BUILDING UTILITIES 2
rectified the full-wave rectification system
ELECTRICITY – phenomenon;
manifestation
 Principally made up of atoms
(electron, proton, neutron)
2 GENERAL CLASSES OF ELECTRICITY
DYNAMIC ELECTRICITY - electrodynamic
STATIC ELECTRICITY – electrostatic
ELECTRICAL TERMINOLOGIES
ELECTRIC CURRENT – flow in an electric
circuit.
CLASSIFICATIONS OF CURRENT
1. DIRECT CURRENT (DC)
 Flows in one direction (- to +)
 Uniform in strength
 Battery/dry cell
TWO TYPES: CONTINUOUS/PULSATING
(FLUCTUATING)
2. ALTERNATING CURRENT (AC)
 Reverses direction of flow at regular
intervals
 Reverses in direction
 Frequency: 60 cps (60 hertz)
 230VAC, 60HZ, SP
FULL-WAVE RECTIFIED SINGLE-PHASE AC:
This rectified alternating current for which
the rectifier is so connected that the
reverse half of the cycle is “turned
around” and fed into the circuit flowing in
the same direction as the first half of the
cycle. This produces pulsating DC, but with
no interval between the pulses (referred
to as single-phase full-wave DC
FULL-WAVE RECTIFIED THREE-PHASE AC
When three-phase alternating current is
is used. The result is DC with very little
pulsation – in fact only a ripple of varying
voltage distinguishes it from straight DC.
HALF-WAVE RECTIFIED AC
When a single-phase alternating current is
rectified in the simplest manner, the
reverse half of the cycle is blocked out
entirely. The result is a pulsating
unidirectional current with intervals no
current at all is flowing (referred to as
“half-wave” or as pulsating direct current.)
SINGLE-PHASE ALTERNATING CURRENT
This term refers to a simple current,
alternating in direction. Commercial
single-phase current follows a sine wave.
Such a current requires only two
conductors for its circuit. Most common
commercial frequencies are 25, 50 and 60
cycles per second.
THREE PHASE ALTERNATING CURRENT
Commercial electricity is commonly
transmitted as three single-phase
currents, that is, three separate currents
following separate sine curves, each at 60
cycles (or other frequency) per second,
but with the peaks of their individual
curves one-third of a cycle apart. At least
three (sometimes four) conductors are
required for three-phase alternating
current.
PULSED AND IMPULSE CURRENT-
MAGNETIZATION
A magnetization technique utilizing short
circuited AC or condenser discharged DC.
Very high magnetizing currents are
possible for short durations. (1/100 to
1/1000 sec) without the use of
transformers. A pulsed magnetization amount of current, in amperes, that
(flash magnetization) will flow through a circuit breakers
and fuses. (ammeter)
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM – electrical layout
AMPACITY – current-carrying capacity
CLOSE CIRCUIT – complete; continuous
(without undue heating)
path
OHMS – friction; inherent in insulator.
OPEN CIRCUIT – broken, incomplete, and
Electricity flowing through a material
disconnected
always meets with some resistance.
Insulators like wood, glass, and plastic
have a high resistance. Copper, aluminum,
TYPES OF CIRCUITS
and silver have low resistance and are
1. PARALLEL CIRCUIT therefore good conductors of electricity.
2. SERIES CIRCUIT (ohmmeter)

Short Circuit: bridging DEVICE – does not consume electricity

Shunt Circuit: branching WATTS – rate of power; power

consumption. The amount of power
OHM’s LAW – relationship of EMF,
required to light lamps. heat water turn
Current, and Resistance
motors and do all types of work is
FORMULA: I = V/R R=VI measured in watts. Wattage depends on
both potential and current. Current
I – Current (Amperes)
(amperes) multiplied by potential (in
V – EMF (volts) volts) equals power (watts)

