APE 131

FARM ELECTRIFICATION
LABORATORY EXERCISE #4
TITLE: WIRING PRACTICES: THE BRANCH CIRCUIT
OBJECTIVE: TO FAMILIARIZE WITH THE NATURE OF THE ELECTRICAL BRANCH CIRCUIT AND ITS
COMPONENTS, AND BE ABLE TO FULLY ILLUSTRATE ITS APPLICATION AND USEFULNESS.
METHODOLOGY:
(1.) DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING COMPREHENSIVELY.
a. RACEWAYS, CONDUITS AND CONNECTORS.
An electrical conduit is a tubing system used for protection and routing
of electrical wiring. Electrical conduit may be made of metal, plastic, fiber, or fired clay.
Flexible conduit is available for special purposes.
Conduit is generally installed by electricians at the site of installation of electrical
equipment. Its use, form, and installation details are often specified by wiring
regulations, such as the US National Electrical Code (NEC) or other national or local
code. The term "conduit" is commonly used by electricians to describe any system that
contains electrical conductors, but the term has a more restrictive technical definition
when used in official wiring regulations.
Comparison with other wiring methods
Electrical conduit provides very good protection to enclosed conductors from
impact, moisture, and chemical vapors. Varying numbers, sizes, and types of conductors
can be pulled into a conduit, which simplifies design and construction compared to
multiple runs of cables or the expense of customized composite cable. Wiring systems in
buildings may be subject to frequent alterations. Frequent wiring changes are made
simpler and safer through the use of electrical conduit, as existing conductors can be
withdrawn and new conductors installed, with little disruption along the path of the
conduit.
A conduit system can be made waterproof or submersible. Metal conduit can be
used to shield sensitive circuits from electromagnetic interference, and also can prevent
emission of such interference from enclosed power cables.
When installed with proper sealing fittings, a conduit will not permit the flow of
flammable gases and vapors, which provides protection from fire and explosion hazard
in areas handling volatile substances.
Some types of conduit are approved for direct encasement in concrete. This is
commonly used in commercial buildings to allow electrical and communication outlets
to be installed in the middle of large open areas. For example, retail display
cases and open-office areas use floor-mounted conduit boxes to connect power and
communications cables.
Both metal and plastic conduit can be bent at the job site to allow a neat
installation without excessive numbers of manufactured fittings. This is particularly
advantageous when following irregular or curved building profiles. Special equipment is
used to bend the conduit without kinking or denting it.
The cost of conduit installation is higher than other wiring methods due to the
cost of materials and labor. In applications such as residential construction, the high
degree of physical damage protection may not be not required, so the expense of
conduit is not warranted. Conductors installed within conduit cannot dissipate heat as
readily as those installed in open wiring, so the current capacity of each conductor must
be reduced (derated) if many are installed in one conduit. It is impractical, and
prohibited by wiring regulations, to have more than 360 degrees of total bends in a run
of conduit, so special outlet fittings must be provided to allow conductors to be installed
without damage in such runs.
Some types of metal conduit may also serve as a useful bonding conductor for
grounding (earthing), but wiring regulations may also dictate workmanship standards or
supplemental means of grounding for certain types. While metal conduit may
sometimes be used as agrounding conductor, the circuit length is limited. For example, a
long run of conduit as grounding conductor may have too high an electrical resistance,
and not allow proper operation of overcurrent devices on a fault.
Types of conduit
Conduit systems are classified by the wall thickness, mechanical stiffness, and
material used to make the tubing. Materials may be chosen for mechanical
protection, corrosionresistance, and overall cost of the installation (labor plus material
cost). Wiring regulations for electrical equipment in hazardous areas may require
particular types of conduit to be used to provide an approved installation.
Metal conduits
Rigid Metal Conduit (RMC) is a thick-walled threaded tubing, usually made of
coated steel, stainless steel or aluminum.
Galvanized rigid conduit (GRC) is galvanized steel tubing, with a tubing wall that
is thick enough to allow it to be threaded. Its common applications are in commercial
and industrial construction.[1]
Intermediate Metal Conduit (IMC) is a steel tubing heavier than EMT but lighter
than RMC. It may be threaded.
Electrical metallic tubing (EMT), sometimes called thin-wall, is commonly used
instead of galvanized rigid conduit (GRC), as it is less costly and lighter than GRC. EMT
itself is not threaded, but can be used with threaded fittings that clamp to it. Lengths of
conduit are connected to each other and to equipment with clamp-type fittings. Like
GRC, EMT is more common in commercial and industrial buildings than in residential
applications. EMT is generally made of coated steel, though it may be aluminum.
Aluminum conduit, similar to galvanized steel conduit, is a rigid tube, generally
used in commercial and industrial applications where a higher resistance to corrosion is
needed. Such locations would include food processing plants, where large amounts
of water and cleaning chemicals would make galvanized conduit unsuitable. Aluminum
cannot be directly embedded in concrete, since the metal reacts with
the alkalis in cement. The conduit may be coated to prevent corrosion by incidental
