Electrical power is generated from various energy sources and distributed through a series of transformers to reduce voltage for safe transmission and use. Power enters a building through an overhead or underground service entrance and is routed through a distribution panel to various branch circuits based on their intended uses. Branch circuits include lighting circuits, small appliance circuits, and individual circuits for large appliances. Ground-fault circuit interrupters are required in wet areas to quickly cut off electric current if a ground fault is detected.
Electrical power is generated from various energy sources and distributed through a series of transformers to reduce voltage for safe transmission and use. Power enters a building through an overhead or underground service entrance and is routed through a distribution panel to various branch circuits based on their intended uses. Branch circuits include lighting circuits, small appliance circuits, and individual circuits for large appliances. Ground-fault circuit interrupters are required in wet areas to quickly cut off electric current if a ground fault is detected.
Electrical power is generated from various energy sources and distributed through a series of transformers to reduce voltage for safe transmission and use. Power enters a building through an overhead or underground service entrance and is routed through a distribution panel to various branch circuits based on their intended uses. Branch circuits include lighting circuits, small appliance circuits, and individual circuits for large appliances. Ground-fault circuit interrupters are required in wet areas to quickly cut off electric current if a ground fault is detected.
5. ELECTRICAL POWER SOURCES and ALTERNATIVE POWER SOURCES
POWER DISTRIBUTION Electric power is generated from several sources of energy: wind, water, nuclear, fossil fuel, solar (photovoltaic), and solar energy directly into an electric current. All other energy sources are harnessed to produce a rotary mechanical motion that drives electrical generators. The generators convert movement into electricity. Transformers are used to "step up" (increase) the electrical power to very high voltages (hundreds of thousands of volts) for transmission by wires over long distances. Wherever the transmission lines enter an industrial or residential community for local power distribution, large transformers are used to "step down" the voltage to a few thousand volts. Smaller transformers set on poles or in underground vaults are used for final distribution to small groups of houses or individual factories. Usually 110 and 220 volts are delivered to residences.
ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION
6. ELECTRICAL POWER AND LIGHTING SUPPLY, DISTRIBUTION AND FIXTURES
SERVICE ENTRANCE (SE - AERIAL) Power is supplied to a building through a service entrance. Three heavy wires, together called the drop, extend from a utility pole or an underground source to the structure. These wires are twisted into a cable. At the building, overhead wires are fastened to the structure and spliced to service entrance wires that enter a conduit through a service head. In planning overhead service drop paths, minimum height requirements for connector lines must be carefully followed. If these distances cannot be maintained, rigid conduit, electrical metallic tubing, or busways (channels, ducts) must be used. UNDERGROUND SERVICE ENTRANCE (USE) If the service is supplied underground, three wires are placed in a rigid conduit. An underground service conduit is brought to the meter socket. An underground service entrance includes a watt-hour meter, main breaker, and lightning protection. Automatic brownout equipment is also required by many codes for new construction. All electrical systems must be grounded through the service entrance. SYSTEM COMPONENTS OF BUILDING 6.1. Category 1. WIRINGS AND RACEWAYS Conductors offers low resistance Insulators prevents flow of electric current Raceways - channel BGUTILI 2: ELECTRICAL AND OTHER POWER SYSTEMS
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6.2 Category 2. POWER HANDLING EQUIPMENTS
Transformer, Switchboard/Switchgear, Panel board, Service Switch/Safety Switch, Circuit Breaker/Fuse SERVICE DISTRIBUTION Electrical current is delivered throughout a building through a distribution panel, or service panel. The size of a distribution panel (in amperes) is determined by the total load requirements (watts) of the entire building. Watts can be converted to amperes by dividing the total (and future) watts needed by the amount of voltage delivered to the distribution box: Formula: = amperes W = metric symbol for watts V = metric symbol for volts A = metric symbol for amperes Example:
= 145 A
Most residences require a distribution panel with a capacity of 100 to 200
