ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION GUIDE

RESIDENTIAL PRACTICAL EXERCISES

 SELECTION OF CONDUCTORS

For the design effects in a project of electrical conduits

residentials it is necessary to select the type and characteristics of the gauge
electric conductors to be used. Regarding the gauge, the selection is made
previously complying with the following:

Selection of the conductor by current capacity Selection of the conductor

due to voltage drop Selection of the conductor for short circuit Selection of the
conductor by voltage fluctuation Selection of the neutral conductor and grounding
earth.

At the residential level, short circuit levels are low and the
conductors selected based on current capacity and voltage drop,
they meet the short circuit requirements. For the cases of buildings
residential, commercial, office, or in industries, it will be necessary to determine the
short circuit level through the corresponding calculation. The selection of the
conductor gauge for short circuit will be done knowing the value of the current
of symmetrical short-circuit and the maximum time of the short-circuit duration, data
what will be obtained from the characteristics of the protection device that will clear
the fault. With this data, the wire gauge for this can be obtained.
condition.

For the selection of the conductor due to voltage fluctuation, an effect that
note clearly in the lighting, it will be advisable to observe certain rules that
The respective calculations will be made unnecessary. These are indicated below:

Always group the lighting loads and general outlets or

specials in separate circuits. In the case of large areas to be illuminated, foresee the
installation of exclusive panels for lighting.

In the case of residential buildings, a service panel will be installed.

generally, there will be exclusive circuits for lighting, others for outlets
general or special; and the circuits that power elevators and pumps by
separate.

It is worth noting that the effect of voltage fluctuation is perceived more

in incandescent lighting than in discharge. Therefore, it is recommended to use,
where it is not contraindicated, fluorescent light that is less sensitive to the
voltage variations.

As a conclusion for design purposes in interior circuits to a

The conductor gauge will be obtained based on current capacity
and due to voltage drop. "The one that is most unfavorable or the gauge
it will be the definitive solution.

For obtaining the current, the type of system will be taken into account.
distribution.

For the single-phase case 2 wires:

P
I=
VFF∗cos(0)

For the three-phase 3 or 4 wires

P
I=
√3∗¿ VFF∗cos 0¿
The current will be given in amperes, the power in watts, and the voltage in
volts. The current will be used to select the conductor by capacity of
current and to calculate the required distribution capacity (CD) for the
selection by voltage drop.

For the selection of the neutral conductor, the Standards must be observed.
from CEN. In section 215-4 and 220-22, it establishes everything related to the
obtaining it.

For circuits at 120V, the gauge of the two conductors

it will be the same, determined by the procedure previously indicated for the
active conductors. In the case of circuits at 208V or 240V with 2 or 3 wires,
will be determined by the current calculated from the maximum imbalance of
resultant loads, or else, the neutral of a smaller gauge will be taken, until
a current of 200 Amps. When the current of the active conductors
exceeds 200 Amps, both for 208 or 240 three wires, or three-phase 208V four
Wires, the first 200 Amps will be taken at 100% and the rest at 70%. This
current will be used both for the section by current capacity and by
voltage drop.

Regarding the selection of the grounding cable, based on what is indicated

according to the NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE (NEC). (See table No. 11 of the Appendix
From the book electrical channels Oswaldo Penissi.

PIPE SELECTION

Once the number of conductors and the gauge of the phases are determined,
neutral, grounding, and type of insulation, the next step will be to choose the section
of the required piping or base to accommodate them. It will first be necessary to define whether to

estimate leaving reserve space, or reserve tubes, for future expansions or

modifications to the conditions of the connected load. When multiple result
conductors per phase, depending on the magnitude of the load it is recommended to place each

theme with its neutral in separate pipes. An example of this case is that of the
building connections in an underground manner, where pipes can be used
plastics. For each case, it will be necessary to analyze what the best solution would be.

economic, among some alternatives, varying conductor sizes and type of

bench.

