EET402 : Module 3

Domestic Installation

Load Estimation

Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering

NSS College of Engineering Palakkad
 Power Ratings of Domestic Gadgets
In estimating the current to be carried by any branch circuit, if the actual values are not
known, these shall be calculated based on the following ratings:

Recommended ratings of Note that Incandescent lamps

light and socket points and Fluorescent tubes have
(NEC 2011) different recommended ratings
Number of Points
NEC also recommends the minimum number of points to be provided in domestic
buildings on the basis of plinth area of the building.

Recommended number of
points in dwelling units
(NEC 2011)
Number of Socket Outlets
NEC also provides the details regarding the minimum number of socket outlets required
for various sub-units of domestic dwelling

Details of socket outlets

required for domestic buildings
(NEC 2011)
Numerical: Load Estimation
Determine the connected load of a two-storied residential building shown below.
 Numerical: Details of Points
Room space FL WB CF 6A 16 A EF Other
Bedroom + dressing (3) 1x3 (2 + 1) x 3 1x3 3x3 1x3
Living room 1x2 2x2 1x2 3x2 1x2 FL : Fluorescent lamp (1200 mm)
Dining room 1 1 1 2 1 WB : Wall bracket for 11/15 W CFL
Kitchen 1 1 1 2 3 1 CF : Ceiling fan
Verandah 1 CB EF : Exhaust fan
Toilets 1x3 1 1x3 CB : Calling bell (not included in
Store 1
connected load calculation)
Work area 1 1
Peripheral light : 15 W bulkhead
Peripheral lights 3
Car porch 1 2
Numerical: Connected Load
• FL : Fluorescent lamp (1200 mm) : 50 W
• WB : Wall bracket for 11/15 W CFL : 15 W
• CF : Ceiling fan : 60 W
• 6 A socket outlet : 100 W
• 16 A socket outlet : 1000 W
• EF : Exhaust fan : 60 W
• Other : Peripheral light : 15 W

FL WB CF 6A 16 A EF Other

Total number of points 7 22 7 21 11 4 3

Power demand 7 x 50 W 22 x 15 W 7 x 60 W 21 x 100 W 11 x 1000 W 4 x 60 W 3 x 15 W

Connected load 350 W 330 W 420 W 2,100 W 11,000 W 240 W 45 W

Total connected load = 14,485 W

 Numerical: Type of Supply
Relation between connected load (contract demand) and type of supply

• As per Electricity Supply Code 2014, a connected load of 14,485 W will require a
three-phase supply to be taken from the distribution supply system.
 Maximum Demand
• The total installed apparent power (in kVA) is considered to be the sum of power
ratings of individual loads
• Maximum demand need not be equal to the installed capacity (connected load)
• All the individual loads need not operate at full rated power or at the same time
• Therefore, a correction factor is to be applied to the installed capacity to
determine maximum demand of the building
• Two factors that are useful in this regard are
• Factor of maximum utilization
• Diversity factor
 Factor of Maximum Utilisation
• Normally, the power consumed by a load is less than its nominal rating
• For example, a motor may not be always operating at full load
• Hence, a utilization factor (𝑘𝑢 ) can be applied to get a reliable estimate of the load
• Especially applicable to loads which are rarely operated at full load
• Standard value for a few loads are
• Fluorescent lighting : 𝑘𝑢 = 1
• Water heaters : 𝑘𝑢 = 1
• Socket outlets : depends on the appliance connected
• Industrial loads (motors) : 𝑘𝑢 = 0.75
• 𝑘𝑢 is more relevant to industrial installations
• It need not be considered for domestic installations
 Diversity factor
• Simultaneous operation of all the connected loads never occurs in practice
• There is always some degree of diversity, which should be included in estimation
• Diversity factor is the reciprocal of simultaneity factor, which represents the
percentage of loads that are operating simultaneously
• Only 40 – 50 % of the loads are expected to be used simultaneously in homes
• Thus, for domestic installations, diversity factor can be assumed to be 2 to 2.5
• The value of diversity factor is always greater than one

Connected load
Diversity factor =
Maximum demand
Numerical (cont.): Maximum Demand
FL WB CF 6A 16 A EF Other

Total number of points 7 22 7 21 11 4 3

Power demand 7 x 50 W 22 x 15 W 7 x 60 W 21 x 100 W 11 x 1000 W 4 x 60 W 3 x 15 W

