ELECTRICAL KEY NOTES

A. Electricity - made up of atoms

PHILIPPINE ELECTRICAL CODE

Raa 7920 (formerly RA 184)
PEC consists of rules which are intended to make use of electricity safe for person and property.

PECs/PHILIPPINE ELECTRICAL CODE

2 TYPES OF PECs:

● PEC I - inside buildings

● PEC II - outside buildings

GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES WHO IMPLEMENT PEC:

● Office of the Building Official (OBO)

● Office of the City Electrician ( City Electrical Supervising Engineer )
● Office of the Municipal Electrician ( Municipal Electrical Supervising Engineer)
● Regional Office of the DOLE

EXCEPTIONS FOR PERMITS

1. the installation of electrical portable equipment rated not more than 1,200 VA.
2. reconnection of disconnected service due to non-payment of electric bill or change of
occupants for a period of one year.

Note for the application:

Five (5) sets of plans and specifications bearing the signature and seal of the
responsible Professional Electrical Engineer shall be submitted together with the
application. However, if the installation does not exceed 20 lighting and or receptacle
outlets or 4,000 VA, 230 V; five (5) sets of sketches and bill of materials may be prepared
signed and submitted by the responsible Registered Electrical Engineer or Master
Electrician.

1
 OVERHEAD SERVICE DROP CONDUCTOR

● This is the overhead service conductor from the last pole or other
aerial support to and including the splices if any, connecting the service
entrance conductors at the building or other structure.
● Minimum Size: min 8 mm2 copper - 14 mm2 aluminum or copper-
clad aluminum.

CLEARANCE OF OVERHEAD UTILITY SYSTEM

● ABOVE ROOF - minimum 2.5m

Vertical Clearance from Ground

● 3.10m - at the electric service

entrance to buildings, or at the
drip loop of the building electric
entrance, or above areas or
sidewalks
● 3.70m - for those areas listed in the
4,600 mm classification when the
voltage is limited to 600 volts to
ground.
● 4.60m - over residential property
and driveways, and those
commercial areas not subject to
truck traffic.
● 5.50m - over public streets, alleys,
roads, parking areas subject to
truck traffic, driveways on other
than residential property, and other
land transversed by vehicles such as

UNDERGROUND-SERVICE LATERAL CONNECTION

This is the underground service conductor between the

cultivated, grazing, forest, and orchard.

street main, including any risers at a pole or other structure or from transformers, and the first point
of any connection to the service-entranceconductors in a terminal box or meter or other enclosure
with adequate space, inside or outside the building wall.

SERVICE ENTRANCE

Service is defined as the portion of the supply which extends from the street main duct or
transformer to the service switch or switchboard of the building supply.

it is the conductor and equipment for delivering energy from the electricity supply system to the
wiring system of the premises served.

Note for No. of Service-Entrance Connection Sets

Each service drop or lateral shall supply only one set of service-entrance conductors.

SIZE AND RATING:

 Service entrance conductors shall not be smaller than:

1. 100 A ---- For one family dwelling with six or more 2-wire branchcircuits.

2. 60 A ---- For one family dwelling with an initial computed load of 10 kVA above.

3. 40 A ---- For other loads.

EXCEPTIONS:

1. For loads consisting of not more than 2 - wire branch circuits, 5.5 mm2copper or 8.0 mm2
aluminum or copper-clad aluminum.

2. By special permission, for loads limited by demand or by the source of supply, 5.5 mm2
copper or 8.0 mm2 aluminum or copper-clad aluminum.

