CONDUCTORS AND

CONDUCTORS AND
WIRING ACCESORIES
WIRING ACCESORIES
by
by
Engr
Engr
. Alexis T.
. Alexis T.
Belonio
Belonio
Department of Agricultural Engineering and
Department of Agricultural Engineering and
Environmental Management
Environmental Management
College of Agriculture
College of Agriculture
Central Philippine University
Central Philippine University
Iloilo City
Iloilo City
atbelonio@yahoo.com
atbelonio@yahoo.com
Introduction
Introduction

Electrical conductors are substance or

Electrical conductors are substance or
materials used to convey or allow the flow
materials used to convey or allow the flow
of electric current
of electric current

Silver, copper, aluminum, etc

Silver, copper, aluminum, etc

Electrical insulators are substance or

Electrical insulators are substance or
materials that resist the flow of electric
materials that resist the flow of electric
current
current

Rubber, porcelain, etc

Rubber, porcelain, etc

Wires
Wires

they are
they are
smaller conductors 8
smaller conductors 8
mm (AWG No. 8) and
mm (AWG No. 8) and
below
below

Cables
Cables

they are larger

they are larger
than wire
than wire

Cord
Cord

is an insulated
is an insulated
stranded wire
stranded wire
Characteristics of Wire Size
Characteristics of Wire Size
Wire Size Wire Size
AWG AWG
Current Current
Carrying Carrying
Capacity Capacity
2 to 3 wires inc 2 to 3 wires inc
cable or cable or
raceway raceway
(Amp) (Amp)
Area Area
Circular Circular
Mills Mills
Resistance Resistance
/1000 ft /1000 ft
Current Current
Carrying Carrying
Capacity Capacity
Amp for Amp for
Single Wire Single Wire
14 14 15 15 4,107 4,107 2.58 2.58 20 20
12 12 20 20 6,530 6,530 1.62 1.62 25 25
10 10 30 30 10,380 10,380 1.02 1.02 40 40
8 8 40 40 16,510 16,510 0.641 0.641 55 55
6 6 55 55 26,250 26,250 0.410 0.410 80 80
4 4 70 70 41,740 41,740 0.257 0.257 105 105
Classifications
Classifications

Solid Wire
Solid Wire

They
They
are single wire
are single wire

Stranded
Stranded

They
They
are group of
are group of
smaller wires
smaller wires
twisted to form a
twisted to form a
metallic string.
metallic string.
Receptacles
Receptacles

Raceway
Raceway

It is the channel or wiring

It is the channel or wiring
accessories so designed for holding
accessories so designed for holding
wires, cables, or
wires, cables, or
busbars
busbars
that are
that are
either made of metal, plastic, or any
either made of metal, plastic, or any
insulating mediums. Conduit pipe is
insulating mediums. Conduit pipe is
the most common electrical raceways
the most common electrical raceways
used in all types of construction.
used in all types of construction.

Connectors
Connectors

a metal sleeve usually

a metal sleeve usually
made of copper that is slipped over
made of copper that is slipped over
and secured to the butted ends of
and secured to the butted ends of
conductors in making a joint. It is
conductors in making a joint. It is
sometimes called splicing sleeve.
sometimes called splicing sleeve.

Convenient Outlet or Attachment Cap

Convenient Outlet or Attachment Cap

A device that by insertion into a

A device that by insertion into a
receptacles.
receptacles.

Wall Outlet
Wall Outlet

same as CO for attachment on

same as CO for attachment on
wire coming from a lamps and other
wire coming from a lamps and other
appliances.
appliances.

Lighting outlet
Lighting outlet

outlet intended for direct

outlet intended for direct
connection with a lamp holder, lighting
connection with a lamp holder, lighting
fixtures, etc.
fixtures, etc.

Receptacle Outlet
Receptacle Outlet

outlet where one or more

outlet where one or more
receptacles are installed.
receptacles are installed.

J unction Box
J unction Box

an extension of the box wiring.

an extension of the box wiring.

