9

TLE Industrial
Arts:
Electrical Installation
and Maintenance (EIM)
Quarter 4 – Module 3:
Electrical House Wiring Materials
and their Descriptive Terms
(Week 3)
 What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you, students, in mind. It is here to help
you familiarize yourself with the Electrical house wiring materials & their
descriptive terms in accordance with Job Requirements and PEC/NEC provisions.
The scope of this module permits it to be used in many different learning situations.
The language used recognizes the diverse vocabulary level of students. The lessons
are arranged to follow the standard sequence of the course.

This module covers the lesson on Electrical House Wiring Materials and their
Descriptive Terms.

At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:

1. distinguish the different kinds of Electrical house wiring materials & their
descriptive terms;
2. describe the different kinds of Electrical house wiring materials & their
descriptive terms; and
3. appreciate the importance of the different kinds of Electrical house wiring
materials & their descriptive terms.

What I Know

Please do not forget to write the following on your answer sheet:

Name: _________________________ Yr. & Section: _______________
Yr. Level & Subject (Specialization): ___________ Module No: _____
Name of the Activity: What I Know Date: ______

Instructions: Read the sentences carefully and choose the correct answer from the
choices below.

1. A switch is used in bell wiring installations.

A. Push button B. Tumbler switch C. Toggle switch D. Pull-chain switch
2. It is operated by pushing the lever up to turn on the light and down to turn off
the light.
A. Push button C. Toggle switch
B. Tumbler switch D. Pull-chain switch
3. The button is pushed to close the circuit and released to open the circuit.
A. Push button B. Tumbler switch C. Toggle switch D. Pull-chain switch
4. It is used in amplifiers and other electronic devices as a power switch. It has a
metal lever and a plastic body.
A. Push button C. Toggle switch
B. Tumbler switch D. Pull-chain switch

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5. It is found on lamp sockets. The lamp is controlled by merely pulling the chain.
Low hanging lamps and table lamps use this type of switch.
A. Push button B. Tumbler switch C. Toggle switch D. Pull-chain switch
6. It is a type of switch that controls a lamp in combination with other three-way
switches. This switch allows a lamp to be controlled in two places.
A. Key switch C. Through cord switch
B. Three-way switch D. Pendant switch
7. It is a hanging type of switch that operates in the same way as the push-through
switch. It is mostly used in hospitals.
A. Key switch C. Through cord switch
B. Three-way switch D. Pendant switch
8. A wire that is used in bell wiring installations.
A. Annunciator wire C. Friction tape
B. Armored cable (BX) D. Ceiling receptacle
9. This is made of porcelain and is used in ceiling lights.
A. Annunciator wire C. Friction tape
B. Armored cable (BX) D. Ceiling receptacle
10. It is used to insulate or to cover bare conductors and electrical joints.
A. Annunciator wire C. Friction tape
B. Armored cable (BX) D. Ceiling receptacle

What’s New

This lesson in the study of electrical house wiring materials is to know and apply
the various wiring materials. A lot of materials are involved in house wiring. The
materials are grouped according to their uses.

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 What Is It

KINDS OF SWITCHES

You will recall that a switch is a circuit-opening and circuit-closing device. A

particular circuit needs a particular kind of switch. The common electrical switches
are the following:

TUMBLER SWITCH is used to

control the ceiling lights. It is
operated by pushing the lever up to
turn on the light and down to turn
off the light. The switch has a
porcelain base and a bakelite cover.
SURFACE TYPE FLUSH TYPE

PUSH-BUTTON SWITCH is used in

bell wiring. The button is pushed to
close the circuit and released to
open the circuit. The body may be
made of metal, plastic, or bakelite.

TOGGLE SWITCH is used in

amplifiers and other electronic
devices as a power switch. It has a
metal lever and a plastic body. It
operates the same way a tumbler
switch. Another toggle switch has a
flush-type body and is used to SURFACE TYPE
control the lighting circuit in FLUSH TYPE
conduit wiring.

Pull-chain switch is found on lamp

sockets. The lamp is controlled by
merely pulling the chain. Low
hanging lamps and table lamps use
this type of switch.