R – Resistance (Ohms) WATTS = AMPERES x VOLTS

VOLTAGE (VOLTS) – pressure or force; WATT METER – any one time

unit of electrical pressure or potential.
WATT-HOUR METER – periodic; kWH
Pressure makes electricity flow through a
wire. For a particular electrical load, the METER/ELECTRICITY METER
higher the voltage, the greater will be the
amount of electricity that will flow.
(voltmeter) The actual energy used (the watts utilized)
for work performed is the basis for
ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE (EMF) – force
figuring the cost of electricity. The unit
which causes movement of electricity in a
used to measure the consumption of
conductor
electrical energy is the kilowatt-hour. A
AMPERES (AMPS) – inherent in wires kilowatt is 1000 watts. An hour is a unit of
(conductor); term for flow of electricity is time. A 1000-watt hand iron operating for
current; unit used to measure the one hour consumes one kilowatt (1 kWh).
magnitude of an electric current. The device used to measure the kilowatt-
hours consumed in the watt-hour meter.
 The specific quantity of electrons
passing a point in one second. The
ALTERNATOR – AC generator
Producing alternating current AC
 In electrical power generation and use
alternating current is the preferred
and natural form of electricity. Power
as AC can be transformed to a high
voltage which enables low loss
transmission from power stations to
towns and industry where it is
transformed down for homes, offices
and factories. An electrical
alternator/generator produces
‘alternating current’ AC at 50 cycles
per second (hertz)
GENERATOR – mechanical energy to
electrical energy
MOTOR – electrical energy to mechanical
energy
BATTERY – electrochemical; electrolysis
TYPES OF BATTERIES:
1. PRIMARY - nonrenewable
2. SECONDARY – rechargeable
ELECTRICAL POWER SOURCES and
ALTERNATIVE POWER SOURCES POWER
DISTRIBUTION
SOURCES OF ENERGY :
 Wind, water, nuclear. Fossil fuel, solar
(photovoltaic) and solar energy.
GENERATIOR – convert movement into
electricity.
TRANSFORMERS – used to step up or
increase the electrical power to very high
voltages.
110 to 220 volts – usually delivered to
residences.
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.
 Overhead Wires are fastened to the
structure and spliced to service
entrance wires that enter a conduit
through a service head.
 Overhead service drop paths. If
minimum height requirements are
cannot be maintained: RIGID
CONDUIT, ELECTRICAL METALLIC
TUBING, OR BUSWYAS 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. It includes a watt-hour meter,
main breaker, and lightning
protection. Automatic brownout
equipment is also required by many
codes for construction. All electrical
 systems must be grounded through
the service entrance.
SYSTEM COMPONENTS OF BUILDING
CATEGORY 1: WIRINGS AND RACEWAYS
 CONDUCTORS – offers low resistance
 INSULATORS – prevents flow of
electric current
 RACEWAYS – channel
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: WATTS/VOLTS = AMPERES
100 TO 200 AMPS – required distribution
panel amps capacity.
60 AMPS – PEC or Philippine Electrical
Code minimum for new residential
construction.
UTILIZATION EQUIPMENT – actual use
Fixtures, switches, convenience outlets,
branch circuits.
BRANCH CIRCUIT – electricity is routed to
the building through branch circuit from
the distribution panel.
A circuit is a circular path that electricity
follows from the power supply source to a
light, appliance or other electrical device
back again to the power supply source.
EACH CIRCUIT IS PORTETCED BY A
CIRCUIT BREAKER
CIRCUIT BREAKER - is a device that opens
and disconnects a circuit when the current
exceeds a certain amount.
THREE TYPES OF BRANCH CIRCUIT
according to the PEC
1. LIGHTING CIRCUITS – connected
to lighting outlets for the entire
building. Different lights in each
room are usually on different
circuits so that if one circuit break
trips, the room will not be in total
darkness.
In all dwellings other than hotels, the
PEC REQUIREMNET:
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% only
for the first 3000 watts; 35% is
used for the second 17,000 watts
and 25% 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.
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. The PEC
requires a minimum of two
small appliance circuits in a
residence. Each circuit is
usually computed as a 1500-
watt load.
3. INDIVIDUAL CIRCUITS – Individual
dedicated circuits are designed to
serve a single large electrical
appliance or device such as electric
range, automatic heating units,
built in electric heaters and
workshop outlets.
leakage, a ground-fault circuit
interrupter receptacle is
recommended.
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
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.

- Large motor-driven appliances,

such as washers, garbage
disposals, and dishwashers,
also use individual circuits.
Theses 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 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