Ampacity.

Thecurrent,inamperes,thataconductorcan
carrycontinuouslyundertheconditionsofusewithout
exceedingitstemperaturerating.
Appliance.Utilizationequipment,generallyotherthan
industrial,thatisnormallybuiltinstandardizedsizesortypes
andisinstalledorconnectedasaunittoperformoneor
morefunctionssuchasclotheswashing,airconditioning,
foodmixing,deepfrying,andsoforth.
BranchCircuit.Thecircuitconductorsbetweenthefinal
overcurrentdeviceprotectingthecircuitandtheoutlet(s).
BranchCircuit,Appliance.Abranchcircuitthatsupplies
energytooneormoreoutletstowhichappliancesaretobe
connectedandthathasnopermanentlyconnectedluminaires
(lightingfixtures)thatarenotapartofanappliance.
BranchCircuit,GeneralPurpose.Abranchcircuitthat
suppliestwoormorereceptaclesoroutletsforlightingand
appliances.
Building.Astructurethatstandsaloneorthatiscutoff
fromadjoiningstructuresbyfirewallswithallopenings
thereinprotectedbyapprovedfiredoors.
Cabinet.Anenclosurethatisdesignedforeithersurface
mountingorflushmountingandisprovidedwithaframe,
mat,ortriminwhichaswingingdoorordoorsareorcan
behung.
CircuitBreaker.Adevicedesignedtoopenandclosea
circuitbynonautomaticmeansandtoopenthecircuit
automaticallyonapredeterminedovercurrentwithoutdamage
toitselfwhenproperlyappliedwithinitsrating.
Concealed.Renderedinaccessiblebythestructureor
finishofthebuilding.Wiresinconcealedracewaysare
consideredconcealed,eventhoughtheymaybecomeaccessible
bywithdrawingthem.
Conductor,Bare.Aconductorhavingnocoveringorelectrical
insulationwhatsoever.
Conductor,Covered.Aconductorencasedwithinmaterial
ofcompositionorthicknessthatisnotrecognizedbythis
Codeaselectricalinsulation.
Conductor,Insulated.Aconductorencasedwithinmaterial
ofcompositionandthicknessthatisrecognizedbythis
Codeaselectricalinsulation.
ConduitBody.Aseparateportionofaconduitortubing
systemthatprovidesaccessthrougharemovablecover(s)
totheinteriorofthesystematajunctionoftwoormore
sectionsofthesystemorataterminalpointofthesystem.
BoxessuchasFSandFDorlargercastorsheetmetal
boxesarenotclassifiedasconduitbodies.
Device.Aunitofanelectricalsystemthatisintended
tocarryorcontrolbutnotutilizeelectricenergy.
DwellingUnit.Asingleunit,providingcompleteand
independentlivingfacilitiesforoneormorepersons,
includingpermanentprovisionsforliving,sleeping,
cooking,andsanitation.
Enclosure.Thecaseorhousingofapparatus,orthe
fenceorwallssurroundinganinstallationtoprevent
personnelfromaccidentallycontactingenergized
partsortoprotecttheequipmentfromphysical
damage.
Equipment.Ageneraltermincludingmaterial,fittings,
devices,appliances,luminaires(fixtures),apparatus,
andthelikeusedasapartof,orinconnectionwith,an
electricalinstallation.
Grounded,Effectively.Intentionallyconnectedto
earththroughagroundconnectionorconnectionsof
sufficientlylowimpedanceandhavingsufficient
currentcarryingcapacitytopreventthebuildupof
voltagesthatmayresultinunduehazardsto
connectedequipmentortopersons.
LightingOutlet.Anoutletintendedforthedirect
connectionofalampholder,aluminaire(lighting
fixture),orapendantcordterminatingina
lampholder.
Luminaire.Acompletelightingunitconsistingofa
lamporlampstogetherwiththepartsdesignedto
distributethelight,topositionandprotectthelamps
andballast(whereapplicable),andtoconnectthe
lampstothepowersupply.
