CHAPTER 1:Electrical installation

An electrical installation is made up of all the circuits and devices that are associated for the
purpose of using electrical energy. An example is the electrical installation in a home.

1.1 Condition to be met by electrical installations

In Cameroon, the public low voltage network is a three-phase AC 230/400 V, 50Hz network. it
allows each household to be supplied
either in single phase 230V- 50Hz
Either three-phase 400 V - 50Hz
An electrical installation includes:
 An energy source or current supply.
 Electrical appliances.
 Use devices.
The whole being connected by electrical pipes.
An electrical installation is called domestic installations for residential houses and called
industrial installations for companies.
To comply with the regulations, an elec installation must meet the following conditions.

 Guarantee the protection of people and property against electrical hazards

With earth leakage circuit breakers (personal protection), earth leakage circuit breakers (property
only) and earth connection

 Provide protection against direct or indirect electrical blocks

It is said that there is an electric shock when current is passed through the human body.

 Protect against thermal effects in normal serviceExample fuses

 Organized and secure electrical distribution

A properly executed electrical installation must not produce such a heating as to cause burns or a
fire.

 Protect against overcurrents

The installation must be planned so that the electrical circuit concerned is interrupted when there
is a short-circuit or overload. Example of a thermal-magnetic circuit breaker, fuses

 Protection against overvoltage

Protection against this risk must ensure the safety of persons and the conservation of equipment.
Example: voltage regulator, surge arrester
  Disconnection and control
It is necessary to be able to shut down the installation when a fault occurs. The emergency stop
device is provided. In the event that an intervention has to be made, it is necessary to be able to
isolate the part on which it is to be worked: installation disconnection devices are necessary.

1.2 Regulations

The cross-section of the conductors, the number of points of use and the rating of protective
devices for domestic installations is set by the NFC 15-100 standard. These recommendations
correspond to a minimum installation.

Function Maximum number of Minimum section Maximum

points of use per of copper rated current
circuit conductors (mm²) of the
NFC 15-100 protection
standard (November device:
2015) Circuit
breaker (A)
Controlled lighting and socket 1.5 10
VMC 1.5 2
Plug 08 (socket outlets / 1.5 16
circuit)
Power sockets (generally 1 12 (socket outlets / 2.5 20
base / m²) circuit)
Washing machine or 2.5 20 or 25
Dishwasher
Stove (oven + hotplate or 6 in mono and 32 and
hotplate 2.5 Sorting
20
Oven only 2.5 25
Storage water heater 2.5 20 or 25
Convector heating radiant Depending on the 20
panels power of the
devices with a
minimum of 2.5
mm²
Nb:

 a reserve of 20%, with the limit of 6 modules in collective housing in the electrical panels
must be observed.
 Any independent room containing main rooms must have its own emergency shut-off
device.
1.3 Structure of an installation

1.3.1 Circuit protection

The domestic installations must be protected by an appropriate residual differential

device DDR 30mA and the outgoing lines of the various circuits must be protected either
by branch circuit breakers or by fuse.
 Characteristic of branch circuit breakers:
Branch circuit breakers for use in living quarters are generally type C. They must provide
isolation and control of the normally loaded circuit. The usual calibers are as follows:(nfc15-100
from 2017)

Maximum rated current In (A) 2 - 10 or 16 20 25 32 40

Section of the copper conductor to be protected 1.5 2.5 4 6 10
(mm²)

 Choice of the intensity of the differential switches (rating)

In = 0.5 Idt; Idt: total intensity of downstream protection devices; In nominal current of the
Differential Device
Example:

Intensity of devices RCD rated current

downstream protection 25 A 40 A 63 A
Row 1 (32 + 20 + 16) / 2 = 34 A 
Rangee2 (20 + 16 + 10 + 2) / 2 + (16 + 20) = 
60 A
 1.3.2 Total installed power

It is necessary to know at least the installed power, which can lead to exaggerations if all the
devices of use do not work at the same time.

1.3.3 Food

It is characterized by the following electrical quantities:

 Type of current: direct or alternating, single-phase or three-phase with or without neutral

 Voltage

3.3.4 Facilities Division

An electrical installation must be divided into elementary circuits including:

 Lighting circuits (light point)

 Socket circuits
 Specialized outlet circuits, which are circuits supplying high consumption devices
(washing machine, water heater, electric oven, hob, etc.)

The subdivision of the installation into several circuits makes it possible to limit the
consequences of a fault by not cutting the faulty circuit. This way of operating makes it easier to
check, find a fault and maintain the circuits. A number of rules have been established which are
the following:

 The lighting is preferably distributed between several circuits and the sockets are the
same.
 The circuits are specialized according to the devices they serve and these devices each
have a separate circuit.
 The number of lighting points or socket outlets must not exceed 5 on the same circuit.
Homework

Exercise :
Using the example of the schematic diagram proposed (see information on the next page),
complete the diagram of the distribution panel for the villa below (circuit breaker rating,
fuse cartridge rating for circuit breakers, conductor section) .
 Distribution table

Wh
EDF network
230 V ~ 50Hz U 1000 R02V________

Merlin Gérin
2  60 A

1  30/45/60 A

500 mA type S

Great
2  40 A

30 mA

3  2.5²

Lighting circuit Lighting circuit

Cooking plate Water
Garage, Room, Kitchen, Hall,
Socket circuit Socket circuit Socket circuit Lighting circuit Washing
Garage, Hall, Cooked Bathroom machine
Bedroom