UNIT -VI

ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS
AND
SAFTEY PROCEDURES
 Syllabus
• Components of LT Switchgear: Switch Fuse
Unit (SFU), MCB, ELCB, MCCB,
• Types of Wires and Cables
• Earthing , Electrical Shock and its Typical
effects - first aid,
• Elementary calculations for energy
consumption - simple case study,
• types of batteries-important characteristics of
batteries, battery backup.
 Components of LT switch gear
The apparatus used for switching, controlling and
protecting the electrical circuits and equipment is
known as switchgear.

The term ‘switchgear’ is a generic term

encompassing a wide range of products like circuit
breakers, switches, switch fuse units, off- load
isolators, HRC fuses, contactors, earth leakage circuit
breakers (ELCBs), etc...
 FUSE
A fuse is a short piece of wire
or thin strip which melts
when
excessive current flows
through
whenever the sufficient
current flowing
time.
through fuse
increases element beyond
capacity thenits short
rated
circuit or
overload occurs. This raises
the temperature and the fuse
element melts, disconnecting
the circuit is protected by it.
 SWITCH FUSE UNIT (SFU)

It is Switched Fuse

Unit. It has one switch
unit and one fuse unit.

When we operate the

breaker, the contacts will
get close through switch
and then the supply will
passes through the fuse
unit to the output.
MCB
MCB is an electromechanical device
guards an electrical circuit which automatically
which
switches off electrical circuit during abnormal
condition of the network means in over load
condition as well as faulty condition.

The normal current rating is ranges from 0.5-63

A with a symmetrical short circuit breaking
capacity of 3-10 KA, at a voltage level of 230 or
440V.

Characteristics of MCB
The characteristics of an MCB mainly include
the following
•Rated current is not more than 100 amperes
•Normally, trip characteristics are not
adjustable
•Thermal magnetic operation
 ELCB
Early earth leakage circuit breakers are voltage
detecting devices, which are now switched by
current sensing devices (RCD/RCCB).
An ECLB is one kind of safety device used for
installing an electrical device with high earth
impedance to avoid shock.
There are two types of Earth Leakage
Circuit Breaker (ELCB)
Voltage Operated ELCB
Current Operated
ELCB

Characteristics of
ELCB
This circuit breaker
connects the phase,
earth wire
and neutral
The working of this circuit breaker depends
on current leakage
MCCB
Molded case circuit breakers are a type of
electrical protection device that is
commonly used when load currents exceed
the capabilities of miniature circuit
breakers. They are also used in applications
of any current rating that require adjustable
trip settings, which are not available in
plug-in circuit breakers and MCBs.

The main distinctions between molded-case

and miniature circuit breaker are that the
MCCB can have current ratings of up to
2,500 amperes, and its trip settings are
normally adjustable.
 Types of wires and cables:

Wire is a single electrical conductor, whereas a cable is a group of wires

swathed in sheathing.
 CABLES

• The main requirements of the insulting materials

used for cable are:
1. High insulation resistance.
2. High dielectric strength.
3. Good mechanical properties i.e.
tenacity and elasticity.
4. It should not be affected by chemicals around it.
5. It should be non-hygroscopic because the
dielectric strength of any material very
goes
much down with moisture connect
 TPES OF CABLES
RUBBER: used for house
wiring, buildings, factories
and low power work.

PVC(Polyvinyl chloride):
It is a thermo plastic
insulating material.
are used up These
to
voltages especially 1.1kv
in
concealed wiring system.

TRS(Tough rubber
sheathed) or Cab type
These are
sheathed(CTS):
used 250/ 500v circuits.
 Electrical Earthing
The process of transferring the immediate discharge of the
electrical energy directly to the earth by the help of the low
resistance wire is known as the electrical earthing.

Mostly galvanised iron is used for earthing.Earthing provides

simple path to the leakage current.

Earthing is an important component of electrica

l systems because of the following reasons:
•It keeps people safe by preventing electric shocks
•It prevents damage to electrical appliances and devices
by preventing excessive current from running through the
circuit
•It prevents the risk of fire that could otherwise be caused
by
current leakage
 Types of Electrical Earthing:
•Neutral Earthing:
In neutral earthing, the neutral of
the system is directly connected to
earth by the help of the GI wire. The
neutral earthing is also called the
system earthing.
Ex. Generator, T/F, Motor etc.,
•Equipment Earthing:
Such type of earthing is provided to
the electrical equipment. The non-
current carrying part of the
equipment like their metallic frame is
connected to the earth by the
help
of the conducting wire.
 Electric shock

An electric shock happens when an electric current passes

through your body. This can burn both internal and external
tissue and cause organ damage.
 Elementary calculations for energy
consumption
STEP I : Calculate Watts Per Day
In this step, simply multiply your device’s wattage by
the number of hours you use it in a day. This will give
you the number of watt-hours consumed each day.

For example, say you use a 125-watt television for

three hours per day. By multiplying the watts (125)
by the hours used (3), we find that the television is
consuming 375 watt-hours per day.

125 watts X 3 hours =

375 watt-hours per day
 Cont.,
STEP II : Convert Watt-Hours to Kilowatts
Electricity is measured in kilowatt-hours on
your bill, not watt-hours. One kilowatt is equal
to 1,000 watts.

so to calculate how many kWh a

device uses, divide the watt-hours from the
previous step by 1,000. Using our previous
example, this means you would divide 375
watt-hours by 1,000, resulting in 0.375 kWh.

375

watt-hours

per
 Cont.,
STEP III : Find Your Usage Over a Month
Now that you know the kWh used per
day, multiply that by 30 to find your
approximate usage for the month.