Panelboard.Asinglepanelorgroupofpanelunits
designedforassemblyintheformofasinglepanel,
includingbusesandautomaticovercurrentdevices,
andequippedwithorwithoutswitchesforthecontrol
oflight,heat,orpowercircuits;designedtobeplaced
inacabinetorcutoutboxplacedinoragainstawall,
partition,orothersupport;andaccessibleonlyfrom
thefront.
PowerOutlet.Anenclosedassemblythatmayinclude
receptacles,circuitbreakers,fuseholders,fused
switches,buses,andwatthourmetermounting
means;intendedtosupplyandcontrolpowerto
mobilehomes,recreationalvehicles,parktrailers,or
boatsortoserveasameansfordistributingpower
requiredtooperatemobileortemporarilyinstalled
equipment.
Definition
Electrical notes Page 1
Continuation..Definition
Raceway.Anenclosedchannelofmetalornonmetallic
materialsdesignedexpresslyforholdingwires,cables,or
busbars,withadditionalfunctionsaspermittedinthisCode.
Racewaysinclude,butarenotlimitedto,rigidmetalconduit,
rigidnonmetallicconduit,intermediatemetalconduit,
liquidtightflexibleconduit,flexiblemetallictubing,flexible
metalconduit,electricalnonmetallictubing,electricalmetallic
tubing,underfloorraceways,cellularconcretefloorraceways,
cellularmetalfloorraceways,surfaceraceways,wireways,
andbusways.
Receptacle.Areceptacleisacontactdeviceinstalledatthe
outletfortheconnectionofanattachmentplug.Asingle
receptacleisasinglecontactdevicewithnoothercontact
deviceonthesameyoke.Amultiplereceptacleistwoor
morecontactdevicesonthesameyoke.
ServiceDrop.Theoverheadserviceconductorsfromthe
lastpoleorotheraerialsupporttoandincludingthesplices,
ifany,connectingtotheserviceentranceconductorsatthe
buildingorotherstructure.
ServiceEntranceConductors,OverheadSystem.Theservice
conductorsbetweentheterminalsoftheserviceequipment
andapointusuallyoutsidethebuilding,clearofbuilding
walls,wherejoinedbytaporsplicetotheservicedrop.
ServiceEntranceConductors,UndergroundSystem.The
serviceconductorsbetweentheterminalsoftheservice
equipmentandthepointofconnectiontotheservicelateral.
FPN:Whereserviceequipmentislocatedoutsidethe
buildingwalls,theremaybenoserviceentranceconductors
ortheymaybeentirelyoutsidethebuilding.
ServiceEquipment.Thenecessaryequipment,usuallyconsisting
ofacircuitbreaker(s)orswitch(es)andfuse(s)and
theiraccessories,connectedtotheloadendofservice
conductorstoabuildingorotherstructure,oranotherwise
designatedarea,andintendedtoconstitutethemaincontrol
andcutoffofthesupply.
ServiceLateral.Theundergroundserviceconductorsbetween
thestreetmain,includinganyrisersatapoleorotherstructure
orfromtransformers,andthefirstpointofconnectiontothe
serviceentranceconductorsinaterminalboxormeterorother
enclosure,insideoroutsidethebuildingwall.Wherethereisno
terminalbox,meter,orotherenclosure,thepointofconnection
isconsideredtobethepointofentranceoftheservice
conductorsintothebuilding.
Switch,GeneralUse.Aswitchintendedforuseingeneral
distributionandbranchcircuits.Itisratedinamperes,anditis
capableofinterruptingitsratedcurrentatitsratedvoltage.
Switchboard.Alargesinglepanel,frame,orassemblyof
panelsonwhicharemountedontheface,back,orboth,
switches,overcurrentandotherprotectivedevices,buses,
andusuallyinstruments.Switchboardsaregenerallyaccessible
fromtherearaswellasfromthefrontandarenot
intendedtobeinstalledincabinets.
UtilizationEquipment.Equipmentthatutilizeselectric
energyforelectronic,electromechanical,chemical,
heating,
lighting,orsimilarpurposes.
