Branch circuit

Electric Circuit refers to the complete path traversed by an electric current. In. short, electric circuit is
the entire house wiring installation

Branch Circuit is defined by the National. (NEC) as: "the circuit conductors between the final over
current protective device and the outlets"

Branch circuit comprises the following:

1. The of voltage
2. The wiring
3. The load

Good circuitry design

1. Flexibility of the circuit.

2. Reliability and efficiency of service
 The utility services
 Building electric systems
3. Safety of the circuitry
4. Economy as to cost
 High energy cost
 Higher maintenance cost
 Shorter life
5. Energy consideration
 Energy laws and codes
 Budget
 Energy consumption
 Energy control
6. Space allocation
 Easy maintenance
 Ventilation
 Expandability
 Centrality
 Limitation of access

Branch circuit classified into:

1. General branch circuit

- supplies outlets for lighting and appliances; including convenience receptacles
2. Appliance branch circuit
- Supplies outlets intended for feeding appliances.
3. Individual branch circuit
- is designed to supply a single specific item
Electrical layout and estimate

9
a) for 15 amp circuit= =6 outlets
1.5
12
b) for 20 amp circuit= =8 outlets
1.5

Causes of over current

1. Overload in the equipment or. conductors

2. Short circuit or ground fault //

The over current protective devices are installed in circuits to protect the following:

1. The wiring.
1. 2.The transformer
2. The lights
3. Appliances and other equipments //

Fuse, Breaker and Panel Board

Fuse - an overall current device with a circuit opening fusible which opens (break) when there is an over
current in the circuit
 Types of Fuse

1. The Cartridge type - enclosed in an insulating fiber tube

2. The Fuse type - enclosed in a porcelain cap.

Circuit Breaker - protective device designed to function as a switch.

The Panel Board is defined by the National Electrical Code as single panel or group panel limits designed
for assembly in the form of a single panel

Panel board - is popularly known as panel or electrical panel.

- is simply the box wherein the protective devices are grouped from which they are fed. If
the devices are of fuses,

Fuse panel – if the devices are of fuses

Breaker panel – if the devices are circuit breaker

Switchboard and Switch Gear - are free standing assemblies of switches, fuses and circuit breakers that
provide switching and feeder protection to a number of circuits. connected to the main source

Lamp Control and the Master Switch

Lamps are controlled by switch from a certain location

 Electrical Lighting Materials
Incandescent lamp - has a wide variety of foams; shapes and sizes. Likewise, its base is also made of
types and various designs. are critically dependent on the wattage that even for a small fluctuation of
the current voltage, its life, output, and materially
Advantages:
1. It is cheaper
2. Instant start and re-start
3. Simple inexpensive
4. Simple and compact installation requiring no accessories
5. High power factor
6. It can be focused
7. Its lite is independent of the number of starts
8. It has good color
Disadvantages
1. low efficacy
2. Has shorter life
3. Sensitive and-critical to voltage changes or fluctuation
4. High maintenance cost
5. More heat is produced than light
Fluorescent Lamp was first introduced in 1937. It was considered the and most widely used type of
lamp. Generally, it comes in varieties of sizes, wattages, colors, voltages arid specific applications.
Cathode fluorescent lamp is the most common type comprising of a cylindrical glass tube sealed at both
ends, containing a mixture of an inert gas argon, and low-pressure mercury vapor
Fluorescent Lamp requires ballast in its circuit. The ballast is basically made of coil to limit the current in
the circuit in which, if not controlled, will open the fuse or circuit breaker.

Characteristics of a Fluorescent Lamp

1. The fluorescent lamp efficacy is much higher than the incandescent lamp.
2. About 200% of its input energy becomes light, 80% is converted to heat including the ballast
heat energy loss
Efficiency refers to the amount of energy converted to visible light.
Efficacy - is a measure of the lumens per watt produced by the lamp.
Life Span of fluorescent Lamp
Fluorescent lamp has longer life span compared with the incandescent lamp. Its life span is materially
affected by the number of times the lamp is switched on and switched off.
The original fluorescent lamp is the preheated design. The circuit used is a separate starter.
Rapid Start Lamp
-was introduced in 1952. It was typically the same in construction as the preheat lamp. The basic
difference is the circuitry that eliminates the delay inherent in preheat circuit by constantly
keeping the cathodes or preheated.
Instant Start Fluorescent Lamp
This type of fluorescent lamp was introduced in 1944. It was the Slim Lamp considered the best
among the varieties of instant start fluorescent lamps. It has only one pin at each end acting as a switch
to break the ballast circuit when the tube is removed. The lamp is operated in two lamp circuits at
various current such as:
Normal current ... 200 and 425 milli-amperes (mla,.)
Normal length .... 24 in., 36 in., 42, 48, 60, 64, 72, 84 and 96.
Cold Cathode Tube
is another type of lamp that offers a very long life compared with the hot cathode lamp. The
lamp is not affected by the number of starting or switching of the lamp. It has a lower overall efficacy
compared to the hot cathode lamp and is generally used where a long continuous burning is required
Characteristics and Operation of Fluorescent Lamp
1. Life Span - depends on the burning hours per start.
2. Lumen Output -decreases rapidly during the first 100 hours of burning and thereafter much
more slowly.
3. Efficacy - depends on the operating current and the phosphors utilized. Generally, the warm
white lamp is more efficient than the white, cool white, daylight and colored lamps.
Mercury Lamp
-combination of the arc discharge characteristics of a fluorescent lamp and the compact
focusable shape of an incandescent lamp. The combination effect is responsible for its efficiency and
long life in various uses.
Ballast
-necessary to start the lamp> and thereafter, to . control the arc; The basic ballast is a simple
reactor that controls the arc the. discharge bas . been initiated. The lamp requires 3 to 6 minutes after
switch on to reach the full output.
Types of Ballast
1. Reactor ballast - low power factor and does not require voltage. This is only used where line
voltage fluctuations does not exceed plus or minus 5%.
2. Auto transfer ballast - reactor unit with transformer to match line voltage to lamp voltage. It has
a low power factor and non-regulating.
3. High Power Factor Auto Transformer Ballast - same as type 2 except the additional capacitor to
improve the power factor.
4. Constant Wattage Auto Transformer Ballast - also called Lead Circuit Ballast. A regulating high
power factor unit that maintains lamp voltage making wattage lumen output constant. The lamp
wattage varies from 5% with a 10% voltage change.
5.