WIRING SYSTEM

Types of wiring System.

 Cleat wiring
 Batten wiring
 PVC Casing Capping Wiring
 Conduit Pipe Wiring.
 CLEAT WIRING
• Introduction
The types of wiring to be
adopted is dependent on
various factors, viz,
durability, safety,
appearance, cost,
consumer’s budget etc.
• Cleat wiring
This System uses
insulated Cables sub
protected in porcelain
cleats.
Cleat wiring is recommended only for temporary
installations. The cleats are made in pairs having
bottom and top halves. The bottom half is grooved to
receive the wire and the top half is for cable grip.
Initially the bottom and top cleats are fixed on the
wall loosely according to the layout. Then the cable is
drawn, tensioned and the cleats are tightened by the
screw. Cleats are of three types, having one, two or
three grooves, so as to receive one, two or three
wires. Two types of cleats.
• Cleat wiring is one of the cheapest wiring considering
the initial cost and labor, and is most suitable for
temporary wiring. This wiring can be quickly
installed, easily inspected and altered. When not
required, this wiring could be dismantled without
damage to the cables, cleats and accessories
 B.I.S. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CLEAT
WIRING
• General
This system shall not be employed for wiring on
damp walls or ceilings unless precautions are
adopted for effectively preventing dampness and
thus the deterioration of the insulation of the
conductors.
• Accessibility
Cleat wiring shall be run, as far as practicable, so
as to be visible. In positions where they would be
liable to mechanical injury and where they are less
than 1.5 m above the floor, they shall be
adequately protected.
• Class of cables
Vulcanized rubber insulted cables, PVC and
polythene insulted cables, braided or unbraided
insulted cables could be used without any further
protection.
• Cleats
All cleats shall consist of two parts, a base piece
and a cap. Cleats shall be fixed at distances not
more than 60 cm apart and at regular intervals.
 Where cleat wiring is laid along an iron joist,
porcelain cleats shall be inserted either with
varnished wood fillets or varnished wood clamps
securely fixed so as to prevent the conductors from
coming in contact with the metal along witch they
are passing.
• Fixing of cleats
In ordinary cases, cleats shall be attached to wooden
plugs fixed to the walls
• Distance apart of wires
For pressure up to 250 volts, cleats shall be of
such dimensions that in the case of branch loads,
conductors shall not be less than 2.5 cm apart,
centre to centre, and in the case of sub-mains not
less than 4 cm apart, centre to centre. Care shall be
taken in selecting the size of cleats particularly for
branch distribution wiring where two-way and
three-way porcelain cleats are essential and the
difference in size shall be reasonable. Care should
• also be taken ensure that grooves of porcelain cleats
are essential and the difference in size shall be
reasonable. Care should also be taken ensure that
grooves of porcelain cleats do not compress the
insulation nor be too wide for a loose fit. Under no
circumstances two wires shall be placed in one
groove of the porcelain cleats.
Advantages of Cleat Wiring:
•It is simple and cheap wiring system
•Most suitable for temporary use i.e.
under construction building or army
camping
•As the cables and wires of cleat wiring
system is in open air, Therefore fault in
cablescan be seen and repair easily.
•Cleat wiring system installation is easy
and simple.
•Customization can be easily done in
this wiring system e.g. alteration and
addition.
•Inspection is easy and simple.
Disadvantages of Cleat Wiring:
•Appearance is not so good.
•Cleat wiring can’t be use for
permanent use because, Sag may be
occur after sometime of the usage.
•In this wiring system, the cables and
wiring is in open air, therefore,
oil, Steam, humidity,smoke, rain,
chemical and acidic effect may damage
the cables and wires.
•it is not lasting wire system because of
the weather effect , risk of fire and
wear & tear.
•it can be only used on 250/440 Volts
on low temperature.
•There is always a risk of fire and
electric shock.
•it can’t be used in important and
sensitive location and places.
•It is not lasting, reliable and
sustainable wiring system.
 BATTEN WIRING
 Batten Wiring
Tough rubber-Sheathed (T.R.S.) or PVC- Sheathed cables
are suitable to run on teak wood battens.
 Varnishing of teak wood batten
 Method of securing the battens
 Suitability of tough rubber-sheathed cable
 Suitability of PVC sheathed cable
 Painting
 Bending in wiring
 Passing through the walls
 Buried cable
 Link Clips
Link clips are used for family clipping the cables in
position.
Link clips are of two types.
 Link clip which has separate linking eye.
 Joint link clip which has combined linking eye.
Link clip are available in the following size.
25mm, 32mm, 40mm, 50mm, 63mm, 80mm, out of
which up to 40mm clips have one hole, while above that
they have two holes for fixing.
Fig2 shows the joint link clips. These are available in the
sizes 16mm, 25mm, 32mm, 40mm, 50mm, 63mm,
80mm with a thickness of 0.32mm and have one hole up
to 40mm while above that they have two hole for fixing.
Link clips are made of tin or brass- coated tin or
aluminum.
 CASING CAPPING WIRING
 Introduction
This system of wiring is
suitable for low voltage
installation, in this
wiring, cables like
vulcanized rubber,
insulated cables or
plastic insulated cables
are use and carried
within the wood casing
enclosures. The wood
casing wiring system
shall not be use in damp
places and in ill-
ventilated places, unless
suitable precautions are
taken.
 Material and pattern of
casing
All casing shall be of
first class, seasoned teak
wood or any other
approved hardwood free
from knots, shakes, saps
or other defects, with all
the sides planed to a
smooth finish, and all
sides well varnished,
both inside and out side
with pure shellac varnish.
The casing shall have a
grooved body with a
beaded or plain- molded
cover as desired.
 Dimensions of casing.
The size of casing and capping to be used for various
sizes of 250 volts grade insulated cables in a groove
shall be in accordance with those specified in table 1.
 Bunching of circuits.
 Attachment of casing to wall and ceiling.
 Attachment of capping.
 Passing over the floors.
 Joints in casing and capping.
 Advantages of Casing Capping Wiring:
• It is cheap wiring system as compared
to sheathed and conduit wiring
systems.
• It is strong and long-lasting wiring
system.
• Customization can be easily done in
this wiring system.
• If Phase and Neutral wire is installed in
separate slots, then repairing is easy.
• Stay for long time in the field due to
strong insulation of capping and
casing..
• It stays safe from
oil, Steam, smoke and rain.
• No risk of electric shock due to covered
wires and cables in casing & capping.
Disadvantages Casing Capping
Wiring:
There is a high risk of fire in casing &
capping wiring system.
Not suitable in the acidic, alkalies
and humidity conditions
Costly repairing and need more
material.
Material can’t be found easily in
the contemporary
White ants may damage the casing
& capping of wood.
Sn. Types of Joint diagram applications

