BASIC ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS

BASIC ELECTRICAL
INSTALLATIONS

Michael Neidle
Associate Memberof the Inst itution of Eleetrical Engineers ,
T. Eng. (C.E.I), F. I.T.E, A.S.E.E. (Dip!.)
© Michael Neidle 1977

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or

transm itted in any form or by any means without permission.

First published 1977 by

THE MACMILLAN PRESS LTD
London and Basingstake
Assaciated campanies in New York Dublin
Melbaume Jahannesburg and Madras

ISBN 978-1-349-81516-6 ISBN 978-1-349-81514-2 (eBook)

DOI 10.1007/978-1-349-81514-2

Typeset in 10/12 Univers bv

PREFACE L1MITED
Salisbury, Wilts

The paperback edition of th is book is sold sublact to the condition that it

shall not, by way of trade or otherwise . be lent, resold , hired out, or
otherwise disposed of without the publisher's prior consent in any form of
binding other than that in which it is published and without a sim ilar
condition including th is cond it ion being i mposed on the subsequent purchaser.
 To Hetty,
for a /ife-/ong inspiration
 CONTENTS

Preface ix 3.10 Special Applications 20

3.11 Exercises 20
Electricallnstallation Symbols (8S 3939) x
4 CON DU IT SYSTEMS 21
1 THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT
4.1 Steel Condu its 21
1.1 Atoms and Electrons 1 4.2 Boxes 21
1.2 The Free Electron 2 4.3 Threading and Reamering 21
1.3 Units 2 4.4 Bending 22
1.4 Ohrn's Law 3 4.5 Continuity 23
1.5 Series Circuit 4 4.6 Wiring 23
1.6 Parallel Circu it 4 4.7 Eddy Currents 24
1.7 Power 6 4.8 Space Factor 24
1.8 Exercises 8 4.9 Lighting Circuits 24
4.10 Flexible Conduit 24
2 SUPPLIES 9 4.11 Threadless steel conduits 25
4.12 PVC Conduits 25
2.1 Voltage Bands 9
4.13 Installation of PVC Conduits 25
2.2 Underground Cables 9
4.14 Earthing 25
2.3 Main Installation Controls 9
4.15 Exercises 26
2.4 Close Protection 10
2.5 Earth ·leakage Protection 10
5 TRUNKING WORK 27
2.6 Intakes 10
2 .7 Off- peak and White Meter 11 5.1 Overhead Busbar Trunking 27
2.8 Voltage Drop 11 5.2 Cable Trunking 27
2.9 30 A Ring Circu it 12 5.3 Vert ical and Horizontal Cable Runs 28
2.10 Exercises 13 5.4 Corros ion 28
5.5 Bonding 28
3 SHEATHED WIRING SYSTEMS 15 5.6 Skirting Trunking 28
5.7 Space Factor 29
3.1 Polyvinyl-chloride-sheathed Cables 15
5.8 Ducting 29
3.2 Use of Joint Boxes 15
5.9 Exercises 30
3.3 Fix ings 16
3.4 Carcase Wiring 16
6 L1GHTING 31
3.5 Clips 17
3.6 Term inations 18 6.1 Tungsten Lamps 31
3.7 Mineral-insulated Metal-sheathed Cables 19 6.2 Lamp Fuses 31
3.8 Temperature Limits 19 6.3 Types of Lamp 31
3.9 Corrosion 20 6.4 Final Sub-circu its 32
6.5 Luminaires 32 9.6 Indicator Boards 49
6.6 Lampholders 32 9.7 Burglar Alarms and Fire Alarms 50
6.7 Ceiling Roses 32 9.8 Exercises 50
6.8 Heat Protection 33
6.9 Dimmers 33 10 ALTERNATING CURRENT 52
6.10 Setting-out Lighting Points 33
6.11 Bathrooms 34 10.1 The A.C. Cycle 52
6.12 Fluorescent Lighting 34 10.2 R.M.S. Values 52
6.13 Maintenance 35 10.3 A.C. Slow-break Switches 53
6.14 Fluorescent-Iamp Faults 35 10.4 Lagging Currents 53
6.15 Exercises 35 10.5 Eddy Currents 53
10.6 Power Factor 53
7 HEATING 37 10.7 Power-factor Improvement 54
10.8 Transformers 54
7.1 Calculations 37 10.9 Three-phase Suppl ies 55
7.2 Room Heating 37 10.10 Exercises 55
7.3 Conduction 38
7.4 Thermostats 38 11 CARE AND SAFETY 57
7.5 Storage Heaters 39
7.6 Water Heating 39 11.1 Handling Materials and Equipment 57
7.7 Exercises 40 11.2 Tool Care 57
11.3 Safety at Work 58
11.4 Health and Safety 59
8 TESTING 42 11.5 Electric-shock Treatment 60
8.1 Basic Principles 42 11.6 Fire Protection 61
8.2 Polarity 42 11.7 Exercises 61
8.3 Earthing 42
8.4 Insulat ion Resistance 43 12 THE ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION INDUSTRY 62
8.5 Ring-circuit Integrity 44
12.1 Electrical Installations in aChanging World 62
8.6 Certification 44
12.2 Self-advancement 62
8.7 Appliances 44
12.3 Structure of the Industry 62
8.8 Ammeters and Voltmeters 45
12.4 Joint Industry Board 65
8.9 Exercises 45
12.5 Other Organisations 65
12.6 Organising the Work 66
9 EXTRA-LOW-VOLTAGE SUPPLIES 47 12.7 Computer Usage 66
12.8 Exercises 66
9.1 Segregation 47
9.2 The Primary Cell 47
9.3 Secondary Cells 47 Answers to Exercises 68
9.4 Electromotive Force 48
9.5 Beils 49 Index 69
 PREFACE
The object of this book is to lay a firm foundation for an
understanding of electrical installat ion techniques. Wh ile it is
primarily designed as a textbook for st ud e nt s taking the Part I
Certificate examination in Electrical Installation Work (pre-
viously the City and Guilds 235, Course A), and so set them
on the road to a worthwhile career, it is hoped to have a wider
appeal. People studying allied subjeets and those engaged in
electrical wir ing, who may have missed their technical studies,
w ill also find the material part icularly useful.
A clo se studv o f t he te xt and wo rked examp les shows that
the quest ions are approached in a clea r and orderly manner.
This should assist in giving asound and logical training for
tackling other problems, especially those encountered in real
installation situations.
While the wrnnq sections are firmly based on the I. E. E.
Wiring Regulat ions, full account has been taken of the
Statutory Eleetrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1975.
The social content of the last two chapters may seem
unusual in a technical book. It is, however, in line with the
City and Guilds Syllabus, which encourages students to have
some real isation of the difficulties and challenges brought
about in a rapidly changing world .
Grateful acknowledgement is given to the following corn -
panies and authorities : B.I.C.C. Ltd, British Standards Inst itu -
tion, City and Guilds of London Institute, Electrical Con -
tractors Association, Evershed and Vignoles Ltd, Inst itution of
Electrical Engineers, Otterm ill Ltd, Simplex Power Centre,
Tenby Ltd .
ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION SYMBOLS (BS 3939)

