloride (PVC) Conduits.
 These are manufactured in various forms ranging from
flexible rigid types.
 They are commonly used in domestic installations
 Impervious to alkalis, acids and oils.
 Light gauge is often used for concealed work where as
heavy gauge is used for surface installations.
 Joining of PVC conduits into appropriate accessories by
using adhesives that are non flammable.
 Operate between (-50 to 650)
HN 21
Bending PVC conduits

 Bending is classified into two that is, cold and warm

bending.
 In cold bending, there is no application of heat while in
warm bending there is application of heat.
 Bending is achieved by using a bending spring usually
inserted in the pipe before bending it.
NB;
 How ever already manufactured 900 elbows (corners) can
be obtained. This solves the hassle of bending conduits.

HN 22
Drawing wires in conduits
 Two cables properly aligned may be pushed through
the conduits from the different junction boxes.
 However if they are more than two, it is necessary to
use a drawing wire.
 Cables to be drawn are tied firmly onto the tip of the
draw wire. Then pulled slowly from one end while the
other guide them from the other end to avoid damage.
 It may be necessary to put some lubricant in case the
friction is excessive at certain bends .

HN 23
 Pros and cons of PVC conduits
Pros Cons
 Lightweight and easy to
handle  Blockage due to
adhesives
 Easy to cut and de burr
 Water penetration due
 Simple to form and bend
insufficient adhesives.
 Does not require painting
 Expansion of PVC
 Minimal condensation should be catered for.
due to low thermal
 PVC protection is weak
conductivity in wall of
compared to steel
conduit.
 A separate Circuit
 Speed of installation
Protective Conductor
 Excellent electrical and must be run inside the
fire resistant properties
HN
conduit. 24
Applications of PVC conduits
 Residential houses
 Schools
 Theatres
 Offices
 Stored buildings

25
Advantages of Conduit Wiring

The main advantages are

 The safest wiring
 Appearance is better
 No risk of fire or mechanical wear and tear.
 No risk of damage of cable insulation
 Safe from humidity, smoke, steam etc.
 No risk of shock
 Long lasting

HN 26
Disadvantages of Conduit Wiring

The disadvantages of conduit wiring are ;

 Very expensive
 Installation is not easy
 Not easy to customize for future
 Hard to detect the faults.

HN 27
 Electrical Trunking
 Trunking is an enclosure provided for the
protection of cables which is normally
square or rectangular in cross-section,
having one removable side.
 Trunking may be thought of as simply a
larger and more accessible conduit system.
 It is available in two ranges, ordinary wiring
trunking and bus-bar trunking. The
ordinary system is further available in either
metal or PVC.
HN 28
Types of Trunking
Metallic (Steel)Trunking
 Metallic Trunking is formed from mild steel sheet,
coated with grey or silver enamel paint for internal use
or a hot-dipped galvanized coating where damp
conditions might be encountered.
PVC Trunking
 The main areas in which PVC trunking is used are
domestic and office premises. All necessary fitting are
available to complete any shape of run with little
difficulty. The accessories are usually secured to the
lengths of Trunking with a PVC solvent adhesive.
HN 29
Metal (Steel)Trunking
 Metal trunking is used extensively in engineering
premises. It allows a large number of cables to be
drawn into one system with relative ease and
because of its accessibility enables changes or
additions to circuits to be made with the minimum
of effort. As with conduit, it is available either
painted or galvanized. A whole range of fittings is
available, enabling the most difficult runs to be
constructed. It is available in many different sizes
and designs. For example, compartment trunking
allows the segregation of certain currents, and
support of HN
cables in vertical runs. 30
HN 31
Types of Trunking cont’d
 Mini-trunking is very small PVC trunking, ideal for
surface wiring in domestic and commercial
installations such as offices.
 A trunking manufactured from PVC or steel and in the
shape of a skirting board is frequently used in
commercial buildings such as hospitals, laboratories
and offices.

HN 32
Bus-bar trunking
There are two main types of bus-bar trunking;
 Overhead type of bus-bar; Used for
distribution in industrial premises.
 Rising-main trunking; Overhead bus-bar
trunking is ideal for distribution in factories. It is
run at high level and the tap-off boxes enable
machinery to be moved easily. When connected in
the form of a ring and incorporating section
switches, this system enables parts of the trunking
to be isolated when necessary, without all
machines losing supply.
HN 33
Rising Main Bus-Bar Over –head Bus-Bar
Trunking Trunking

HN 34
Cutting and Drilling Trunking
 It is often necessary to cut or drill trunking. After cutting,
all edges should be filed to remove sharp metal. Burrs left
after the drilling of a hole should also be filed away. When
high-speed twist drills are being used, a lubricant should
be applied; this aids the drilling process and prolongs the
life of the drill. A lard oil such as tallow is recommended
for use with steel. (No lubricant is needed when drilling
PVC.) It is often necessary to cut large holes in order to
connect conduit into the trunking system; this may be
achieved by the use of a circular hole saw or a pressure-type
hole cutter. After cutting, all hole edges must be filed
smooth and conduit entries Bushed.
HN 35
Segregation of Cables
 Where an installation comprises a mixture of low-
voltage and very low voltage circuits such as mains
lighting and power, fire alarm and telecommunication
circuits, they must be separated or segregated to
prevent electrical contact (IEE Regulation 528.1). For
the purpose of these regulations various circuits are
identified by one of two bands as follows:
 Band I telephone, radio, bell, call and intruder alarm
circuits, emergency circuits for fire alarm and emergency
lighting.
 Band II mains voltage circuits.
 N.B. Multi-compartment PVC trunking cannot provide band
segregations since there is no metal screen between the Bands. This can
only be provided in PVC trunking if screened cables are drawn into the
HN 36
trunking.
Compartment Trunking
 Single Compartment Trunking: Can be used when
one type of cable i.e. electrical or data or telephone
cables.
 Double Compartment Trunking: Can be used when
two type of source cable i.e. electrical & data cables or
electrical & telephone cables.
 Triple Compartment Trunking: Can be used when
all three types of source cable i.e. electrical, data, and
telephone cables.