1 Straight joint.

2 Tee joint.

3 Right- angled joint.

4 Corner joint.

5 Tee-bridge joint.

6 Cross- bridge joint

Advantages of Batten
Wiring
• Wiring installation is simple
and easy
• cheap as compared to
other electrical wiring
systems
• Paraphrase is good and
beautiful
• Repairing is easy
• strong and long-lasting
• Customization can be easily
done in this wiring system.
• less chance of leakage
current in batten wiring
system
Disadvantages of Batten
Wiring
Can’t be install in the humidity,
Chemical effects, open and
outdoor areas.
High risk of firs
Not safe from external wear &
tear and weather effects
(because, the wires are openly
visible
to heat, dust, steam and smoke.
Heavy wires can’t be used in
batten wiring system.
Only suitable below then 250V.
Need more cables and wires.
3. Conduit Wiring
(a) Surface conduit wiring
Metal Conduit Wiring
PVC conduit wiring
(b) Consiled Conduit Wiring
Metal Conduit Wiring.
PVC Conduit wiring.
 CONDUIT WIRING
 Introduction
In general, a conduit is
defined as a tube or
channel. Tubular conduit
is the most commonly
used material in
electrical installations.  Types of conduits.
When cables are drawn There are four types of conduits
through the conduit and used for wiring.
terminated at the outlet 1. Rigid steel conduit
or switch points, the 2. Rigid non-metallic conduit
system of wiring is 3. Flexible steel conduit
called conduit wiring. 4. Flexible non metallic conduit.
SN. ITEMS DIAGRAMS applications

