Bicol University

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department
ISO 9001:2015 Guinobatan, Albay
TUV Rheinland ID 910863351

NAME: BALIAT, LYKA JANE M.

YEAR AND SECTION: III-BSABE 1
ABE 32 Working/Research Paper 3.0

Electrical Wiring Practices

1. What are the three features of an electric circuit? Illustrate.

An electric circuit has three parts: (1) An energy source – like a battery
or mains power. (2) An energy receiver – like a lightbulb. (4) An energy pathway –
like a wire. A wire helps to direct the electrons around the device. More often than
not, electric circuits also contain a switch, which can be used to turn them off and
on.
2. Differentiate schematic diagram from wiring diagram? Give an example.

One of the most frequently used diagrams

in motor control work is the ladder diagram,
also known as a schematic diagram. This
diagrams uses symbols to identify components
and interconnecting lines to display the
electrical continuity of a circuit. Ladder
diagrams show how a circuit works logically
and electrically. When troubleshooting or
designing control circuits, we use “ladder” or
“schematic” diagrams to represent how the
circuit works but these diagrams do not show
how equipment is physically laid out, nor do
they represent how things are wired “in the real
world.” Two components might be right next to
each other on the ladder diagram and 50
metres apart in the real world.

Wiring diagrams, also called connection

diagrams, however, do show how equipment is
laid out and the connections between them. A
wiring diagram shows the relative layout of the components and the wire connections
between them. This type of diagram shows the physical relation of all devices in the
system, the conductor terminations between these devices, and are commonly used in
motor control installations.

3. What are some of the useful symbols in electrical planning?

a.) Earth electrode is a metal plate or other conducting elements of electricity

partially buried in the earth to constitute and provide a reliable conductive path for
the fault current to the ground.
b.) Cell is a device containing electrodes immersed in an electrolyte, used for
generating current or for electrolysis.
c.) Battery is a container consisting of one or more cells, in which chemical energy
is converted into electricity and used as a source of power.
d.) Source is a part of a field-effect transistor from which carriers flow into the inter-
electrode channel.
e.) Ideal source includes an ideal voltage source and ideal current source. An ideal
source is a theoretical concept of an electrical current or voltage supply (such as
a battery) with no losses and a perfect voltage or current supply. Ideal sources
are used for analytical purposes because they cannot occur in nature.
f.) Resistor is a device that has resistance to the passage of an electric current.
g.) Capacitor is a device used to store an electric charge, consisting of one or more
pairs of conductors separated by an insulator.

ABE 32: WORKING PAPER 3 BALIAT 1

 Bicol University
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department
ISO 9001:2015 Guinobatan, Albay
TUV Rheinland ID 910863351

h.) Antenna is an electrical device which converts electric power into radio waves
and vice versa.

4. What is a branch circuit and its types? Discuss how to determine the number of
branch circuits?

A branch circuit is part of the electrical system

that originates at the main service panel and feeds
electricity throughout the structure. There are 120-
volt branch circuits that supply power to standard
outlets and fixtures, along with 240-volt circuits that
power major appliances.
The number of branch circuits required shall
be determined in accordance with the following:

(1) Lighting, based on 3 volt-amperes per square foot

times outside dimensions of the manufactured home
(coupler excluded) divided by 120 volts times
amperes to determine number of 15 or 20 ampere lighting area circuits. e.g. [3 ×
length × width—[120 × (15 or 20)] = number of 15 or 20 ampere circuits. Lighting
circuits are permitted to serve built-in gas ovens with electric service for lights,
clocks, or timers, or for listed cord-connected garbage disposal units.

(2) Small Appliances. For the small appliance load in kitchens, pantries, dining
rooms, and breakfast rooms of manufactured homes, two or more 20-ampere
appliance branch circuits, in addition to the branch circuit specified in paragraph
(a)(1) of this section, must be provided for all receptacle outlets in these rooms, and
such circuits must have no other outlets. Countertop receptacle outlets installed in
the kitchen must be supplied by not less than two small appliance branch circuits.
One or more of the small appliance branch circuits may also supply other receptacle
outlets in the kitchen, pantry, dining room, and breakfast room. Receptacles installed
solely for the electrical supply to an electric clock and receptacles installed to provide
power for supplemental equipment and lighting on gas-fired ranges, ovens, or
counter-mounted cooking units are not subject to the requirements of this paragraph
(a)(2).

