Vijay Balu Raskar – Electrical Maintenance – Types of wires and wiring accessories

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Chapter – Types of Wires and wiring accessories
File Number 01 / 01
 Wire:-
 Any conducting material or strands with some insulation over in it called as wire.
 Types of wires:-
According to insulation:-

1. V.I.R. (Vulcanized India Rubber) Wire

2. Lead sheathed Wire
3. CTS or TRS (Cab – Tyre sheathed or Tough Rubber sheathed) Wire
4. Weather proof Wire
5. Flexible wires.
6. P.V.C. wires (Polyvinyl Chloride)

According to voltage grade:-

1. Low Voltage grade wires
2. Medium Voltage grade wires
3. High Voltage grade wires

According to uses:-
1. Domestic wires
2. Industrial wires
3. Winding wires
4. Heating wires

(1) V.I.R. (Vulcanized India Rubber):-

a) In this type of wire, single tinned copper or aluminum conductor is used.

b) Conductor is covered with a layer of vulcanized rubber insulation.
c) Due to tinning, the rubber is prevented to stick up with the conductor and avoids chemical
reaction (like Corrosion).
d) It is covered with cotton tape and Cotton-protective braiding which is usually saturated with
flame retarding and moisture resistant compound.
e) Finally it is finished with wax for cleanliness and helping pulling action of it into the conduits.

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 Vijay Balu Raskar – Electrical Maintenance – Types of wires and wiring accessories

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“ Engineers build the world ……. World does not build us……”

f) Thickness of rubber insulation depends upon the voltage for which wire is required (either 250 V
or 600V).
g) This type of wire is available single core only.
h) It is suitable for low and medium voltage only.
i) Ordinary V.I.R. wires are specified for dry locations.
(2) Lead sheathed wire:-

a) Ordinary V.I.R. wires are specified for dry locations.

b) In order to use rubber insulated wire in damp conditions, the ordinary rubber wires are covered
with continuous sheath of lead.
c) Lead covering is about 1.25mm thick.
(3) C.T.S (Cab Tyre Sheath) OR T.R.S (Tough Rubber Sheath) WIRE:-

a) Ordinary wire is provided with rubber insulation but it is not water resistant.
b) T.R.S. wires are provided with tough rubber compound which does not deteriorate even after
long exposure to moisture.
c) It can be used in wet locations.
d) They are specially use for batten wiring and conduit wiring.

(4) Weather Proof wire:-

a) Such type of wires consists of three layers of fibrous or material or yarn provided over Copper or
aluminium conductor.

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 Vijay Balu Raskar – Electrical Maintenance – Types of wires and wiring accessories

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“ Engineers build the world ……. World does not build us……”

b) Before these braids are applied conductors are saturated with waterproof compound.
c) They are used for outdoor purposes like service line, roadways etc.
d) They are resistant to atmospheric variation like rain, sunlight, different seasons etc.
(5) Flexible wires:-

a) Wires consists of a bunch of hair like thin conductors grouped together rendering flexibility.
b) These types of wires retain their shape even after bending and twisting.
c) Flexibility is required firstly from the point of view of handling the equipment and secondly to
prevent wires from break.
d) Wires used for household appliances are very flexible.
e) Generally sizes of wires are “14/0.0076 or 162/0.0076”.
It means 14 or 162 strands of conductors having diameter 0.0076 inch.

(6) PVC wires (Poly vinyl chloride):-

a) A modern thermoplastic material which is often used as an alternative to rubber.

b) It resists chemical reaction.
c) It resists adverse climate conditions.
d) It is lighter in weight.
e) It offers mechanical protection.
 WIRING ACCESSORIES
1. SWITCHES
2. LAMP HOLDER
3. CEILING ROS
4. SOCKET OUTLET
5. PLUG
6. DISTRIBUTION BOX
7. FUSE
8. CONNECTORS BLOCKS
9. ADOPTERS

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 Vijay Balu Raskar – Electrical Maintenance – Types of wires and wiring accessories

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“ Engineers build the world ……. World does not build us……”

 SWITCH:
“A switch is a mechanical device operated manually to make or break circuit instantaneously.”