1 Couplers

2 Elbow

3 Bends

4 Tee

5 Circular boxes

6 Rectangular boxes
 Advantage of Conduit Wiring
Systems
• It is the safest wiring system (Concealed
conduit wring)
• Appearance is very beautiful (in case of
concealed conduit wiring)
• No risk of mechanical wear & tear and
fire in case of metallic pipes.
• Customization can be easily done
according to the future needs.
• Repairing and maintenance is easy.
• There is no risk of damage the cables
insulation.
• it is safe from corrosion (in case of PVC
conduit) and risk of fire.
• It can be used even in humidity ,
chemical effect and smoky areas.
• No risk of electric shock (In case of
proper earthing and grounding of
metallic pipes).
• It is reliable and popular wiring system.
• sustainable and long-lasting wiring
system.
Disadvantages of Conduit Wiring
Systems
• It is expensive wiring system
(Due to PVC and Metallic pipes,
Additional earthing for metallic
pipes Tee(s) and elbows etc.
• Very hard to find the defects in
the wiring.
• installation is not easy and
simple.
• Risk of Electric shock (In case of
metallic pipes without proper
earthing system)
• Very complicated to manage
additional connection in the
future.
 Basic Elements of a Circuit
Three Essential Elements
 Power Source
 Complete Path
 Load
Additional Elements
 Control Device
(switches, dimmers)
 Protective Device
(Fuse, Circuit Breaker)
 Different types of materials
Respective of their property

Good Conductors Bad Conductors

Low resistance Medium
Carry current resistance
Used for
converting
electrical
Copper & Aluminum
energy into
heat, light &
Tungsten & Nichrome
sound
Non Conductors
Wires & cables
High use conductors &
resistance non conductors
Insulators to their
PVC, glass advantage
 Different types of conductors
Material Used
Aluminum
Copper
High conductivity
60%
Heavier & more expensive conductivity of
than aluminum copper
Copper used in house Cheap &
wiring lighter than
copper

Galvanized Iron (GI)

Heavier than aluminum

Lowest conductivity
Used in overhead lines
 Wires & Cables
Wires & Cables are purpose built conductors

The size & type of wire/cable must suit the power rating required for their
use. The higher the power the thicker the wire/cable

Wires

Domestic & small industry wiring

In appliances

Cables
Small & big industries
Distribution Lines
Transmission lines
 Wire Identification
different types of insulation used in
wires for different use:
The "T" stands for thermoplastic
insulated cable.
A single "H" means the wire is heat
resistant.
"HH" means that the wire is heat
resistant and can withstand a higher
temperature. This wire can withstand
heat up to 194 degrees Fahrenheit.
"W" means that the wire is approved
for damp and wet locations. This wire
is also suitable for dry locations.
"X" means the cable is made of a
synthetic polymer that is flame-
retardant.
"N" is for the nylon coating that
covers the wire insulation. for
flexibility
 Wire Identification
Returns current to
power source
What do each of these
Neutral
wires do?
Live
Provides current to
appliance

Earth
Takes current to ground if
appliance has fault
 Wire gauge
• Gauge refers to the size of the wire
• The thinner the wire, the higher the gauge
number
• The thicker the wire, the lower the gauge number
• The lower the gauge, the more electrical current
(amps) the wire can carry
• The lower the gauge, the longer distance the wire
can be run from an electrical source
 Standard Wire Gauge & Current
Carrying Capacity
Maximum safe
Each number current that can flow
represents a size of through a cable
wire

Higher current will heat the

cable and damage the
insulation and may result in
short circuit
Wire Gauges and Uses
 CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY
As per thumb rule the current carrying capacity of wire is 4 times of its cross-
sectional area of wire

i.e. 10 sq.mm wire carrying maximum current 40 amp 16 sq.mm

carrying maximum current 64 amp

amp convert in watt by multiplying by volt i.e. 240

16 sq.mm carrying max load 64x240= 15360 watt
 safe capacity
A 15-amp circuit that is running on 120 volts has a total capacity of 1,800 watts.

