Introduction to Electricity - More efficient

Resistance (Ohms) – The electrical term for the

Electricity - a form of energy that can be opposition of current in:
produced in several ways and provides power to AC electricity is called impedance
devices. DC circuit, this opposition is called
Electromotive Force or Voltage – resistance
force/pressure that causes the electrons to
move. The Higher the Voltage, the Larger the
Volt – standard unit of measurement for voltage. Current. The Higher the Resistance, the
Electricity is the flow of electrons through a Lower the Current.
conductor. This flow is called electric current.
Ampere – standard unit of measurement for DC electricity, power is the product of voltage
current. and current.
Electrical Power – rate at which energy is ● Watts = Volts x Amperes
absorbed or produced within a circuit. AC electricity, the product of voltage and current
Watt – standard unit of measurement for power. is equal to the quantity called volt- ampere (v.a.)
Resistance – opposition to the flow of current and cannot be considered in watts.
● Volt Amperes = Volts x Amperes
To convert volt-ampere to watts or power, a
● Factors that influence resistance:
power factor (pf) is considered.
● Composition of the conductor
● Watts = Volts x Amperes x power
● Length of wire
factor
● Cross sectional area of the wire
W = V x l x pf
● Temperature
1hp = 746 watts
● Current flows in a circuit when a complete loop
is formed and contains the following
In 1926, George Simon Ohm, a German
components.
scientist, discovered the relationship between
● Voltage Source
the Current, Voltage
● A closed loop of wiring
and Resistance
● An electric load
● A means of opening and closing the
circuit

CLASSIFICATIONS OF ELECTRIC CURRENT

Direct Current (DC) – The current flows in one

direction. The flow is known to be from negative
to positive. The most common source of DC
electricity is the dry cell or storage battery.
Alternating Current (AC) – The current
constantly reverses its flow of direction. It is Series circuit - A single path exists for current
produced by a machine called a generator. to flow
Voltage total () = + + +
● AC’s several applications Resistance () = + + +
- Easy to produce. Current () = = = =
- It is cheaper to maintain.
- Transform into higher voltage. Parallel circuit - Loads are placed across the
- Distribute over long distances with same voltage. It is the standard wiring
low voltage drop. configuration for house connections wherein the
lights constitute one parallel grouping and the millimeter = Inches x 25.4
convenience wall outlets constitute the second
parallel grouping. T: is a thermoplastic insulation with a fire-resistant
material
Voltage total () = = = =
H: is heat-resistant; made to withstand temperatures
Resistance () = 1/(+ + +)
up to 167 °F
Current () = + + + HH: is highly heat-resistant; made to withstand
temperatures up to 194 °F
Transformer is a simple static device consisting W: means "Wet," it is approved for damp and wet
of a magnetic core with a primary and secondary locations;
winding. although this wire is also suitable for dry locations
Voltage is directly proportional to the number X: Its insulation is made of a synthetic polymer and is
of windings or turns. If a 120 volts AC will be flame-retardant
N: is nylon-coated for resistance to oil and gasoline
connected to the left side with 50 turns, 240
volts would be on the right side having 100
Ampacity refers to the ability of the wire or conductor
turns. to carry current without overheating
Voltage drop in wire = circuit current x resistance of
The input side is called the primary while the the wire
output side is called the secondary. Power loss in wire = circuit current x voltage drop in
the wire
Conductors and Wiring Accessories
Armored Cable (AC)
Metal Clad Cable (MC)
Insulators are materials that resist the flow of electric Mineral Insulated Cable (MI)
current. Non-Metallic Sheathed Cable (NM)
Shielded Non-Metallic Sheathed Cable (SNM)
Rubber - Thermoplastic Underground Feeder and Branch Circuit Cable
Porcelain - Paper Service Entrance Cable
Mica - Asbestos Power and Control Tray Cable (TC)
Wires - electrical conductors with diameter of 8 mm2 Flat Cable Assemblies (FC)
(AWG No. 8) and those that are smaller in size. Medium Voltage Cable (MV Cable)

Cables - larger in size than the wires, those that are NEC Provision about ampacity (Section 3.1.2.1):
thicker in diameter. “Conductor size and rating shall have sufficient
ampacity to carry load. They shall have adequate
Stranded wire consists of a group of wires twisted mechanical strength and shall not be less than the
together. Insulated stranded wire is called cord rating of the branch circuit and not less than the
maximum load to be served.”
Solid wire is a single conductor wire
Derating of Conductors Ampacity – means that the
Mil - is equal to 1/1000 of an inch and was used to full amount of allowable ampacity, is reduced to a
describe or measure a round wire diameter. certain percentage due to the environment condition it
is exposed of and the number of wires placed· inside
Circular mil = d2 the conduit.

Square mil = 3.1416 r2 Raceways are wiring accessories used for holding or
housing wires, cables or bus bars which are made of
Conversion Factor either metal, plastic, or any insulating mediums.
Square inch = Square mil x 1,000,000 Conduits
Square mil = Square inch x 0.000001 Connectors and other accessories
Square mil = Circular mil x 0.7854 Other Types of Raceway
Circular mil = Square mil x 1.273 Conduit coupling, elbows· and other fittings.
Square millimeter = Circular mil x 0.0005067 Conduit supports such as clamps, hanger; etc.
Cable trays, cable bus, etc. Series circuit
Metal raceways
Non – metal raceways Voltage total = + + +
Resistance total= + + +
Conduit pipe is the most common electrical raceway
Current = = = =
used in all types of construction.

Purpose of electrical conduit: Parallel circuit

● to provide pathways for running wires at
distances Voltage total = = = =
● to protect the wires from physical damage Resistance total = 1/(+ + +)
● to provide grounding and enclosure Current = + + +
● to protect the surroundings from damage
against electrical fault in wiring V = IR
● to protect the wiring system from damage P = VI
caused by building and occupants P = I^2 (R)
● to protect the occupants from damage P = V^2 / R
caused by electrical system

Connector is a metal sleeve made of copper which is

attached and secured to the butted ends of
conductors in making a joint, and can also be called a
splicing sleeve.

Outlet is a point in the wiring system at which current

is supplied for utilization equipment. It interfaces the
wiring system and the load.
Different kinds of outlet:
Convenience outlet or attachment cap
Lighting outlet .
Receptacle outlet

Convenience outlet or attachment cap establishes

connection by inserting a receptacle between the wire
and the conductors attached to the receptacle.

Lighting outlet - for a lamp holder, lighting fixture, or

a pendant cord.
Receptacle outlet - one or more receptacles are
installed.
Junction box is a device used as an interconnection
point, it is where wiring distribution and
interconnection is
managed.
Receptacle is a general term for contact devices
connected on a single attachment plug.
Pull box is a box with blank cover that is inserted in
one or more runs or raceways to facilitate in pulling
the conductors and can also serve as a point in
distributing the conductors.
GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter)
Switch is a device that opens or closes an electric
circuit.