THE BRANCH CIRCUIT

THE BRANCH CIRCUIT

by
by
Engr
Engr
. Alexis T.
. Alexis T.
Belonio
Belonio
Department of Agricultural Engineering and
Department of Agricultural Engineering and
Environmental Management
Environmental Management
College of Agriculture
College of Agriculture
Central Philippine University
Central Philippine University
Iloilo City
Iloilo City
atbelonio@yahoo.com
atbelonio@yahoo.com
Introduction
Introduction

Electric Circuit
Electric Circuit

It is the complete path

It is the complete path
traversed by an electric current.
traversed by an electric current.

Branch Circuit
Branch Circuit

As defined by NEC it is the

As defined by NEC it is the
circuit conductors between the final ever current
circuit conductors between the final ever current
protective device and the outlets. It is the only
protective device and the outlets. It is the only
wiring installed between the circuit over current
wiring installed between the circuit over current
protective device, I.e. the fuse or circuit breaker
protective device, I.e. the fuse or circuit breaker
and the outlets
and the outlets
The Branch Circuit
The Branch Circuit
Factors to Consider in
Factors to Consider in
Designing Branch Circuit
Designing Branch Circuit

Flexibility
Flexibility

can accommodate all probable

can accommodate all probable
pattern, arrangement, and possible expansion.
pattern, arrangement, and possible expansion.

Reliability
Reliability

continuous service and supply of

continuous service and supply of
power
power

Safety
Safety

can provide double emergency power

can provide double emergency power

Economy
Economy

refers to initial and operating cost

refers to initial and operating cost

Energy Consideration
Energy Consideration

energy conservation
energy conservation
technique, control, etc.
technique, control, etc.

Space Allocation
Space Allocation

easy maintenance,
easy maintenance,
expandability, etc.
expandability, etc.
Classifications
Classifications

General purpose branch circuit

General purpose branch circuit

supplies outlets for lighting and

supplies outlets for lighting and
appliances, including convenience outlet.
appliances, including convenience outlet.

Appliance branch circuit

Appliance branch circuit

supplies
supplies
outlets intended for feeding appliances.
outlets intended for feeding appliances.

Individual branch circuit

Individual branch circuit

supplies a
supplies a
single specific item.
single specific item.
Circuiting Guidelines Based
Circuiting Guidelines Based
on NEC
on NEC

The Code requires sufficient circuitry to supply

The Code requires sufficient circuitry to supply
residential load of 30 watts per square meter in
residential load of 30 watts per square meter in
buildings excluding porches, garages and
buildings excluding porches, garages and
basement.
basement.

The requirement of 30 watts per square meter

The requirement of 30 watts per square meter
works out to 80 square meter per 20 ampere
works out to 80 square meter per 20 ampere
circuit (2,400 watts) or 60 square meters for 15
circuit (2,400 watts) or 60 square meters for 15
ampere circuit (1,800 watts)
ampere circuit (1,800 watts)

Good practice suggest that a load should not

Good practice suggest that a load should not
exceed 1,600 watts for 20 ampere circuit or
exceed 1,600 watts for 20 ampere circuit or
1200 watts for a 15 ampere circuit. Thus.
1200 watts for a 15 ampere circuit. Thus.

Observe a maximum load of 1,200 watts on a

Observe a maximum load of 1,200 watts on a
15 ampere circuit with maximum are of 40
15 ampere circuit with maximum are of 40
square meters
square meters

A maximum load of 1,600 watts on a 20

A maximum load of 1,600 watts on a 20
ampere circuit with a maximum area of 53
ampere circuit with a maximum area of 53
square meters.
square meters.

The code requires a minimum of 20 ampere

The code requires a minimum of 20 ampere
appliance branch circuit to feed all small
appliance branch circuit to feed all small
appliance outlets in the kitchen, pantry, dining
appliance outlets in the kitchen, pantry, dining
and family room.
and family room.

