FEU Institute of Architecture & Fine Arts

ARCH. ANNIE C. PUGEDA

5. ELECTRICAL POWER SOURCES and ALTERNATIVE POWER SOURCES

POWER DISTRIBUTION
Electric power is generated from several sources of energy: wind, water, nuclear, fossil fuel,
solar (photovoltaic), and solar energy directly into an electric current. All other energy sources
are harnessed to produce a rotary mechanical motion that drives electrical generators. The
generators convert movement into electricity. Transformers are used to "step up" (increase)
the electrical power to very high voltages (hundreds of thousands of volts) for transmission by
wires over long distances. Wherever the transmission lines enter an industrial or residential
community for local power distribution, large transformers are used to "step down" the voltage
to a few thousand volts. Smaller transformers set on poles or in underground vaults are used
for final distribution to small groups of houses or individual factories. Usually 110 and 220 volts
are delivered to residences.

ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION

6. ELECTRICAL POWER AND LIGHTING SUPPLY, DISTRIBUTION AND FIXTURES

SERVICE ENTRANCE (SE - AERIAL)
Power is supplied to a building through a service entrance. Three heavy wires, together called
the drop, extend from a utility pole or an underground source to the structure. These wires are
twisted into a cable. At the building, overhead wires are fastened to the structure and spliced
to service entrance wires that enter a conduit through a service head.
In planning overhead service drop paths, minimum height requirements for connector lines
must be carefully followed. If these distances cannot be maintained, rigid conduit, electrical
metallic tubing, or busways (channels, ducts) must be used.
UNDERGROUND SERVICE ENTRANCE (USE)
If the service is supplied underground, three wires are placed in a rigid conduit. An
underground service conduit is brought to the meter socket. An underground service entrance
includes a watt-hour meter, main breaker, and lightning protection. Automatic brownout
equipment is also required by many codes for new construction. All electrical systems must be
grounded through the service entrance.
SYSTEM COMPONENTS OF BUILDING
6.1. Category 1. WIRINGS AND RACEWAYS
Conductors offers low resistance
Insulators prevents flow of electric current
Raceways - channel
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ARCH. ANNIE C. PUGEDA

6.2 Category 2. POWER HANDLING EQUIPMENTS

Transformer, Switchboard/Switchgear, Panel board, Service Switch/Safety
Switch, Circuit Breaker/Fuse
SERVICE DISTRIBUTION
Electrical current is delivered throughout a building through a distribution
panel, or service panel. The size of a distribution panel (in amperes) is
determined by the total load requirements (watts) of the entire building.
Watts can be converted to amperes by dividing the total (and future) watts
needed by the amount of voltage delivered to the distribution box:
Formula:
= amperes
W = metric symbol for watts
V = metric symbol for volts
A = metric symbol for amperes
Example:

= 145 A

Most residences require a distribution panel with a capacity of 100 to 200

amps. The Philippine Electrical Code (PEC) minimum for new residential
construction is 60 amps. To compute the total load requirements, the watts
needed for each circuit must first be determined.
6.3. UTILIZATION EQUIPMENTS actual use
Fixtures, Switches, Convenience Outlets, Branch Circuits
6.3.1 BRANCH CIRCUITS
From the distribution panel, electricity is routed to the building
through branch circuits. A circuit is a circular path that electricity follows from
the power supply source to a light, appliance, or other electrical device and
back again to the power supply source. If the electrical load for an entire
building were placed on one circuit, overloading would occur. Thus branch
circuits are used. Each circuit delivers electricity to a limited number of
outlets or devices.
Each circuit is protected with a circuit breaker. A circuit breaker is a device
that opens (disconnects) a circuit when the current exceeds a certain
amount. When a breaker opens, or "trips," the power to the branch circuit is
disconnected. If the sum of the current drawn by the branch circuits exceeds
the rating of the main circuit breaker, the main breaker will trip. This protects
the service-entrance wires and equipment from overheating and damage.
Circuit breakers that trip can be reset.
Branch circuits are divided into three types by the Philippine Electrical Code:
lighting circuits, small-appliance circuits, and individual circuits.
6.3.1.1 LIGHTING CIRCUITS: Lighting circuits are connected to
lighting outlets for the entire building. Different lights in each room
are usually on different circuits so that if one circuit breaker trips,
the room will not be in total darkness.
In all dwellings other than hotels, the PEC requires a minimum
general lighting load of 3 watts per square foot of floor space.
However, the amount of wattage demanded at one time (demand
factor) is calculated at 100 percent only for the first 3000 watts; 35
percent is used for the second 17,000 watts; and 25 percent is used
for commercial demands over 120,000 watts. Thus, the general
lighting load planned for a 1500 sq. ft. house would be 3525 watts,
not the full 4500 watts. It is calculated as follows:

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1500 ft. x 3 W = 4500 W (uncalculated amount)

First 3000 W
x 100%
= 3000 W
Next 1500 W
TOTAL 4500 W

x 35%

= 525 W
3525 W

If each branch circuit can supply on 2400 watts 9120 V x 20 A =

2400 W), a 1500 sq. ft. house should have two 1860-watt general
lighting circuits. (see figure below). Lighting circuits are also used
for small devices such as clocks and radios. However, since all
lights and other items on the circuit are probably not going to be
used at the same time, it is not necessary to provide a service
capable of supplying the full load.

6.1.3.2 SMALL-APPLIANCE CIRCUITS: These circuits provide

power to outlets wherever small appliances are likely to be
connected. Small appliances include items such as toasters,
electric skillets, irons, electric shavers, portable tools, and
computers. Appliance circuits are not designed to also support
lighting needs. (see figure below).The PEC requires a minimum of
two small appliance circuits in a residence. Each circuit is usually
computed as a 1500-watt load.
6.1.3.3 INDIVIDUAL CIRCUITS: Individual dedicated circuits are
designed to serve a single large electrical appliance or device, such
as electric ranges, automatic heating units, built-in electric heaters,
and workshop outlets. Large motor-driven appliances, such as
washers, garbage disposals, and dishwashers, also use individual
circuits. These circuits are designed to provide sufficient power for
starting loads. When a motor starts, it needs an extra surge of
power to bring it to full speed. This is called a starting load.
A separate circuit (20 amps) is required in a laundry area to provide
power for the washing machine and the dryer. Because of the
danger of water leakage, GFCI receptacle is recommended.
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Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)

A GFCI receptacle must be located wherever there is a possibility
for people to ground themselves and be shocked by the electrical
current flowing through their body to the ground. The purpose of a
GFCI receptacle is to cut off the current at the outlet. When the
GFCI receptacle senses any change of current, it immediately trips
a switch to interrupt the current. It operates faster and is safer than
the circuit breaker switch or fuse at the power entry panel. A GFCI
valve will trip in 1/40 second when an extremely small current
variation (ground fault) of 0.005 amps is reached. In new
construction GFCI receptacles must be located with each
convenience outlet near water sources and/or pipes in the
bathroom, kitchen, garage, laundry and outdoors. Any receptacle
located within 10' or within 15' of the inside of a permanently
installed swimming pool must also be wired through a GFCI. GFCIs
are also required if outlets are placed in unfinished crawl spaces
below grade level.

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FEU Institute of Architecture & Fine Arts

BGUTILI 2: ELECTRICAL AND OTHER POWER SYSTEMS

ARCH. ANNIE C. PUGEDA

FEU Institute of Architecture & Fine Arts

BGUTILI 2: ELECTRICAL AND OTHER POWER SYSTEMS

ARCH. ANNIE C. PUGEDA