Finally, to size the pipes, the ELECTRICAL CODE

NATIONAL, in Chapter 9, presents tables to select the diameter of
pipes according to the conductor to be used. In Appendix 'A' of the book,
Electrical conduits Oswaldo Penissi several similar tables appear for
different conditions of new installations, re-wiring, or combinations of
wire gauges (see Tables No. 12 to 16). These tables are more
severe as those from the CEN, for this reason their use is recommended.

SELECTION OF PROTECTIONS

In the generality of cases of electrical installations

Residential buildings use electrical distribution panels by circuits.
Each of them will have thermal magnetic switches, which will
they can operate manually or will activate in case of a short circuit. The
design current will allow us to select the conductor and, through the
capacity of this, the one corresponding to the protection will be chosen. Thus by
for example, the case of a current load of a circuit of 12 Amps is cited.
choose 2 AWG No. 12 TW and the protection will be 20 Amp, which will be the current
maximum that the conductor being protected can withstand. It is recommended
use the following procedure to obtain the appropriate protection for
protect a conductor electric

Id = Design current obtained from calculations and estimates.

Id = Maximum permissible current of the selected conductor.

Consequently, the protection current will be:

ID+ IC
IP=
2

Subsequently, we will need to find the corresponding immediate solution to the

closest commercial size.
 PRACTICAL EXERCISES

1. Calculate the conductor gauge, diameter of the metal pipe and

protection, for a 208V three-phase copper THWN cable,
corriente de 85 Amp. distancia del circuito de 24 m. ΔV = 2% Fp = 0.9.

Selection of conductor gauge

a) Selection by Current Capacity

Since the statement does not indicate the ambient temperature, it will be assumed.

Tamb=30ͦc
The current of the load is 85 amps, the conductors will be housed in
metallic pipe according to table 310.16 CEN

3 active conductors AWG THWN # 4 are required.

b) Selection by voltage drop.

Three-Phase Circuits

=V a t l eD
[ VFF ]
√3∗L∗I ∗ZEF

According to the CABEL guide, the impedance for an AWG THHN #4 conductor
for metal tube is;

Z=1.02+J0,197Ω/ KM

So we must determine ZEF

[
ZEF= 1.02∗0.9 + J0,197∗sin cos 0,9]
] [ −1

ZEF= [0.918 ]+ [ 0.08587 ]

ZEF=1.00387Ω/km
 %ΔV=
[[ √ 3∗0.024km∗85
208 ] ]
∗1.00387Ω/km∗100

%∆V=1.7053%

Therefore, the THHN AWG #4 conductor meets the conditions of

current capacity and drop therefore the final selection will be 3
active conductors THHN AWG #4

Selection of commercial size of the protection

ID+ IC
IP=
2

85+ 95
IP= =90A
2

According to table 31 of the book, electrical conduits Oswaldo

penis the commercial size of the protection is:

3 x 90 Amper

To see if we have appropriately selected the size of the protection.

the following conditions must be met

ID<Ii

IP≤IC

Ii=1.13 IP

Where;

ID=85A

IP=90A

IC=95A
 Ii=1.13∗90=101.7A

So then

85A<101.7A

90A ≤ 95A

We observe that the conditions are met, therefore the size

the protection commercial will be an I.T.M of

3 x 90 Amer

Selection of the conductor gauge for grounding PAT

According to table 31 of the book, electrical conduits Oswaldo

the gauge of the Grounding Conductor PAT will be

THHN AWG # 8

Selection of the pipe diameter

According to table 15 of the book, electrical conduits Oswaldo

the diameter of the pipe will be:

3 THHN conductors AWG # 4 = 0.4815 in

1 conductor THHN AWG # 8 = 0.0760 in

0.5575 plg

For 3 or more conductors, the diameter that allows a value of 0.5575 in is

the 0.82 inches that correspond to a pipe with a diameter of 11/2plg.
 2. Determine the wire gauge, protection, and pipe diameter of
aluminio, para I = 43 Amp., longitud = 78 m. Tensión 277V, monofásico,
ambient temperature 40°C. The conductor will be of the aluminum TTU type,
with a working temperature of 75°C. ΔV = 2.5%, Fp = 0.9.