To determine the safe capacity, we need to multiply the 1,800 watts times 80% to
give us 1,440 watts. The rating of our equipment should not exceed this rating.
so our equipment safe capacity is
120 volts and 12 amps. 120V X 12A = 1,440 watts.
15-amp circuit, the safe operating amperage would be no greater than 12 amps.

Now consider a 20-amp circuit gives us 20A X 120V = 2,400 watts. 2,400 watts X
80% = 1,920 watts of safe capacity
Switches
Switch is an electrical device that is used to break or make an electrical circuit manually or
automatically.
 Basic Switch Function
• To open and close a circuit
– Open (no connection)
– Closed (connection)
• Control device
– Does not consume power
 Schematic Terms
• Two essential components such as pole and throws can confirm what types of
connections a switch can make.
• Here the pole and through can be defined as when the number of circuits is
controlled by a switch is called poles,whereas throws can be defined as the
number of positions that the switch can be adopt.
• Pole- what the switch armature is connected to

• Throw- the closed position of

the switch
Pole Throw
 Single Pole, Single Throw
• SPST
• 1 pole, 1 throw
• Example- room lights
SPST
 Double Pole, Single Throw
• DPST
• 2 poles
 Double Pole, Single Throw
• Not 2 throws because of mechanical connection
• Both armatures make contact at same time- one
closed position
DPST
 Momentary Contact
• Push Button Normally Open
• PBNO
• Red in color
 Momentary Contact

• Push Button Normally Closed

• PBNC
• Black in color
 Switch types

manual automatic
controlled by a person controlled by a mechanical or electrical device.
light switch, the ignition turn a circuit on or off without human action
switch on a motor vehicle • Timer switches
• Motion- sensor switches
• Programmable switches
• Time-delay switch
• Thermal switches
Switch Styles

Toggle Slide

Push
Rocker
On/Off
 Rotary Switches
• Used for complex circuits
• Can have multiple throws
 Dimmer
Dimmers are devices used to vary the brightness of a light
by decreasing or increasing the voltage and, hence,
the power to the lamp.
Advantages of Lighting Level Control
• Relaxed lighting in the evening
• Bright lighting when its needed for a task
• Improved safety by allowing low light levels to be used at night;
particularly advantageous if small children are about.
• Better comfort and better visibility.
• reduce energy use
Dimmer

A residential-type dimmer switch with sliding

knob to change dimness. The device is small
enough to fit into a regular wall box provided
for a switch.
 power plugs and sockets
power plugs and sockets are devices that allow
electrically operated equipment to be connected to the
primary alternating current (AC) power supplying a building.
Electrical plugs and sockets differ in voltage and current rating,
shape, size and type of connectors. The types used in each
country are set by national standards.
A plug and socket arrangement incorporates a number of
safety features:
The plug is fused and therefore offers better protection
for the flexible cord to which it is attached. ( Fuse rating
should match current rating of flexible cord ).
The live and neutral pins of the plug are insulated for part
of their length to avoid the possiblity of them being
touched while plugging in or out.
The socket apertures are shuttered to prevent say, a child
inserting small metallic objects,
thereby receiving an electric shock. ( Some manufacturers
are providing interlocked shutters on the live and neutral
apertures ).
Protective Devices
An overload occurs when equipment is subjected to current above its
rated capacity and excessive heat is produced.

 A short circuit occurs when there is a direct but unintended connection

between live-to-live or live-to-neutral conductors. Short circuits can
generate temperatures thousands of degrees above designated ratings.

A ground fault occurs when electrical current flows from a conductor to

uninsulated metal that is not designed to conduct electricity.