3. For limited loads of single branch circuit, 3.5 mm2 copper or 5.5 mm2aluminum or
copper-clad aluminum.

INSTALLATION OF SERVICE CONDUCTORS

Code covering the type of wiring method used and limited to the following methods:

1. Open-wiring on insulators

2. Rigid Metal Conduit (RMC)

3. Intermediate Metallic Tubing (IMT) - thinner than RMC

4. Electrical Metallic Tubing (EMT)

5. Service-Entrance Cables

6. Wireways

7. Busways

8. Auxiliary gutters

9. Rigid Non-Metallic Conduit (RNMC)

10. Cable Bus

11. Mineral-Insulated Metal-Sheated Cable

12. Type MC Cables

THE SERVICE EQUIPMENT-DISCONNECTING

NUMBER OF DISCONNECTING MEANS:

The service disconnecting means for each set or each subset of service entrance
conductor shall consist of not more than six (6) switches or six (6) circuit breakers
mounted in a single enclosure, or in a switchboard.

LOCATION:

The service disconnecting means shall be installed either inside or outside the building or
other structure at a readily accessible location nearest the point of entrance of the service
entrance conductor.

RATING:

The service disconnecting means shall have a rating of not less than the load to be carried. In
no case shall the rating be lower than specified through:

1. One circuit installation -- The service disconnecting means shall have a rating of not less
than 15 Amperes.

2. Two circuit installation -- The service disconnecting means shall have a rating of not less
than 30 amperes.

3. One family dwelling -- The service disconnecting means shall have a rating of:

60 A -- where the initial computed loads is 10 kVA or more

100 A -- where the initial installations consist of six or more 2-wire branch circuit.

4. Others -- For all other installations, the service disconnecting means shall have a rating of
not less than 40 amperes.

Service entrance conductor shall have a short-circuit protective device in each

ungrounded conductors.

FEEDERS AND MAIN

Essential considerations being adapted or followed.

1. On large installation, one feeder is provided for each floor.

2. In small installations, one or two feeders is satisfactory.

3. Feeder for motor must be separate and independent from the light circuits.
4. Feeders requiring more than 50 mm diameter conduit should not be used.

[Link] should be subdivided if there are several bends or offsets because a 50 mm

conduit is the

largest that could be economically used.

6. Feeders radiating from the distributing panel should be provided each with a properly
rated switch

and circuit breaker.

GROUNDING PROTECTION

A ground is an electrical connection which may either be intentional or accidental between

an electric

circuit or equipment and the earth, or to some conducting body that serves in place of the
earth. The

purpose of grounding a circuit is to fix permanently a zero voltage point in the system. The
grounded

line of a circuit should not be broken nor fused to maintain a solid and uninterrupted
connection to the

ground.

Grounding could be accomplished in the following manner:

1. Connection to a buried cold water main.

2. Connection to a rod or group of rods.

3. Connection to a buried ground plate.

DESIGN COMPUTATION

Or design analysis where necessary shall be included on the drawings or may be submitted
on separate

sheets of uniform size paper, shall allow :

1. Illumination design computations and tabulated lighting levels in lux critical areas in
institutional,

Industrial recreational & commercial building.

2. Feed lines and protective devices of motors, electrical equipment and appliances
indicating types and
ratings.

3. Sizes of branch circuit wires, Feeders and busbars including protective devices.

4. Size and type of service entrance wires, race ways and equipment.

5. Setting / ratingsof over current devices.

THE CIRCUIT BREAKER AND THE FUSE

A circuit breaker is an overcurrent protective device also designed to function as a switch. It

is equipped

with an automatic tripping device to protect the branch circuit from overload and ground
fault.

A fuse is also an overcurrent protective device with a circuit opening fusible element which
opens when

there is an overcurrent in the circuit. It is considered as the simplest and the most common
circuit

protective device used into the house wiring connection.

Advantages of circuit breaker over a fuse

1. The circuit breaker acts as a switch aside from its being an overcurrent device.

2. When there is an overcurrent, the circuit breaker trips automatically and after correcting
the fault, it

is ready to be switched on again, unlike the fuse which has to be discarded and replaced
after it

is busted.

Advantages of fuse over a circuit breaker

1. One of its major advantage is its reliability and stability. It can stay on its position for years
and act

when called on to act as designed, unlike the circuit breaker which requires proper
maintenance and

periodic testing to keep it into a tip-top condition.

