F.

identify, describe and distinguish between types of building distribution equipments

What is building distributions?

-Talks about the power distributions on building. The primary function of the electric power
distribution system in a building or facility is to receive power at one or more supply points and to
deliver it to lighting, elevators, chillers, motors and all other electrical loads.

Equipment used:

1. Service entrance conductors

Underground or overhead service entrance conductors carry power from the transformer through
a metering device to the building’s service disconnects. Overhead wires extend from a pole-
mounted distribution transformer to the building’s service entrance and are generically referred to
as the service drop. Underground (buried) service entrance conductors are typically called the
service lateral. Overhead service entrance conductors extending from pole-mounted transformers
are shown in Photo 18.1. Service entrance conductors must be insulated except the neutral, which
may be bare in overhead installations. Single phase service drops will have either 2 or 3 wires
while three phase service drops will have either 3 or 4 wires. Typically, service entrance
conductors are provided by the utility. Each utility has standards on wire size and minimum
clearances.

2. Switchboards
- A switchboard is a large cabinet or assembly of metal cabinets in which is connected
disconnecting switches, overcorrect protection devices (fuses or circuit breakers), other
protective devices,
- A typical service entrance/panelboard configuration in a simple residential building electrical
system consists of several circuits extending from the panelboard to outlets throughout a
building, much like branches extend from a tree’s trunk. The main disconnect (contained
 behind the door of the panelboard) is not shown. and instruments designed to divide large
amounts of electrical current into smaller amounts of current used by electrical equipment

3. Panelboards
- A panelboard is one or more metal cabinets that serve as a single unit, including buses,
automatic overcurrent protection devices (fuses or circuit breakers). It is equipped with or
without switches for the control of light, heat, and power circuits.
 4. Building transformers
Transformers are used in transmitting and distributing power from the power plant to a
substation. Transformers change voltage levels to supply electrical loads with the voltages they
require. They supply the required incoming electrical service to the buildings.

Single-Phase Transformers

A single-phase transformer has a single primary winding and a single secondary winding. The
7200/240/120 V AC, single-phase, three-wire transformer is used in most residential and small
commercial applications where 120 V and 240 V are required. In this transformer, 7200 V, two-wire
power is transformed and stepped down to a 120/240 V AC, three-wire system

Three-Phase Transformers

-Three-phase transformers are passive machines that pass electrical energy between circuits. In the
secondary circuit, a magnetic flux induces an electromotive force (emf), thus stepping up (increase)
or stepping down (decrease) voltages without altering the frequency.

- Three-phase transformers are used for power generation and electrical distribution network applications.
They can be found in high power industrial loads such as rectifiers, motor drives, and other equipment.

https://www.electricaltechnology.org/2022/04/difference-between-single-phase-three-phase-
transformer.html

OVERCURRENT PROTECTION: FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

 - An overcurrent protection (OCP) device safeguards the building service or an individual
circuit from excessive current flows. It protects the circuit components from severe
overheating when current flowing through the circuit reaches an amperage that will cause an
excessive or dangerous temperature rise in conductors. Fuses and circuit breakers serve as
automatic overcurrent protection devices.

Circuit breakers

- A circuit breaker is an overcurrent protection device that serves two purposes: It acts as a
switch that can be opened and closed manually, and most importantly, it automatically
“trips off,” which opens the circuit when current flowing through it exceeds the circuit
rating. This action instantaneously interrupts current flow

Circuit breakers protect the ungrounded (hot) conductors in a circuit. They are identified as single pole
(SP) if protecting a single ungrounded conductor; two poles (2P) when protecting two ungrounded
conductors such as on a 240 V circuit; and three poles (3P) when protecting three ungrounded
conductors on a three-phase circuit.
A fuse is an overcurrent protection device that consists of a strip of metal with a low melting
temperature. Under normal operation, electricity flows through the metal strip. However, when
its current rating is exceeded, the metal strip heats up and melt and the circuit is opened,
thereby interrupting current flow. In this case, it is said that the fuse has “blown.”

PLUG

Time delay
 - Edison plug fuses are interchangeable regardless of rating, allowing a 30 A fuse to
improperly protect a 20 A circuit (low voltage)

- Cartridge fuses are used to protect electrical appliances such as motors air-conditions,
refrigerator, pumps etc, where high voltage rating and currents are required.( high voltage)

- Time delay fuses can handle an overload for fraction of a second without blowing. They are
desirable on circuits serving electric motors such as air conditioners and machinery because
motors draw much more current at startup than during normal operation. (does not blow
easily)

UTILIZATION EQUIPMENT AND DEVICES

Utilization equipment is a broad category of electrical or electronic machine or instrument designed to

perform a specific mechanical, chemical, heating, or lighting function through the use of electrical
energy. Electric motors, air conditioning, refrigeration and heating units, signs, industrial machinery,
cranes, hoists, elevators, and escalators fit in the category of utilization equipment.

