1. COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL (Chapter 11)
Conduit
Pathway for wiring that protects conductors
Types
Aluminum
Plastic
Fittings
Size (additional information)
Depends on number of conductors
Minimum: ½”

2. COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL (Chapter 11)
Conductors
Types
Copper
Aluminum
Conductor size (additional information)
lower sizes are designated by AWG (40 to 0000)
higher sizes are designated by MCM (250 to 2000).
cross-section of a conductor is calculated in circular mils (CM or cmil)
a circular mil is the area of a circle inch (0.001 in = 1 mil) in diameter
cross-sectional area of round conductor is found out by squaring its diameter expressed in mils
cross-sectional area of a conductor inch in diameter would be 5 x 5 = 25 cmil.

3. COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL (Chapter 11)
Conductor Insulation (additional information)
Letter designators
T = thermoplastic
R = Rubber
H = heat resistant
W = moisture resistant
N = nylon reinforcing

4. COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL (Chapter 11)
Installing conductors
Special conduits
Cable tray
Busway
Raceway
Under floor duct

5. COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL
Conductor ampacity (additional information)
current carrying capacity of a conductor
affected by
the size of a conductor
max. permissible insulation (operating) temperature
ambient temperature
Circuits
Lighting circuits (additional information)
Generally protected with 20 A circuit breakers
Feeder circuit
Circuit between a service panel or main panel and an OCPD in a sub-panel protecting a branch circuit
Branch circuit
Circuit between an OCPD and utilization equipment (i.e. an equipment that receives power through the circuit)
Power circuits (additional information)
For motors, electrical equipment, receptacles
Dedicated circuits and UPS

6. COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL
Panels
Receives the service electricity and distributes it to branch circuits
Lighting and power panels (additional information)
Required to sub-divide and protect individual circuits
Contains circuit breakers
Bus bars in panels facilitate connection of individual circuit breakers
If there is more than one panel board, then the one receiving the supply from the service entrance may be termed as the main panel (service panel) and other panels that receive supply from this panel may be termed as sub-panels
number of circuits required in the building determines the size of a service panel
number of circuits to be fed by a sub-panel determines its size
the panel(s) may either be surface-mounted or recessed and should be conveniently located for easy servicing and resetting of circuit breakers or fuses
Switchgear

7. COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL
Services (additional information)
Electric service:
overhead service drop
underground service lateral
3-phase services
Three hot phase conductors and one neutral conductor
The neutral only carries unbalanced load for a 3-phase connection
Delta configuration: for industrial application
Wye configuration: for office buildings and shopping centers
In wye systems, phase-to-phase voltage is √3 or 1.73 times the phase-to-neutral connection

8. COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL
Transformers (additional information)
Used for stepping up or stepping down AC voltages and current
Available in single- or three-phase type
Capacity is rated in kilovolt-amperes (kVA)
Capacity of a three-phase transformer for a load of 500 A at 480 V = 500x480x1.73 = VA = kVA
Voltage coming into a transformer from a generating plant is the primary voltage, and voltage leaving the transformer is the secondary voltage
Transformers operate on the principle of magnetic induction
Coils are wound around a common silicon steel core
Voltage is induced from primary to secondary due to magnetic induction
The ratio of secondary (Vs) to primary (Vp) voltage is equal to the ratio of secondary (Ns) to primary (Ns) winding turns of the coils (i.e. Vs/Vp = Ns/Np).

9. COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL
Service capacity
Service size
Service disconnects (main disconnect)
Rated in amperes
Meter (additional information)
required for registering the amount of energy consumed
always installed electrically ahead of main disconnect

10. COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL (Additional information)
Overcurrent protection device (OCPD)
a protective device that automatically cuts off power supply to any circuit, which is overloaded or short-circuited
may either be a (1) fuse or a (2) circuit breaker
The overcurrent protection devices are installed within the panel boards
A fuse is a self-destructive device (containing a fusible link) that melts upon sensing an abnormal current and opens the circuit in which it is installed. It is rated in amperes.
A circuit breaker acts both as an OCPD and a switch. It consists of a thermal trip that opens the circuit when there is high temperature build-up inside the CB (usually due to overcurrent), and a magnetic trip that provides short-circuit protection. A CB is also rated in amperes

11. COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL (Additional information)
Receptacle (convenience outlet)
a contact device installed at an outlet for connection of an attachment plug
used for plugging in lights and small appliances
Grounding
Systems grounding: Connecting neutral wire of wiring systems to earth. It establishes a neutral wire at zero potential for safety and reference
Equipment grounding: Connecting all non-current carrying metal parts of wiring system to the earth

12. ELECTRIC WIRING DESIGN (Additional information)
Electrical load
Lighting
HVAC
Plumbing and sanitary
Elevators
Kitchen equipment
Miscellaneous (e.g. computers, convenience outlets, etc.)

13. ELECTRIC WIRING DESIGN (Additional information)
Available system voltages
120 V single-phase
120/240 V single phase
120/208 V single phase
120/208 V three-phase
277/480 V three-phase
2400/4160 V three-phase

15. ELECTRIC WIRING DESIGN (Additional information)
OCPD
must be placed on all ungrounded conductors
all 'hot' wires are ungrounded
Branch circuit design
must be designed for load connected to it + expected load expansion.
conduit sizes must be a minimum of 1/2".
a general-purpose branch circuit should be 20 A and wired with #12AWG wire. Circuit load should not be 64% 25% expansion) for lighting loads

16. ELECTRIC WIRING DESIGN (Additional information)
What is meant by % load and % expansion?
A 20 A branch 120 V, single phase may carry an electrical load of 20x120 =2400W. A general purpose branch circuit is not allowed to carry more than 80% of this quantity, provided no future expansion of load is envisaged for this circuit (i.e. 0% expansion)
Usually an expansion of 25% of current load is envisaged for a general purpose branch circuit. Under such circumstances, the actual load of a circuit shall not exceed 64% of the load it may carry theoretically. In case of a 20 A, 120 V single-phase circuit, this load would be 2,400X0.64=1536 W (say, 1500).

17. ELECTRIC WIRING DESIGN (Additional information)
For small offices, there should be
one receptacle/40 sft. for first 400 sft. subject to a minimum of one receptacle for every 10 lft. of wall length
One receptacle per 100 sft. for area in excess of 400 sft.
There shall not be more than 6 receptacles to a 20 A circuit in an office.
Corridors should have a 20 A, 120 V receptacle every 50 ft.
Each receptacle is counted as 1.5 A (180 W).
Receptacles behind a counter top shall be 4 ft. o.c.
Provide a min. of 2 kitchen counter
Do not connect more than 4 small appliances to a 20 A circuit.
Calculate lighting 125% of actual value.
Provide GFCI type receptacles in bathrooms and outdoors.
Allow 25% spare circuits based on number of poles and load.
Allow 25% spaces based on number of poles.
Calculate spare circuit the average value of the active circuit loads