ELECTRICITY: form of energy generated by friction, induction, or chemical change

MOTORS: converts electrical energy to mechanical energy

TRANSFORMERS: transforms one voltage to another
- Step-Up Transformer: 110/120V to 220/240V
- Step-Down Transformer: 220/240V to 110/120V
ROTARY CONVERTER: converts AC to DC, and vice versa
- AC (Alternating Current): periodically varying in time rate and direction
- DC (Direct Current): constant in time rate and direction (e.g., battery)

UNITS
- Quantity:
o Coulomb: 6.25 x 1018 electrons
o Ampere: 1 coulomb / second (through given section)
- Electric Potential:
o Volt: electromotive force or potential
 Voltmeter: measures EMF, parallel to the circuit
- Resistance:
o Ohm: resistance allowing 1 amp
o Electric Power: time rate of doing work
o Watt: measuring unit
- Energy:
o Watt-hours
o Ampere: unit of strength of electric current
OHM’S LAW: I = V/R
- I = amp, V = volt, R = ohms, W = watts, I = amperes

BUILDING CIRCUITS
- Branch Circuit: complete conducting path carrying current from source
o Grounding wire for excess electricity: green
o Neutral wire (always on): white
o Types:
 General Purpose
 Appliance Circuit: specific to appliances
 Individual Circuit: for large loads (e.g., aircon, pumps, etc.)
- Series Circuit: components connected in tandem, single path of current flow
- Parallel Circuit: current divides them
- Low Voltage

SERVICE: supply of utilites

- Substation: auxiliary power system where voltage is stepped up or down
o Service Drop: overhead portion of service conductors
o Service Lateral: underground portion of service conductors
- Service Entrance Conductor: service drop / lateral  service entrance
- Transformer Vault: fire-rated room housing the transformer
- Switchgear Room: contains building service equipment
- Switchboard: group of panels with mounted switches, etc.
 - Unit Substation: free standing enclosure housing disconnect switch (solid copper)
o Feeder
 Meter Bank: area where collective meters are mounted
 Subfeeder: smaller Ø than feeder

LINE SIDE: from supply side

LOAD SIDE: to panel board
LIGHTNING ROD (air terminal): conducting rods at top of the structure that diverts lighting
- ½” – 3/8” solid copper rod
LIGHTNING ARRESTER: device for protecting electrical equipment from lightning damage
SPARK GAP: space between two terminals or electrodes
PANEL BOARDS (cut-outs): control and protect subfeeders and branch circuits

ELECTRICAL MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

Conductors: bare (no covering), covered (encased with non-recognized materials), insulated
CABLE: larger than wire
CABLE TYPES
- Armored Cable (AC): enclosed in flexible metal sheath, for BX wiring
- Metal Clad Cable (MC): each individual enclosed in metal sheath
- Mineral Insulated Cable (MI): highly compressed refractory mineral, made of
compacted magnesium oxide
- Non-Metallic Sheathed Cable (NM/NMC): moisture-resistant flame-retardant
copper or aluminum wire with paper or vinyl covering
- Shielded NMC (SNM): extruded core, moisture-resistant and flame-retardant
- Underground Feeder and Branch Circuit Cable (UF): moisture-resistant, for
underground
- Service Entrance Cable (SE or USE): for service wire, single or multi-conductor
- Flat Cable Assembly (FC) and Flat Conductor Cable (FCC): electronics and
fiber optics, for general purposes
- Medium Voltage Cable (MV): for television, internet
- Power and Control Tray Cable (TC): installation in cable trays or raceways
INSULATORS: materials that prevent electrode flow
- Thermoplastics: PVC and UPVC
- Types:
o RHW: Moisture and Heat Resistant Rubber
o T: Thermoplastic
o TW: Moisture Resistant Thermoplastic
o THHN: Heat Resistant Thermoplastic with Nylon
o THW: Moisture and Heat Resistant Thermoplastic
o THWN: Moisture and Heat Resistant Thermoplastic with Nylon
o XHHW: Moisture and Heat Resistant Crosslinked Thermosetting
Polyethylene
o SA: Silicon Asbestos
o AVA: Asbestos and Varnish Cambric
o UF: Underground Feeder

CONDUITS: circular raceways used to enclose wired and cables

STEEL CONDUIT TYPES

- Rigid Steel Conduit (RSC): 0.017mm, best material for conduit
- Intermediate Metal Conduit (IMC): 0.071mm, larger inside diameter
- Electrical Metal Tubing
RACEWAY: holds wires, cables or busbars; metal or plastic (PVC electrical molding)
OUTLET: point at wiring system where current is taken
- Power outlet and lighting outlet
RECEPTACLE: wiring device where equipment is plugged into
WALL PLATE / FACE PLATE: cover for switches or outlets
OVERCURRENT CIRCUIT PROTECTIVE DEVICES: protecting the apparatus from
overheating or burning
CIRCUIT BREAKER: functions as switch, breaks a circuit with an automatic tripping
device
GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTOR: provides ground fault protection

