5.1. Electrical Circuits An electrical circuit is a continuous loop. It is the complete path traversed by an electric current which collectively defines an entire house wiring installation. On the other hand, a branch circuit is composed of the circuit conductors between the final over-current protective device and its outlets. Abranch circuit is defined as that part of an electric circuit extending beyond the last circuit breaker or fuse. The branch circuits start at the breaker box and extend to the electrical devices connected to the service. Branch circuits are the last part of the circuit supplying electrical devicesStarts at the final overcurrent device. || ITN (i ie © | Ends where $32 the load is "6 connected. Cog The conductors between the final overcurrent device and the outlet(s). Copyright 2017, www. MikeHolt.com Branch Circuit Household circuits carry electricity from the main service panel, throughout the house, and back to the main service panel. Several switches, receptacles, light fixtures, or appliances may be connected toa single circuit, Current enters a circuit loop on hot wires and returns along neutral wires. These wires are color coded for easy identification. Hot wires are black or red, and neutral wires are white or light gray. For safety, all modern circuits include a bare copper or green insulated grounding wire. The grounding wire conducts current in the event of a ground fault and helps reduce the chance of severe electrical shock. The service panel also has a bonding wire connected to a metal water pipe and a grounding wire connected to a metal grounding rod, buried underground, or to another type of grounding electrode. If a circuit carries too much current, it can overload. A fuse or a circuit breaker protects each circuit in case of overloads. Current retums to the service panel along a neutral circuit wire. Current then leaves the house,Electricity always seeks to return to its source and complete a continuous circuit, Contrary to popular belief, electricity will take all available retum paths to its source, not just the path of lowest resistance. In a household wiring system, this return path is provided by white neutral wires that return current to the main service panel. From the service panel, current returns along the uninsulated neutral service wire to a power pole transformer. Grounding connects the home's electrical system to the earth. Grounding’s primary purpose is to help stabilize voltage fluctuations caused by lightning and other problems in the electrical grid. Grounding also provides a secondary return path for electricity in case there is a problem in the normal retum path. Grounding is accomplished by connecting a wire between the main service panel and a grounding electrode. The most common grounding electrode is a buried copper-coated steel! rod. Other grounding electrodes include reinforcing steel in the footing, called a ufer ground. Grounding of the home electrical system is accomplished by connecting the household electrical system to the metal water service pipe, if any, between your house and the street and to another grounding electrode such as metal grounding electrodes that are buried in the earthGrounding Antenna Discharge Unit for Lead-In Cable The metal structure (mast) supporting outdoor antenna is also grounded The grounding conductor can be connected to the interior metal water piping system if within 5 ft of the point of entry to the building. SOPYRIGHT 2302 Nike Hot Enterprbes, nc Service Entrance This is the portion of the supply conductors which extends from the street main duet to the switchboard of the building supply which comprises the conductor and equipment for delivering energy from the electricity supply system to the wiring system of the premises served. Service entrances could be either an overhead service or an underground service depending on how it is installed as shown in the figures below.Overhead Service Entrance Service-drop conductors Service point Service-entrance conductors Service equipmentUnderground Service Entrance Utility supply conductors a (Over 600V) Electric Meter This measures the amount of electrical consumption in a building. Sample images of various electric meters are shown below. Can you try reading the electrical consumption for each meter?Typical Electric Meter (Analog) GENERAL @ ELECTRIC 'SINGLE-PHASE WATTHOUR METER TYPE -$Digital Electric Meter Feeder This refers to all circuit conductors between the service equipmentlentrance and the final branch circuit overcurrent device. Main feeders extends its interior wiring from the service switch to the main distribution center or electric service equipment.; Final Service Overcurrent Equipment Device Branch SS) Referencels: Black+Decker (2018). The complete guide to wiring (7th edition). Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc. Fajardo, M.B. Jr, Fajardo, L.B. (2000) Electrical layout and estimate (2nd edition). 5138 Merchandising. Philippine Electrical Code