main control
or intake point 0 heater : type to be specified
-rrm switched socket outlet
)(
distrlbution board or point
note: the circuits cont rblled
motor : general symbol
® socket outlet with interlock ing
switch
X
by the distribution board may
I I
0 ~
be shownby the addition of generator : general symbol socket outlet with pilot lamp
an appropriate qualifying
symbol or referenee

thermostat : block symbol

0 multiple socket outlet
example: for 3 plugs
h 3

examples: heating
UIICJ
X
Light ing point or lamp :
switch with pilot lamp
~ general symbol
note : the number , power
and type of the lightsouree
I
~
8
Iighting should be speeified 3 X 40W
per iod limit ing switch
cxample: three 40 watt lamps X
ventilating
I
>1
00
1
~
regulating switch lamp or lighting point:
egodimmer wall mounted

main or sub-main switch

0. push button
0 emergency (safety)
Iight ing po int X
contactor
EB luminous push button @ light ing po int with
built in switch X
D
f-- -
integrating meter single-pole. one-way switch
note : number of sw itches at
cf single fluorescent lamp t----l

one poi nt may be indicated

starter
LJ two-pole, one -way switch ci group of three fluorescent
lamps S
changeover switch
~ three-pole, one-way switch ~
example: simplified
representation
t----l
3 x 40W

transformer
L8J cord-operated single-pole
one-way switch er spot light
(x=
consumer's earthing terminal eE two -wav switch
/ bell
9
earth -.L intermediate switch
X ind icat or panel
N = number of ways ~N
10 erol
electrical appliance:
,
general symbol
note : if necessary use designat ions ---cJ t ime switch jo int or junction box

T
to speeifytype example w ith three outlets
note: for a joint box the dot

~
fan C><:) socket outlet (mains) : at the connect ion joint mu st
general symbol be shown