Chapter:02

Electrical Wiring Accessories

Electrical Wiring Accessory:

All the items that are fitted in a building (other than current consuming devices/equipment/machines)
during electrical installation work to give/control supply to the electrical appliances and machines are
called electrical wiring accessories.

Important wiring accessories and their purpose;

1. Switches:

These are used to make or break the electric circuit manually.

i. Types respect to poles:

Single pole switch, Double pole, Triple pole & Four pole switch.
ii. Types respect to materials:
Iron clad, Bakelite, Bakelite with porcelain base
iii. Types respect to throw:
Single throw, Double throw.
iv. Types respect to ways:
One way, Two way & intermediate (4 way in USA)
v. Types respect to shape &use:
 Tumbler switch
 Piano type switch
 China fitting type switch
 Bed switch
 Rotary switch
 Bell push switch
 Ceiling switch
 Intermediate switch
 Two way switch
a. Main switch
A. Bakelite DP main switch
B. I.C.D.P. switch
C. I.C.T.P. switch
2. Socket outlet
3. Plugs
4. Lamp holder
I. Batten lamp holder
II. Pendant Lamp holder
III. Angle Lamp holder
IV. Swivel lamp holder
V. Bracket lamp holder

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 VI. Fluorescent lamp holder
VII. Switched lamp holder
5. Fuse:
a) Rewire able type fuse
b) Cartridge type fuse
c) HBC(old name HRC) type fuse
6. Ceiling rose
7. Distribution box/board
8. MCCB and MCB
9. Cables
10. Miscellaneous wiring accessories:
a) Switch board and switch board frames
b) Cleats(wood or plastic etc)
c) Cable saddle and cable clips
d) PVC conduit and fittings, heavy gauge metal conduits and fittings & light guage
metal conduits and fittings
e) Batten and fittings
f) PVC duct
g) Rawal plugs
h) Nails and screws
i) Holder adopters,multi socket plugs, fan regulator or dimmers etc.

Q:Define Wiring Accessory?

Ans: Same as first part.

Q: Define switch?

Ans:These are used to make or break the electric circuit ( or to change the direction of of current flow)
manually.

Q:Write types of switch with respect to poles and throw?

See topic no i And ii of switch

Q:Write the current rating of branch switches?

Branch switches: 5A, 6A, 15 A, 30A

Q:Write current rating of main switches?

These are available in current rating of 15Amp to 300Amp.

Q:What is difference between branch switch and main switch?

Branch Switch Main Switch

It is used to control the sub It is used to control the main
supply of circuit. supply of whole circuit.
It’s maximum current rating is It’s maximum current rating is
30Ampere . above than 300Ampere.

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 It is used in single phase circuit It is used in single phase as well
as 3 phase circuit.

Q: Define main switch?

As the name indicates this switch is used to switch “ON” or “OFF” the main supply. In other words these
are used to control whole supply for a house, office and machine.

Q:Define plug and write it types?

Definition:

Ans: Plug is connected at the end of the flexible cord of portable electrical appliances. It is then inserted
into socket tubes to get supply for the appliances.

Types:

Plugs may have two or three (straight flat, straight round)pins .

Fused plug and unfused plug (simple).

Q:What types of pins of plugs are used in Pakistan?

Ans :Type C,TypeD, Type G and Type M plugs are used in Pakistan.

Q:Define main distribution board?

Ans:It is used to distribute electrical energy to final sub circuit or to other sub distribution board in the
installation. Current rating may be from few amperes to thousand. And voltage from 250 volts to above
than thousand.

Q:Which protective devices are installed in distribution board against over current protection?

Ans: A circuit breaker (MCCB and MCB) OR a fuse is installed in distribution board against over current
protection.

Q: Write the names and numbers of bus bars used in distribution board?

Ans: There are three types of bus bars;

1. Phase bus bar(1 or3)

2. Neutral bus bar(1 no)
3. Earth bus bar (1 no)

Write difference between socket outlet and switch socket?

Socket Outlet Switch Socket

The socket outlet is the socket The switch socket is socket

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whose switch is separately which has switch built in with
connected on board. the socket body.

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