2. The cost of a fuse is less than that of a circuit breaker.

Position of Knife Switches

a) Single-throw Knife Switches. Single-throw knife switches shall be so placed that gravity
will not tend

to close them. Single-throw knife switches, approved for use in the inverted position, shall be
provided

with a locking device that will ensure that the blades remain in the open position when so
set.

b) Double-throw Knife Switches. Double-throw knife switches shall be permitted to be

mounted so that

the throw will be either vertical or horizontal. Where the throw is vertical, a locking device
shall be

provided to hold the blades in the open position when so set.

List of some good electrical List of some insulating materials

conductors
1. Rubber
1. Silver
2. Porcelain
2. Copper
3. Varnish
3. Aluminum
4. Slate
4. Nickel
5. Glass
5. Brass
6. Mica
6. Zinc
7. Latex
7. Platinum
8. Asbestos
8. Iron
9. Thermoplastics
9. Tin
10. Paper
10. Lead
11. Oils
12. Wax 13. Dry air

WIRES AND CABLES

Wires are those electrical conductors which are 8 mm2 (AWG no. 8) or smaller, while cables
are those

larger than the wires. They are either solid or stranded.

Stranded wire - consists of a group of wires twisted to form metallic string. The total
circular-mil area of

a stranded wire is found by multiplying the circular mil area of each strand by the total
number of

strand.

Cord is the term given to an insulated stranded wire.

CIRCULAR MIL. This is the unit of cross section in the American wire gauge. The term “mil”
means one-

thousandth of an inch (0.001 in.). It is the area of a circular wire having a diameter of one mil.
To find

the number of circular mils in a circle of a given diameter, we have to square the number of
mils in the

diameter.

Area in circular mil = ( diameter in mils )2

1 inch = 1,000 mils

MCM = 1,000 circular mils

SQUARE MIL. It is the area of a square having its side equal to 1 mil.

Square mil = ( sides )2 = ( 1 mil )2 = ( 0.001 in.)2 = 1 x 10-6 in.2

Square mil = 0.7854 x circular mils

CONDUCTOR AREAS:

CONVERSION FACTOR

Square inch = square mil x 0.000001

Square mil = square inch x 1,000,000

Square mil = circular mils x 0.7854

Circular mil = square mils x 1.273

Millimeter = inches x 25.4

Square mm = circular mils x 0.0005067

COMMONLY USED PREFIXES

PREFIX UNIT SYMBOL

deci 1 x 10-2 d milli 1 x 10-3 m

micro 1 x 10-6 m

nano 1 x 10-9 n

pico 1 x 10-12 p

deka 1 x 101 da

hecto 1 x 102 h

kilo 1 x 103 k

Mega 1 x 106 M

Giga 1 x 109 G

COMMONLY USED ENGLISH-METRIC EQUIVALENTS

English to Metric Metric to English

LENGTH

1 in = 25.4 mm 1 mm = 0.0394 in
1 in = 2.54 cm 1 cm = 0.394 in

1 ft = 304.8 mm 1 cm = 0.033 ft

1 ft = 30.48 cm 1 m = 39.37 in

1 ft = 0.305 m 1 m = 3.28 ft

1 yd = 0.915 m 1 km = 3280.83 ft

1 mi = 1609.34 m 1 km = 0.621 mi

1 mi = 1.609 km

AREA

1 sq in = 645.16 sq mm 1 sq cm =0.155 sq in

1 sq in = 6.45 sq cm 1 sq cm = 0.0011 sq ft

1 sq ft = 929.03 sq cm 1 sq m = 10.764 sq ft

1 sq ft = 0.093 sq m 1 sq m = 1.2 sq yd

DIFFERENT TYPES OF CABLES

1. Armored Cable. This type of cable, the type AC is a fabricated assembly of insulated
conductors

enclosed in flexible metalsheath. Armored cable is used in both exposed and concealed
work.