contact with concrete. Aluminum conduit is generally lower cost than steel in addition
to have a lower labor cost to install, since a length of aluminum conduit will have about
one-third the weight of an equally-sized rigid steel conduit.[2]
In extreme corrosion environments where plastic coating of the tubing is
insufficient, conduits may be made from stainless steel, bronze, or brass.
Non-metal conduits
Plastic tubing for use as electrical conduit.
PVC conduit is the lightest in weight compared to other conduit materials, and
usually lower in cost than other forms of conduit. In North American electrical practice,
it is available in three different wall thicknesses, with the thin-wall variety only suitable
for embedded use in concrete, and heavier grades suitable for direct burial and exposed
work. Most of the various fittings made for metal conduit are also available in PVC form.
The plastic material resists moisture and many corrosive substances, but since the
tubing is non-conductive an extra bonding (grounding) conductor must be pulled into
each conduit. PVC conduit may be heated and bent in the field, by using special heating
tools designed for the purpose.
Joints to fittings are made with slip-on solvent-welded connections, which set up
rapidly after assembly and attain full strength in about one day. Since slip-fit sections do
not need to be rotated during assembly, the special union fittings used with threaded
conduit (such as Ericson) are not required. Since PVC conduit has a higher coefficient of
thermal expansion than other types, it must be mounted to allow for expansion and
contraction of each run. Care should be taken when installing PVC underground in
multiple or parallel run configurations due to mutual heating effect of densely packed
cables, because the conduit will deform when heated.
Rigid Nonmetallic Conduit (RNC) is a non-metallic unthreaded smooth-walled tubing.
Electrical Nonmetallic Tubing (ENT) is a thin-walled corrugated tubing that is
moisture-resistant and flame retardant. It is pliable such that it can be bent by hand,
and is often flexible although the fittings are not. It is not threaded due to its corrugated
shape, although some fittings might be.
Flexible conduits
Flexible metallic conduit used in an underground parking facility.
Flexible conduits are used to connect to motors or other devices where isolation
from vibration is useful, or where an excess number of fittings would be needed to use
rigid connections. Electrical codes may restrict the length of a run of some types of
flexible conduit.
Flexible Metallic Conduit (FMC, often informally called greenfield or flex) is made
by the helical coiling of a self-interlocked ribbed strip of aluminum or steel, forming a
hollow tube through which wires can be pulled. FMC is used primarily in dry areas
where it would be impractical to install EMT or other non-flexible conduit, yet where
metallic strength to protect conductors is still required. The flexible tubing does not
maintain any permanent bend, and can flex freely.
FMC may be used as an equipment grounding conductor if specific provisions are
met regarding the trade size and length of FMC used, depending on the amperage of the
circuits contained in the conduit. In general, an equipment grounding conductor must
be pulled through the FMC with an ampacity suitable to carry the fault current likely
imposed on the largest circuit contained within the FMC.
Liquid tight Flexible Metal Conduit (LFMC) is a metallic flexible conduit covered
by a waterproof plastic coating. The interior is similar to FMC.
Flexible Metallic Tubing (FMT) is not the same as Flexible Metallic Conduit (FMC)
which is described in National Electrical Code (NEC) Article 348. FMT is a raceway, but
not a conduit and is described in a separate NEC Article 360. It only comes in 1/2" &
3/4" trade sizes, whereas FMC is sized 1/2" ~ 4" trade sizes. NEC 360.2 describes it as: "A
raceway that is circular in cross section, flexible, metallic and liquidtight without a
nonmetallic jacket."
Liquid tight Flexible Nonmetallic Conduit (LFNC) refers to several types of flame-
resistant non-metallic tubing. Interior surfaces may be smooth or corrugated. There may
be integral reinforcement within the conduit wall. It is also known as FNMC.
Underground conduit
Conduit may be installed underground between buildings, structures, or devices
to allow installation of power and communication cables. An assembly of these
conduits, often called a duct bank, may either be directly buried in earth, or encased in
concrete (sometimes with reinforcing rebar to aid against shear forces). Alternatively, a
duct bank may be installed in a utility tunnel. A duct bank will allow replacement of
damaged cables between buildings or additional power and communications circuits to
be added, without the expense of re-excavation of a trench. While metal conduit is
occasionally used for burial, usually PVC, polyethylene or polystyrene plastics are now
used due to lower cost, easier installation, and better resistance to corrosion.
Formerly, compressed asbestos fiber mixed with cement (such as Transite) was
used for some underground installations. Telephone and communications circuits were
typically installed in fired-clay conduit.
Surface Mounted Raceway (wire molding)
This type of "decorative" conduit is designed to provide an aesthetically
acceptable passageway for wiring without hiding it inside or behind a wall. This is used
where additional wiring is required, but where going through a wall would be difficult or
require remodeling. The conduit has an open face with removable cover, secured to the
surface, and wire is placed inside. Plastic raceway is often used
for telecommunication wiring, such as network cables in an older structure, where it is
not practical to drill through concrete block.

