Module 6

Branch Circuit
Computations

Engr. Gerard Ang

School of EECE
 Computation of Loads for a
Typical Residential Unit
• A single family dwelling unit has a floor
area of 220 sq. m. exclusive of unoccupied
basement and open porches. It has three
20 A small appliance branch circuits, one
20 A laundry circuit, a 10 kW electric
range, a 5 kW clothes dryer and two 3/4
HP and one 1.5 HP air conditioning units.
 Branch Circuits

• Branch Circuit No. 1: Lighting loads

• Branch Circuit No. 2: Small Appliance Loads
• Branch Circuit No. 3: Small Appliance Loads
• Branch Circuit No. 4: Small Appliance Loads
• Branch Circuit No. 5: Laundry Loads
• Branch Circuit No. 6: 10 kW Electric Range
• Branch Circuit No. 7: 5 kW Clothes Dryer
• Branch Circuit No. 8: 3/4 HP Air-Conditioning Unit
• Branch Circuit No. 9: 3/4 HP Air-Conditioning Unit
• Branch Circuit No. 10: 1.5 HP Air-Conditioning Unit
 Computation of Loads for a
Typical Residential Unit
A. General Lighting Load and Convenience Receptacle
(Branch Circuit No. 1)
Typical Residential Unit at 220 sq. m.
Load = 220 sq m x 24 VA/sq. m = 5,280 volt-amperes
Load Current = 5,280/230 = 22.96 Amperes

 Use 2 – 3.5 mm², copper TW, branch circuit conductors.

Refer to Table 3.10.1.16 for ampacities of insulated
conductors.
 Use 15 mm diameter rigid PVC conduit. Refer to Table C10
for size of conduit.
 Provide one (1) 25 A branch circuit. Refer to section 2.40.1.6
for standard ampere trip ratings of circuit breakers.
 Computation of Loads for a
Typical Residential Unit

B. Small Appliance Load (Branch Circuit Nos. 2 – 4)

Load = 20 A @ 1,500 volt-amperes = 1,500 volt-amperes
Where 1,500 volt-amperes as per Section 2.20.3.13(a)
Load current = 1,500/230 = 6.52 amperes

 Use 2 – 2.00 mm² copper, TW branch circuit conductors.

Refer to Table 3.10.1.16 for ampacity of the conductor.
 Use 15 mm dia. Rigid PVC conduit.
 Provide one(1) 20 A small appliance branch circuit as per
Section 2.10.1.11(c)(1) or Section 2.10.3.3(b)(1).
 Computation of Loads for a
Typical Residential Unit
C. Laundry Circuit (Branch Circuit No. 5)
Load = 20 A at 1,500 volt-amperes = 1,500 volt-amperes
Where 1,500 volt-amperes as per section 2.20.3.13(b)
Load Current = 1,500 VA/230 = 6.52 amperes

 Use 2 – 2.00 mm² copper, TW, branch circuit conductors

 Use 15 mm diameter rigid PVC conduit
 Use one (1) 20 A branch circuit as per section
2.10.1.11(c)(2)
 Computation of Loads for a
Typical Residential Unit
D. 10 kW Electric Range Load (Branch Circuit No. 6)
Maximum Demand is 8 kW
Based on Table 2.30.3.16 (Column C)
Load Current = 8,000/230 = 34.78 amperes

 Use 2 – 8.0 mm² copper, TW, branch circuit conductors

 Use 15 mm diameter rigid PVC conduit
 Use one (1) 35 A branch circuit. Refer to section 2.40.1.6 for
standard ampere trip ratings of circuit breakers.
 Computation of Loads for a
Typical Residential Unit
E. 5 kW Clothes Dryer Load (Branch Circuit No. 7)
Load = 5 kW x 100% demand factor = 5,000 volt-amperes
The 100% demand factor is per Table 2.20.3.15
Load Current = 5,000/230 = 21.73 amperes

 Use 2 – 3.50 mm² copper, TW, branch circuit conductors

 Use 15 mm diameter rigid PVC conduit
 Use one (1) 25 A branch circuit. Refer to section 2.40.1.6 for
standard ampere trip ratings of circuit breakers.
 Computation of Loads for a
Typical Residential Unit
F. 3/4 HP Air-Conditioning Unit (Branch Circuit Nos. 8 and 9)

Ampacity of wire = 125% x 6.9 A = 8.63 A

Where 125% is per Article 4.40.4.2
Where 6.9 A is the motor full-load current as per Table 4.30.14.2
 Use 2 - 2.0 mm2 copper, TW branch circuit conductors
 Use 15 mm diameter rigid PVC conduit

Rating of branch circuit protective device = 250% x 6.9 A = 17.25 A

Where 250% is the maximum inverse time rating of the breaker as per
Table 4.30.4.2. The room ACU is at 100% demand factor. Refer to Section
2.20.4.3(c)(1).
 Provide one(1) 20 A branch circuit for the room air-conditioner. Refer to
Section 2.40.1.6 for ampere trip ratings of circuit breakers.
 BRANCH CIRCUIT CONDUCTOR
Article 4.40.4.2. Single Motor-Compressor
Branch circuit conductors supplying a single motor-
compressor shall have an ampacity not less than 125
percent of either the motor-compressor rated load current
or the branch circuit selection current, whichever is greater.