2. Metal Clad Cable. Cable of the type MC is a factory assembled cable of one or more
conductors, each

individually insulated and enclosed in a metallic sheath of interlocking tape, or a smooth or

corrugated

tube. This type is used specifically for services, feeders, branch circuits, either exposed or
concealed and

for indoor or outdoor work.

3. Mineral Insulated Cable. This type of cable, type MI, is a factory assembly of one or more
conductors

insulated with a highly compressed refractory mineral insulation and enclosed in liquid-tight
and gas-

tight continuous copper sheath. The type MI is used in dry, wet or continuously moist
location as service, feeders or branch circuit.

4. Nonmetallic Sheathed Cable. Types NM and NMC are factory assembled two or more
insulated

conductors having a moisture-resistant outer sheath, flame-retardant and non-metallic

material. These

types are used specifically for one or two dwelling not exceeding 3 storey buildings.

5. Shielded Nonmetallic Sheathed Cable. This type of cable, the type SNM, is a factory
assembly of two

or more insulated conductors in an extruded core or moisture-resistant and flame-retardant

material,

covered with an overlapping spiral metal tape. This type is used in hazardous locations and
in cable trays

or in raceways.

6. Service Entrance Cable. This is a single conductor or multiconductor assembly provided

with or

without an over-all covering, primarily used for services and of the types SE and USE.

7. Underground Feeder and Brach Circuit Cables. This type of cable, the type UF cable is a
moisture-

resistant cable used for underground, including direct burial in the ground, as feeder or
branch circuit.

8. Power and Control Tray Cable. Type TC cable is a factory assembly of two or more insulated
conductors with or without associated bare or covered grounding under a metallic sheath.
This is used

for installation in cable trays, raceways or where supported by a messenger wire.

9. Flat Cable Assemblies. This is an assembly of parallel conductors formed integrally with an
insulating

material web designed specifically for field installation in metal surface raceway. Cables of
this type are

the types FC.

10. Flat Conductor Cable. This type of cable, type FCC consists of three or more flat
conductors placed

edge to edge, separated and enclosed within an insulating assembly. This used for general
purpose,

appliance branch circuits and for individual branch circuits specifically on hard, smooth,
continuous floor

surfaces, etc.

[Link] Voltage Cables. MV cable is a single or multiconductor solid dielectric insulated

cable rated

2,001 volts or higher and is used for power systems up to 35,000 volts. The MV cables are of
different

types and characteristics.

RACEWAYS

Raceways are channels designed for holding wires, cables or bus-bars, which are either
made of metal or

insulating materials. The common types of raceways in household wiring are the a) conduits,
b)

connectors, and c) others.

a) Conduits

Conduits, pipes or tubings are the most common electrical raceway.

According to the type of materials used, conduit maybe classified as either metallic such as
steel pipes or

nonmetallic such as PVC, and the like.

According to its make, conduits maybe classified as: rigid metal, flexible metal, rigid
nonmetal and

flexible nonmetal.

b) Connectors

A connector is a metal sleeve usually made of copper that is slipped over and secured to the
butted ends

of conductors in making joint. A connector is also called a splicing sleeve.

c) Other Raceways

Aside from the conduits and connectors there are still numerous types and kinds of
raceways, among

these are the a) conduit couplings, elbows and other fittings; b) conduit supports, such as
clamps,

hangers,etc; c) cable trays, cablebus; d) metal raceways;e) nonmetal raceways.

OUTLETS, RECEPTACLES and other WIRING DEVICES OUTLETS.

An outlet is a point in the wiring system at which current is taken to supply utilization

equipment. The kinds of outlets are: convenience outlet or attachment cap, lighting outlet,
and

receptacle outlet.

A convenience outlet or attachment cap is a device which by insertion in a receptacle,

establishes

connection between the conductor of the flexible cord and the conductors connected
permanently to

the receptacle.

