APPENDIX

A-7
INTERIOR WIRING
The use of electrical light sources requires that these be serviced by electrical con-
ductor networks which for interior installations usually are described by the single
word wiring.
Electric lighting evolved in the United States and Canada on 110-volt, secondary
distribution systems. Direct-current generators were used first but a-c generators
followed so quickly that only in the largest cities did direct current gain sufficient
foothold between 1880 and 1900 to remain in general use today. At present most
alternating current is supplied to the customer nominally at 115 to 120 volts and 60-
cycle frequencies, although voltages between 110 and 130 may be found as well as fre-
quencies of 25, 40, and 50 cycles. Except for the 25-cycle fluctuation noticeable in
the output of incandescent lamps, these variations were of little concern in lighting
application problems until gaseous-discharge lamps, which require auxiliary equip-
ment, became popular.
Wiring methods and systems, except as they directly affect the choice of the light-
ing installation, are beyond the province of the Illuminating Engineering Society.
Nevertheless, lighting and wiring are so inseparable that their interdependence must
be noted. Lighting installations that otherwise might be quite satisfactory may fall
short of their objective because of insufficient attention to wiring; many lighting
installations which are recommended are not made because of high rewiring costs
which in many cases reflect poor initial planning. Despite understandable prefer-
ences for minimum initial costs, it is necessary to evaluate the possible penalty of
such minimums. Good wiring practice stresses safety, efficiency, adequacy, and
convenience. Safety requirements are included in many local building codes, and are
established by the National Board of Fire Underwriters, but the other requirements
of good wiring are at the discretion of the designer, the customer and the industry.
Table A-2 shows the standard electrical symbols used on architectural plans.
Incandescent Lamp Characteristics Important in Wiring Design
Incandescent-lamp filaments are resistance elements. Filament lamps are avail-
able for constant-potential multiple operation with ratings from 1 or 2 to 300 volts;
other filament lamps are designed for constant-current series operation. A few lamps
or a large group may be operated in series on circuits of several thousand volts. The
guiding factors when there is a choice available, and which have been influential in
the trend toward power-supply standardization and wiring-device design, are as
follows:
1. Incandescent tungsten filaments having the same power rating are of necessity
longer and thinner at high voltages, and consequently are more fragile and less effi-
cient.
2. Although tungsten filaments reach their optimum strength and efficiency be-
tween 10 and 25 volts, the resulting high current for a given wattage results in (a)
more difficult lamp-sealing problems, especially in larger sizes, and (b) appreciably
heavier resistance losses in the wiring system, since the latter varies as the square of
the current.
3. The life-output performance of incandescent lamps is greatly affected by varia-
tions from design voltage. Therefore, a wiring system usually is designed to supply
and maintain voltage conditions within 2 per cent of the rated value.
4. Series operation of incandescent lamps requires extreme uniformity of filament
manufacture. Only a few different wattage ratings are available for each common
circuit-current rating.
5. Incandescent lamps, except in very large sizes, have only a minor thermal lag
in light output. Therefore, variations in voltage caused by the cyclic character of
alternating current are sufficient to cause a noticeable pulsing or stroboscopic effect
only at low frequencies (such as 25 cycles).
Note: References are listed at the end of each section.