Outlets, Receptacles, and Plugs

In an electrical system, an outlet is the location in a branch circuit where electricity is used. For
example, a lighting outlet is the location in a branch circuit where conductors provide power to
a light fixture. A receptacle is a female connecting device with slotted contacts. It is installed at
 an outlet or on equipment, where it is intended to easily establish an electrical connection with
an inserted plug.A plug is a male connecting device that has two or more prongs that are
inserted into a receptacle to connect to an electrical circuit.

Switches

A simple switch is a device placed between two or more electrical conductors in a circuit to
safely and intentionally open or close the circuit or to redirect the path of current in a circuit.
Contacts in a switch open (switches off) a circuit, close (switches on) a circuit, or divert current
from one conductor path to another.

Emergency safety cut-off switch. Used to A standard, wall-mounted, General duty wall-mounted
shut down equipment in an emergency. 125V/15A receptacle outlet. switch.
 Heavy-duty switch. Keyed switch.

Locked lighting switch panel. Weatherproof switch

 CONDUCTORS

WIRE

Wire An electrical conductor is any material that conducts electrical

current. A wire is a common electrical conductor. Most conductors used in
building applications are classified according to a wire gauge standard and
on the cross-sectional area of the wire in units called circular mils. A mil is
equal to 1>1000 inch, so one circular mil (cmil) is equal to the cross-
sectional area of a 0.001 in diameter circle.

BUSES

A bus, sometimes called a bus bar, is an electrical conductor

(usually copper or aluminum) that serves as a common
connection for two or more electrical circuits. Buses are
typically solid bars used for power distribution. They are
commonly found in panelboards, switchboards, and other
power distribution equipment. Busbars are either flat strips
or hollow tubes as these shapes allow heat to dissipate more
efficiently because of their high surface area to cross-
sectional area ratio. The skin effect generally makes hollow or
flat shapes prevalent in higher current applications.

CONDUCTOR MATERIAL

Scientifically, silver is the best electrical conductor

material (other than a superconductor material)
because it has the least resistance of common
materials. It works so well as a conductor that several
hundred pounds of silver wiring was used in the first
mainframe computer. Gold is also an excellent
conductor. Both materials, however, are too costly for
building installations.

CONDUCTOR INSULATION

Conductors are covered with insulation that provides

electrical isolation and some physical protection of the
conductor material. It prevents loss of power and the danger
 of short circuits and ground faults. The type of insulation protecting a conductor determines the
environment in which it can be used safely. Wires used indoors are subjected to less exposure to
the elements than those designed for outdoor use. Outdoor wiring is exposed to water and
ultraviolet light, so the insulation is designed to withstand these elements. Insulation on wires
buried in the ground must also be able to withstand the damp, corrosive environment of the
soil.

CABLE

A cable contains more than one conductor bundled together in a factory assembly of wires. An
outer sheathing encases and protects the conductors, simplifying installation of multiple wiring.

CORDS

Cords are made of stranded conductors within a flexible insulated sheathing

material. They are designed for flexibility and bending. Cords are generally
manufactured of a lighter gauge stranded conductors. They are designed for
use on power tools, large stationary equipment, or detachable computer
power cords.

ENCLOSURES AND RACEWAYS

ENCLOSURE

Enclosures are electrical boxes and cabinets made of metal (e.g., steel,
galvanized steel, aluminum, and so on) or nonmetallic (plastic) materials
that provide protection for conductors, connections, controls, and other
electrical equipment. They protect the wiring, devices, and equipment
 from damage and deterioration from accidental contact, wear, corrosive atmospheric exposure,
and sunlight.

ELECTRICAL BOXES

Electrical boxes are metal and non-metallic (plastic) enclosures that hold devices such as
switches or outlets and safely permit wiring connections. Boxes are available in four primary
shapes: square, rectangular, octagonal, or round. Boxes can be joined (ganged) together or are
manufactured to accommodate multiple outlets or switches. Junction boxes (J-boxes) are a
special type of electrical box used to enclose conductor connections. Connections are commonly
called junctions in the trade.

CONDUIT AND OTHER RACEWAYS

A raceway is as an enclosed channel such as a conduit, tube, or gutter designed for holding
wires, cables, or busbars. In some cases, metal raceways that are fully bonded serve to provide a
path for the flow of fault current to ground.
BUSWAYS

Busway systems are typically used in service equipment or as feeders because these systems are
designed to carry large amounts of current.

WIREWAYS

Wire gutters or wireways are sheet metal or nonmetallic,

flameresistant plastic troughs that serve as a housing that
encloses and protects conductors.