UNIT-5 (Electrical Installation)

* Introduction:- Electrical installation is an assembly of equipments and components to

reliably and safely distribute and use Electrical Power.

* Switch gear:- The Switchgear are the apparatus and equipment used for switching,
Protection and control of Electrical Power. The basic function of Switchgear is Protection.
Depending upon the voltage level, switch gear may be classified as LV Switchgear, MV
switch gear and HV& EHV Switchgear.
* Lay out of LT Switchgear:- The single line diagram of the arrangement of different
components and switchgear is known as layout of switchgear. In single line representation of
substation the electrical components such as power transformers, incoming and outgoing
lines, bus-bars , and protecting equipments, are represented by standard symbols and
interconnections between them. The lay out diagram of LT system is shown as:
* Switch Fuse Unit:- It is also known as main switch. It consists of a fuse unit in series
with a switch unit as shown in fig. Fuse unit a most reliable electrical safety device that burns
out when the current through it exceeds its melting current. Thus it protect electrical
installation. Its essential component is a metal wire or strip of selected over current rating that
melts when current exceeds the ratings.

The operating time of a fuse is inversely proportional

to square of the current above the threshold value.
The fuses are available for different rated ratings from
few milliampere to hundreds of Amperes.

The switch unit is simply ON/OFF device. The supply

to fuse unit goes through switch unit. When we have
to replace a fuse or carry out maintenance in
installation, switch unit is switched off with the help
of handle.
* Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB):- MCB or Miniature Circuit Breaker is an
electromagnetic device which protects an electric circuit from the over current automatically.
The main function of MCB is to disconnect the circuit from supply automatically when the
current passing through MCB exceeds the specified value. It can also be switched ON and
OFF manually.

Working Principle of MCB:-

Under normal working conditions, MCB operates as a switch (manual one) to make the
circuit ON or OFF. Under overload or short circuit condition, it automatically operates or
trips so that current interruption takes place in the load circuit. The visual indication of this
trip can be observed by automatic movement of the operating knob to OFF position. This
automatic operation MCB can be obtained in two ways as we have seen in MCB
construction; those are magnetic tripping and thermal tripping.

Under overload condition, the current through the bimetal causes to raise the temperature of
it. The heat generated within the bimetal itself enough to cause deflection due to thermal
expansion of metals. This deflection further releases the trip latch and hence contacts get
separated. In some MCBs, magnetic field generated by the coil causes develop pull on
bimetal such that it deflection activates the tripping mechanism.

Under short circuit or heavy overload conditions, magnetic tripping arrangement comes into
the picture. Under normal working condition, the slug is held in a position by light spring
because magnetic field generated by the coil is not sufficient to attract the latch. When a fault
current flows, the magnetic field generated by the coil is sufficient to overcome the spring
force holding slug in position. And hence slug moves and then actuate the tripping
mechanism.
A combination of both magnetic and thermal tripping mechanisms are implemented in most
of MCBs. In both magnetic and thermal tripping operations, an arc is formed when the
contacts start separating. This arc is then forced into arc splitter plates via arc runner. These
arc splitter plates are also called arc chutes where arc is formed into a series of arcs and at the
same time energy extracted and cools it. Hence this arrangement achieves the arc extinction.

Types of MCB:-
MCBs are classified into three major types according to their instantaneous tripping currents.
They are
1. Type B MCB
2. Type C MCB
3. Type D MCB

Type B MCB
This type of MCB will trip instantly at a rate of three to five times its rated current. These are
normally used for resistive or small inductive loads where switching surges are very small.
Therefore, these are suitable for residential or light commercial installations.
Type C MCB
This type of MCB will trip instantly at a rate of five to ten times its rated current. These are
normally used for high inductive loads where switching surges are high such as small motors
and florescent lighting. In such cases, type C MCBs are preferred to handle higher value of
short circuit currents. Therefore, these are suitable for highly inductive commercial
and industrial installations.
Type D MCB
This type of MCB will trip instantly at a rate of ten to twenty five times its rated current.
These are normally used for very high inductive loads where high inrush current are very
frequent. These are suitable for specific industrial and commercial applications. The common
examples of such applications include x-ray machines, UPS systems, industrial welding
equipment, large winding motors, etc.
The above three types of MCBs provide protection within one tenth of a sec. The minimum
and maximum trip currents of these MCBs are given in a tablular form below, where Ir is the
rated current of the MCB. MCBs can also be classified based on number of poles such as
single pole, double pole, triple pole and four pole MCBs.
* MOLDED Case Circuit Breaker (MCCB):-

Comparison of MCB and MCCB:-

1. An MCB has less than 100 amps, while an MCCB goes as high as 2500 amps.
2. The interrupting rating for an MCB is 18,000 amps , and up to 20,00,000 amps for
MCCB.
3. MCBs are mostly installed for home use, while an MCCB is generally utilized for
commercial or industrial purposes.
4. Both are low- voltage circuit breakers created to meet IEC 947 standards.
5. Some MCCB units are specially made to respond to remote control signals, usually as
standby power.

* Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker( ELCB) :-

Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB) is a device used to directly detect currents leaking to
earth from an installation and cut the power and mainly used in TT earthing systems.
How to Connect Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker
The earth circuit is adapted when an ELCB is used; the connection to the earth rod is
accepted through the earth leakage circuit breaker by linking to its two earth terminals. One
goes to the fitting earth circuit protective conductor (CPC), and the other to the earth rod or
another kind of earth connection. Thus the earth circuit permits through the ELCB’s sense
coil.

Types of Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker :-

1. Voltage Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker

2. Current Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker

1. Voltage Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker :-

2. Current Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker:-

* Electrical Earthing :-
To connect the metallic (conductive) Parts of an Electric appliance or installations to the earth
(ground) is called Earthing or Grounding.
In other words, to connect the metallic parts of electric machinery and devices to the earth
plate or earth electrode (which is buried in the moisture earth) through a thick conductor wire
(which has very low resistance) for safety purpose is known as Earthing or grounding.
Importance of Earthing :-

Here are 5 main reasons why grounding electrical currents is so important.

1. Protection against electrical overload :-
One of the most important reasons for grounding electrical currents is that it protects your
appliances, your home and everyone in it from surges in electricity. If lightning was to strike or the
power was to surge at your place for whatever reason, this produces dangerously high voltages of
electricity in your system. If your electrical system is grounded, all of that excess electricity will go
into the earth — rather than frying everything connected to your system.
2. Helps direct electricity :-
Having your electrical system grounded means you will be making it easy for power to be directed
straight to wherever you need it, allowing electrical currents to safely and efficiently travel
throughout your electrical system.
3. Stabilises voltage levels :-
A grounded electrical system also makes it easier for the right amount of power to be distributed to
all the right places, which can play a huge role in helping to ensure circuits aren’t overloaded and
blown. The earth provides a common reference point for the many voltage sources in an electrical
system.
4. Earth is the best conductor :-
One of the reasons why grounding helps to keep you safe is because the earth is such a great
conductor, and because excess electricity will always take the path of least resistance. By grounding
your electrical system, you are giving it somewhere to go other than into you – possibly saving your
life.
5. Prevents damage, injury and death :-
Without a properly grounded electrical system, you are risking any appliances you have connected
to your system being fried beyond repair. In the worst-case scenario, an overload of power can even
cause a fire to start, risking not just extensive property and data loss but physical injury as well.
Types Of Earthing :-

Methods of Earthing:-

1. Plate Earthing :-
A 2 to 3 metre deep pit is dig into the ground and
a galvanised iron (GI) plate is placed along with
charcoal and sand. An earth wire, which is of GI
or tinned copper, is bolted to the plate. The plate
is at least 0.6 m away from building foundations.
The layer of salt and charcoal are 30mm and
80mm thick. The earth wire is connected to earth
point of the socket and is finally covered.

2. Pipe Earthing :-
In pipe earthing , a GI pipe of 35-75 mm
diameter with a few holes at its lower end is
buried in the dig out pit along with sand and
charcoal. The pipe is provided with several holes
to maintain dampness around and maintain
conductivity. The earth wire is connected
through clamping near the summit.
3. Rod Earthing:-

Rod Earthing is similar to pipe earthing . this

method uses hammering of zinc or copper
rods of about 1-1.5m length and 12-20 mm
diameter into the earth. Successive rods are
connected together and this chain is tried
making as long as possible for reducing the
resistance by surrounding soil. The earth wire
is tied and clamped near the summit. This
method is very quick and cost effective .

4. Earthing through the water mains:-

In this type of earthing the GI or copper wire

are connected to the water mains with the
help of the steel binding wire which is fixed
on copper lead as shown below.
The water pipe is made up of metal, and it is
placed below the surface of the ground, i.e.
directly connected to earth. The fault current
flow through the GI or copper wire is directly
get earthed through the water pipe.

5. Strip or Wire Earthing:-

In this type of earthing, a strip electrode of cross sections not less than 25mm * 1.6 mm is
buried in a horizontal trench of depth not less than 0.5m. if copper is used , then desired cross
section is25mm *4mm and if galvanized steel / iron is used, then desired cross – section is
3mm2. If round conductor is used, the cross section area should not be very small( less than
6mm2). The length of conductor not be less than 15m for providing sufficient earth
resistances.

* Power Measurement :-
Wattmeter is a device which is used to measure the power . This instruments having two coils
one is potential coil and second one is current coil. The potential coil have high resistance
and is connected across the load and carries the current proportional to potential differential.
The current coil having low resistance and connected in series to the load.

Types of power measurement :-

1. One wattmeter method
2. Two wattmeter method
3. Three wattmeter method
1. Three Wattmeter method :-

2. One Wattmeter method:-

3. Two Wattmeter method:-
Numericals:-