A lighting outlet is an outlet intended for direct connection of a lampholder, a lighting

fixture, or a

pendant cord terminating in a lampholder.

A receptacle outlet is an outlet where one or more receptacles are installed.

TYPES OF WIRES

T: The most ordinary type of plastic insulated wire is the “type T”. It may be used only in
dry locations.

TW - thermoplastic moisture resistant: may be used in wet or dry locations.

THW - thermoplastic heat and moisture resistant: is similar to Type TW but withstand a
greater degree of heat, and consequently has a higher ampacity rating in the larger sizes.

THHN - thermoplastic high heat resistant: dry and damp loc.

THWN - thermoplastic moisture and heat resistant: dry and wet loc.

XHHW - XLPE, heat and moisture resistant: In appearance, it resembles Types T, TW, THW
but because of somewhat thinner layer of insulation, the over-all diameter is smaller. The
insulation is “cross-linked synthetic polymer,” which has an extraordinary properties as to
insulating value, heat resistance, and moisture resistance. It may be used in dry or wet
locations. While at present, it is an expensive wire, it would be no surprise if in due course
of time, this one single type will replace all the many types and subtypes of Type T or R now
recognized by the Code.

R - which is suitable for only in dry locations, is no longer being made.

RHW - The most ordinary kind is Type RHW, which may be used for dry or wet locations.

RH & RHH - have insulation which withstands more heat and therefore have a higher
ampacity in the larger size. They may be used only in dry locations.

MINERAL INSULATED (MI) - jacketed, submarine cable

Flexible Metal Clad (FMC), Metal Clad (MC), Armored Cable or (BX) - flexible, cable built in.

NMSC - Non metallic metal shield cable

SNM Shielded Nonmetallic Sheated Cable - for telecommunications

Flat Cabling Assemblies (FC) - system furniture application/cable management

Flat Conductor Cable (FCC) - used for independent circuitry and for surface wiring

POWER CABLING -

KINDS OF LOCATIONS

DAMP LOCATION

Partially protected locations under canopies, marquees, roofed open porches, and like
locations, and

interior locations subjected to moderate degree of moisture, such as some basements, some
barns, and

some cold-storage warehouses.

DRY LOCATION

A location not normally subject to dampness or wetness. A location classified as dry may be
temporarily

subject to dampness or wetness, as in the case of a building under construction.

WET LOCATION

Installations underground or in concrete slabs or masonry in direct contact with the earth,
and location

subject to saturation with water or other liquids, such as vehicle washing areas, and locations
exposed

to weather and unprotected.

HAZARDOUS (CLASSIFIED) LOCATIONS

Locations where fire or explosion hazards may exist due to flammable gases or vapors,
flammable

liquids, combustible dust, or ignitible fibers or flyings.

1. Class I Locations. Class I locations are those in which flammable gases or vapors are or
may be present

in the air in quantities sufficient to produce explosive or ignitible mixtures.

a) Class I, Division 1. A Class I, Division 1 location is a location: I) in which igntible

concentrations of

flammable gases or vapors can exist under normal operating conditions; or ii) in which
ignitible

concentrations of such gas vapors may exist frequently because of repair or maintenance
operations or because of leakage; or iii) in which breakdown or faulty operation of
equipment or processes might simultaneous failure

of electric equipment.

release ignitible concentrations of flammable gases or vapors, and might also cause

b) Class I, Division 2. A Class I, Division 2 location is a location: I) in which volatile flammable

liquids or

flammable gases are handled, processes, or used, but in which the liquids, vapors, or gases
will normally

be confines within closed containers or closed systems from which they can escape only in
case of

accidental rupture or breakdown of such containers or systems, or in case of abnormal

operation of

equipment; or ii) in which ignitible concentrations of gases or vapors are normally prevented
by positive

mechanical ventilation, and which might become hazardous through failure or abnormal
operation of

the ventilating equipment; iii) that is adjacent to Class I, Division 1 location, and to which
ignitible

concentrations of gases or vapors might occasionally be communicated unless such

communication is

prevented by adequate positive ventilation from a source of clean air, and effective
safeguards against

ventilation failure are provided.