HN 37
Triple Compartment Trunking

38
Construction
 A trunking is an enclosure provided for the protection
of cables which is normally square or rectangular in
cross-section, having one removable side. Trunking
may be thought of as a more accessible conduit system
and for industrial and commercial installations it is
replacing the larger conduit sizes. A trunking system
can have great flexibility when used in conjunction
with conduit; the trunking forms the background or
framework for the installation,

39
Construction Cont’d
with conduits running from the trunking to the point
controlling the current using apparatus. When an
alteration or extension is required it is easy to drill a
hole in the side of the trunking and run a conduit to
the new point. The new wiring can then be drawn
through the new conduit and the existing trunking to
the supply point.

40
41
42
Cont’d

HN 43
Installation of Trunking

44
Trunking Support
Trunking may be secured direct to a surface or
suspended by means of brackets.
As trunking material is thin, there is no room for
countersunk holes. Roundhead screws are
suggested, unless of course the fixing surface
requires bolts. There are occasions when the
trunking has to be suspended by means of
brackets.

45
Correct Screws Used to support Trunking to
walls

HN 46
Typical Mounting Brackets used

HN 47
Space Factor
 The ratio of the space occupied by all the
cables in a conduit or trunking to the whole
space enclosed by the conduit or trunking is
known as the space factor. The space factor
for cables within a trunking should not
exceed 45%,this means that the cables must
not fill more than 45% of the space enclosed
by the trunking.

HN 48
Calculating Space Factor
 To calculate the size of trunking required to enclose a
number of cables:
 Identify the cable factor for the particular size of
conductor. See Table 1
 Multiply the cable factor by the number of conductors to
give the sum of the cable factors.
 Consider the factors for trunking and shown in Table
5.4. The correct size of trunking to accommodate the
cables is that trunking which has a factor equal to or
greater than the sum of the cable factors.

HN 49
 Table 1. Trunking, Cable Factors.
Adapted from the IEE On Site Guide

Note: (i) These factors are for metal trunking and may be optimistic for plastic
trunking where the cross-sectional area available may be significantly reduced
from the nominal by the thickness of the wall material. (ii) The provision of spare
space is advisable; however, any circuits added at a later date must take into
account grouping
HN 50
Table 2. Space Factors for Trunking

HN 51
Advantages of trunking systems
 It is easy to do maintenance if it requires access to
cables.
 It is easy to install cables in trunking systems.
 Metallic trunking can be used as earth continuity
conductor.
 Multiple circuits can be organized together.
 It is easy to do additional installation in the future.
 It is easy to remove decommissioned installations.

HN 52
Dis advantages of trunking
systems
 Trunking system is expensive.
 It may lead to an electric shock in case of discontinuity
in the earth.
 It generates eddy currents in case of numerous cables
in the same compartment.
 There is risk of damage to the cable insulation.
 It can be affected by acidic and corrosion gases since
they are exposed.

HN 53
Application
 Trunking can be for both indoors and outdoors ,
ranging from Domestic, Commercial and Industrial
purpose Many applications includes decorative
skirting in homes, lighting fixtures in restaurants and
departments store,

HN 54
HN 55
HN 56
HN 57
HN 58
 Surface Wiring
 What is surface wiring?
 Surface wiring is a system of channels and boxes that let
you put outlets, switches or light fixtures anywhere you
want—without the hassle of cutting into walls, fishing
wire and patching holes.
 Surface wiring is the option when an individual dislikes
cutting through walls.
 It may also work in Modern office partitions for example
when need arises to increase on the number of outlets
 A plastic raceway (wire mold) is used for low voltage
domestic installation where as a metal raceway may apply
relatively higher voltages
HN 59
HN 60
Steps to conduct a simple
surface wiring task
 Plan and evaluate to asses the type and quantity of
accessories required for example raceways, connectors,
outlets etc.
 Identify and secure the necessary tools needed to execute
the work for example Drilling machine, drill bits,
hacksaw, Tape measure, multimeter, set pliers and screw
drivers etc .
 Isolate and lock the line from which you are to work.
 Fix the mould boxes and then raceway utilizing both
internal and external elbows to cater for 900 bends and
other sharp maneuvers .
HN 61
HN 62
HN 63
HN 64
Cont’d
 Place the cables in the raceway and connect the light
fixture, switch or socket.
 Connect to the supply from the supply box.
 Carry out necessary to tests to ensure proper continuity
and insulation of conductors.
 Cover the race way and the mould boxes after the
installation.
 Paint the raceways and the boxes to rhyme with the wall
color.
 Switch on the supply power and test the installation.
HN 65
Pros and cons of surface wiring
Pros Cons
 Easy to trace a fault.  May easily get damaged.
 Easy to work with.  No fire protection.
 Cheap.  looks unpleasant.
 Easy disbandment in case it’s
not needed.
 Faster installation due to
reduced work (wall cutting)

HN 66
Applications of Surface wiring
 Residential homes
 Offices
 Partitioned structures
 Temporary Structures

HN 67
http://cdn1.tmbi.com/TFH/Projects/Lead-Image/FH06NOV_OUTLET_01.jpg

HN 68
HN 69
HN 70