Receptacles
Receptacles

are contact device installed at

are contact device installed at
the outlet for connection of a single
the outlet for connection of a single
attachment plug
attachment plug

Switch
Switch

a device that open or closed the

a device that open or closed the
circuits in an electric circuit.
circuits in an electric circuit.
Ampacity
Ampacity
of Electrical
of Electrical
Conductor
Conductor

It is the ability of the wire or conductor to carry

It is the ability of the wire or conductor to carry
current without overheating
current without overheating

Conductor resistance to current flow generate

Conductor resistance to current flow generate
not only heat but also contribute to the voltage
not only heat but also contribute to the voltage
drop
drop

Current size and rating should have sufficient

Current size and rating should have sufficient
ampacity
ampacity
to carry load. They should have
to carry load. They should have
adequate mechanical strength and should not
adequate mechanical strength and should not
be less than the rating of the branch circuit and
be less than the rating of the branch circuit and
the maximum load to be served.
the maximum load to be served.
Types of Cable
Types of Cable

Armored Cable (AC)

Armored Cable (AC)

used for both in exposed

used for both in exposed
and concealed work
and concealed work

Metal Clad Cable (MC)

Metal Clad Cable (MC)

used for service

used for service
feeders, branch circuit, and indoor or outdoor
feeders, branch circuit, and indoor or outdoor
work
work

Mineral Insulated Cable (MI)

Mineral Insulated Cable (MI)

used for dry, wet

used for dry, wet
or continuously moist location as service feeders
or continuously moist location as service feeders
or branch circuit.
or branch circuit.

Non
Non
-
-
Metallic Sheath Cable (NM)
Metallic Sheath Cable (NM)
-
-
used
used
specifically for one or two family dwelling not
specifically for one or two family dwelling not
exceeding 3 story buildings
exceeding 3 story buildings

Shielded Non
Shielded Non
-
-
Metallic Sheath Cable (SNM)
Metallic Sheath Cable (SNM)

used for hazardous location or in cable tray or in

used for hazardous location or in cable tray or in
raceway.
raceway.

Underground Feeder and Branch Circuit Cable

Underground Feeder and Branch Circuit Cable
(UF)
(UF)

used for underground connections

used for underground connections
including direct burial in the ground or feeder or
including direct burial in the ground or feeder or
branch circuit.
branch circuit.

Service Entrance Cable

Service Entrance Cable

primarily used for

primarily used for
service wire.
service wire.

Power and Control Tray Cable (TC)

Power and Control Tray Cable (TC)

used
used
for installation in cable trays, raceways, or
for installation in cable trays, raceways, or
where it is supported by messenger wire.
where it is supported by messenger wire.

Flat Cable Assembly (FC)

Flat Cable Assembly (FC)

for field
for field
installation in metal surface or raceways.
installation in metal surface or raceways.

Flat Conductor Cable (FCC)

Flat Conductor Cable (FCC)

used for
used for
general purposes such as appliance
general purposes such as appliance
branch circuit, and for individual branch
branch circuit, and for individual branch
circuits especially in hard smooth
circuits especially in hard smooth
continuous floor surface.
continuous floor surface.

Medium Voltage Cable (MV)

Medium Voltage Cable (MV)

use for
use for
power system up to 3,000 volts.
power system up to 3,000 volts.
Circular Mill
Circular Mill

Mil is equal to 1/1000 of an inch that is used to

Mil is equal to 1/1000 of an inch that is used to
measure the diameter of round wire.
measure the diameter of round wire.

1 circular mil =
1 circular mil =

/4 square mill = 0.7854 square

/4 square mill = 0.7854 square
mil
mil

Area, circular mil = D

Area, circular mil = D
2 2
To find the circular mill area of any circle, just know
the diameter in mils and then square this value.
Factors Determining Wire Size
Factors Determining Wire Size

Length
Length

Cross
Cross
-
-
Sectional Area
Sectional Area

Materials
Materials
Resistance of Wire
Resistance of Wire

R = 10.8 L / A (for copper)

R = 10.8 L / A (for copper)

R = 17.0 L / A (for aluminum)

R = 17.0 L / A (for aluminum)

