Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Wiring Calculations For Single Family Dwelling Unit
Wiring Calculations For Single Family Dwelling Unit
PROBLEM:
A single family dwelling is to be circuited with the following requirements as shown on the figure above.
Determine the:
Size of the branch circuit wire for lighting outlets
Size of the conduit pipes
Size or rating of the fuse protective device
SOLUTION
A. Circuit - 1 for lighting load
1. From the Figure above, determine the number of lighting outlets. By direct counting, there are 8 light outlets.
The National Electrical Code provides that:
"100 watts shall be the maximum load for each household lighting outlet."
Adopting the 100 watts per lighting outlet we have:
8 outlets x 100 = 800 watts
3. Determine the size of conductor wire for circuit - 1. Refer to Table 9.1 or 11.1. Use 2 pieces 2.0 mm2 or No.
14 TW copper wire having an ampacity of 15 amperes that is much larger than the 3.48 amperes computed
maximum load.
4. Determine the size of the Conduit Pipe. Refer to Table. The smallest diameter of a conduit pipe that could
accommodate up to 3 pieces of No.14 TW conductor wire is 13 mm diameter. Therefore, specify 13 mm diameter
conduit pipe.
5. Determine the size or rating of the fuse protective device. Refer to Table. Use 15 amperes fuse
1. From Figure above, there are 6 convenience receptacles for small appliance load. Considering that there are
two plug outlet, the total number of plug will be:
6 outlets x 2 plug = 12 pieces
4. Determine the Size of the Conductor wire. Refer to Table 9.1 or 11.1. For 9.39 amperes, use 2 pieces 3.5
mm2 or No. 12 TW copper wire for Circuit no.2
5. Determine the Size of the conduit pipe For the 2 - No. 12 TW wire, refer to Table. Use 13 mm conduit pipe.
6. Determine the Over Current fuse protection. Refer to Table under the column of fuse and breaker rating, the
20 amperes fuse can safely carry a maximum load of 16 amperes the 80 % of 20 amperes fuse can safely carry
a maximum load of 16 amperes the 80% of 20 amperes load permitted by the National Electrical Code on No.
12 circuit wire.
COMMENT:
1. On convenience outlet receptacle, the National Electrical Code provides that, "Each single receptacle shall be
considered at no less than 180 watts rating."
2. Examining the values given on Table, the 2.0 mm2 or No. 14 AWG TW copper wire has an allowable ampacity
rating of 15 amperes. Granting that only 80 % of this 15 amperes is considered the derated value, still 12 amperes
is very much larger than the 9.36 amperes computed as maximum load for 6-convenience outlet. Why specify a
bigger 3.5 mm2or No. 12 AWG conductor wire?
3. Although the 2.0 mm2or No. 14 AWG wire conductor could safely carry the 9.36 amperes computed load,
considering its 15 amperes ampacity rating, yet, we cannot do so because the Code specifically mandated the
use of 3.5 mm2or No. 12 AWG copper wire as the minimum size for all types of convenience outlet wiring except,
for an appliance with limited load wherein a 2.0 mm2or No.14 AWG wire is permitted.
3. Determine the size of the service conductor wire. Refer to Table 9.1 or 11.1.
4. For the 15.65 amperes load, use 2 pieces 3.5mm2 or No.12 AWG TW copper wire
5. Determine the Size of the Conduit Pipe (if required) to Table. Two pieces No. 12 AWG wire can be
accommodated comfortably in a 13 mm diameter conduit pipe. Specify 13 mm diameter conduit pipe.
6. Determine the size or rating of the Over-current Protection. Refer to Table. For the 15.65 amperes load use
20 amperes fuse rating.
COMMENTS:
The fuse rating is 20 amperes. Granting that it will be derated at 80 % x 20, the 16 amperes derated value is still
higher than the computed load of 15.65 amperes. Therefore, the 20 amperes fuse over current protection is
accepted.
