EE8236 ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN BUILDINGS

Lecture 10

2.10 Low Voltage Switchgear

LV Switch Board
An electric switchboard is a device that directs electricity from one source to another. It is an
assembly of panels, each of which contains switches that allow electricity to be redirected.
The U.S. National Electrical Code (NEC) defines a switchboard as a large single panel,
frame, or assembly of panels on which are mounted, on the face, back, or both, switches,
overcurrent and other protective devices, buses, and usually instruments.

The role of a switchboard is to divide the main current provided to the switchboard into
smaller currents for further distribution and to provide switching, current protection and
metering for these various currents. In general, switchboards distribute power to
transformers, panel boards, control equipment, and ultimately to system loads.

Figure 2.10.1: Free Standing Panels

Distribution Board
A distribution board (or panel board) is a component of an electricity supply system
which divides an electrical power feed into subsidiary circuits, while providing a protective
fuse or circuit breaker for each circuit, in a common enclosure. Normally, a main switch, and
in recent boards, one or more Residual-current devices (RCD) or Residual Current Breakers
with Overcurrent protection (RCBO), will also be incorporated.

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Distribution boards are also referred to as a:
 Breaker Panel
 Circuit Breaker Panel
 Consumer Unit, or CU
 Electrical Panel
 Fuse Box
 Fuse Board
 Load Center
 Panel Board
 Power Breaker Unit
 Service Panel
 D board
 Feeder Pillar (Outdoor Type) Fig 2.10.2: Distribution Board

Fig 2.10.3: Distribution Board Fig 2.10.4: Normal Consumer Unit

Heavy Duty Type

Main Components of a LV Distribution Panel/ Board

 Enclosure [(Metallic – Free Standing Type, Surface Mounted Type, Flush Mounted
 Type), (Plastic –Surface Mounted and Flush Mounted Type
 Short circuit and overload protection devices (ACBs/MCCBs, MCBs, Fuses)
 Leakage protection devices (RCDs, RCCBs, RCBO, Earth Leakage Relays, Earth
Fault
 Relays)
 Bus bars for live conductors and neutral conductors and earth bar
 Current Transformers
 Under/Over Voltage Relays
 Indication bulbs/lamps
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  Metering devices (Ammeters, Volt Meters, Multi-Function Meters, Energy Meters)
 Selector Switches, Push Buttons, Emergency Switches
 Din Rails, Mounting Plates, Mounting Brackets, Casings
 Separation Plates, Insulation Barriers
 Control Wires
 Power Cable Glands
 Circuit Diagrams

Forms of Separation for Electrical Panels (BS EN 61439)

The form specifies the methods of separating bus-bars, and 'functional units', from one
another. This may be achieved either by fitting barriers between the units or by mounting
them in separate compartments.
The principal reason for separating an assembly is to facilitate access to a part of the
assembly whilst other parts may remain energized and in service. Whilst, in general,
separation does not improve the electrical performance of the assembly it does provide:
• Protection against contact with live parts belonging to the adjacent functional units,
• Protection against the passage of solid foreign bodies from one unit of an
assembly to an adjacent unit.

Fig 2.10.5: Requirement for Forms of Separation

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Main Criteria Sub Criteria Form Type of Construction
No separation Form 1
Terminals for external
Form 2A
conductors not
separated from bus- Type1:
Separation of bus- bars. Bus-bar separation is achieved
bars from the Terminals for external by insulated covering, e.g.
functional units. conductors separated Form 2B sleeving,
Type 2: wrapping or
from bus-bars. coatings.separation is by
Bus-bar
metallic or non- metallic rigid
barriers or partitions
Terminals for external
Separation of bus- conductors not
bars from the Form 3A
separated from
functional units and bus=bars.
separation of all
Type 1:
functional units from
Bus-bar separation is achieved
one another.
by insulated covering, e.g.
Separation of the Terminals for external sleeving, wrapping or
terminals for external conductors separated Form 3B coatings.
conductors from the Type 2:
from bus-bars.
functional units, but Bus-bar separation is by
not from each other. metallic or non- metallic rigid
barriers or partitions.

Type 1:
Separation of bus-
Bus-bar separation is
bars from the
achieved by insulated
functional units and
covering, e.g. sleeving,
separation of Terminals for external
wrapping or coatings. Cables
all functional units conductors in the
may be glanded elsewhere.
from one another, same compartment as Form 4A
including the the associated Type 2:
terminals for external functional unit. Bus-bar separation is by
conductors which are metallic or non- metallic
an integral part of the rigid barriers or partitions.
functional unit. Cables may be glanded
elsewhere.

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Terminals for external
conductors not in the
same compartment as
the associated
functional unit, but in Form 4B
individual, separate,
enclosed protected
spaces or
compartments.
Table 2.10.1: Forms & Types
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Type 3:
Bus-bar separation is by
metallic or non- metallic
rigid barriers or partitions.
The termination for each
functional unit has its own
integral glanding facility.
Type 4:
Bus-bar separation is
achieved by insulated
covering, e.g. sleeving,
wrapping or coatings. Cables
may be glanded elsewhere.
Type 5:
Bus-bar separation is by
metallic or non- metallic
rigid barriers or partitions.
Terminals may be separated
by insulated coverings and
glanded in common cabling
chamber(s).
Type 6:
All separation requirements
are by metallic or
nonmetallic rigid barriers or
partitions. Cables are
glanded in common cabling
chamber(s).
Type 7:
All separation requirements
are by metallic or non-
metallic rigid barriers or
partitions. The termination
for each functional unit has
its own integral glanding
facility.
Fig 2.10.6: Forms & Types

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