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The key switch is used in table
lamps. It operates by rotating the
handle to open or close the circuit.
This switch is a part of the lamp
socket.

A push-through switch is
found on the socket itself. It
operates by pushing the red
button for lighting and
pushing the black button for
switching off. Lampshades
also used this type of switch.

A three-way switch is a type

of switch that controls a lamp
in combination with another
three-way switch. This switch
allows the lamp to be
controlled in two places. It
has three terminals but
operates like a tumbler
switch.

A pendant switch is a
hanging type of switch which
operates in the same way as
the push-through switch. It is
mostly used in hospitals.

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Through a cord, a switch is
used to control the current
that has portable cords. The
switch is inserted into the
cord.

A heater switch is used to

control the circuits of electric
heating appliances, like
electric ranges, electric
stoves, electric ovens, etc. By
rotating the knob, the high,
medium, and low circuits
may be selected.

OTHER TYPES OF SWITCHES

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 KINDS OF CONDUCTORS

Electric conductors are manufactured as wires or cords. A Wire is just one length of
solid or stranded body while a Cord is composed of two conductors embedded in one
solid mass of rubber insulation or two separate conductors twisted together along its
length. A Solid conductor has a solid body and is therefore rigid while a Stranded
conductor which is very flexible, is composed of many fine strands of wire twisted
together.

ANNUNCIATOR WIRE, also called bell wire is used in electric bell and alarm wiring
works. It is usually a No. 18 solid wire.

HEATER CORD – is used as a cord in heating devices such as flat iron, water
heater, etc. It is an asbestos fiber wrapped around the rubber insulation.

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LAMP CORD – is a cord consisting of two stranded conductors embedded in a solid
mass of rubber insulation with a slit between them. It is also called a zip cord
because the two conductors can be separated at the slit-like zipper. The cord is
mostly used in lampshades.

ROYAL CORD – is a cord consisting of two rubber-covered wires around which is

wrapped hard rubber insulation. It is used as an extension cord for lights, sound
systems, power cords, etc.

ARMORED CABLE (BX) consists of two or more rubber-covered wires wrapped

with spiral galvanized steel armor. The cable is flexible and is used mostly as power
lines for air conditioners, electric motors, service entrances, etc.

THERMOPLASTIC WIRE – This is the most modern wire with semi-plastic

insulation. It is now used in most house wiring jobs. The name is abbreviated as
TW.

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G & Y CORD – has green and yellow cotton protective braids wrapped around the
rubber insulation. It is used as an extension cord for Christmas lanterns, etc. It is
composed of two stranded conductors twisted together along its length.

DROP CORD – consists of two heavily wrapped stranded conductors that extend
from the ceiling outlet down to the lamp socket. When the ceiling is rather high
and the light cannot effectively illuminate the room, the light is brought down
with the use of a drop cord.

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 LIST OF COMMON TYPES OF WIRE IN THE PHILIPPINES

KINDS OF WIRE-HOLDING MATERIALS

Wire-holding materials are needed to hold electrical conductors in place. When a

wire conductor is strung in a light circuit, it is held firmly by insulated materials to
insulate it from the wooden or concrete surfaces and separate it from other
conductors. The following wire-holding materials are used in electrical wiring.

SPLIT KNOB – is
composed of two parts. The
head and the body.
Between them are two
grooves for gripping and
clamping the wire. The
split knob is fastened to
wood using a screw.

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SOLID KNOB – has only
one body with a groove
around its cylinder body.
The wire is tied to the
body using a piece of
wire.

CLEAT – is composed of
two pieces: the base and
the head. Between the
base and the head are
grooved for the
conductors. The cleat is
also attached to the
wood by screw.

PORCELAIN RACK – is
an insulator made of
porcelain with a metal
screw for attachment to
the walls of houses. It is
used in the service
entrance.

STRAIN/STAY
INSULATOR. This
device is used to anchor
service-drop cables at
points of attachment to
the consumer’s private
post or house. It is also
the terminating point of
a cable in open wiring. It
is usually of porcelain
and is so designed that
in case of breakage of
the insulator the guy
wire will not fall to the
ground.

