EE409 ELECTRICAL STANDARDS AND PRACTICE 2020-2021; 2ND Sem

Module 2 Power Load Center

Engr. Rosalynn C. Hernandez

Module Introduction

This module will contribute a great help to the students to A thorough understanding of this
course and in the development in the students’ know-how in line with the electrical standards
and practice by means of electrical practices in accordance with local and international standards.

This course is intended for regular third year Electrical Engineering students.

This will help the students to attain the following Intended Learning Output

 Assess the student’s understanding on the operation of distribution systems

and equipment (knowledge)
 Summarize necessary tools and techniques to be able to model, analyze, and
design electric distribution systems (application)
 Design a distribution system including accessories and protection (evaluation)


There is a Module Exercises at the end of every topic for the students to answer and review all
the lessons that they learned.
EE409 ELECTRICAL STANDARDS AND PRACTICE 2020-2021; 2ND Sem
Module 2 Power Load Center
Engr. Rosalynn C. Hernandez

Power Load Center

This item shall consist of furnishing and installation of the power load center unit
substation or low voltage switch gear distribution panel boards at the location shown on the
Plans complete with transformer, circuit breakers, cabinets and all accessories, completely wired
and ready for service.

A. Material Requirements
All material shall be brand new and shallbe of the approved type. It shall conform
with the requirements of teh Philippine Electrical Code and shall bear the Philippine
Standard Agency (PSA) mark.

B. Power Load Center Unit Substation

The Contractor shall furnish and install an indoor type power load center unit
substation at the location shown on the approved Plans if required. It shall be totally
metal enclosed,dead front and shall consist of the following coordinated compared
parts.
High Voltage Primary incoming line section consisting of the following Parts and
related accesories.
1. One air filled interrupter Switch, 2 position (open close) installed ina suitable air
filled metal enclosure and shall have sufficient interrupting capacity to carry the
electrical load.
It shall be provided with key interlock with the cubicle from the power fuse to
prevent access to the fuses unless the switch is open.
2. Three (3) power fuses mounted in separate compartments within the switch
housing and accesible by hingeed door.
3. One set of high voltage potheads or 3 conductor cable or three single conductor
cables.
4. Lighting arrester shall be installed at the high voltage cubicle if required.
Note: Item 1 and 2 could be substituted with a power circuit breaker with the
correct rating and capacity
C. Transformer Section
1. The transformer section shall consist of a power transformer with ratings and
capacities as shown on the Plans.
2. It shallbe oil liquid filled non flammable type and designed in accordance with the
latest applicable standards.
3. The transformer shall be provided with four approximately 2.5% rated KVA taps
on the primary winding in most cases one above and 3below rated primary
voltage to be changed by means of externally gang operated manual tap changer
only when the transformer is de energized. Tap changing underload is acceptable.
If transformer has been so designed.
4. The following accessories shall be provided with the transformer, namely: drain
valve, sampling device, fillinf connection, oil liquid level gauge, ground pad, top
filter press connection,lifting lugs,diagrammatic nameplate,relief
valve,thermometer and other related accessories.
5. The high voltage and low voltage bushing and transition flange shall be properly
coordinated to field connection to the incoming line section and low voltage
switchboard section, respectively.

D. The Low Voltage Switchboard Section

EE409 ELECTRICAL STANDARDS AND PRACTICE 2020-2021; 2ND Sem
Module 2 Power Load Center
Engr. Rosalynn C. Hernandez

