Arch. Gerald A.

Mauricio, uap

BUILDING UTILITIES - ELECTRICAL

Electricity – is a form of energy generated by friction, induction or
chemical change, having magnetic, and chemical radiant effect.

Electricity is Electrons in motion.

Definition of Terms
•Ion – is the term applied to an atom or molecule which is not electrically
balanced. It is an atom or molecule that is electrically charged.
Ion occur when the electrons in the atom is loosened through friction by another atom.
•Volt– is the electrical pressure that causes the electrons to move
through a conductor (wire).
Volt was named after Alessandro Volta, an Italian Scientist who discovered that electrons
flow when two different metals are connected by a wire and then dipped into a liquid that
conduct or carry electrons.
•Ampere – is the standard unit used in measuring the strength of an
electric current .
Named after Andre M. Ampere

BUILDING UTILITIES - ELECTRICAL

•Watts – is the rate of measure of power used or consumed. It represents
the equivalent heat volts and ampere consumed by lights, appliances or
motors.
The term is named after James Watts a Scottish inventor
•Circuit – refers to the wire installation that supply current to light and
convenient outlets.
•Resistance – is the friction or opposition to the flow of current by the
wires and transformers, analogous to plumbing installation, where the
flow of water is subjected to resistance caused by friction between the
water and the inside wall of the pipe, and the various form of turns and
fittings.

Types of Electric Current

•Direct Current (DC) – the term for friction is Resistance.
Flows in one direction. The flow is said to be from negative to positive.
•Alternating Current (AC) – the term for friction is Impedance.
Impedance – measure of the opposition to time varying electric current in an electric circuit.
BUILDING UTILITIES - ELECTRICAL
Direct Current – the normal source of DC electricity, is the dry cell, or
storage battery
Solar Energy – radiant light and heat from
the sun
Solar Panels – use light energy from the
sun to generate electricity though the
photovoltaic effect
Photovoltaic effect – is the creation of
voltage or electric current in a material
upon exposure to light.

BUILDING UTILITIES - ELECTRICAL

Alternating Current – electricity constantly reverses its direction of flow. It
is generated by machine called generator.

Advantage of AC:
It is easily produced
It is cheaper to maintain
It could transform into higher voltage
It could be distribution to far distance with low voltage drop
It is more efficient compared with the direct current

-Under the Principles of DC electricity. Power is the product of voltage and Current.
Watts = Volts x Ampere
-Under the Principle of AC electricity, the power of volts and amperes is equal to the
quantity called volt-ampere (v.a.) which is not the same as watts, Thus;
Volt Amperes = Volts x Amperes
And to convert volt-ampere to watts or power, a power factor is introduced. And to get an
AC circuit we have the following formula:
Watts = Volts x Amperes x power factor
W = V x I x pf

BUILDING UTILITIES - ELECTRICAL

Example No.1
A 12 ampere electric fan and blower with a power factor of 0.85 was connected to a 240
volts convenient outlet. Calculate the current and power in the circuit.
Solution
Power (watts) = Volts x Amperes x power factor
W = 240 V x 12 amp. X 0.85
W = 2,448 watts

Example No. 2
An electric motor has a trade mark label of 2 horse power, 240 V, 15 amperes. Calculate
the motor power factor.
Solution
1. Assume motor efficiency, say 85%
2. 1 horse power is 746 watts, convert HP to Watts.
746 x 2 = 1,492 watts
3. Efficiency = Output / Input
Input = 1,492 / 0.85
Input = 1,755 watts
4. For AC current
Power = Volts x Amperes x power factor Pf = 1,755 / (240 V x 15 amp)
Power Factor = Power / (Volts x Ampere) Pf = 0.4875

BUILDING UTILITIES - ELECTRICAL

Ohms Law
In 1926, George Simon
Ohm, a German scientist,
discovered the
relationship between the
Current, Voltage and
Resistance.

BUILDING UTILITIES - ELECTRICAL

Characteristics of Selected
Insulated Conductors for General
Wiring
Trade Name Type Letter Operating Application
(Code) Temperature Provision
Moisture and Heat Resistant KHW 75°C Dry and Wet
Rubber location

Thermoplastic T 60°C Dry location

Thermoplastic Moisture TW 60°C Dry and Wet

Resistant location

Thermoplastic Heat Resistant THHN 90°C Dry location

Thermoplastic Moisture and THWN 75°C Dry and Wet

Heat Resistant location

Moisture and Heat Resistant XHHW 90°C Dry location

Cross linked Thermosetting

Polyethylene Silicon Asbestos SA 90°C Dry location

Asbestos and Varnish Cambric AVA 110°C Dry location

BUILDING UTILITIES - ELECTRICAL

Conductors and Wirings
Electric Conductors – substances or materials used to convey the flow of
electric current.
Insulator – substance or materials that resist the flow of electric current.