Connected load 350 W 330 W 420 W 2,100 W 11,000 W 240 W 45 W

• Total connected load = 14,485 W

• Assuming a diversity factor of 2.5,
connected load 14485
Maximum demand = = = 𝟓𝟕𝟗𝟒 𝐖
diversity factor 2.5
Selection of Sub-Circuits
• The number of light and power sub-circuits need to be calculated next
• The number of circuits can be calculated if the following are known
• Total number of light and power points to be wired
• Maximum allowable points per light and power circuit
• According to IS 732, the maximum number of points that can be wired in a
light circuit is 10 points (or 800 W)
• However, it is a good engineering practice to limit the number of light
points between 6 and 8 points
• According to IS 732, the maximum number of points that can be wired in a
power circuit is 2 points (or 3000 W)
Numerical (cont.): Light Sub-Circuits
• Number of light points = lights + fans + 6 A sockets + other points
= 7 + 22 + 7 + 21 + 4 + 3
= 64 points

• Although 10 points can be wired in a single light circuit, it is a good

engineering practice to limit the number of light points to 6

• Number of light sub-circuits = Number of light points / 6

64
= ⇒ 11 circuits
6
Numerical (cont.): Power Sub-Circuits
• Number of power points = 11
• A maximum of two points (16 A power sockets) can be wired in a single
power cub-circuit
• Number of power sub-circuits = Number of power points / 2
11
= ⇒ 6 circuits
2

• Total number of sub-circuits required = 11 (Light) + 6 (Power)

= 17
Classification of Distribution Boards
Three-phase DB : consists of one three-phase incoming MCB and
a set of single-phase outgoing MCBs
• Incomer: One TPN /4P MCB/Isolator along with equal rating of ELCB /RCCB
• Outgoing: Single-phase MCBs : 4 nos/6 nos/8 nos/10 nos/12 nos per phase
Such arrangements are called 4-way, 6-way, 8-way, 12-way etc.

Single-phase DB : consists of one single-phase incoming MCB and

a set of single-phase outgoing MCBs
• Incomer: One SPN/DP MCB with equal rating of ELCB /RCCB
• Outgoing: Single-phase MCBs : 4 nos/6 nos/8 nos/10 nos/12 nos.
Selection of MCB Distribution Boards
• MCB Distribution Boards (DB) are used to
• distribute electricity to different circuits
• provide overload, short circuit and earth leakage protection

• They should conform to IS 8623 - Specification For Low-voltage Switchgear

And Control Gear Assemblies

• They Live Wire is connected to a common copper busbar segment for the
single Pole MCBs

• Neutral link and Earth link are fitted in the DB for neutral & earthing wire
connections of each circuit
Single-phase
Wiring
Installation
Three-phase
Wiring
Installation
Numerical (cont.): Selection of DB
• Total number of sub-circuits = 11 (Light) + 6 (Power) = 17

• A three-phase 8-way MCB distribution board will provide 24 sub-circuits,

of which 17 can be used and the remaining 7 can be saved for later as
spare capacity for future expansion

• Universal mounting type with 100 A copper bus bar, neutral & earth links

• Three-phase distribution board should conform to IS 8623

Numerical (cont.): Specification of DB
• Incomer : 25 A, 4 pole, RCBO, 415 V, 30 mA sensitivity
• RCBO provides triple protection against earth leakage, overloads & short circuits
• Outgoing : 6 A single pole MCB with B curve – 11 nos.
16 A single pole MCB with C curve – 6 nos.
• B curve MCBs are used for lighting loads
• C curve MCBs are used for inductive loads
• Since most of the power loads (except resistive heaters) will be inductive in nature
• Protection class : IP20 (single door) or IP42 (double door)

• What does IP rating signify ?

IP Ratings
• IP stands for “ingress protection”
• The numbers then describe your protection against solid objects and liquids
• The first number is the protection rating against solid objects and the
second number is the protection against liquids
IP Ratings : Example
IP Ratings for DBs
• IP20 means protection against
• solid objects up to 12 mm, e.g., fingers
• but no protection against liquids

• IP42 means protection against

• solid objects over 1 mm, e.g., small tools, wires
• direct spray of liquids up to 15° from vertical