The low voltage switchboard shall be stranded modular unitized units, metal built,
dead front, safety construction and shall consist of teh following:
1. Switchboard Housing- shall be heavy gauge steel sheet, dead front type gray
enamel finish complete with frame supports, steel bracing, steel sheet panel board,
removable rear plates, copper busbars,and all other necessary accesories to insure
sufficient mechanical strength and safety. It shall be provided with grounding
bolts and clamps.
2. Secondary metering Sections- shall consist of one ammeter AC, indicating type;
one voltmeter, AC, indicating type; one ammeter transfer switch for 3 phase; one
voltmeter transfer switch from 3 phase; and current transformers of suitable rating
and capacity.
The above instrument shall be installed in one compartment above the main
breaker and shall be complete with all necessary accesories completely
wired,ready for use.
3. Main Circuit Breaker- The main circuit breaker shall be drawn-out type, manually
or electricallyoperated as required with ratings and capacity as shown on the
Plans.
The main circuit breaker shall include insulation constrol switch of electrically
operated, manual trip button,magnetic tripping devices, adjustable time and all
necessary accesories to insure safe and efficient operation.
4. Feeder Circuit breakers- there shall be as many feeder breakers as are shown on
the single line diagram or schematic riser diagram and schedule of loads and
computations on the Plans.
a. The circuit breaker shall be drawn out or molded case as required. The circuit
breakers shall each have sufficient interrupting capacity and shall be manually
operated complete with trip devices and all necessary accesories to insure safe
and efficient operation.
b. The number,ratings,capacities of the feeder branch circuit brreakers shall be as
shown on the approved plan.
c. Circuit breakers shall each be of teh indicating type, providing “ON” and
“OFF” and “TRIP” positions of the operating handles and shall each be
provided with nameplate for branch circuit designation.
d. Circuit breaker shall be so designed that an overload or short on one pole
automatically causes all poles to open.
5. Low voltage Switchgear-( For projects requiring low voltage switch gear only.)
The Contractor shall furnish and install a low voltage switch gear at the location
shown on the plans. It shall be metal clad,dead front, freestanding, safety type
construction and shall have copper busbars of sufficient size, braced to resist
allowable root mean square (RMS) symmetrical short circuit stresses, and all
necessary accesories.
The low voltage switch gear shall consist of the switch gear housing secondary
metering, main breaker and feeder branch circuit. Breakers and all necessary
accesories , completely wired, ready for service.
6. Grounding System- all non current carrying metaalic parts like conduits, cabinets
and equipment frames shall be properly grounded in accordance with the
Philippine electrical Code,latest edition.
The size of teh ground rods and ground wires shall be shown on the approved
plan. The ground resistance shall not be more than 5 ohms.

7. Panel boards and cabinets-shall conform to the schedule of panel boards as shown
on the approved plan with respect to supply characteristics, rating of main lugs or
EE409 ELECTRICAL STANDARDS AND PRACTICE 2020-2021; 2ND Sem
Module 2 Power Load Center
Engr. Rosalynn C. Hernandez

main circuit breaker, number and ratings and capabilities or branch circuit
breakers.
a. Panel board shall consist of a factory completed dead front assembly
mounted in an enclosing flush type cabinet consisting of code gauge
galvanized sheet steel box with trim and door.
b. Each door shall be provided witch catch lock and two (2) keys.
c. Panel board shall be provided with directories and shall be printed to
indicated load served by each circuit.
d. Panel board cabinets and trim shall be suitable for the type of
mounting shown on the approved plan.The inside and outside of apnel
board cabinets and trims shall be factory painted with one rust
proofing primer coat and two finish shop coats of pearl gray enamel
paint.
e. The main and branch circuit breakers for apnel boards shall have the
rating, capacity and number of poles as shown on the approved plan.
f. Breaker shall be thermal magnetic type. Mulitiple breakers shall be of
the common trip type having a single operating handle.
g. For 50 Ampere breaker orless, it may consist of single pole breaker
permanently assembled at the factory into a multiple unit.

Construction Requirements
The Contractor shall install the Power Load Center Unit Substation or Low
Voltage Switch gear and PanelBoards at the location shown on the approved plan.
Standard panels and cabinets shall be used and assembled on the job. All panels
shall be of dead front construction furnish with trims for flush or surface mounting as
required.

Methods of Measurement

The work under this item shall be measured either by set and pieces actually
placed and installed as shown on the Plans.

Activity 1.
Prepare an example of Power load center unit substation.

END of MODULE Exercises

Answer the following questions.
1. What is Load Center in Power System?
2. How does a Load center work?
3. What is a circuit breaker and what does it do?
4. What is a transformer and what does it do?
5. What is a switchgear and what does it do?
6. What is the main purpose of grounding?
7. What does grounding do in electricity?
EE409 ELECTRICAL STANDARDS AND PRACTICE 2020-2021; 2ND Sem
Module 2 Power Load Center
Engr. Rosalynn C. Hernandez