Elecrical Supply

and
Distribution
systems
Course outcome
At the end of this lecture, the student
should be able to :
 Calculate diversity factor
 Explain the important of diversity factor
 Sketch the schematic diagram of the
wiring
 Identify the various devices involve
Diversity Factor
 Diversity factor: The ratio of the sum of the
individual non-coincident maximum demands of
various subdivisions of the system to the maximum
demand of the complete system.
Diversity Factor = total load at particular time
total load installed
 The diversity factor is usually greater than 1. (a 70%
diversity means that the device operates at its
nominal or maximum load level 70% of the time that
it is connected and turned on).
 Diversity factor is used to estimate the load of a
particular node in the system.
Schematic diagram
 A schematic is a diagram that
represents the elements of a system
using abstract, graphic symbols rather
than realistic pictures. A schematic
usually omits all details that are not
relevant to the information the
schematic is intended to convey and
may add unrealistic elements that aid
comprehension.
 Distribution of Electricity in
Buildings
• Normally, residences in Malaysia are
supplied electricity in low voltage
distribution system – Single phase, 240
Volts.
• Compared with heating pipework or
airconditioning ductwork, electrical cables
present less of a problem when fitting
them into a building
• Basics wiring system may be as follows;

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 Main fuse (owned by TNB)

Meter

Main Fuse Switch (30 A)

Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB)

Distribution Board (DB) /Consumer Unit

Final Subcircuits

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Distribution Board/Consumer Control Unit
o Various sizes, but in general they consist of
an 80 A microgap switch, with up to 12
single-phase and neutral (SPN) fuses and
neutral terminals.

o The number of circuits provided will depend

on the nature of the house/building.

o This unit provides a means of isolating the

whole of the incoming supply and fusing all
the final subcircuits by means of rewirable
fuses or miniature circuit breakers.

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Fuses

• A device for opening a circuit by means

of a conductor designed to melt when
excessive current flows.

• Purpose: to protect the cables and

appliances from excess current flows,
which may occur from a fault or result
from the installation of a device having
a higher current rating than the fuse

• A fuse must be capable of protecting

the smallest conductor in the circuit.
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• Melting Wire Fuses
o Rewirable fuse
o Cartridge fuse
o High breaking capacity (HBC) or formerly known as High rupturing
capacity (HRC)
• Miniature Circuit Breaker (mcb)
o Ultimate protection for device for consumer control units.

Please find out the characters, advantages and

disadvantages of every type of fuses named
above.

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Final Subcircuits
• On leaving the ccu/db, the fused final
subcircuits provide current to the various
appliances.
• Domestic, they usually consist of
o Lighting
o Power sources/sockets
o Fan
o Air-conditioning system (if available)

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• Lighting and Fan
o Normally, the Looping-in system is applied where a single phase
and one neutral wiring is shared by a number of light points.

o The lights loads are usually limited to 100W and a fuse or mcb of
5A is used as a safety measure.

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• Power Sources/Sockets
o Usually wired by the Ring circuit system, (Single phase supply)
where 2 conductors and one earth will be connected to each power
socket.
o In domestic situation, a ring (final subcircuit) is allowed for a floor
area of less than 100m2, and in this area it can have an unlimited
number of socket outlets.
o If the floor area is greater, extra rings are required for each
100m2.

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o It is possible to add the number of socket in one area, by the
following conditions
• Spur techniques is used
• The number of socket in the spur should be less than 2, or not
more than 50% of the number of sockets in a ring subcircuit.

o Sockets are equipped with fuses of 13A, and on the db a fuse of

30A should be made available for each of the ring subcircuits.

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Distribution of Electricity in Larger
Buildings / Areas
• 2 main distribution systems;
o Radial
• Using the underground electrical cables where each building is
supplied with electricity on individual / separated cables from the
substations.
• Requires a large number of cables and thus high in cost.

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o Ring
• Using underground electrical cables which are loop-in into the
buildings accordingly from the substations.
• Provides a higher stability of supply and lower number of
cables compared to radial.
• At UTM, this system is used to supply every faculty with
electricity.

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Distribution of Electricity in Higher
Buildings
• Like many large buildings, high rise buildings
normally have their own substations. From it, the
electricity is distributed to the switch rooms for
further distribution.
• The common system used for high rise buildings
is the rising main distribution system
• Basically, the vertical copper or aluminium bus-
bars, supported with insulated supports system is
used through the building levels. The bus-bars are
placed in a specially built duct and separated
from other building services fittings.

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• Electrical supply for each level is made
possible by tapping-off from the bus-bars
and passed through the level db before
reaching the subcircuits on the level.
• Usually, there are four (4) bus-bars on
every installation, i.e. 3 for the live and 1
neutral.
• During the fire, to prevent from further
spreading the fire the gap formed
between the bus-bars and floors must be
insulated.

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 Distribution of Electricity in
Factory Buildings
• Industrial buildings are commonly supplied
by 3 phase supply, for the use of
machineries and plants.
• However, the lightings, fans and some
other appliances still require the single
phase supply
• Therefore, this type of building should be
equipped with two types of supply. This
may be done by making different
connections in the main distribution room.

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• For the 3 phase supply, distributions are
made by means of the overhead
busbar system or the cable-tap
system.
• In this system, 4 copper bus-bars are
placed in a metal trunking which is
fitted on the ceiling of the building.
Then, the power is connected by means
of the tap-off box.
• This system facilitates reconnection to
plants or equipment when relocation is
in order.