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INSULATED STAPLE –
is used to hold the bell
wire in place. It is U-
shaped with a hard
paper insulator at its
base. The insulated
staple is used in low
voltage circuits only.

SECONDARY RACK.
This device has a similar
function with a strain
insulator.

WOOD MOULDING – is
made of wood with two
canals where two
conductors are
embedded. A thin wood
cover is attached over the
conductors.

PLASTIC MOULDING – is
commonly used as cable
trunking. It is an
enclosure provided for
the protection of cables. It
has two parts: the base
and the cover. It is
usually used in an open
wiring installation.

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 KINDS OF LAMP SOCKET

Lamp sockets are receptacles for electric bulbs. Lamp sockets have different uses
and are therefore manufactured differently. The common lamp sockets are:

CEILING RECEPTACLE. It is
made of porcelain and is used in
ceiling lights. It has a base where
the electrical attachments are
done and a screw-type cover.
Ceiling receptacles may be open or
close type.

WEATHERPROOF SOCKET. It is
a complete rubber body with two
short wire connectors protruding
from the base. The body is
weatherproof to protect it from the
rain. This socket is used in
outdoor wiring.

KEY SOCKET. It has a switch

directly connected to it. The
socket is either made of
bakelite, brass, or porcelain.
It is used in table lamps.

PULL CHAIN SOCKET. It has

a pull-chain switch attached
to its body. This is either
made of porcelain, brass, or
bakelite. It is also used in
table lamps.

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FED-THROUGH SOCKET. It
has a socket for bulbs and
may be controlled by a pull
chain switch. This allows
conductors to pass through
its body.

PUSH-THROUGH SOCKET.
It is equipped with two
pushbuttons located opposite
each other. It is made of either
porcelain, brass, or bakelite.
It is also used in lampshades.

MINIATURE SOCKET. It is
sometimes called candelabra
because its looks like a candle
holder. This is used in circuits
that require a small bulb. It is
usually made of porcelain.

TWIN SOCKET. This is composed of two

sockets joined at an angle to each other
and with a common screw base for
attachment to another receptacle.

CURRENT TAP RECEPTACLE. It has

two built-in female plugs aside from the
socket. The plugs provide additional
connection or extension. Like the twin
socket, it has a screw base for
attachment to another socket.

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 KINDS OF WIRING INSULATORS

Wire conductors are already manufactured with rubber or plastic insulations.

Electrical wiring needs to be protected further from mechanical harm. Sometimes
the wires are connected by the joints and therefore need re-insulation. At other times
wire touch wood surfaces and therefore need protection. There are common wiring
insulators.

CIRCULAR LOOM, a tough tubing

consisting of cotton and paper
strands and impregnated with a
black insulating substance. It is
commonly called a Mica tube. A
wire is inserted through it to
protect the wire from direct contact
with wood surfaces, with another
wire, or with a metal surface.
FRICTION TAPES, which are
available as rubber, plastic, or
cloth impregnated with a sticky
rubber compound. Insulating
tapes are used to cover bare
conductors and electrical joints,
and to keep circular loom or
porcelain tubing from slipping
along the conductor.
PORCELAIN TUBING, made of
porcelain and shaped like a tube
with the head at the end. When a
wire is made to pass through wood,
it must be protected by a porcelain
tube, so that the wire does not
touch the wood surface directly.
HEAT-SHRINK TUBING – is a
shrinkable plastic tube used to
insulate wires, providing abrasion
resistance and environmental
protection for stranded and solid
wire conductors, connections,
joints, and terminals in electrical
work. The name refers to the fact
that the tubing is designed to
shrink into place and become rigid
when heat is applied, providing a
durable protective coating.

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 KINDS OF PLUGS AND OUTLETS

For convenience in connecting an appliance to the power line, various plugs and
outlets are used. The common ones are the following:

MALE PLUG is used at the

end of the appliance cord,
or extension cord for the
attachment to an electrical
source. It is made of
rubber, sometimes plastic
or bakelite. Male plugs
come in various sizes and
shapes. This plug is called
an attachment plug.
FEMALE PLUG. This has a
screw base for attachment
to a lamp socket. It serves
as an adopter for the male
plug. With the female plug,
the lamp socket becomes a
power line for electrical
appliances.