Watertight.Constructedsothatmoisturewillnotenter
theenclosureunderspecifiedtestconditions.
Weatherproof.Constructedorprotectedsothat
exposuretotheweatherwillnotinterferewith
successfuloperation.
Electrical notes Page 2
Thedifferentlamptechnologies
Artificiallight 1.
Artificialluminousradiationcanbeproducedfrom
electricalenergyaccordingtotwoprinciples:
Incandescentlamps
Incandescentlampsarehistoricallytheoldest
(patentedbyThomasEdisonin1879)andthe
mostcommonlyfoundincommonuse.
Theyarebasedontheprincipleofafilament
renderedincandescentinavacuumorneutral
atmospherewhichpreventscombustion.
Standardbulbs
Halogenbulbs
Adistinctionismadebetween:
Fluorescentlamps
Thisfamilycoversfluorescenttubesand
compactfluorescentlamps.Theirtechnologyis
Fluorescenttubes
Thesewerefirstintroducedin1938.
Inthesetubes,anelectricaldischargecauseselectronsto
collidewithionsofmercuryvapor,resultinginultraviolet
radiationduetoenergizationofthemercuryatoms.The
fluorescentmaterial,whichcoverstheinsideofthetubes,
thentransformsthisradiationintovisiblelight.
Compactfluorescentlamps
Thesearebasedonthesameprincipleasa
fluorescenttube.Thestarterandballast
functionsareprovidedbyanelectroniccircuit(integrated
inthelamp)whichenablestheuseofsmallertubesfolded
backonthemselves.
usuallyknownaslowpressuremercury.
incandescenceandelectroluminescence.
Dischargelamps
Lowpressuresodiumvaporlamps
Highpressuresodiumvaporlamps
Highpressuremercuryvaporlamps
Metalhalidelamps
Thelightisproducedbyanelectricaldischargecreated
betweentwoelectrodeswithinagasinaquartzbulb.All
theselamps(seefig.3)thereforerequireaballasttolimit
thecurrentinthearc.TheemissionspectrumandtheCRI
dependonthecompositionofthegasandimproveasthe
pressureincreases.Anumberoftechnologieshave
thereforebeendevelopedfordifferentapplications.
LEDs(LightEmittingDiodes)
Theprincipleoflightemittingdiodesisthe
emissionoflightbyasemiconductorasan
electricalcurrentpassesthroughit.LEDsare
commonlyfoundinnumerousapplications,butthe
recentdevelopmentofwhiteorbluediodeswitha
highlightoutputopensnewperspectives,
especiallyforsignaling(trafficlights,exitsignsor
emergencylighting).
LIGHTING
Electrical notes Page 3
Luminousfluxisthequantityoflightemittedbyalamp 1.
Atypical60Wlightbulb(incandescentlamp)usedinthehomeemitsabout
700lmanda58Wtubularfluorescentlamp(dischargelamp)emitsabout
5000lm.Itcanbeseenfromthiscomparisonthatincandescentlampsare
lessenergyefficientthandischargelamps.Thetermusedtodescribelamp
efficiencyisefficacy.

andismeasuredinlumens(lm).
Lampefficacyorluminousefficacyistheratiobetweena 2.
lampsoutputinlumensandthepoweritusesinwatts
Thehighertheefficacy,thegreatertheenergy
efficiencyofthelamp.Atypical60Wincandescentlamphasalowefficacy
ofaround12lm/W,whilea58Wtubularfluorescentlamphasamuch
higherefficacyof60100lm/W.Thetermsystemefficacyisusedifthe
powerconsumptionofthecontrolgearassociatedwithadischargelampis
takenintoaccountandwillbelowerthanthelampefficacy.
(lm/W).
Colourtemperature(K)determineswhethercolours 3.
Environmentssuchasrestaurantsandloungesfavourlightingonthewarm
sideofwhiteanduselampswitharelativelylowcolourtemperatureof3
300Korless.

Environmentssuchasadentistssurgerygenerallyrequireahighercolour
temperaturetoprovideacoolappearance.