Where:
Where:

R
R
-
-
wire resistance, ohms
wire resistance, ohms

L
L
-
-
length of wire, ft
length of wire, ft

A
A
-
-
area of wire, circular mills
area of wire, circular mills
Voltage Drop and Power Loss in
Voltage Drop and Power Loss in
Wire
Wire

Voltage Drop = Circuit Current x

Voltage Drop = Circuit Current x
Resistance of Wire (I x R)
Resistance of Wire (I x R)

Power Loss = Circuit Current x Voltage

Power Loss = Circuit Current x Voltage
Drop (I x
Drop (I x
V
V
drop drop
)
)

Power Loss = Component Resistance x

Power Loss = Component Resistance x
Square of the Current (P = R x I
Square of the Current (P = R x I
2 2
)
)
Allowable Voltage Drop
Allowable Voltage Drop

1%
1%
-
-
used for branch circuit wires and
used for branch circuit wires and
loads involving constant voltage
loads involving constant voltage

2%
2%
-
-
adequate design for practically all
adequate design for practically all
conditions
conditions

3% average design figure

3% average design figure

5% used only if the economy of wire cost

5% used only if the economy of wire cost
desired
desired
Series Circuit
Series Circuit

Series Connection
Series Connection
-
-
single path exist for
single path exist for
current to flow; elements are arrange in
current to flow; elements are arrange in
series one after the other; no branches;
series one after the other; no branches;
current is the same but the voltage
current is the same but the voltage
differ.
differ.

Voltage:
Voltage:
V
V
t t
= V
= V
1 1
+ V
+ V
2 2
+ V
+ V
3 3

Resistance:
Resistance:
R
R
t t
= R
= R
1 1
+ R
+ R
2 2
+ R
+ R
3 3

Current: I
Current: I
t t
= I
= I
1 1
= I
= I
2 2
= I
= I
3 3
Series Connection
Sample Problem
Calculate the current flowing, the total
resistance and the voltage drop across each
resistor with the total applied voltage Et = 200
v and the value of each resistor is R
1
= 24
ohms, R
2
= 66 ohms, and R
3
= 44 ohms.
Et=200v
R1=24 R2=66 R3=44
It
Given:Et - 200 volt R
1
- 24 ohms
R
2
- 66 ohms R
3
- 44 ohms
Required: Rt, It, voltage drop
Solution:
Rt = R
1
+R
2
+R
3
= 24 ohms + 66 ohms + 44 ohms
= 134 ohms
It = Et / Rt
= 200 v / 134
= 1.49 amp
ER
1
= It R
1
= 1.49 amp x 24 ohms = 35.6 volt
ER
2
= It R
2
= 1.49 amp x 66 ohms = 108.34 volt
ER
3
= It R
3
= 1.49 amp x44 ohms = 65.56 volt
Parallel Circuit
Parallel Circuit

Parallel Connection
Parallel Connection

multiple connection
multiple connection
exist for current to flow; it is the standard
exist for current to flow; it is the standard
arrangement for house wiring connection;
arrangement for house wiring connection;
voltage is the same but current differs.
voltage is the same but current differs.

Voltage:
Voltage:
V
V
t t
= V
= V
1 1
= V
= V
2 2
= V
= V
3 3

Resistance: 1/R
Resistance: 1/R
t t
= 1/R
= 1/R
1 1
+ 1/R
+ 1/R
2 2
+ 1/R
+ 1/R
3 3

Current: I
Current: I
t t
= I
= I
1 1
+ I
+ I
2 2
+ I
+ I
3 3
...
...
Parallel Connection
Sample Problem
The total voltage Et of 200 volts is the same
across all three resistive branches, R
1
is 40
ohms, R
2
is 100 ohms, and R
3
is 200 ohms.
Calculate the current flowing in each resistive
branches and also the total current.
Given:Et - 200 volt R
1
- 40 ohms
R
2
- 100 ohms R
3
- 200 ohms
Required: I1, I2, I3, It
Et=200v
R1=40
It
R2=100
R3=200
I1 = E / R1 = 200 v/ 40 ohms= 5 amps
I2 = E / R2 = 200 v/ 100 ohms= 2 amps
I3 = E / R3 = 200 v / 200 ohms= 1 amps
It = I1 + I2 + I3
= 5 amps + 2 amps + 1 amp
= 8 amps
Branch Circuit
Branch Circuit

Electric Circuit
Electric Circuit

a complete path
a complete path
traversed by an electric current.
traversed by an electric current.