APPLIANCE PLUG – is a
special plug used in electric
flat iron, in a tape recorder,
etc. It is inserted in the
prongs of the appliance.
Sometimes the plug has a
switch on its body. The
attachment plug makes
possible the disconnection
of the appliance cord from
the appliance itself.

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15

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 DESCRIPTIVE TERMS

When buying electrical materials, always indicate the correct descriptive term of the
object so that you will get what you want. This description should include the
materials used, the type, size, color, voltage, wattage, the manufacturer, and of
course the name of the object. Example: Incandescent lamp, frosted, Pemco, 220
volts, 50 watts. The following descriptive terms are used in electrical switches and
outlets:

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1. FLUSH TYPE – This term that the switch or convenience outlet body is
embedded or hidden on the wall and only the cover is visible on the wall
surface.

2. SURFACE TYPE – This term means that practically the entire switch body is
visible and extends beyond the wall surface.

3. THE GANG OF SWITCHES. “Gang” describes the number of switches on the

plate. It also refers to the number of lights on the plate. A 1 gang switch will
control a single circuit, and with a 2-gang switch, you can control two lighting
circuits, and so on.

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 KINDS OF FUSES

A fuse is a safety protective device that automatically blows and cuts the current
when an overload or short circuit happens. The fuse is placed in cutouts or fuse
holders and is rated in amperes. The following are the common fuses:

PLUG FUSE. This fuse has a

screw-type base on a glass
window where one can easily see
whether the fuse has blown or
not. Standard sizes of plug fuses
are 3, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, 25, and
30 amperes.

CARTRIDGE FUSE. This type of

fuse is the most common type
used at home. The fuse is
encased in a thick cardboard
tube with copper ferrules at each
end for attachment. Cartridge
fuse is rated from 1 to 60
amperes.

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THERMAL FUSE OR THERMAL
CUTOFF FUSE – is a safety
device that opens the circuits
against overheat. It detects the
heat caused by the over-current
due to short circuit or component
breakdown. Thermal fuses do not
reset themselves when the
temperature drops like a circuit
breaker would.

KNIFE-BLADE FUSE. This is

similar to a cartridge fuse with
the addition of a blade-like
protrusion at each end. This fuse
is used in circuits that carry a
large amount of current, usually
from 60 to 600 amperes.

FUSE WIRE – is a thin piece of

wire included in a circuit. The
material from which the fuse
wire is made usually has a lower
melting point and a slightly
higher than the other wire in the
circuit. If too much current flows
in the circuit the fuse wire will
get hot and melt before any
other wires get hot. Once the
fuse melts, the current is
broken, and no more current
flows.

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KINDS OF CIRCUIT BREAKER

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MCB is a Miniature Circuit Breaker that is thermal operated and used for short
circuit protection in small current rating circuits.

MCCB is a Molded Case Circuit Breaker and its thermal operation for overload
current and magnetic operation for instant trip in short circuit condition. Under-
voltage and under-frequency may be inbuilt. Normally it is used where the normal
current is more than 100A.

ELCB is an Earth Leakage Circuit breaker. It is a safety device used in electrical

installation with high Earth impedance to prevent shock. It detects small stray
voltage on the metal enclosures of electrical equipment and interrupts the circuit if
a dangerous voltage is detected.

RCCB is Residual Current Circuit Breaker. It is trip when sensing earth fault current.
It is extremely effective in shock protection. Trip if the fault remains up to 30mSec.
30Ma and 100Ma tripping are widely used.

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 What’s More

Please do not forget to write the following on your answer sheet:

Name: _________________________ Yr. & Section: _______________
Yr. Level & Subject (Specialization): ___________ Module No: _____
Name of the Activity: What’s More Date: ______

Directions: Answer what is being asked in each item.

1. Kinds of switches (10 pts)

2. Kinds of conductors (10 pts)

What I Have Learned

Please do not forget to write the following on your answer sheet:

Name: _________________________ Yr. & Section: __________________
Yr. Level & Subject (Specialization): ___________ Module No: _____
Name of the Activity: What I Have Learned Date: ______

Directions: Identify the words being described in the succeeding statements.