Protection against temperature is termed “overcurrent

protection.” Overcurrents are caused by equipment overloads,
by short circuits or by ground faults
Electrical Fuse

An electrical fuse is a simple device used to interrupt an electrical circuit during

over current condition due to short circuit and/or overload. An electrical fuse
operates on the principle of heating effect of electric current. During normal
operating condition, the current flowing through the fusing element is such that
the rate of heat production in the fuse element is nearly equal to the rate of heat
dissipation from the fuse element and thereby they are will be no considerable
increase of temperature of that fuse element. But if current through the fuse
element crosses certain predetermined value, the rate of production of heat is no
longer equal to the rate of dissipation of heat and as a result there will be a rapid
increase of temperature of the fuse element and very soon it reaches to the
melting point of the fuse element. Then the fuse element melts and disconnects
the supply from the load and safes the circuit connected through this fuse
element. In this way an electrical fuse protects an electrical installation from
permanent damage due to overheating. The time required for melting the fuse
element depends upon the magnitude of the over current. If, more over current
flows through a fuse element, more rapidly it is melted to disconnect the supply.
Electrical Fuse
Electrical Fuse
 Electrical Fuse

Advantages of electrical fuse

 cheapest form of protection system available for electrical circuits.

 simplest form of protection system and it is almost maintenance less.
 This is inherently operates automatically there is no need of any extra arrangement
for its automatic operation
 It interrupts electrical circuit without any noise, flame, gas or smoke.
 The minimum operating time and the minimum operating current can be easily
adjusted by choosing appropriate cross-sectional area of fusing element.

Disadvantages of using an electrical fuse?

Although it is simplest and cheapest form of protection but still electrical fuse systems
suffer for number of disadvantages.
•After melting a fuse element, considerable amount of time is required for renewing or
replacing the melted element and hence there will be a long time of interruption in the
circuit.
•Electrical fuse cannot be used for very high voltage system because at very high
voltage there will be huge arcing even after melting of fuse element. Hence for high
voltage system instead of using fuse element, electrical circuit breaker is used.
•In the case of three phase system, it is sometime required to isolate instantly the
entire faulty equipment from the system but in case of fuse protection only faulty
phase can be isolated instantly not enter equipment.
•For the system in which the over current faults likely to be occurred frequently,
electrical fuse protection cannot be used as every time for replacement of fuse
element there will be a huge time of interruption in the system.

The main properties of a fuse element are :

They must have low melting point.
They must have low ohmic loss.
They must have low resistivity.
They must be free from deterioration.
They must be of moderate cost.
The metals like tin, lead and zinc are having all the above mentioned properties hence
used widely as fuse element.
Miniature Circuit Breaker

MCB is a device which operates and disconnects the particular circuit when it
attains the pre-determined value.

Basically it is a switching device which can be operated

manually and automatically for controlling and protection of
electrical power system respectively.
The MCB has some advantages compared to fuse.
• It automatically switches off the electrical circuit during
abnormal condition of the network means in over load
condition as well as faulty condition. The fuse does not
sense but miniature circuit breaker does it in more reliable
way. MCB is much more sensitive to over current than fuse.
•Another advantage is, as the switch operating knob comes
at its off position during tripping, the faulty zone of the
electrical circuit can easily be identified. But in case of fuse,
fuse wire should be checked by opening fuse grip or cutout
from fuse base, for confirming the blow of fuse wire.
Miniature Circuit Breaker

•Quick restoration of supply can not be possible in case of fuse as because fuses have
to be rewirable or replaced for restoring the supply. But in the case of MCB, quick
restoration is possible by just switching on operation.
•MCBs operate to cutoff the current even on small overload current flow.
Only one disadvantage of MCB over fuse is that this system is more costlier than fuse
unit system.
There are two arrangement of
operation of miniature circuit
breaker. One due to thermal
effect of over current and other
due to electromagnetic effect of
over current.

Rated current not more than 100 A.

Trip characteristics normally not
adjustable.
Thermal or thermal-magnetic
operation.
MCCB (Moulded Case Circuit Breaker)
Rated current up to 1000 A.
Trip current may be adjustable.
Thermal or thermal-magnetic operation.

RCCB(Residual Current Circuit Breaker)

Or
RCD (Residual Current Device)
Phase (line) and Neutral both wires connected through RCD.
•It trips the circuit when there is earth fault current.
•The amount of current flows through the phase (line)
should return through neutral .
•It detects by RCD. any mismatch between two currents
flowing through phase and neutral detect by -RCD and trip
the circuit within 30Miliseconed.
•If a house has an earth system connected to an earth rod
and not the main incoming cable, then it must have all
circuits protected by an RCD
RCDs are an extremely effective form of shock protection
ELCB (Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker)

Phase (line), Neutral and Earth wire connected through ELCB.