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 Electricity Circuit
• Circuit definition
o A circuit is defined as a complete and closed
path around which a circulating electric current
can flow.
o It can also mean a system of electrical
conductors and components forming such a
path.
• Every time you flip a (functioning) switch, you are
completing a circuit and letting electrical currents
do their thing.
 Electricity Circuit
• Power Circuits – transfer and control
large amounts of electricity.

• Electronic circuit – processes and

transmits information. E.g.
computers. TVs, cell phones, etc.
 Electricity Circuit
• A closed circuit has a complete
path.
• A open circuit does not.
• In order for a circuit to work, it must
be closed; thus, open circuits aren’t
functional. When a circuit is open,
the current can’t flow through. 
Electricity Circuit
 Electricity Circuit
• A series circuit is a circuit in which the
same current flows through all components
of the circuit.
• The current only has one path to take.
• E.g. Christmas lights.If the lights are
constructed in a series circuit (as many are),
if just one bulb is missing or burnt out, the
current cannot flow and the lights won’t turn
on.
• Series circuits can be very frustrating
because if they don’t work, you have to
figure out which piece is responsible.
 Electricity Circuit
• A parallel circuit  is a circuit in which the
components are arranged so that the
current must break up (with bits flowing
across each parallel branch) before meeting
and combining again.
• Because the current divides, each
component is assured a charge. And if one
path breaks, the other paths will still work
because they aren’t reliant on each other.
• Houses are always built with parallel
circuits so that if one light burns out, your
entire house won’t lose power.
Electricity Circuit
 Electricity Circuit
• A short circuit is a circuit that allows the
current to travel along an unintended path
where it encounters little (or no) resistance.
• The piece of the circuit bypassed by the
short circuit may cease to function and a
large amount of current may begin flowing.
• This causes the wires to heat up and can
potentially cause a fire.
• A short circuit is not, as some believe, just
any electrical malfunction.
Electricity Circuit
Example of single line schematic diagram,
single phase; 240 V (house)
MCB 2 nos. 15mm2 pvc +
ECC
6A 6 nos. 1x40w flug FTG
6A 4 nos. 1x40w flug FTG
TNB 16A + 2nos. Celing fan
Neutral link 2 nos. 13A SSO
meter ELCB 16A

X 30A
Main 1 nos 1.5 HD A/C
Cut out switch 30A 1 nos. 1kW Heater
MCCB 30A 1 nos. 5 kW cooker
2nos2.5mm2 pvc+
ECC.
2 nos 4mm2 pvc+ECC

2nos6mm2 pvc +ECC

Distribution board

TNB side consumer side

Distribution board (DB)
 A distribution board (or panel) 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.
Common devices of
distribution board
 MCCB = molded case circuit breaker
 MCB = miniature circuit breaker
 ELCB = earth leakage circuit breaker
 E.C.C = Earth continuity conductor
 M/S = main switch
 Distribution board
 Single phase distribution board

To final circuit

MCB M/S
ELCB
Physical devices
Three phase distribution board
Circuit breaker
 A circuit breaker is an automatically-operated
electrical switch designed to protect an electrical
circuit from damage caused by overload or short
circuit.
 Unlike a fuse, which operates once and then has to
be replaced, a circuit breaker can be reset (either
manually or automatically) to resume normal
operation.
 Circuit breakers are made in varying sizes, from small
devices that protect an individual household
appliance up to large switchgear designed to protect
high voltage circuits feeding an entire city.
Type of circuit breaker
 Classifications of circuit breakers can be
made, based on their features such as
voltage class, construction type, interrupting
type, and structural features.
a) Low voltage circuit breakers
b) Medium-voltage circuit breakers
c) High-voltage circuit breakers
Molded case circuit breaker
 MCCB (Molded Case
Circuit Breaker)—
rated current up to
1000 A.
 Thermal or thermal-
magnetic operation.
 Trip current may be
adjustable in larger
ratings.
Miniature circuit breaker
 MCB (Miniature
Circuit Breaker)—
rated current not
more than 100 A.
 Trip characteristics
normally not
adjustable.
 Thermal or thermal-
magnetic operation.
The hot wire in the circuit connects to the two ends of the switch.
When the switch is flipped to the on position, electricity can flow
from the bottom terminal, through the electromagnet, up to the
moving contact, across to the stationary contact and out to the
upper terminal.
The electricity magnetizes the electromagnet. Increasing current
boosts the electromagnet's magnetic force, and decreasing
current lowers the magnetism. When the current jumps to unsafe
levels, the electromagnet is strong enough to pull down a metal
lever connected to the switch linkage. The entire linkage shifts,
tilting the moving contact away from the stationary contact to
break the circuit. The electricity shuts off.
Earth leakage circuit breaker
 Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB) is
a safety device used in electrical installations
with high earth impedance to prevent shock
 The ELCB makes such installations much
safer by cutting the power if the dangerous
conditions occur.
 An ELCB detects even a small current to earth
(Earth Leakage) and disconnects the
equipment (Circuit Breaker)
 Earth continuity conductor
In electricity supply
systems, an earthing
(grounding) system defines
the electrical potential of
the conductors relative to
that of the Earth's
conductive surface. The
choice of earthing system
has implications for the
safety and electromagnetic
compatibility of the power
supply. Note that
regulations for earthing
systems vary considerably
between different countries.