Branch circuit
Branch circuit

it is the circuit conductors

it is the circuit conductors
between the final over current protective
between the final over current protective
device and the outlet. It is the wiring
device and the outlet. It is the wiring
installed between the circuit current
installed between the circuit current
protective device, i.e. fuse or circuit
protective device, i.e. fuse or circuit
breaker, and the outlets.
breaker, and the outlets.
Components of Branch Circuit
Components of Branch Circuit

Source of voltage
Source of voltage

Wiring
Wiring

Load
Load

Switch and Fuse

Switch and Fuse
Classifications of Branch circuit
Classifications of Branch circuit

General Purpose Branch Circuit

General Purpose Branch Circuit

supplies
supplies
outlets for lighting and small appliances
outlets for lighting and small appliances
including convenience receptacles.
including convenience receptacles.

Appliance Branch Circuit

Appliance Branch Circuit

Supplies outlet
Supplies outlet
intended for feeding appliances.
intended for feeding appliances.

Individual Appliance Branch Circuit

Individual Appliance Branch Circuit

Intended to
Intended to
supply a single specific item.
supply a single specific item.
Protection of Branch Circuit
Protection of Branch Circuit

Branch circuit should be protected from over

Branch circuit should be protected from over
current (any current in excess of the rated
current (any current in excess of the rated
capacity of the equipment or the rated capacity
capacity of the equipment or the rated capacity
of the conductor) . It should always be
of the conductor) . It should always be
connected at its hot line and to the voltage
connected at its hot line and to the voltage
source and its load end to the circuit wiring.
source and its load end to the circuit wiring.

Causes of over current

Causes of over current

Overload in the equipment or conductors

Overload in the equipment or conductors

Short circuit or ground fault

Short circuit or ground fault

Fuse
Fuse

an overall current protection device

an overall current protection device
with a circuit opening fusible element which
with a circuit opening fusible element which
open (break) when there is an over current in
open (break) when there is an over current in
the circuit.
the circuit.

Circuit Breaker
Circuit Breaker
-
-
an over current protective
an over current protective
device designed to function as a switch. It is
device designed to function as a switch. It is
equipped with automatic tripping device to
equipped with automatic tripping device to
protect the branch circuit from overload and
protect the branch circuit from overload and
ground fault.
ground fault.
Trip or tripping refers to the cutting-off or
disconnection of the current supply.
Factors to Consider in
Factors to Consider in
Designing Branch Circuit
Designing Branch Circuit

Flexibility of the circuit

Flexibility of the circuit

Reliability and efficiency of service

Reliability and efficiency of service

Safety of circuitry
Safety of circuitry

Economy as to cost
Economy as to cost

Energy consideration
Energy consideration

Space allocation
Space allocation
Effect of Acquiring Low Cost
Effect of Acquiring Low Cost
Equipment
Equipment

High energy cost

High energy cost

High Maintenance cost

High Maintenance cost

Shorter life
Shorter life
References
References

Brown, R. 1956. Farm electrification. McGraw

Brown, R. 1956. Farm electrification. McGraw
-
-
Hill Book Company. New York. 367pp.
Hill Book Company. New York. 367pp.

Subhash
Subhash
Metha
Metha
. Electrical Engineering.
. Electrical Engineering.
Synergy Books International. A division of Sam
Synergy Books International. A division of Sam
Publishing
Publishing
Sdn
Sdn
.
.
Bhd
Bhd
. 7
. 7
J alan
J alan
Bangsar
Bangsar
Utama
Utama
3,
3,
Off
Off
J alan
J alan
Bangsar
Bangsar
, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.
, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.
388pp.
388pp.