The general purpose branch circuit shall be

The general purpose branch circuit shall be
rated at 20 amp circuit wire with NO. 12 AWG
rated at 20 amp circuit wire with NO. 12 AWG
being the minimum size of conductor wire for
being the minimum size of conductor wire for
all convenience outlet.
all convenience outlet.

Circuit load on a 15
Circuit load on a 15
-
-
ampere circuit shall be
ampere circuit shall be
limited to values given below.
limited to values given below.
Branch Circuit Capacity
Branch Circuit Capacity

Electric Heat
Electric Heat
Circuit Breaker
Circuit Breaker
Size
Size
Maximum Watts
Maximum Watts
@120 volts
@120 volts
Maximum Watts
Maximum Watts
@
@
240 volts
240 volts
15 amp
15 amp
1440
1440
2880
2880
20 amp
20 amp
1920
1920
3840
3840
30 amp
30 amp
2880
2880
5760
5760
Branch Circuit Requirements
Branch Circuit Requirements
15 amp 15 amp 20 amp 20 amp 30 amp 30 amp 40 amp 40 amp 50 amp 50 amp
Max. size of Max. size of
conductor conductor
No.14 No.14 12 12 10 10 8 8 6 6
Minimum size taps Minimum size taps No.14 No.14 14 14 14 14 12 12 12 12
Over current device Over current device
rating rating
15 amp 15 amp 20 20 30 30 40 40 50 50
Lamp holder Lamp holder
permitted permitted
Any Any
type type
Any Any
type type
H. duty H. duty H. duty H. duty H. Duty H. Duty
Receptacle rating Receptacle rating
permitted permitted
15 amp 15 amp 15 to 15 to
20 20
30 30 40 to 40 to
50 50
50 50
Maximum load Maximum load 15 amp 15 amp 20 20 30 30 40 40 50 50

Plug outlets or convenience receptacle shall be

Plug outlets or convenience receptacle shall be
counted in computing the load if it is not included
counted in computing the load if it is not included
in the load for general lighting circuit. Thus, to
in the load for general lighting circuit. Thus, to
find the number of outlets for a 9 and 12 ampere
find the number of outlets for a 9 and 12 ampere
loading on 15 amp and 20 amp respectively.
loading on 15 amp and 20 amp respectively.

For 15 ampere circuit: 9/1.5 = 6 outlets

For 15 ampere circuit: 9/1.5 = 6 outlets

For 20 ampere circuit: 12/1.5 = 8 outlets

For 20 ampere circuit: 12/1.5 = 8 outlets

Convenience receptacle shall be planned

Convenience receptacle shall be planned
properly so that in case of failure by one of the
properly so that in case of failure by one of the
circuit, the entire area will not be deprived of
circuit, the entire area will not be deprived of
power supply. In terms of reliability of service,
power supply. In terms of reliability of service,
each area shall be provided alternately with the
each area shall be provided alternately with the
different circuits.
different circuits.

All kitchen outlets shall be fed from at least two

All kitchen outlets shall be fed from at least two
of these circuits.
of these circuits.

The code further stipulates that, all receptacles

The code further stipulates that, all receptacles
are potential appliance outlet and at least two
are potential appliance outlet and at least two
circuits shall be supplied to serve them.
circuits shall be supplied to serve them.

Certain outlets in the room shall be designated

Certain outlets in the room shall be designated
as appliance outlets such as:
as appliance outlets such as:

All kitchen receptacles

All kitchen receptacles

Dining room receptacles

Dining room receptacles

One of the living room

One of the living room

The Code requires that, at least one 20

The Code requires that, at least one 20
ampere
ampere
-
-
circuit supply the laundry outlets.
circuit supply the laundry outlets.

If air conditioner is anticipated, provide a

If air conditioner is anticipated, provide a
separate circuit for this appliance.
separate circuit for this appliance.
Other Good Practices in
Other Good Practices in
Circuiting
Circuiting

Lighting and receptacles should not be

Lighting and receptacles should not be
combined on a single circuit.
combined on a single circuit.

