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Raising a new Generation of Leaders

4.2 ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION SYTEMS

ARC417 LECTURE- 29TH SEPTEMBER, 2022

ARC417 LECTURE NO.4.2a ALPHA 2022/2023 SESSION

Course Lecturers: Dr O.D. Babalola & Arc H. Essien
 Electricity Distribution Systems in Buildings
■ This subject a.k.a. electrical power systems in
buildings basically focuses on general principles
of how electricity is moved from the utility lines
to a convenient outlet in a room.

■ The system components vary depending on the

size of the building; hence it specifically addressed
systems for small and large buildings.
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Electricity Distribution Systems in Buildings
Electricity from the Power Company
■ Electric utilities transmit power from the power
plant most efficiently at very high voltages.
■ In Nigeria, power companies provide electricity
to medium or large buildings at 330,000 volts (330KV).

■ In the United States, power companies provide

electricity to medium or large buildings at 13,800
volts (13.8KV).

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Electricity Distribution Systems in Buildings
Electricity from the Power Company
■ For small commercial buildings or residential
customers, power companies lower the voltage
with a transformer on a power pole or mounted
on the ground. From there, the electricity is fed
through a meter and into the building.

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Electricity Distribution Systems in Buildings
Electricity from the Power Company
■

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 Electricity Distribution Systems in Buildings

Power Distribution in Small Buildings

Small commercial or residential
buildings have a very simple power
distribution system.

■ The utility owns the transformer, which

will sit on a pad outside the building or
will be attached to a utility pole.

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Electricity Distribution Systems in Buildings
Power Distribution in Small Buildings
■ In Nigeria, The transformer a.k.a. substation
reduces the voltage from 330KV down to
~230/430volts and then passes the electricity
to a meter, which used to be owned by the
utility and keeps a record of power
consumption.

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Electricity Distribution Systems in Buildings
Power Distribution in Small Buildings
■ In the United States, The transformer reduces
the voltage from 13.8KVdown to ~120/240 or
120/208 volts and then passes the electricity to
a meter, which is owned by the utility and keeps
a record of power consumption.

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 Electricity Distribution Systems in Buildings

■ Power Distribution in Small Buildings

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 Electricity Distribution Systems in Buildings
Power Distribution in Small Buildings contd.
■ After leaving the meter, the power is transmitted
into the building at which point all wiring,
panels, and devices are the property of the
building owner.

■ Wires transfer the electricity from the meter

to a panel board, which is generally located
in the basement or garage of a house.
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 Electricity Distribution Systems in Buildings
Power Distribution in Small Buildings contd.
■ In small commercial buildings, the panel may be
located in a utility closet. The panel board will
have a main service breaker and a series of circuit
breakers, which control the flow of power to various
circuits in the building.

■ Each branch circuit will serve a device (some

appliances require heavy loads) or a number of
devices like convenience outlets or lights.

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 Electricity Distribution Systems in Buildings
Power Distribution in Large Buildings
■ Large buildings have a much higher electrical load than small
buildings; therefore, the electrical equipment must be larger
and more robust.
■ Large building owners will purchase electricity at high voltages
(in Nigeria, 330KV) because it comes at a cheaper rate.
■ In this case, the owner will provide and maintain their own step-down
transformer, which lowers the voltage to a more usable level (in
Nigeria, 430/230-250volts).
■ The transformer can be mounted on a pad outside the building or in a
transformer room or space inside the building, if requirements are met.

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 Electricity Distribution Systems in Buildings
Power Distribution in Large Buildings contd.
■ Large building owners will also purchase electricity
at high voltages (in the US, 13.8kV) because it comes
at a cheaper rate.
■ In this case, the owner will provide and maintain
their own step-down transformer, which lowers the
voltage to a more usable level (in the US, 480/277/
240/208/120volts).

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 Electricity Distribution Systems in Buildings
Power Distribution in Large Buildings contd.
■ The electricity is then transmitted to switchgear. The
role of the switchgear is to distribute electricity safely
and efficiently to the various electrical closets throughout
the building.

■ The equipment has numerous safety features including

circuit breakers, which allow power to be disrupted
downstream– this may occur due to a fault or problem,
but it can also be done intentionally to allow technicians
to work on specific branches of the power system.

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 Electricity Distribution Systems in Buildings
Power Distribution in Large Buildings contd.

■ It should be noted that very large buildings or

buildings with complex electrical systems may
have multiple transformers, which may feed
multiple pieces of switchgear.

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 Electricity Distribution Systems in Buildings

■ Power Distribution in Large Buildings

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 Electricity Distribution Systems in Buildings
Power Distribution in Large Buildings
■ The electricity will leave the switchgear and travel
along a primary feeder or bus.
■ The bus or feeder is a heavy gauge conductor that is
capable of carrying high amperage current
throughout a building safely and efficiently.
■ The bus or feeder is tapped as needed and a
conductor is run to an electric closet, which serves a
zone or floor of a building.

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 Electricity Distribution Systems in Buildings
Power Distribution in Large Buildings
■ Each electrical closet will have another
step-down transformer. In Nigeria, this will
drop the power from 430 to 230-250 volts or
not stepped down with a transformer, if
already at 230-250 volts for convenience
outlets.

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 Electricity Distribution Systems in Buildings
Power Distribution in Large Buildings
■ Each electrical closet will have another
step-down transformer. In the US, this
will drop the power from 480/277 volts
to 120 volts for convenience outlets.

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 Electricity Distribution Systems in Buildings
Power Distribution in Large Buildings
■ That transformer will feed a branch panel,
which controls a series of branch circuits
that cover a portion of the building.

■ Each branch circuit covers a subset of the

electrical needs of the area - for instance:
lighting, convenience outlets to a series of
rooms, or electricity to a piece of equipment.

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