appearwarmorcool.
Colourrenderingdescribestheextenttowhichthecolours 4.
ofsurfacesilluminatedbyaparticularlamptypewillappear
Thecolourrenderingindex(Ra)isascalefrom0to100whichprovidesan
indicationofalampscolourrenderingcharacteristicsandaroughguideto
theindexisshownbelow.Thecoloursusedarenotintendedasanaccurate
interpretationoftheindex,butdoprovideavisualinterpretationofthe
meaningofcolourrendering.

thesameasiftheywerelitbydaylight.
Illuminanceistheamountoflightreachingasurface,ega 5.
Therequiredilluminanceinabuildingisdependentontheapplication,as
shownbelow:

Screen clipping taken: 8/25/2009, 1:48 PM

desktopandismeasuredinlux(onelumenperm2).
Basiclampterms
Electrical notes Page 4
Current
Electricityistheflowoffreeelectronsinaconductorfrom
oneatomtothenextatominthesamegeneraldirection.
Thisflowofelectronsisreferredtoascurrentandis
designatedbythesymbolI.Electronsmovethrougha
conductoratdifferentratesandelectriccurrenthas
differentvalues.Currentismeasuredinampereswhichis
abbreviatedamps.TheletterAisthesymbolforamps.
UnitsofMeasurement
PrefixSymbolDecimal
1kiloampere1kA1000A
1milliampere1mA1/1000A
1microampere1mA1/1,000,000A
Thefollowingchartreflectsspecialprefixesthatareused
whendealingwithverysmallorlargevaluesofcurrent:
Voltage
Electricitycanbecomparedwithwaterflowingthrougha
pipe.Aforceisrequiredtogetwatertoflowthrougha
pipe.Thisforcecomesfromeitherawaterpumpor
gravity.Voltageistheforcethatisappliedtoaconductor
thatcauseselectriccurrenttoflow.Theforcerequiredto
makeelecticityflowthroughaconductoriscalleda
differenceinpotential,electromotiveforce(emf),ormore
simplyreferredtoasvoltage.voltageisdesignatedbythe
letterE,ortheletterV.Theunitofmeasurementfor
voltageisvoltswhichisalsodesignatedbytheletterV.
PrefixSymbolDecimal
1kilovolt1kV1000V
1millivolt1mV1/1000V
1microvolt1mV1/1,000,000V
UnitsofMeasurementThefollowingchartreflectsspecial
prefixesthatareusedwhendealingwithverysmallor
largevaluesofvoltage:
Resistance
Athirdfactorthatplaysaroleinanelectricalcircuitis
resistance.Allmaterialimpedestheflowofelectrical
currenttosomeextent.Theamountofresistance
dependsuponcomposition,length,crosssectionand
temperatureoftheresistivematerial.Asaruleofthumb,
resistanceofaconductorincreaseswithanincreaseof
lengthoradecreaseofcrosssection.Resistanceis
designatedbythesymbolR.Theunitofmeasurement
forresistanceisohms().
Resistanceisusuallyindicatesymbolicallyonan
electricaldrawingbyoneoftwoways.Anunfilled
rectangleiscommonlyused.Azigzaglinemayalso
beused.
ResistanceCircuitSymbols
UnitsofMeasurementThefollowingchartreflectsspecial
prefixesthatarecommonly
PrefixSymbolDecimal
1kilohm1k1000
1megohm1M1,000,000
usedwhendealingwithvaluesofresistance:
AnElectricCircuit
Afundamentalrelationshipexistsbetweencurrent,
voltage,andresistance.Asimpleelectriccircuitconsistsof
avoltagesource,sometypeofload,andaconductorto
allowelectronstoflowbetweenthevoltagesourceand
theload.