_____________ 1. It is a safety protective device that automatically blows and cuts the
current when an overload or short circuit happens.
_____________ 2. It is used to control the ceiling lights. It is operated by pushing the
lever up to turn on the light and down to turn off the light.
_____________ 3. It is used in amplifiers and in other electronics devices as a power
switch.
_____________ 4. It is also called bell wire and is used in electric bell and alarm wiring
works.
_____________ 5. It is used at the end of the appliance cord, or extension cord for the
attachment to an electrical source.
_____________ 6. It consists of two or more rubber-covered wires wrapped with spiral
galvanized steel armor.
_____________ 7. It consists of two heavily wrapped stranded conductors that
extended from the ceiling outlet down to the lamp socket.
_____________ 8. It is a kind of lamp socket made of porcelain and is used in ceiling
lights.
_____________ 9. This term means that practically the entire switch body is visible
and extends beyond the wall surface.
_____________ 10. These are needed to hold electrical conductors in place.

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 Assessment

Please do not forget to write the following on your answer sheet:

Name: _________________________ Yr. & Section: __________________
Yr. Level & Subject (Specialization): ___________ Module No: _____
Name of the Activity: Assessment Date: ______

Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of your answer and write it on a separate sheet
of paper. GOOD LUCK!

1. It is found on lamp sockets. The lamp is controlled by merely pulling the

chain. Low hanging lamps and table lamps use this type of switch.
A. Push button C. Toggle switch
B. Tumbler switch D. Pull-chain switch
2. It is used to control the ceiling lights. It is operated by pushing the lever up
to turn on the light and down to turn off the light.
A. Push button C. Toggle switch
B. Tumbler switch D. Pull-chain switch
3. This fuse has a screw-type base on a glass window where one can easily see
whether the fuse has blown or not.
A. Circuit Beaker C. Screw type fuse
B. Cartridge fuse D. Knife-blade fuse
4. This type of fuse is the most common type used at home. The fuse is
encased in a thick cardboard tube with copper ferrules at each end for
attachment
A. Circuit Breaker C. Screw type fuse
B. Cartridge fuse D. Knife-blade fuse
5. It is just one length of the solid or stranded body.
A. Wire B. Cord C. Stranded wire D. Solid wire
6. It is composed of two conductors embedded in one solid mass of rubber
insulation or two separate conductors twisted together along its length.
A. Wire B. Cord C. Stranded wire D. Solid wire
7. It has a solid body and is therefore rigid.
A. Wire B. Cord C. Stranded wire D. Solid conductor
8. A conductor which is very flexible is composed of many fine strands of wire
twisted together.
A. Wire B. Cord C. Stranded wire D. Solid conductor
9. It is also called bell wire is used in electric bell and alarm wiring works. It is
usually a No. 18 solid wire.
A. Annunciator wire B. Heater cord C. Royal cord D. Drop cord
10. It consists of two heavily wrapped stranded conductors that extended from
the ceiling outlet down to the lamp socket.
A. Annunciator wire B. Heater cord C. Royal cord D. Drop cord

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 25
The free dictionary.com
https://encylopedia2.
Online Sources:
Fajardo, M. et al. (n.d.). Electrical Layout and Estimate. Second Edition.
Del Rosario, C. (n.d.). Practical Electricity for Philippine Secondary School.
References
What’s More
1.
• tumbler switch
• push button switch
• toggle switch
• pull-chain switch
What I Have Learned • key switch
1. fuse • push-through switch
2. tumbler switch • three-way switch
3. toggle switch • pendant switch
4. annunciator wire • through cord switch
5. male plug • heater switch
6. armored cable (bx) 2.
7. drop cord • solid wire
8. ceiling receptacle • stranded wire
9. surface type • annunciator wire
10. wire-holding
• heater cord
materials
• lamp cord
• royal cord
• armored cable (bx)
• thermoplastic WIRE
• G & Y CORD
• DROP CORD
Answer Key