For a wye-start, delta run connected motor compressor, the

selection of branch circuit conductors between the
controller and the motor-compressor shall be permitted to
be based on 72 percent of either the motor-compressor
rated load current or the branch circuit selection current,
which ever is greater.
 Computation of Loads for a
Typical Residential Unit
G. 1.5 HP Air-Conditioning Unit (Branch Circuit No. 10)

Ampacity of wire = 125% x 10 A = 12.50 A

Where: 125% is per Article 4.40.4.2
Where: 10 A is the motor full-load current as per Table 4.30.14.2
 Use 2 - 2.0 mm2 copper, TW branch circuit conductors
 Use 15 mm diameter rigid PVC conduit

Rating of branch circuit protective device = 250% x 10 A = 25 A

Where 250% is the maximum inverse time rating of the breaker as per
Table 4.30.4.2. The room ACU is at 100% demand factor. Refer to Section
2.20.4.3(c)(1).
 Provide one(1) 30 A branch circuit for the room air-conditioner. Refer
to Section 2.40.1.6 for ampere trip ratings of circuit breakers.
 BRANCH CIRCUIT CONDUCTOR
Article 4.40.4.2. Single Motor-Compressor
Branch circuit conductors supplying a single motor-
compressor shall have an ampacity not less than 125
percent of either the motor-compressor rated load current
or the branch circuit selection current, whichever is greater.

For a wye-start, delta run connected motor compressor, the

selection of branch circuit conductors between the
controller and the motor-compressor shall be permitted to
be based on 72 percent of either the motor-compressor
rated load current or the branch circuit selection current,
which ever is greater.
Riser Diagram
General Lighting (Feeder) Load (page 104)
 Standard Frame Sizes and
Continuous Ampere Ratings for
Molded-Case Circuit Breakers
Frame Size, Ampere
30 50 60 100 200 225 400 600 800 1000 1200
5 10 10 15 125 70 200 300 300 600 700
10 15 15 20 150 100 225 350 350 700 800
15 20 20 30 175 125 250 400 400 800 1000
20 30 30 40 200 150 300 500 500 1000 1200
30 40 40 50 175 350 600 600
50 50 60 200 400 700
60 70 225 800
100
 Computation of Loads for a
Typical Residential Unit
• A single family dwelling unit has a floor
area of 220 sq. m. exclusive of unoccupied
basement and open porches. It has three
20 A small appliance branch circuits, one
20 A laundry circuit, a 10 kW electric
range, a 5 kW clothes dryer and two 3/4
HP and one 1.5 HP air conditioning units.
 Branch Circuits

• Branch Circuit no. 1: Lighting loads

• Branch Circuit No. 2: Small Appliance Loads
• Branch Circuit No. 3: Small Appliance Loads
• Branch Circuit No. 4: Small Appliance Loads
• Branch Circuit No. 5: Laundry Loads
• Branch Circuit No. 6: 10 kW Electric Range
• Branch Circuit No. 7: 5 kW Clothes Dryer
• Branch Circuit No. 8: 3/4 HP Air-Conditioning Unit
• Branch Circuit No. 9: 3/4 HP Air-Conditioning Unit
• Branch Circuit No. 10: 1.5 HP Air-Conditioning Unit
 Service Entrance Computations

General Lighting Load and General Use Receptacle

220 sq. m x 24 VA/sq. m. = 5,280 VA
Air Conditioning Load
[(10 + 6.9 + 6.9) + (0.25 x 10)] x 230 = 6,049 VA
Range Load, 10 kW nameplate Rating
Maximum Demand is 8 kW = 8,000 VA
Other Loads
Three 20 A small appliance branch circuit
@ 1500 VA/circuit = 3 x 1500 = 4,500 VA
One 20A laundry circuit @ 1,500 VA = 1,500 VA
One 5 kW clothes dryer = 5,000 VA
Total Other Loads = 11,000 VA
 Service Entrance Computations

Applying Demand Factors for Other Loads

11,000 VA @ 40% DF = 11,000 x 0.4 = 4,400 VA

Total Computed Load = 5,280 + 6,095 VA + 8,000 VA + 4,400

Total Computed Load = 23,775 VA

Total Computed Current = 23,775/230 = 103.37 A

Service Entrance Conductors

Use two 30-mm^2 THW copper wire
 Service Entrance Computations

Service Equipment
A. Maximum Current Rating of Protective Device, with
1. Non-Time Delay Fuse
[5280 + (2 x 6.9 x 230) + 8000 + 4400 + 300%(10 x 230)]/230
= 120.87 A
2. Inverse-Time Circuit Breaker
[5280 + (2 x 6.9 x 230) + 8000 + 4400 + 250%(10 x 230)]/230
= 115.87 A
B, Service Equipment Rating in case of ungrounded service
1. Use one 200 A, 2PST, 250 V safety switch with two 125 A
renewable fuses or
2. Use one 125 AT, 2 pole, 240 V, molded case circuit breaker
 Residential Electrical
Systems Design
• Provide the following:
1. Lighting layout
2. Power layout
3. Schedule of loads
4. Riser diagram
5. Branch circuit computations
6. Service entrance computations
Due on January 24