b. THE OVERHEAD LIGHT AND SWITCHES
i. THE OVERHEAD LIGHT
The overhead light are commonly used for providing good 'general
illumination' and are very practical in high traffic areas as well as rooms with
lower ceilings. Ceiling lights are as attractive as they are practical.

ii. THE FULL-CHAIN SWITCHES
A pull switch is a switch that is actuated by means of a chain or string.
An electric pull switch is attached to a toggle type switch: one pull to
switch on and next pull to switch off.
The most common use of a pull switch is to operate a ceiling electric light.
The ceiling fan is another appliance often operated by pull switches. Pull
switches may be either two-position (open or closed) or multi-position (allowing
for different fan speeds or levels of illumination).
Mounted inside a pull switch, there could be two types of two-position
toggle switches. (In both cases the stable physical open- or closed -situation
would be switch in outer and string in upper position.) One type would switch to
closed (alternatively open) already during the initial pull in the string. The other
type would switch to closed (or open) only when releasing after a full pull. With
the first type, the weight of the string and handle could accidentally switch the
load intermittently on and off, when still around the initial position (depending
on the internal spring). This could potentially increase the danger of overheating
in the switch.
In a damp environment, electrical pull switches have a safety advantage
because the user is separated from the electricity by a significant distance and if
the lead is made of an electrically insulating material, such as cotton string
.

Most commercially available pull switches use a short length of ball chain,
which may then be connected to any number of optional leads for added length
or decoration. Leads for decoration or utility are usually made of metal or plastic.
They can come in many different shapes ranging from animals, geometric
shapes, or look just like a weight.

iii. 3-WAY AND 4-WAY SWITCHES
c. THE JUNCTION BOX
An electrical junction box is a container for electrical connections, usually
intended to conceal them from sight and deter tampering. A small metal or
plastic junction box may form part of anelectrical conduit or thermoplastic-
sheathed cable (TPS) wiring system in a building. If designed for surface
mounting, it is used mostly in ceilings, under floors or concealed behind an
access panel - particularly in domestic or commercial buildings. An appropriate
type (such as that shown on the right) may be buried in the plaster of a wall
(although full concealment is no longer allowed by modern codes and standards)
or cast into concrete - with only the cover visible.
It sometimes includes in-built terminals for the joining of wires.
A similar, usually wall mounted, container used mainly to accommodate
switches. Sockets and the associated connecting wiring is called a pattress.
The term junction box may also be used for a larger item, such as a piece
of street furniture. In the UK, such items are often called a cabinet.
See Enclosure (electrical).
Junction boxes form an integral part of a circuit protection system
where circuit integrity has to be provided, as for emergency lighting or
emergency power lines, or the wiring between a nuclear reactor and a control
room. In such an installation, the fireproofing around the incoming or outgoing
cables must also be extended to cover the junction box to prevent short
circuits inside the box during an accidental fire.

