EU 311 - ENGINEERING

UTILITIES – 1
Topic 3 – Electrical Systems

Prepared and Discussed By: Engr. Roner Abanil, REE

System Voltages

The principle voltages available in a building are called the system voltages.
Medium and high voltage systems carry voltages above 600 V may be used in
special cases such as the 2400/4160 V three-phase system found in industrial and
commercial installations such as for large signage, sports lighting in stadiums, and
services for large manufacturing plants and skyscrapers.
Circuit Wiring
Common Building System Voltages
• 120 Volt, Alternating Current, Single-Phase, Two-Wire System (120 V AC, 1phase-2W)

• 120/240 Volt, Alternating Current, Single-Phase, Three-Wire System (120/240 V AC, 1phase-3W)

• 208 Y/120 Volt, Alternating Current, Three-Phase, Four-Wire System (208 Y/120 V AC, 3phase-
4W)

• 480 Y/277 Volt, Alternating Current, Three-Phase, Four-Wire System (480 Y/277 V AC, 3Phase-
4W)

• 600 Y/346 Volt, Alternating Current, Three-Phase, Four-Wire System (600 Y/346 V AC, 3phase
-4W)

• 240 Δ/120 Volt, Alternating Current, Three-Phase, Four-Wire System (240 Δ /120 V AC, 3Phase-
4W)
System, Utilization,
and Maximum Voltages
GROUNDED AND UNGROUNDED
CONDUCTORS

• Grounded Conductor

• Neutral Conductor

• Load Balancing
SYSTEM AND CIRCUIT GROUNDING

• Grounding

• Grounding Requirements
SYSTEM AND CIRCUIT GROUNDING
Grounding Requirements
• System Grounding
• Equipment Grounding
• Double Insulation
Residential Systems

• Multifamily Dwellings
Commercial/Industrial Systems
CONDUCTOR REQUIREMENTS

• Conductor Materials
• Conductor Insulation
• Conductor Ampacity Requirements
CONDUCTOR REQUIREMENTS
CONDUCTOR REQUIREMENTS
CONDUCTOR REQUIREMENTS
• Conductor Voltage Drop Requirements
CONDUCTOR REQUIREMENTS
• Insulation Color Coding and Identification Markings
CABLE, RACEWAY, AND ENCLOSURE
REQUIREMENTS
• Cable and Raceway Requirements
CABLE, RACEWAY, AND ENCLOSURE
REQUIREMENTS
• Box/Enclosure Requirements
BRANCH CIRCUIT REQUIREMENTS
• Branch Circuiting

• Types of Branch Circuits

1. Individual Branch Circuit
2. General Purpose Branch Circuit
3. Appliance Branch Circuit
4. Multiwire Branch Circuit
Life Safety Branch Circuit
Critical Branch Circuit
BRANCH CIRCUIT REQUIREMENTS
• Split Wiring Receptacles
BRANCH CIRCUIT REQUIREMENTS
• Branch Circuit Rating and Loads
BRANCH CIRCUIT REQUIREMENTS
• General Purpose Circuits
General purpose circuits are typically limited according
to what will be connected to them:

1. When a general purpose circuit feeds fixed appliances and luminaires or portable appliances, the total of
the fixed appliances should be no more than 50% of the branch circuit rating. Assuming a 15 A, 120 V branch
circuit, it would have a maximum rating of 15 A · 120 V = 1800 VA (refer to Chapter 18 for formula
explanation). In
this case, the fixed appliances would be limited to 900 VA, leaving the other 900 VA available to supply
luminaires or portable appliances also served by the branch circuit. Refer to Table 19.11.
2. A 20 A, 120 V branch circuit would have a theoretical maximum of 2400 VA (20 A ·120 V = 2400 VA), but
it is common practice to limit the connected load to 80% of the circuit rating (e.g., 20 A · 120 V · 80% = 1920
VA). Refer to Table 19.11.
3. When the load on the circuit will be a continuous operating load (e.g., for store lights), the total load should
not exceed 80% of the circuit rating. The lighting load must include any ballasts, transformers, or
autotransformers, which are
part of the lighting system. Because a 15 A branch has a full rating of 1800 VA, the limit would be 80%, or 12
A and 1440 VA (e.g., 15 A · 120 V · 80% = 1440 VA). A 20 A, 2400 VA branch would be limited to 16 A and
1920 VA of connected load. Again, refer to Table 19.11.
BRANCH CIRCUIT REQUIREMENTS
• General Purpose Circuits

General purpose circuits are typically limited according

to what will be connected to them:

3. When the load on the circuit will be a continuous operating load (e.g., for store
lights), the total load should not exceed 80% of the circuit rating. The lighting load
must include any ballasts, transformers, or autotransformers, which are
part of the lighting system. Because a 15 A branch has a full rating of 1800 VA, the
limit would be 80%, or 12 A and 1440 VA (e.g., 15 A · 120 V · 80% = 1440 VA). A
20 A, 2400 VA branch would be limited to 16 A and 1920 VA of connected load.
Again, refer to Table 19.11.
4. When portable appliances will be used on a general purpose
circuit, the limit for any one portable appliance is 80% of the branch circuit rating.
BRANCH CIRCUIT REQUIREMENTS
• Individual Circuits
• Appliance Circuits
BRANCH CIRCUIT REQUIREMENTS

• Continuous Loads
DEVICE AND EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS

• Requirements for Switches and Receptacles

• Overcurrent Protection (Circuit Breakers and Fuses) Requirements
• Feeder Requirements
• Switchboard and Panelboard Requirements
• Service Entrance Equipment Requirements
• Transformer Requirements
OCCUPANT PROTECTION
REQUIREMENTS

• Tamper-Resistant Receptacle Requirements

• Ground Fault Circuit Protection Requirements
• Arc Fault Circuit
• Protection Requirements