Do not connect all building lighting on a single

Do not connect all building lighting on a single
circuit.
circuit.

Lighting and receptacles shall be supplied with

Lighting and receptacles shall be supplied with
current from at least two circuits so that if a
current from at least two circuits so that if a
single line is out, the entire are is not deprived of
single line is out, the entire are is not deprived of
power
power

Do not allow combination switch and receptacle

Do not allow combination switch and receptacle
outlet.
outlet.

Provide at least one receptacle in the bathroom

Provide at least one receptacle in the bathroom
and one outside the house. Both must be
and one outside the house. Both must be
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter type.
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter type.

Provide switch control for closet lights. Pull

Provide switch control for closet lights. Pull
chain switch is a nuisance.
chain switch is a nuisance.

Convenience outlet though counted as part of

Convenience outlet though counted as part of
the general lighting load shall be limited to 6
the general lighting load shall be limited to 6
convenience outlet on a 15 ampere circuit and 8
convenience outlet on a 15 ampere circuit and 8
convenience outlet on a 20 ampere circuit.
convenience outlet on a 20 ampere circuit.

The Code requires that at least one 20 ampere

The Code requires that at least one 20 ampere
circuit supply shall be installed to the laundry
circuit supply shall be installed to the laundry
outlets.
outlets.

Convenience outlet shall be laid out in such a

Convenience outlet shall be laid out in such a
manner that no point on a wall is more than 2
manner that no point on a wall is more than 2
meters from an outlet. Use a grounding type
meters from an outlet. Use a grounding type
receptacles only.
receptacles only.
Protection of the Branch Circuit
Protection of the Branch Circuit

All branch circuit should be protected from over

All branch circuit should be protected from over
current.
current.

Over current protection device opens the circuit

Over current protection device opens the circuit
when the current rating capacity of the
when the current rating capacity of the
equipment being protected is exceeded.
equipment being protected is exceeded.

Over current protection device is always

Over current protection device is always
connected at its hot line end to the voltage
connected at its hot line end to the voltage
source as its load end to the circuit wiring.
source as its load end to the circuit wiring.
Functions of Over current
Functions of Over current
Protection Device
Protection Device

To protect wiring
To protect wiring

To protect transformer
To protect transformer

To protect light
To protect light

To protect appliances and other

To protect appliances and other
equipment
equipment
Over Current Protection
Over Current Protection
Devices
Devices

Fuse
Fuse

is an overall current
is an overall current
protection device with a circuit
protection device with a circuit
opening fusible element which
opening fusible element which
opens when there is an over
opens when there is an over
current in the circuit.
current in the circuit.

Circuit Breaker
Circuit Breaker

is an over
is an over
current protective device
current protective device
designed to function as a
designed to function as a
switch. It is equipped with
switch. It is equipped with
automatic tripping device to
automatic tripping device to
protect the branch circuit from
protect the branch circuit from
overload and ground fault.
overload and ground fault.

Panel Board
Panel Board

is a
is a
single panel or group
single panel or group
panel limits designed
panel limits designed
for assembly in form
for assembly in form
of a single panel. It is
of a single panel. It is
commonly known as
commonly known as
electrical panels. It
electrical panels. It
includes buses,
includes buses,
automatic over
automatic over
current protective
current protective
device with or without
device with or without
switches for the
switches for the
control of light, heat
control of light, heat
or power circuits.
or power circuits.
References
References

Fajardo
Fajardo
, M.B. and L.
, M.B. and L.
Fajardo
Fajardo
. 1994.
. 1994.
Electrical Layout and Estimate. Second
Electrical Layout and Estimate. Second
Edition.5183 Merchandizing, Manila,
Edition.5183 Merchandizing, Manila,
Philippines. 336pp.
Philippines. 336pp.
Thank you very much and
Thank you very much and
God Bless!!!
God Bless!!!