ELCB is working based on Earth leakage current.
Operating Time of ELCB:
The safest limit of Current which Human Body can
withstand is 30ma sec.
Suppose Human Body Resistance is 500Ω and Voltage to
ground is 230 Volt.
The Body current will be 500/230=460mA.
Hence ELCB must be operated in 30maSec/460mA =
0.65msec
 Electrical Bus-Bar and its Types

An electrical bus bar is defined as a conductor or a

group of conductor used for collecting electrical
energy from the incoming feeders and distributes
them to the outgoing feeders. In other words, it is a
type of electrical junction in which all the incoming
and outgoing electrical current meets. Thus, the
electrical bus bar collects the electrical energy at
one location. When the fault occurs in any section
of the bus bar, all the circuit equipment connected
to that section must be tripped to give complete
isolation in the shortest possible time.
The bus-bars used in electrical substations usually
have rectangular cross section bars, but they can be
in another shape also, as round tubes, solid round
bars, or shape tubes. The bus-bar are usually made
up of aluminum. Aluminum have several
advantages over copper such as higher conductivity,
lower cost, excellent corrosion resistance, etc.
 Electrical Bus-Bar and its Types
There are several types of bus bar arrangements, and the choice of particular
arrangement depend on different factors such as system voltage, the position
of a substation in the system, reliability of supply, flexibility and cost.

Single Bus-Bar Arrangement

This is the simplest arrangement
consisting of a single set of a bus bar
for the full length of the switchboard
and to this set of bus bars are
connected to all the generators,
transformer and feeders as illustrated
in the figure. The advantage of single
bus bar arrangements are
It has low initial cost.
It requires less maintenance
It is simple in operation
Electrical Bus-Bar and its Types
 Electrical Bus-Bar and its Types

Advantages of Main and Transfer Bus Arrangement

It ensures the continuity of supply in case of bus fault. When the fault occurs on one
bus, the entire load can be shifted to the other bus bar.
Repair and maintenance can be carried out on the main bus without interrupting the
supply as the entire load can be transferred to the auxiliary bus.
Each load can be supplied from either bus, and the infeed and load circuit may be
divided into two separate groups if required.
The testing and maintenance of feeder circuit breakers can be done by putting them
on a spare bus, thus keeping the main bus undisturbed.
The maintenance cost of bus substation is lowered, and bus potential can be used for
relays.
Disadvantages of Main and Transfer Bus Arrangement
In such type of arrangements two bus bars are used which increases the cost of the
system.
The bus is maintained or expanded by transferring all of the circuits to the auxiliary
bus depending upon the remote backup relays and breakers for removing fault of the
circuit.
 Electrical Bus-Bar and its Types
Double Bus Double Breaker Arrangement
In such type of arrangement two bus bars and two circuit breakers are employed.
This arrangement does not require any bus coupler and permits switch over
whenever desired without arrangement.

Advantages of Double Bus Double Breaker

This type of arrangement provided
maximum reliability and flexibility as the
fault and maintenance interrupt the supply
to the minimum.
There is continuity in supply because if a
circuit breaker can be opened for repairs,
then the load can be shifted on the other
circuit breaker easily.

Disadvantages of double bus Double breaker

In such type of arrangement two buses and two circuit
breakers are used which increases the cost of the system.
Their maintenance cost is also very high.
Because of its higher cost, such type of bus-bars is seldom
used in substations.
Electrical Bus-Bar and its Types