Types of switches with its specification:-

Sr. No. Types of Switches For Lighting Circuits For Power Circuits
1 Surface Switch (1 way / 2 way) 5A, 230 V 15A, 230 V
2 Piano Switch / Flush Switch 5A, 230 V 15A, 230 V
3 Pull switch or ceiling switch 5A, 230 V N.A.
4 Grid Switch 5A, 230 V N.A.
5 Rotary Snap Switch 5A, 230 V N.A.
6 Push Button Switch 5A, 230 V N.A.
7 Intermediate Switch 5A, 230 V N.A.
8 Industrial Iron Clad Switch Current Rating:- 16A, 32A, 63A, 100A, 200A
and so on.
Voltage Rating:- 230 V, 440 V

Explanation of switches:-
1) Surface switch
2) Piano switch/flush switch
3) Pull switch or ceiling switch
4) Grid switch
5) Rotary snap switch
6) Push button switch
7) Intermediate switch
8) Industrial iron clad switch

1) Surface switch:-

 These switches are mounted on mounting blocks or directly fixed over the surface of the
wall.
 Such types of switches project out of the surface of the wall.
 They are classified as:
a. One way switch
b. Two way switch.
a. One way switch:-

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 Vijay Balu Raskar – Electrical Maintenance – Types of wires and wiring accessories

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 One way switches are provided with a single Pole.

 Circuit to be controlled from one point only.
 Specification, For lighting circuit 5A, 230V and for Power circuit 15A,

b. Two way switch:-

 Two way switches are provided with double pole (C – Common, T – Top and B – Bottom).
 Circuit to be controlled from two points independently.
 Specification, For lighting circuit 5A, 230V and for Power circuit 15A,

2) Piano or flush switch:-

 These switches are enclosed in wooden board or p.v.c. board recessed into the wall.
 Switches do not project out.
 Current carrying parts are not easily accessible.

3) Pull OR Ceiling switches:-

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 Vijay Balu Raskar – Electrical Maintenance – Types of wires and wiring accessories

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 Pull switches are fixed on ceiling and all live parts are out of reach of operator.
 Pull cord is provided with a single pull on the cord for on/off positions.

4) Grid switches:-

 These switches are similar to surface switches, only they are lighter.
 So, they are useful for portable machines and appliances.

5) Rotary snap switches:-

 These switches consist of an insulated handle to which blades are fixed.

 These blades move in steps by the movement of handle and make contact with the
terminals.

6) Push button switches:-

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 Vijay Balu Raskar – Electrical Maintenance – Types of wires and wiring accessories

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“ Engineers build the world ……. World does not build us……”

 These switches open or close with quick action when pressed.

 It is used for starting motors or ringing bells.

7) Intermediate switch:-

 This switch has four contacts when dolly is up the top and bottom contacts are bridged
and when down, the contacts are cross connected.

8) Industrial iron clad switch:-

a. This switch is use as main switch by consumer to have self control of the electric circuit.
b. This switches are heavy duty and strong in construction.
c. This switch is combined with fuses.
d. Fuses are fitted in iron cover.

Industrial iron clad switches are classified as:-

i) I.C.D.P. – (Iron clad double pole)

 It is used in single phase circuit.

 For domestic installations switches are designed for -

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 Vijay Balu Raskar – Electrical Maintenance – Types of wires and wiring accessories

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“ Engineers build the world ……. World does not build us……”

Voltage rating : 230v, 440v

Current rating : 16A, 32A, 63A, 100A, 200A so on.

ii) I.C.T.P. - (Iron clad triple pole)

 It is used in three phase circuit.

 For domestic installations switches are designed for -
Voltage rating : 230v, 440v
Current rating : 16A, 32A, 63A, 100A, 200A so on.

 LAMP HOLDER:-

 A lamp holder is used to hold the lamp required for lighting purpose.
 Lamp holders are either moulded or porcelain interior with a solid or spring plunger and
wire terminals.