2. Class II Locations. Class II locations are those that are hazardous because of the presence
of combustible

dust.

a) Class II, Division 1. A class II, Division 1 location is a location: I) in which combustible dust is
in the air

normal operating conditions in quantities sufficient to produce explosive or ignitible

mixtures; or ii) where mechanical failure or abnormal operation of machinery or equipment
might cause such explosive

or ignitible mixtures to be produced, and might also provide a source of ignition through
simultaneous

failure of electric equipment, operation devices, or from other causes; or iii) in which
combustible dusts

of an electrically conductive nature may be present in hazardous quantities.

b) Class II, Division 2. A Class II, Division 2 location is a location where combustible dust is not
normally in

the air in quantities sufficient to produce explosive or ignitible mixtures, and dust
accumulations are

normally insufficient to interfere with the normal operation of electrical equipment or other
apparatus,

but combustible dust may be in suspension in the air as a result of infrequent

malfunctioning of handling
or processing equipment and where combustible dust accumulations on, in, or in the
vicinity of the

electrical equipment may be sufficient to interfere with the safe dissipation of heat from
electrical

equipment or may be ignitible by abnormal operation or failure of electrical equipment.

3. Class III Locations. Class III locations are those that are hazardous because of the
presence of easily

combustible fibers or flyings, but in which such fibers or flyings are not likely to be in
suspension in the

air in quantities sufficient to produce ignitible mixtures.

a) Class III, Division 1. A Class III, Divisions 1 location is a location in which easily ignitible fibers
or

materials producing combustible flyings are handled, manufactured, or used.

b) Class III, Division 2. A Class III, Division 2 location is a location in which easily ignitible fibers
are stored

or handled.

6 INDEPENDENT CIRCUITS

● Ref
● Aircon
● LPG
● Heater
● Booster pump
● Special motors (i.e boilers)

TYPES OF RACEWAYS

● Floor Raceways
● Underfloor Racewaus
 ● Cellular Metal Floor Raceway
● Cellular Concrete Floor Pavement

DEFINITION OF TERMS

VOLTAGE - Unit of electrical pressure or potential

ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE (EMF) - force which causes the movement of electricity

AMPERES - unit used to measure the magnitude of an electric current, inherent in wires

AMPACITY - current carrying capacity

CURRENT - flow of electricity

OHMS - unit for electrical resistance, inherent in insulators.

WATTS - rate of power, power consumption.

WATT METER - any one time

WATT HOUR KILOMETER - periodic. KWH

KILOWATT HOUR - 1000 watts. unit to measure the consumption of electrical energy

ALTERNATOR - AC generator

GENERATOR - mechanical energy to electrical energy

MOTOR - electrical energy to mechanical energy

BATTERY - primary - nonrenewable; secondary - rechargeable

TRANSFORMERS - used to “step up” or increase the electrical power to very high voltages
 CONDUCTORS - offers low resistance

INSULATORS- prevents flow of electric current

RACEWAY - channel

MAIN- is the feeder interior wiring extending from service switch,

generator bus, or converter bus to the

main distribution.

BRANCH CIRCUIT- is defined as the circuit conductors between the

final overcurrent device protecting

the circuit and the outlets. This means that the branch circuit is only
the wiring between the circuit

overcurrent protection device such as fuses or circuit breaker and

the outlets. However, it is a common

knowledge and practice that the branch circuit comprises the entire
circuit including the outlet

receptacles and other wiring devices.

ELECTRICAL POWER SOURCES:

● FOSSIL FUEL
● HYDRO ELECTRIC
● GEOTHERMAL
● NUCLEAR ENERGY
● SOLAR ENERGY