•Single Bus-Bar Arrangement

•Single Bus-Bar Arrangement
With Bus Sectionalized
•Main and Transfer Bus
Arrangement
•Double Bus Double Breaker
Arrangement
•Sectionalized Double Bus Bar
Arrangement.
•One and a Half Breaker
Arrangement
•Ring Main Arrangement
•Mesh Arrangement
Types of electrical installation and components
On completion of this topic area the candidate will be able to state types of electrical
installation, components and related functions, and describe the function, operation
and wiring of components for electrical systems.
Lighting
conduit and trunking – this uses PVC single-core insulated cables
multicore or composite cables – this uses a sheathed multi-core twin and earth
or a three cores and earth. A ‘loop in’ or ‘joint box’ method may be employed with
this type of installation. The primary role of lighting circuits is to provide functional
levels of illumination
in buildings, allowing the people in the building to get around in the dark. Lighting
circuits may also be used outside, such as streetlights, or used to direct people, such
as on road signs and traffic lights, or floodlights at stadiums.
We use mains electricity, supplied by power stations, for all kinds of appliances
in our homes, so it is very important to know how to use it safely. In this chapter
you will learn how mains electricity is brought into our homes and supplied to
appliances. You also will read about devices that protect users from electric shocks.
When you turn on your computer, television and most other appliances in your
home the electricity you use is almost certainly going to come from the mains
supply. This electrical energy usually enters our homes through an underground
cable. The cable is connected to an electricity meter, which measures the amount
of electrical energy used. From here, the cable is connected to a consumer unit or
a fuse box, which contains fuses or circuit breakers for the various circuits in your
home. Fuses and circuit breakers are safety devices which shut off the electricity in
a circuit if the current in them becomes too large (see page 61).
Most of the wires that leave the fuse box are connected to ring main circuits that
are hidden in the walls or floors around each room. Individual pieces of electrical
equipment are connected to these circuits using plugs.
Ring circuits usually consist of three wires – the live wire, the neutral wire and the
earth wire.
The live wire provides the path along which the electrical energy from the power
station travels. This wire is alternately positive and negative causing alternating
current (ac) to flow along it.
The neutral wire completes the circuit..
The earth wire usually has no current flowing through it.
It is there to protect you if an appliance develops a fault.Plugs and sockets in different
countries look different, but the principles of electrical wiring are similar.

Plug sockets in the UK and in Portugal.

Mains electricity is supplied to homes in the UK at about 230V. This is a much

higher voltage than the cells and batteries used in portable electrical appliances. If
you come into direct contact with mains electricity you could receive a severe
electric shock, which might even be fatal. The outer part of a plug, called the
casing, is therefore made from plastic, which is a good insulator. Connections to the
circuits are made via three brass pins, as brass is an excellent conductor of
electricity. Figure 7.5b shows some common mistakes made when wiring a plug.
This figure shows the inside of a 3-pin plug used in the UK, but similar principles
apply to all kinds of plug.
Using electricity safely
Electricity is very useful, but it can be dangerous if it is not used safely. There are
safety devices built into houses and electrical appliances that you will learn about
later, but there are things we can do to keep ourselves safe as well.

Figure 7.6 shows some of the following hazards of electricity that can easily be avoided.
Broken plugs and frayed wires can expose the metal wires or parts of the plug that are
carrying the electricity. Anyone touching these would get an electric shock, so they
should be replaced as soon as the damage occurs. Anyone poking a metal object into a
socket will also get an electric shock. Cables to electrical appliances should be kept as
short as possible to prevent them causing spills. Water can conduct electricity at high
voltages, so spilling water onto electrical equipment can be dangerous. Water should
also be kept away from sockets and you must never use electrical equipment with wet
hands.
Earth wires and double insulation
Many appliances have a metal casing. This should be connected to the earth wire
so that if the live wire becomes frayed or breaks and comes into contact with the
casing the earth wire provides a low-resistance path for the current. This current is
likely to be large enough to blow the fuse and turn the circuit off. Without the
earth wire anyone touching the casing of the faulty appliance would receive a
severe electric shock as current passed through them to earth (Figure 7.8).
Some modern appliances now use casings made from an insulator such as plastic
rather than from metal. If all the electrical parts of an appliance are insulated in
this way, so that they cannot be touched by the user, the appliance is said to have
double insulation. Appliances that have double insulation use a two-wire flex.
There is no need for an earth wire.

Figure 7.9 This plastic kettle has double insulation which means that there is no need for an
earth wire.
Switches
Switches in mains circuits should always be included in the live wire so that when the
switch is open no electrical energy can reach an appliance. If the switch is included in the
neutral wire, electrical energy can still enter an appliance, and could possibly cause an
electric shock