3. Find the Size of the Service Wire. Refer 22.8 amperes to Table. Use 2 - 8.0 mm2 or No.8 TW copper wire
4. Determine the size of conduit pipe for the service wire. Refer Table, for No.8 TW copper wire, use 20 mm
diameter conduit pipe.
COMMENT:
1. A demand factor of 80% was applied considering that not all receptacles and outlets are being used
simultaneously.
2. These type of loads are classified as non-continuous load. From Table 9.1, the 5.5 mm2or
No.10 AWG copper wire conductor has 30 amperes ampacity which is bigger than 22.8 amperes as computed.
However, we do not specify the use of No.10 AWG wire because the code limits the use of 8.0 mm2 or No.8
AWG, conductor as minimum size for Service Entrance.
3. Provide 2-double branch circuit cut out with two 15 and 2-20 amperes fuse respectively.
NOTE:
The quantity of materials is subject to change depending upon the area and the choice of the designing
engineers. For open installation, conduit pipe can be changed to split knobs or PDX wires.
SOLUTION:
Examining the lighting plan of the above figure, there are 19 lighting outlets. Split the 19 outlets into two circuits
A and B.
5. Determine the size of conduit pipe. Refer to Table, for No. 14 TW copper wire, use 13 mm conduit pipe.
2. Determine the Size of the Branch circuit Wire. Refer to Table 9.1 or 11.1. For 3.91 A load, use 2.0 mm2or
No.14 TW copper wire.
3. Determine the size of the conduit pipe. Refer to Table. For 2 pieces No. 14 TW copper wire, use the 13 mm
minimum size of conduit pipe.
4. Determine the size or rating of the overcurrent Protection. Refer to Table. For 3.91 A load, use 15 A load fuse
of trip breaker.
2. Determine the Size of the Service Wire conductor. Refer to Table 9.1 or 11.1. For the 9.39 A load, specify the
minimum wire gauge for convenience outlet.
2 pieces 3.5 mm2 or No.12 TW copper wire
3. Determine the Size of the conduit pipe. Refer to Table. For 2 pieces No.12 TW copper wire. Use 13 mm
diameter conduit pipe.
4. Solve for the Size or Rating of the Over current Protection. Refer to Table. For 9.39 A on No. 12 TW copper
wire specify:
20 A fuse or trip breaker.
D. Circuit- 4 for Small Appliance Load
1. The load of circuit 4 is identical with circuit. Use the same size of wire, conduit, and wire protection rating.
4. Determine the Size of the Branch Circuit wire. Refer to Table 9.1 or 11.1. For the 27.82 A, use 8.0 mm2 or
No. 8 TW copper wire.
5. Determine the Size of Conduit pipe. Refer to Table. For 2 pieces No.8 wire use 200 mm diameter pipe.
6. Find the Size or Rating of the Fuse or Trip Breaker. Refer to Table. For appliance load, use 40 A fuse or trip
breaker.
3. Solve for the Size of the Branch circuit wire. Refer to Table 9.1 or 11.1 . For 10.86 A convenience outlet use
2 pcs 3.5 mm2 or No. 12 TW copper wire.
4. Determine the Size of the conduit pipe. Refer to Table. For 2 - No.12 Tw copper wire, use 13 mm conduit pipe.
5. Find the Size or Rating of the Over Current Protection. For the 10.86 A load, use 20 A fuse fuse or trip breaker.
G. Circuit 7 and 8 with 1 - unit ACU each
1. One unit ACU at 1.5 Hp is
1.5 Hp x 746 = 1119 watts
Article 6.7 of the Philippine Electrical Code provides that: "BRANCH CIRCUIT CONDUCTOR SUPPLYING A
MOTOR SHALL HAVE AN AMPACITY NOT LESS THAN 125% OF THE FULL LOAD CURRENT."
3. Find the Size of the Branch circuit service wire. Refer to Table. The 6.7 A can be served by a 2.0 No.14 TW
copper wire, but the Code limits the size of convenience outlet to No. 12 AWG copper wire. Specify No.12 THW
copper wire for circuit 7 and 8.