amps. The Philippine Electrical Code (PEC) minimum for new residential construction is 60 amps. To compute the total load requirements, the watts needed for each circuit must first be determined. 6.3. UTILIZATION EQUIPMENTS actual use Fixtures, Switches, Convenience Outlets, Branch Circuits 6.3.1 BRANCH CIRCUITS From the distribution panel, electricity is routed to the building through branch circuits. A circuit is a circular path that electricity follows from the power supply source to a light, appliance, or other electrical device and back again to the power supply source. If the electrical load for an entire building were placed on one circuit, overloading would occur. Thus branch circuits are used. Each circuit delivers electricity to a limited number of outlets or devices. Each circuit is protected with a circuit breaker. A circuit breaker is a device that opens (disconnects) a circuit when the current exceeds a certain amount. When a breaker opens, or "trips," the power to the branch circuit is disconnected. If the sum of the current drawn by the branch circuits exceeds the rating of the main circuit breaker, the main breaker will trip. This protects the service-entrance wires and equipment from overheating and damage. Circuit breakers that trip can be reset. Branch circuits are divided into three types by the Philippine Electrical Code: lighting circuits, small-appliance circuits, and individual circuits. 6.3.1.1 LIGHTING CIRCUITS: Lighting circuits are connected to lighting outlets for the entire building. Different lights in each room are usually on different circuits so that if one circuit breaker trips, the room will not be in total darkness. In all dwellings other than hotels, the PEC requires a minimum general lighting load of 3 watts per square foot of floor space. However, the amount of wattage demanded at one time (demand factor) is calculated at 100 percent only for the first 3000 watts; 35 percent is used for the second 17,000 watts; and 25 percent is used for commercial demands over 120,000 watts. Thus, the general lighting load planned for a 1500 sq. ft. house would be 3525 watts, not the full 4500 watts. It is calculated as follows:
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1500 ft. x 3 W = 4500 W (uncalculated amount)
First 3000 W x 100% = 3000 W Next 1500 W TOTAL 4500 W
x 35%
= 525 W 3525 W
If each branch circuit can supply on 2400 watts 9120 V x 20 A =
2400 W), a 1500 sq. ft. house should have two 1860-watt general lighting circuits. (see figure below). Lighting circuits are also used for small devices such as clocks and radios. However, since all lights and other items on the circuit are probably not going to be used at the same time, it is not necessary to provide a service capable of supplying the full load.
6.1.3.2 SMALL-APPLIANCE CIRCUITS: These circuits provide
power to outlets wherever small appliances are likely to be connected. Small appliances include items such as toasters, electric skillets, irons, electric shavers, portable tools, and computers. Appliance circuits are not designed to also support lighting needs. (see figure below).The PEC requires a minimum of two small appliance circuits in a residence. Each circuit is usually computed as a 1500-watt load. 6.1.3.3 INDIVIDUAL CIRCUITS: Individual dedicated circuits are designed to serve a single large electrical appliance or device, such as electric ranges, automatic heating units, built-in electric heaters, and workshop outlets. Large motor-driven appliances, such as washers, garbage disposals, and dishwashers, also use individual circuits. These circuits are designed to provide sufficient power for starting loads. When a motor starts, it needs an extra surge of power to bring it to full speed. This is called a starting load. A separate circuit (20 amps) is required in a laundry area to provide power for the washing machine and the dryer. Because of the danger of water leakage, GFCI receptacle is recommended. BGUTILI 2: ELECTRICAL AND OTHER POWER SYSTEMS
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Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)
A GFCI receptacle must be located wherever there is a possibility for people to ground themselves and be shocked by the electrical current flowing through their body to the ground. The purpose of a GFCI receptacle is to cut off the current at the outlet. When the GFCI receptacle senses any change of current, it immediately trips a switch to interrupt the current. It operates faster and is safer than the circuit breaker switch or fuse at the power entry panel. A GFCI valve will trip in 1/40 second when an extremely small current variation (ground fault) of 0.005 amps is reached. In new construction GFCI receptacles must be located with each convenience outlet near water sources and/or pipes in the bathroom, kitchen, garage, laundry and outdoors. Any receptacle located within 10' or within 15' of the inside of a permanently installed swimming pool must also be wired through a GFCI. GFCIs are also required if outlets are placed in unfinished crawl spaces below grade level.