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 Vijay Balu Raskar – Electrical Maintenance – Types of wires and wiring accessories

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“ Engineers build the world ……. World does not build us……”

Types of holder:-
a. Pendant holder
b. Batten holder
c. Bracket holder
d. Fluorescent lamp holder
(i) Bi-pin type
(ii) Bayonet caped tube holder
e. Starter holder

 CEILING ROSE :-

 A ceiling rose is used to provide a tapping to a pendant lamp holder through a flexible
wire or a connection to a fluorescent tube, ceiling fans.
 Ceiling rose is consists of circular porcelain or Bakelite base provided with two or three
terminal plates.
 To a threaded base porcelain or Bakelite cover is fixed.

 SOCKET OUTLET :-

 The socket outlets have insulated base having three terminal sleeves.
 The two thin terminal sleeves are making connection to the two core cable with the third
terminal sleeve thinker in cross section is used for an earth connection.
 5A socket outlets are used for lighting circuits.
15A heavy duty is used for power circuits.

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 Vijay Balu Raskar – Electrical Maintenance – Types of wires and wiring accessories

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 PLUG :-

 For tapping power from socket outlets three pin plugs are used.
 The thicker pin is used in earth connection.
 Three pin 5A for lighting circuits and 15A three pin plugs are used for power circuit.

 DISTRIBUTION BOX:

a. Distribution boards are iron-clad and houses fuse bank.

b. Fuse bank in D.B. can be easily removed.
c. D.B. is used for splitting the circuit.
d. For connecting neutral, D.B. is provided with neutral link.
e. D.B. is necessary, where numbers of circuits are to be wired.
f. It may be wood case or metal case.
g. It consist of fuse or C.B. (Circuit Breaker) depending upon the number of circuits.
h. Main supply is given to Distribution box then it is taken independently for each circuit.
i. If fault is occur in circuit then there is no affect in other circuit.

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 Vijay Balu Raskar – Electrical Maintenance – Types of wires and wiring accessories

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“ Engineers build the world ……. World does not build us……”

 FUSE :

Definition of Fuse:-
→ A fuse is a device that opens a circuit by means of a strip of wire, which is designed to melt
when an excessive current flows through it.
→ The current rating for the fuse should not exceed the current rating of the smallest conductor
in the circuit it protects.
→ Fuse is also define as the safety device which is placed in the live wire and fusing element in
the fuse melts when excess of current flow through it and breaks the circuit.
→ Fuse is the simplest current interrupting and protective device for protection against
excessive currents.
→ It is safety device used in the phase wire.
→ When current exceeds its normal value fusing element in the fuse melts and breaks the
circuit.

Basic parts of fuse:-

 Fuse element:-
→ It is a strip of copper, silver or tin-alloy which melts when heated due to
excessive flows of current.
 Fuse links:-
→ It is a part of fuse which comprises a fuse element, a cartridge or other
container, and capable of being attached to the fuse contacts.
 Fuse contacts:-
→ It is part of a fuse where the fuse link is attached or fitted.
 Functions of Fuse:-
→ When the fuse is inserted in a circuit then circuit carries the normal working current and
protected it.
→ But, When Short circuit, overload or device failure is often the reason for excessive current. A
fuse interrupts excessive current (blows) so that further damage by overheating or fire is
prevented.
→ It helps to protect the circuit from excessive current.

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 Vijay Balu Raskar – Electrical Maintenance – Types of wires and wiring accessories

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“ Engineers build the world ……. World does not build us……”

 Classification of Fuses:-
Fuses

Rewirable Fuse Non-Rewirable

Fuse

Round Type Fuse Kit-Kat Fuse H.R.C. Fuse Cartridge Fuse

 Connector Blocks:-

 It consists of one or more brass connecting barrel with set screws to clamp the wires.
 It is surrounded moulded blocks by backlite or porecelian or plastic.
 The brass barrel is fitted in the connector block.
 Application:- To connect starting and running winding on Ceiling fan etc.

 Adopters:-

 When the connections are made from lamp holders the adopter is used.
 It consists of portable fitting temporary in place of fixed brackets, batten or pendent
holders.

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