OhmsLaw
GeorgeSimonOhm
Therelationshipbetweencurrent,voltageandresistance
wasandOhmsLawstudiedbythe19thcenturyGerman
mathematician,GeorgeSimonOhm.Ohmformulateda
lawwhichstatesthatcurrentvariesdirectlywithvoltage
andinverselywithresistance.Fromthislawthefollowing
formulaisderived:
OhmsLawisthebasicformulausedinallelectrical
circuits.Electricaldesignersmustdecidehowmuch
voltageisneededforagivenload,suchascomputers,
clocks,lampsandmotors.Therearethreemathematical
waystoexpressOhmsLaw.Whichoftheformulasisused
dependsonwhatfactsareknownbeforestartingand
whatfactsneedtobeknown.
OhmsLawTriangle
ElectricalCircuit
Electrical notes Page 5
ResistanceinaSeriesCircuit
Aseriescircuitisformedwhenanynumberofresistorsare
connectedendtoendsothatthereisonlyonepathforcurrentto
flow.
FormulaforSeriesResistance
Thevaluesofresistanceaddinaseriescircuit.Ifa4
resistorisplacedinserieswitha6resistor,thetotalvalue will
be10.Thisistruewhenothertypesofresistivedevices are
placedinseries.Themathematicalformulaforresistanceinseries
is:
VoltageinaSeriesCircuit
Voltagecanbemeasuredacrosseachoftheresistorsina
circuit.Thevoltageacrossaresistorisreferredtoasavolt
agedrop.AGermanphysicist,Kirchhoff,formulatedalawwhich
statesthesumofthevoltagedropsacrosstheresistancesof
aclosedcircuitequalsthetotalvoltageappliedtothecircuit.
ResistanceinaParallelCircuit
Aparallelcircuitisformedwhentwoormoreresistancesare
placedinacircuitsidebysidesothatcurrentcanflow
throughmorethanonepath.
FormulaforEqualValueResistorsParallelCircuit
Todeterminethetotalresistancewhenresistorsareof
equalinavalueinaparallelcircuit,usethefollowing
formula:
FormulaforUnequalResistorsinaParallelCircuit
Therearetwoformulastodeterminetotalresistancefor
unequalvalueresistorsinaparallelcircuit.Thefirstformula
isusedwhentherearethreeormoreresistors.Theformula
canbeextendedforanynumberofresistors.
Inthefollowingillustrationtherearethreeresistors,eachof
differentvalue.Thetotalresistanceis:
DCcircuit
Electrical notes Page 6
Thesecondformulaisusedwhenthereareonlytworesistors.
VoltageinaParallelCircuit
Whenresistorsareplacedinparallelacrossavoltagesource,
thevoltageisthesameacrosseachresistor.Inthefollowing
illustrationthreeresistorsareplacedinparallelacrossa12
voltbattery.Eachresistorhas12voltsavailabletoit.
CurrentinaParallelCircuit
Currentflowingthroughaparallelcircuitdividesandflows
througheachbranchofthecircuit.
Totalcurrentinaparallelcircuitisequaltothesumofthe
currentineachbranch.Thefollowingformulaappliesto
currentinaparallelcircuit.
CurrentFlowwithEqualValueResistorsinaParallelCircuit
Whenequalresistancesareplacedinaparallelcircuit,
oppositiontocurrentflowisthesameineachbranch.Inthe
followingcircuitR1andR2areofequalvalue.Iftotalcurrent
(It)is10amps,then5ampswouldflowthroughR1and5
ampswouldflowthroughR2.
CurrentFlowwithUnequalValueResistorsParallelCircuit
Whenunequalvalueresistorsareplacedinaparallelcircuit,
inaoppositiontocurrentflowisnotthesameinevery
circuitbranch.Currentisgreaterthroughthepathofleast
resistance.InthefollowingcircuitR1is40andR2is20.
Smallvalues ofresistancemeanslessoppositiontocurrent
flow.MorecurrentwillflowthroughR2thanR1.
DCCIRCUITCONTINUATION
Electrical notes Page 7
SeriesParallelCircuits
Seriesparallelcircuitsarealsoknownascompoundcircuits.Atleast
threeresistorsarerequiredtoformaseriesparallelcircuit.