4. Find the Size of the conduit pipe. Refer to Table. For two No.12 wire, use 13 mm conduit pipe.
5. Find the Size and Rating of the Branch Circuit Protection. The Code on branch circuit protection for a single
motor provides that" It shall be increased by 250% of the full load current of the motor." thus,
4.86 x 250% = 12.15 A. From Table for a continuous load use 2-30 AT breaker.
3. The Neutral Conductor of a 3 - wire line to line supply system shall have an ampacity of not less than 70% of
the ungrounded (live wire) conductor or TWO TRADE SIZE SMALLER SIZE THAN THE UNGROUNDED
CONDUCTOR. (PEC specs) Therefore use 1- 22 mm2 Tw copper wire for the Neutral line.
4. Determine the Size of the Conduit pipe. Refer to Table, use 32 mm diameter pipe.
5. For main Breaker, refer to Table. Use 2 - 100 A, 2 - wires 250 V, 2 pole molded air circuity breaker.
COMMENT:
The total computed load is 63.37 A. The 30 mm2 copper wire could be used considering its 90 A capacity.
However, The NEC provides that:
"If the computed load exceeds 10000 watts, the conductor and overcurrent protection shall be rated not less
than 100 A.
THEREFORE USE 2 - 38 mm2 TW WIRE FOR THE MAIN FEEDER AND 2 - 100 A FOR THE MAIN BREAKER.
Small Family Dwelling
Type of Service - 230 volts; two wire
Line to Ground system
A single family dwelling with a floor area of 80 square meters has the following receptacles and outlets load.
LIGHTING:
7 pcs. - 40 watts fluorescent lamps
2 pcs. - 20 watts Incandescent lamps
CONVENIENCE OUTLET:
1 - Electric Iron .............................................. 1000 watts
1 - Electric stove.............................................. 1100 watts
2 - Electric fan ................................................ 500 watts
1 - 7 cu. ft Refrigerator .................................... 175 watts
1 - Portable stereo ........................................... 100 watts
1 - 20" TV set ................................................... 300 watts
SOLUTION:
A. Circuit 1 - Lighting Load by the Area method
1. Determine the wattage required per square meter area. From, the wattage required per square meter for
dwelling units is 24 watts. Multiply:
80 sq.m x 24 watts = 1920 watts
5. Determine th Size of the Branch Circuit wire. From, the 1.74 A is very small load to be carried by 2.0 mm2 or
No. 14 TW copper wire. Therefore, the No. 14 wire is safe.
6. Determine the Size of the conduit pipe. Refer to table, for 2- No.14 wire, use 13 mm conduit pipe.
7. Determine the size or rating of the branch circuit protection. Refer to table. For 2.0 mm2 or No.14 copper wire
conductor, use 15 A fuse or trip breaker.
2. Determine the size of the Branch circuit wire conductor. Refer to Table. For a convenience load of 13.81 A
specify 3.5 mm2 or No. 12 TW copper wire, the minimum size required for convenience outlet.
3. Find the size of the conduit pipe. Refer to Table, for 2 pieces No.12 TW copper wire, use 13 mm diameter
pipe.
4. Find the Size or rating of the Protection device. See Table, for 13.81 A, use 1 - 20 A fuse.
COMMENT:
It is interesting to note that only one 20 A fuse protection was used because the current is a LINE TO GROUND
OR MULTI-GROUND SYSTEM where one line is zero voltage being grounded. Unlike the LINE TO LINE
SYSTEM of current supply, it is necessary to provide 2 fuses to protect the two line branch circuit.
3. Find the size of Service Entrance. Refer to Table. For 22.15 A, use No. 8 TW copper wire, the minimum size
for service entrance.
4. For Main Protection, use 1-safety switch, 2 pole, 2 wires, 250 volts.
Under the preceding set-up, one safety switch could supply both lighting and convenience outlet at different
branch circuit without the use of fuse cutout. This is only applicable to the line to ground or multi-ground system
being used by the electric cooperative.