APPENDIX A-13

and each phase wire ; motors are connected to all three wires. The balancing of light-
ing circuit loads is important to assure equal loads on each side of the common wire.
Three-phase alternating current. The three-phase, three-wire system generally
is used for power loads, the voltage being 230 or 460 volts. Two-wire, single-phase
or three-wire, three-phase branch circuits may be taken from this system. Three-
phase, three-wire, 115-volt systems seldom are used today.
The three-phase, four-wire system is used both for power and light, the fourth wire
being a neutral. Power loads are taken from the three-phase wires, and lighting is
connected between any one of the phase wires and the neutral wire. The voltage
across the phase wires generally is 208 volts and between any phase wire and the
neutral it is 120 volts; however, this system may be expanded readily to three-phase,
four-wire, 240/415 volt grounded neutral, with the resulting economy accomplished
by the use of standard transformers.
In applying any of these systems to the loads they are to serve, it is well to remem-
ber that it is not good practice to supply lamps and motors with more than fractional
horsepower ratings from the same circuit. Reasons for this warning are:
1. A voltage drop is caused by the heavy starting current when motors are started.
One result is dimming or flickering of the light emitted by lamps in the circuit.
2. Interruptions caused by overloads on circuits are more common in motor cir-
cuits.
3. To render satisfactory service, lamps must operate within closer voltage limits
than motors, therefore lighting circuits should be designed for less voltage drop than
m^tor circuits.
4. Motor loads will operate more economically on higher voltage than will lighting
loads, and a variation of 10 per cent is permissible in motor circuits though it is not
economical for normal operation. A 2 per cent drop usually is allowed in lighting
circuits.
Material Standards
Specifications for construction and performance of electrical roughing-in fittings
and raceways and of finishing materials are found in the Standards of the Under-
writers Laboratory, Inc. (in Canada, in the specifications of the Canadian Standards
Association). In the use of materials for which there are Underwriters Standards,
it is important to be assured of compliance with such standards. The Underwriters
Laboratory, Inc., publishes at regular intervals a List
of
Inspected Electrical Materials
and all materials so listed bear evidence of Underwriters' approval. Permission to
use materials not "listed" must be secured. (See Tables A-5 and A-6.)
Aluminum conductors. Insulated aluminum conductors for building wires and
cables are proposed (1947) because of the acute copper shortage . The National Board
of Fire Underwriters has approved the use of such insulated conductors of No. 6
gauge and larger for installation in
'
' approved raceways or open work, in dry locations
only." Connectors or lugs for such aluminum conductors shall be of the "solderless
type applied by means of pressure or compression."
The foregoing restrictions surrounding the use of such conductors may be modified
later with the advent of more approved type of connectors for No. 14 gauge to No. 8
gauge.
Type RV (60C) insulation is being applied at present on No. 6 and No. 12 gauge
wire and Type RH (75C) insulation on No. 6 gauge and larger wire. The current-
carrying capacity of aluminum conductors shall be taken as 84 per cent of allowable
capacities for the same sizes of copper conductors with the same kind of insulation.
The conductivity of aluminum is 61 per cent, as compared with 97 per cent for
copper. The resistance is 1.59 times that of equal cross-sectional areas of copper.
This is important in application, since it increases the IR voltage drop and I
2
R power
loss.
The specific gravity of aluminum is approximately 31 per cent that of copper;
hence the weight of insulated aluminum conductors may be only 40 per cent that of
insulated copper, depending upon gauge sizes and type of insulation,