WIRING METHODS
- Knob and Tube Wiring: insulated conductors supported by porcelain knobs
and tubes
- Rigid Metal Conduit Wiring: best and most expensive
- Rigid Non-Metallic: UPVC
- Flexible Metal Conduit Wiring
- Surface Metal Raceway Wiring: wires are supported by thin sheet steel casing
- Lighting Track
- Cable Tray / Open Raceway
SWITCH TYPES
A. According to Duty B. According to Operation C. According to No. of Poles
- Normal Duty (ND) Mechanism and Throws
- Heavy Duty (HD) - Rotary - Single Throw
- Light Duty (LD) - Push Button - Double Throw
- Toggle or tumbler

D. According to Service E. Special Switches

- Service Switch - Time Controlled
- Power Switches - Remote Controlled
--- General Purpose - Air Switch (clapper)
--- Disconnecting/ Isolating - Knife Switch
- Wiring Switches - Float Switch
--- General Purpose - Mercury Switch
--- 3-way switch - Key Switch / Card Switch
--- 2-way switch - Automatic Transfer Switch
- Electrolier / Multi-circuit Switches
--- Momentary contact
--- Dimmer
 ACOUSTICS

ACOUSTICS: science of effects of sound on enclosed space

SOUND: human ear’s response to pressure fluctuations caused by vibration

Physical Qualities of Sound
- Frequency (f): number of sound ripples per unit time
o unit = cycles/sec or Hertz
- Speed (c): 344 m/sec, does not vary with frequency of sound or loudness
- Wavelength (λ): C = f λ
o C = speed in m/time
o f = frequency in cycles/time
o λ = meters
- Intensity: amount of sound power, unit = w/m2
Characteristics of Sound
- Loudness: dB (sounds intensity level)
- Pitch: frequency perceived by human ear
ACOUSTICAL DEFECTS
- Prolonged Reverberation: due to reflective surfaces and/or large space
volume
- Echo: reflection of original sound
- Resonance: reinforcement of sound frequency due to sympathetic vibrations
- Flutter Echo: rapid but repetitive succession of sounds
- Undue Focusing: caused by concave surfaces

DEAD ROOM: room containing an unusually amount of sound absorption

DECIBEL (dB): a unit of measurement for sound pressure level, sound intensity level or
sound power level
DIFFRACTION: a change in the direction of propagation of sound as a result of
bending caused by a barrier in the path of a sound wave
INFRASONIC: a sound that is below the human audible frequency, below 20 Hz
LIVE ROOM: a room containing an unusually small amount of sound absorption
LOUDNESS: an auditory sensation that depends on sound pressure level and the
frequency of sound
PITCH: a listener’s perception of the frequency of a pure tone
RESONANCE: the relatively large amplitude of vibration produced when the frequency
of the source of sound is equal to the natural frequency of a room
SABIN: a unit of measure of sound absorption
ULTRASONIC: beyond the threshold of pain
SOUND INTENSITY: the average rate of sound energy flow through a unit area in a
given direction
SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL OR SOUND INTENSITY LEVEL: a quantity expressed in decibels of
airborne sound
SOUND TRANSMISSION CLASS (STC): a single number rating of the sound insulation
rating of a partition
STRUCTURE-BORNED SOUND: sound propagated through a solid structure
WAVELENGTH: distance between two adjacent compressions or rarefactions in a
sound wave
WHITENOISE: a noise whose energy is uniform over a wide range of frequencies. This is
analogous to the term “white light”, which consists of almost equal amount of light of
different wavelength (colors). A white noise sounds hissy.
 LIGHTING

LAMP TYPES
- Filament: Incandescent, R+PAR, tungsten-halogen
o A: Standard
o G: Globular
o S: Straight
o T: Tubular
o PS: Pear-shape
o F: Flame
o PAR: Parabolic Aluminized Reflector
 Heat-resistant lamp
o MR: Mirrored Reflector
 Multi-faceted
o Tungsten-halogen
 Quartz lamp
 Compact, longer life, higher lumen maintenance
- Fluorescent
o Sealed cylindrical glass tube with argon or mercury vapors
o Needs starter ballast
 o Shape: standard, slim-line, circline
o Method of tube operation: pre-heat, instant start, rapid start
- Mercury Vapor
o Electric passes through mercury vapor
- Metal Halide
o Mercury vapor modification, smaller in comparative site

LUMINAIRES (lighting fixtures): supports source, helps control light rays

Classification of Luminaires
- Indirect
- Semi-Indirect
- General Diffuse / Direct-Indirect
- Semi-Direct
- Direct

LIGHTING SYSTEMS
- Cornice Lighting: shielded by parallel panel attached to ceiling
- Cove Lighting: shielded by edge
- Valance Lighting: shielded by parallel panel

LIGHTING METHODS
- Local Lighting: at definite points
- General Lighting: with uniform intensity
- Combined Local and General Lighting (localizerd): uniform intensity with
identified definite points