So, if your daily usage is 0.375 kWh,

your monthly usage would be 11.25 kWh.

375 watt-hours per day X

30 days =
11.25 kWh per month
 STEP IV : Figure Out the Cost
Cont.,
For the final step, refer to your last
electric bill to see how much you pay
per kWh, i.e. Tariff. Let’s say,
according to your bill, your electric
rate is 3 rupees per kWh.
Multiply your electric rate (₹3) by
your monthly usage (33.75) to find out how
much your TV is costing you in a month
(₹33.75).

11.25 kWh per month X

₹5 per kWh =
₹33.75 per month
 What about devices that use more electricity?

• For refrigerator, for instance, runs 24 hours a day. Most

refrigerators consume anywhere between 300 to 780 watts of
electricity. Let’s say your model only uses 300 watts.
 300 watts X 24 hours = 7,200 watt-hours per day

 7,200 watt-hours per day / 1000 = 7.2 kWh per day

 7.2 kWh per day X 30 days = 216 kWh per month

 216 kWh per month x ₹3 per kWh = 648 per month

 Cells and Batteries
• A device which is used as a source of e.m.f.
which
and works on the principle of
conversion of chemical energy into
energy is called a cell. electrical
• But practically the voltage of a single cell is
not sufficient to use in any practical application.
• Hence various cells are connected in series
or parallel to obtain the required voltage level.
• The combination of various cells, to obtain
the desired voltage level is called a battery.
 Types of Cells
• There are two types of cells,
 Primary Cells:
• The chemical action in these cells is not reversible and
hence the entire cell is required to be replaced by a new
one if the cell is down.
• The primary cells can produce only a limited amount of
energy.
• Mostly the non electrolytes are used for the primary
cells.
• The various examples of primary cells are
i. Dry Cell (zinc-carbon)
ii. Mercury cell
iii. Zinc chloride cell
iv. Lithium cell
v. alkaline cells
 Dry Cell (zinc-carbon)

•The zinc container is lined with paper to

avoid direct reaction of zinc with carbon.
•The container is sealed with an
insulator called pitch.
•The tin plates are used at top and
bottom which are positive and negative
terminals of the cell.
•Applications are Used in torch lights,
Electronic apparatus and toys, wall
clocks etc.
 Mercury cell

Applications
These cells are preferred for
providing power to small devices
like Electronic calculators, Audio
devices, Cameras etc.,
 Types of Cells
 Secondary Cells:
• The chemical action in this cells is reversible.
• Thus if cell is down, it can be charged to regain its
original state, by using one of the charging
methods.
• The electrical energy is stored in the form of chemical
energy.
• secondary cells are also called storage cells,
accumulators or rechargeable cells.
• The various types of secondary cells are
i. Lead-acid cell.
ii. Alkaline cell (Nickel-cadmium )
 Lead-acid cell

Applications
1. In emergency lighting systems
2. In automobiles for starting.
3. Uninterrupted power supply systems.
4. Railway signalling.
5.Electrical substations and the power
stations.
 Characteristics of Lead-acid cell
•During charging of the
lead acid cell, the voltage
increases from 1.8V to
2.5V-2.7V, when cell is
completely charged.

•If the discharge rate is

high, the curve is more
drooping as voltage
decreases faster.
 Alkaline cells
• The secondary cells can be alkaline cells.
These are of two types
1. Nickel – iron cell or Edison cell
2. Nickel – cadmium or Nife cell or
Junger cell
 1.Nickel – iron cell or Edison cell

Applications
1.Mine locomotives and mine
safety lamps
2. Space ship
3.In the railways for
Lighting and air conditioning
purposes.
4.To supply power to tractors,
 Electrical Characteristics of Nickel Iron
cell
•The Characteristics will
show the variations in the
terminal voltage of cell
against the charging or
discharging hours.
•When fully charged its
voltage is about 1.4V and
during discharging it reduces
to 1.1 to 1V. During charging,
the average charging voltage
is 1.7 to 1.75 V.
 Nickel – cadmium cell

Applications
1.Millitary aero planes , helicopters
and commercial airlines for
starting
engines and provide
emergency supply.
2. In Electric Shavers.
3.In the railways for Lighting and
air conditioning purposes etc.
 Battery Charging
• The main methods of battery charging are
1. Constant current method
2. Constant voltage method
3. Rectifier method
Battery Charging – Constant Current Method
• When the supply is high
voltage battery to
charged is ofbelow voltage,
but
then this method is used.
• The number of batteries are
connected in series across
the available D.C. voltage.
• The current
constant
maintained
through with the help is
batteries
variable resistor the
connected in series. of
Battery Charging – Constant Voltage Method
• In this method constant voltage is
applied across the cells,
connecting batteries in parallel.
• The current varies
according
charging to the of the
state
• charge of each
The battery is battery.
first connected, a
high charging current will flows
meanwhile the terminal voltage
of the battery increases, the
charging current reduces
automatically.
• At the end of full charge, the
voltage of the battery is equal to
the voltage across the busbars
and no current flows.
 Battery Charging – Rectifier method
• When battery is required to be charged from A.C supply,
this method is used.
• The rectifier converts A.C to D.C supply generally bridge
rectifier is used for this purpose.
• The step down transformer lowers the A.C supply voltage
as per the requirement.
 Battery Backup
• A battery backup device is an electronic device that supplies secondary
power in the absence of main power, such as during a power outage.

• The battery backup will supply power when it detects an outage.

• Battery backup devices can also protect electronic hardware

from power spikes, dirty electricity and power outages.

• Battery backup devices in all sizes and power capacities available but
this will affect the size and capacities required.