(3) General appliances (Including furnace, water heater, range, and central or room
air conditioner, etc.). There shall be one or more circuits of adequate rating in
accordance with the following:

(i) The ampere rating of fixed appliances must not exceed 50 percent of the circuit

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 Bicol University
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department
ISO 9001:2015 Guinobatan, Albay
TUV Rheinland ID 910863351

rating if lighting outlets are on the same circuit (receptacles in the kitchen, dining
area, and laundry are not considered to be lighting outlets);
(ii) For fixed appliances on a circuit without lighting outlets, the sum of rated
amperes shall not exceed the branch-circuit rating. Motor loads or other continuous
duty loads shall not exceed 80 percent of the branch circuit rating.
(iii) The rating of a single cord and plug connected appliances on a circuit having no
other outlets, shall not exceed 80 percent of the circuit rating.
(iv) The rating of the range branch circuit is based on the range demand as specified
for ranges in § 3280.811(a)(5). For central air conditioning, see Article 440 of the
National Electrical Code, NFPA No. 70–2005.
(v) Where a laundry area is provided, a 20 ampere branch circuit shall be provided to
supply laundry receptacle outlets. This circuit shall have no other outlets. See §
3280.806(a)(7).
(vi) Bathroom receptacle outlets must be supplied by at least one 20-ampere branch
circuit. Such circuits must have no other outlets, except that it is permissible to place
the receptacle outlet for a heat tape or pipe heating cable required by §
3280.806(d)(10) on a bathroom circuit. (See § 3280.806(b).)

5. Discuss the general guidelines in planning the electrical system in the ABE
structures.
a.) No point along the floor lines in any wall space should be more than 1.8 m
(6ft) from a receptacle outlet. Any wall space greater than 0.6 (2ft) shall have
an outlet.

b.) At least one wall switched controlled lighting outlet shall be installed in every
habitable room.
c.) Lighting room shall be located to be able to light the path ahead and turn off
lights without retracing steps.
d.) Provide one 20 A circuit for each 46 m² (500ft²) or one 15 A circuit for each
35m² (375ft²) floor area.
e.) Allow 8-10 outlets for each 15 A circuit and 10 to 12 for each 20 A circuit.
f.) A factor of 32 watts/m² (3watts)/ft²is used for all floor area excluding open
porches, garages, basement or unused or unfinished spaces not adaptable
for future use.

6. Discuss the selection of the service-entrance switch.

Power enters the drop through the Service Entrance. The service entrance
includes the Electric Meter that measures the amount of energy delivered to the
home and the Service Panel that houses the circuit breakers or fuses. The service
panel also distributes power to the various circuits in the house.

1. The first thing to acknowledge is how critically important service entrance

switchgear is as a link. If you have trouble with it, your whole building is out of
power.
2. Secondly, as mentioned, it must be appreciated that not all service entrance
switchgear is created equal. Some equipment is built to manufacturing standards
that assume the best possible conditions, like a clean and dry indoor location,
which is not realistic in many cases. You’ll have to deal with electrical rooms
where there are sprinklers and where leaks and minor floods can occur.
Equipment that’s tolerant for these conditions operates more reliably in the long
run.
3. You’ll also want to consider quality. Well-built service entrance switchgear
incorporates certain design features, such as welded construction for outer
enclosure, power fuses (as opposed to current-limiting fuses) and copper bus
instead of aluminum bus. Service entrance switchgear that is built to lower quality
standards will result in more frequent maintenance needs, whereas equipment
built to higher quality standards will reduce the number of outages.

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 Bicol University
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department
ISO 9001:2015 Guinobatan, Albay
TUV Rheinland ID 910863351

4. Another factor to consider is customization, since every service entrance

switchgear project comes with its own unique requirements. Retrofitting
switchgear in an existing electrical room will experience certain design
constraints, such as ceiling height. Standard designs typically occupy a larger
space, particularly in terms of headroom, so a customized solution that is lower-
profile may be required instead. Having to raise the ceiling in a room to
accommodate your service entrance switchgear, after all, would result in
immense costs or may otherwise be unfeasible.

7. What is a conductor and its sizes, areas and allowable ampacity?

It should be common-sense knowledge that liquids flow through large-

diameter pipes easier than they do through small-diameter pipes (if you would like a
practical illustration, try drinking a liquid through straws of different diameters). The
same general principle holds for the flow of electrons through conductors: the
broader the cross-sectional area (thickness) of the conductor, the more room for
electrons to flow, and consequently, the easier it is for flow to occur (less
resistance).
Electrical wire is usually round in cross-section (although there are some
unique exceptions to this rule), and comes in two basic varieties: solid and
stranded. Solid copper wire is just as it sounds: a single, solid strand of copper the
whole length of the wire. Stranded wire is composed of smaller strands of solid
copper wire twisted together to form a single, larger conductor.
Wires are those electrical conductors which are 8 mm 2 (AWG No. 8) or
smaller in size. A conductor’s current-carrying limit is known as its ampacity.

Wire sizes, areas, and allowable ampacity.