Materials Considered as Good Electric Conductors are:

-Silver
-Copper
-Aluminum

Various Kind of Insulation:

-Rubber
-Porcelain
-Thermoplastic

BUILDING UTILITIES - ELECTRICAL

Conduits
Classification of Conduit
-Rigid Metal -Rigid Non-Metal

-Flexible Metal -Flexible Non-Metal

BUILDING UTILITIES - ELECTRICAL

Conductors and Wirings
Good Circuiting design based on the following:
• Flexibility of the conduit
• Reliability and efficiency of service
• Safety
• Economy
• Energy Consideration
• Space Allocation

Circuiting Guidelines
• To supply 30 watts per square meters excluding porches, garage and
basement.
• 30 watts per square meter is up to 80 square meters.
• Good practice suggest that the load should not exceed 1200 watts for 15
ampere and 1600 watts for 20 ampere.
• 20 ampere to feed small appliances outlet in the kitchen, pantry, dining and
family room.
• 20 ampere appliance branch circuit, wired with No. 12 AWG to all
convenience outlet.
• 15 Amp shall be limited to: 120V (1440watts) and 240V (2880watts).
• Plug outlet or convenience shall be counted in computing the load.
• Convenience receptacle should plan properly, in case of failure the entire area will
not deprived of power supply.

BUILDING UTILITIES - ELECTRICAL

Circuiting Guidelines (continuation)

• All kitchen outlets should be fed from at least two of these circuits.
• All receptacles are potential appliance outlet and at least two circuits shall be
supplied to serve them.
• Certain outlet should be design as appliance outlet:
All kitchen receptacle
Dining room receptacle
One in the living room
• At least one 20 ampere circuit for laundry outlet.
• Air conditioner, provide separate circuit.

Causes of Over Current

Overload in the equipment or conductors

Short circuit or ground fault

BUILDING UTILITIES - ELECTRICAL

Wire Size and
Ampere Capacity
Wire Size No. Ampere Conductor Size
AWG mm²
14 15 2.0
12 20 3.5
10 30 5.5
8 40 8.0
6 55
4 70
2 95
0 125
00 145
000 165

BUILDING UTILITIES - ELECTRICAL

Electricity Flow Diagram

BUILDING UTILITIES - ELECTRICAL

Electrical Circuit in the Building

Service Entrance
• Overhead service
Height:
3.60m Minimum
7.50m Maximum

• Underground service

Overhead service Underground service

Electric Service Meter

BUILDING UTILITIES - ELECTRICAL

Grounding and Ground Fault
The purpose of grounding the circuit is to fix permanently a zero
voltage point in the system. The grounded line of a circuit should not be broken
nor fused to maintain a solid and uninterrupted connection to the ground.

Reasons for Grounding the Circuit System

• to prevent contact between the low voltage secondary line and the high voltage
primary line in case of fire.
• to prevent single ground from being unnoticed or detected.
• to facilitate in locating the ground faults.
• to protect against a short sudden rush of electric current in the circuit.
• to establish a neutral at zero potential.
• to connect the service entrance to ground at one point.

BUILDING UTILITIES - ELECTRICAL

General Lighting Load by
Occupancy
Type of Occupancy Unit Load Watts per
Sq. M.
Armories and Auditorium 8

Banks 40

Barber shop and beauty parlor 24

Churches 8

Clubs 16

Court room 16

Dwelling Units 24

Garages – commercial storage 4

Hospitals 16

Hotels, motel and apartment (no provision for cooking by 16

tenants)

BUILDING UTILITIES - ELECTRICAL

General Lighting Load by Occupancy (continuation)
Type of Occupancy Unit Load Watts per
Sq. M.
Industrial commercial loft building 16

Lodge room 12

Office Building 40

Restaurant 16

Schools 24

Stores 24

Warehouse (storage) 2

Assembly halls and auditorium 8

Halls, corridors, closets 4

BUILDING UTILITIES - ELECTRICAL

Problem:
64 sq.m. single family dwelling is to be circuited with the following
requirements, Determine the:
a. Size of the branch circuit wire for lighting outlet.
b. Size of the conduit pipes.
c. Size or rating of the fuse protective device.

Solution:
A. Circuit 1 – for lighting load

Computation 64 x 24 = 1,536 , “whereas 100 watts shall be the maximum load for 

lighting outlet as per NEC” 
1,536 / 100 = 15.36 or 15 lighting outlets (maximum)
15 x 100 = 1500 watts
(Assume Circuit 1 = 800W and Circuit 2 = 700W)
Determine the Total Current Load
C1 = 800 / 230V = 3.48Amp
C2 = 700 / 230V = 3.04 Amp

Determine the Size of Conductor wire

Use 2 pieces 2.0mm² or No.14 TW Copper wire.

BUILDING UTILITIES - ELECTRICAL

Problem:
64 sq.m. single family dwelling is to be circuited with the following
requirements, Determine the:
a. Size of the branch circuit wire for lighting outlet.
b. Size of the conduit pipes.
c. Size or rating of the fuse protective device.

Solution:
A. Circuit 1 – for lighting load

Determine the Size of Conduit Pipe.

13mm ø Conduit pipe to accommodate 3 pieces of No.14 TW

Determine the Size of Rating of the fuse protective device.

Use 15 Ampere fuse.

BUILDING UTILITIES - ELECTRICAL

BUILDING UTILITIES - ELECTRICAL