d. THE SERVICE-ENTRANCE SWITCH
The circuit breaker or switch, with fuses and accessories, located near the
point of entrance of supply conductors to a building and intended to be
the main control and cut-off for the electrical supply to that building.

e. WIRES
i. TYPES OF WIRES
Solid wire
Solid wire, also called solid-core or single-strand wire, consists of one
piece of metal wire. Solid wire is useful for wiring breadboards. Solid wire is
cheaper to manufacture than stranded wire and is used where there is little
need for flexibility in the wire. Solid wire also provides mechanical ruggedness;
and, because it has relatively less surface area which is exposed to attack by
corrosives, protection against the environment.
Stranded wire
Stranded wire is composed of a number of small gauge wire bundled or
wrapped together to form a larger conductor. Stranded wire is more flexible
than solid wire of the same total cross-sectional area. Stranded wire tends to be
a better conductor than solid wire because the individual wires collectively
comprise a greater surface area. Stranded wire is used when higher resistance
to metal fatigue is required. Such situations include connections between circuit
boards in multi-printed-circuit-board devices, where the rigidity of solid wire
would produce too much stress as a result of movement during assembly or
servicing; A.C. line cords for appliances; musical instrument cables; computer
mouse cables; welding electrode cables; control cables connecting moving
machine parts; mining machine cables; trailing machine cables; and numerous
others.
At high frequencies, current travels near the surface of the wire because
of the skin effect, resulting in increased power loss in the wire. Stranded wire
might seem to reduce this effect, since the total surface area of the strands is
greater than the surface area of the equivalent solid wire, but ordinary stranded
wire does not reduce the skin effect because all the strands are short-circuited
together and behave as a single conductor. A stranded wire will have higher
resistance than a solid wire of the same diameter because the cross-section of
the stranded wire is not all copper; there are unavoidable gaps between the
strands (this is the circle packing problem for circles within a circle). A stranded
wire with the same cross-section of conductor as a solid wire is said to have the
same equivalent gauge and is always a larger diameter.
However, for many high-frequency applications, proximity effect is more
severe than skin effect, and in some limited cases, simple stranded wire can
reduce proximity effect. For better performance at high frequencies, litz wire,
which has the individual strands insulated and twisted in special patterns, may
be used.
Braided wire
A braided wire is composed of a number of small strands of wire braided
together. Similar to stranded wires, braided wires are better conductors than
solid wires. Braided wires do not break easily when flexed. Braided wires are
often suitable as an electromagnetic shield in noise-reduction cables.

ii. WIRE SPECIFICATIONS



iii. WIRE APPLICATION: SCHEMATIC AND WIRING DIAGRAMS, SPLICING AND
OTHER WIRING PRACTICES.

A wiring diagram is a simplified conventional pictorial representation of
an electrical circuit. It shows the components of the circuit as simplified shapes,
and the power and signal connections between the devices.
A wiring diagram usually gives more information about the relative
position and arrangement of devices and terminals on the devices, to help in
building the device. This is unlike a schematic diagram, where the arrangement
of the components' interconnections on the diagram usually does not
correspond to the components' physical locations in the finished device. A
pictorial diagram would show more detail of the physical appearance, whereas a
wiring diagram uses a more symbolic notation to emphasize interconnections
over physical appearance.
A wiring diagram is used to troubleshoot problems and to make sure that all
the connections have been made and that everything is present.


(2.) SKETCHES, DRAWINGS, OR PICTURES MAY BE USED TO ILLUSTRATE WHAT IS NEEDED TO
BE SHOWN PICTORIALLY.















Service Entrance Switch



















Wiring Application: Wiring Diagram
















Wiring Application: Schematic Diagram


Wiring Application: Splicing Diagram







CONCLUSIONS
To sum up everything, this massive research has found out that there is an imperative
nee to familiarize the nature of the electrical branch circuit as well as know its basic
components. Having all of these, one can fully illustrate its practical application and be
able to appreciate it usefulness.

REFERENCES

http://ehstoday.com/safety/don-t-be-shocked-static-electricity-q
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atom
http://www.sciences360.com/index.php/the-components-of-an-atom-2-12400/
http://www.physics.uoguelph.ca/tutorials/ohm/Q.ohm.intro.html
http://inspectapedia.com/electric/Electrical_Definitions.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_current