Size Temperature ratings / types
AWG 60°C (140°F) 75°C (167°F) 90°C (194°F)
Mm2 number T,TW RHW, THW, SA, RHH, THHN,
(Area in THWN, XHHW XHHN
circular
mills)
2.0 14 (4,110) 15 15 25
3.5 12 (6,530) 20 20 30
5.5 10 (10,380) 30 30 40
8.8 8 (16,510) 40 45 50

8. What is polarity and switching?

Polarizing- the use of colors of conductor covers in the wiring connection.

Polarity is a term used in electricity, magnetism and

electronic signaling, just to name a few areas.
Polarity is defined as, the condition of a body or
system in which it has opposing physical properties at
different points, especially, magnetic poles or
electric charge.
In the case of electric current running between two
points, or poles, one of the poles will have more
electrons than the other. The pole with more
electrons is said to have negative polarity. The pole with fewer electrons then has a
positive polarity. When the two poles are connected by a wire, electrons flow from
the negative pole toward the positive pole. This flow is called an electric current.

a.) White wire is always the ‘neutral wire’.

b.) Red or black wires are ‘hot’ conductors.

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 Bicol University
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department
ISO 9001:2015 Guinobatan, Albay
TUV Rheinland ID 910863351

c.) Green wire is the grounding wire.

d.) White wires are to be connected to silver-colored terminals, and red or black
wires, to brass-colored terminals.
e.) All switches are in the ‘hot’ conductors.

Grounded neutral is never to be interrupted by a fuse, circuit breaker, switch, or any

other device.

9. What is short circuit and overcurrent protection devices? Give examples.

Protection against temperature is termed “overcurrent protection.”

Overcurrents are caused by equipment overloads, by short circuits or by ground
faults. An overload occurs when equipment is subjected to current above its rated
capacity and excessive heat is produced. A short circuit occurs when there is a
direct but unintended connection between line-to-line or line-to-neutral conductors.
Short circuits can generate temperatures thousands of degrees above designated
ratings. A ground fault occurs when electrical current flows from a conductor to
uninsulated metal that is not designed to conduct electricity. These uninsulated
currents can be lethal.
The designer has many overcurrent protection devices to choose from. The
two most common are fuses and circuit breakers. Many circuit breakers are also
known as molded case breakers or MCBs.

a.) Fuses: A fuse is the simplest form of overcurrent protective device but it can be
used only once before it must be replaced. A fuse consists of a conducting
element enclosed in a glass, ceramic or other non-conductive tube and
connected by ferrules at each end of the tube. The ferrules fit into slots at each
end to complete a split in a circuit. Excess current flowing through the fuse melts
the device’s conducting element and interrupts current flow. Fuses are rated by
the amperage they can carry before heat melts the element. The fuse is ideal for
protection against short circuits. Short circuits produce enough amperage to
vaporize a fuse element and break connection in one cycle of a 60-cycle system.
Fuses are more commonly used in devices connected to a system than within the
system’s circuit.

b.) Circuit Breakers: Now, conductors in systems are usually protected by circuit
breakers. Tripped circuit breakers can be reset after the fault is cleared, an
advantage over fuses that must be replaced.

c.) Fusible Links: A fusible link is an electrical safety device that provides overcurrent
protection to a circuit. A fusible link is essentially a tiny fuse with a short wire
piece; usually, four sizes smaller than the wire it protects. Fusible links are most
common in the automotive industry in high-current applications. In most
applications, the fusible link is shrouded in fire-resistant insulation with a high-
temperature rating. This would reduce hazards if the wire were to get hot enough
to melt.

Short circuits can produce enough thermal and electromagnetic forces to destroy any
protective device. When selecting a protective device, it is very important to
consider the available short circuit amperage, or SCA, which is the potential
amperage at any site in the system. The SCA will be measured at the equipment
terminals, the utility transformer and the distribution panel. The highest value will be
at the power transformer.

ABE 32: WORKING PAPER 3 BALIAT 5

 Bicol University
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department
ISO 9001:2015 Guinobatan, Albay
TUV Rheinland ID 910863351

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2. Wiring Diagram - Everything you need to know about wiring diagram. (n.d.). Retrieved

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3. Flinn, C. (n.d.). Schematic vs. Wiring Diagrams. Retrieved from

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3280.805#p-3280.805(a)(2)

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https://electricalacademia.com/electric-power/service-entrance-service-drop/

8. Cools, E. (2019). How to select the perfect service entrance equipment for your needs.

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9. Kuphaldt, T. R. (2021). Conductor size. Physics of Conductors and Insulators |

Electronics Textbook. Retrieved from https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/direct-

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Electronics Textbook. Retrieved from https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/direct-

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 Bicol University
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department
ISO 9001:2015 Guinobatan, Albay
TUV Rheinland ID 910863351

12. Turashoff, M. (2014, August 2). What is Polarity? - News about Energy Storage,

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https://www.upsbatterycenter.com/blog/polarity/

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