SimplifyingaSeriesParallel
Theformulasrequiredforsolvingcurrent,voltageandresistance
problemshavealreadybeendefined.Tosolveaseriesparallel
circuit,reducethecompoundcircuitstoequivalentsimplecircuits.
InthefollowingillustrationR1andR2areparallelwitheachother.
R3isinserieswiththeparallelcircuitofR1andR2.
First,usetheformulatodeterminetotalresistanceofaparallel
circuittofindthetotalresistanceofR1andR2.Whenthe
resistorsinaparallelcircuitareequal,thefollowingformulais
used:
Second,redrawthecircuitshowingtheequivalentvalues.The
resultisasimpleseriescircuitwhichusesalreadylearned
equationsandmethodsofproblemsolving.
SimplifyingaSeriesParallelCircuittoaParallelCircuit
InthefollowingillustrationR1andR2areinserieswith
eachother.R3isinparallelwiththeseriescircuitofR1
andR2.
First,usetheformulatodeterminetotalresistanceofa
seriescircuittofindthetotalresistanceofR1andR2.
Thefollowingformulaisused:
Second,redrawthecircuitshowingtheequivalent
values.Theresultisasimpleparallelcircuitwhichuses
alreadylearnedequationsandmethodsofproblem
solving.
DCCIRCUITCONTINUATION
Electrical notes Page 8
Work
Wheneveraforceofanykindcausesmotion,workis
accomplished.Intheillustrationbelowworkisdonewhen
amechanicalforceisusedtoliftaweight.Ifaforcewere
exertedwithoutcausingmotion,thennoworkisdone.
ElectricPower
Inanelectricalcircuit,voltageappliedtoaconductorwill
causeelectronstoflow.Voltageistheforceandelectron
flowisthemotion.Therateatwhichworkisdoneiscalled
powerandisrepresentedbythesymbolP.Poweris
measuredinwattsandisrepresentedbythesymbolW.
Thewattisdefinedastherateworkisdoneinacircuit
when1ampflowswith1voltapplied.
P=ExI
P=EI
Power
Electrical notes Page 9
SampleCalculation
Electrical notes Page 10
Tableforwiringsizes
SampleCalculationContinuation
Electrical notes Page 11
Openwiringoninsulators 1.
TypeIGScable 2.
Rigidmetalconduit 3.
Intermediatemetalconduit 4.
Electricalmetallictubing 5.
Electricalnonmetallictubing 6.
Serviceentrancecables 7.
Wireways 8.
Busways 9.
Auxiliarygutters 10.
Rigidnonmetalliccounduit 11.
Cablebus 12.
TypeMCcables 13.
MineralInsulated,metalsheatedcable 14.
Flexiblemetalconduit 15.
Liquidtightflexiblenonmetallicconduit. 16.
Cabletray(cablemanagement) 17.
Wiringmethodsfor600volts
Requiredclearance
3,100mm forbuildingserviceentranceconductorvertical
clearance,accessibletopedestrian.
3,700mm forresidentialpropertyanddriveways
4,600mm forresidentialpropertyanddrivewayswhere
voltagesexceeds600volts
5,500mm overpublicstreets,alleys,roads,parkingareas
subjecttotrucktraffic
Entrancespacerequiredshallnotbelessthan600mmwideand2,000
mmheight.
Applianceequipmentshallbeinstalledwithin1800mm.
Receptaclesspacingshallbeinmorethan1800mmapart.
Receptacles,panels,dividersshallnotbemore600mmfromthecornerof
thewall.
Receptacleoutletshallbelocatedabove,butnotmorethan450mm
abovethecountertopspaces.
Inhallwayswith3,000mmormoreinlengthmusthaveatleastone
receptacle.
Wiringmethod&clearances
Electrical notes Page 12
Serviceentranceconductorsabovetheroofshall
notbemorethan2,500mmandshallmaintained
amaximumverticalclearanceof1,000mminall
directionsfromtheedgeoftheroof.
Switchesshallbeinstalledsothatthecenterof
thegripshallnotbemorethan2,000mmabove
floorlevel.
Clearances
Electrical notes Page 13