Selection of the conductor gauge

a) Current carrying capacity selection

Tamb=40°C

The current of the load is 43 amperes, the conductors will be housed in

aluminum tubing according to table 310.16 CEN for a
ambient temperature 40°C a correction factor must be applied
temperature at which we will indicate it with the letters "FcT".

FcT=0,88

Where FcT corresponds to the temperature correction factor.

According to table 310.16 CEN we will begin by selecting a

aluminum conductor TTU AWG # 6 that handles a current IC = 50
Amper for an ambient temperature of 30°C. As the temperature is
from 40°C we will have to apply the temperature correction factor of the
next way
IC=50*0.88 = 44 Amperes
According to the result obtained 44 Amper we observe that the
aluminum conductor TTU AWG # 6 is capable of carrying 43 amps
the Load.

b) Selection by voltage drop:

 Single-phase circuits

=V a t l eD
[ 2∗L∗I
VFF ]
∗ZEF

According to the CABEL guide, the impedance for a TTU AWG # 6 conductor
for aluminum tube is;

Z=2.66+ J0,167Ω/ KM

So we must determine ZEF

[
ZEF= 2.66∗0.9 + J0,167∗sin cos 0,9]
] [ −1

ZEF= [2,394 ]+ [0.07279 ]

ZEF=2.4667Ω/km

%∆V=
[[ 2∗0.078km∗43
277 ]
∗2.4667Ω/km∗100
]
%ΔV=5.97%

As we can observe, the TTU AWG # 6 conductor shows a drop of

tension of 5.97% that does not correspond to the voltage drop of the exercise
which should be 2.5%. Therefore, we must select a conductor of
major caliber

Select a TTU AWG # 1/0 conductor

Z=0.689+ J0.144Ω/ KM

So we must determine ZEF

[
ZEF= 0,689∗0.9 + J0,144∗sin cos 0.9]
] [ −1
 ZEF= [0.6201 ] + [ 0.06276 ]

ZEF=0,6828Ω/km

%∆V=
[[ 2∗0,078km∗43
277 ] ]
∗0.6828Ω/km∗100

%∆V=1.65%
As we can see, the TTU AWG # 1/0 conductor meets the drop.
exercise tension therefore the final selection will be 2 conductors
TTU AWG # 1/0.

Selection of the commercial size of the protection

ID+ IC
IP=
2

43+120
IP= =81.5A
2

According to table 31 of the book, electrical conduits Oswaldo

penis the commercial size of the protection It is:

2 x 90 Amper

To see if we have correctly selected the size of the protection

the following conditions must be met

ID<Ii

IP ≤ IC

Ii=1.13 IP

Where;

ID=43A
 IP=90A

IC=120A

Ii=1,13∗90=101.7A

So

43A< 101.7A

90A ≤ 120A

We observe that the conditions are met, therefore the size

The protection commercial will be an I.T.M of

2 x 90 Americas

Selection of the conductor gauge for Grounding PAT

According to table 31 of the book, electrical conduits Oswaldo

the gauge of the Earth Grounding conductor PAT will be

THHN AWG # 8

Selection of the pipe diameter

According to table 15 of the book, electrical conduits Oswaldo

the diameter of the pipe will be:

2 THHN conductors AWG # 1/0 = 0.6214 in

1 conductor THHN AWG # 8 = 0.0760 inch

=0.6974 plg

For 3 or more conductors, the diameter that allows a value of 0.6974 in is

the 0.82 inches that correspond to a pipe with a diameter of 11/2plg.

PROPOSED EXERCISES
1. Calculate the conductor gauge, pipe diameter, and protection
using copper TW, 120V (Single-phase) and a current I = 26 Amp.
For a distance of 18 m. The ΔV = 1%, in plastic pipe Fp = 0.95.