Wiring For Light and Power
Wiring For Light and Power
Wiring For Light and Power
2. DEFINITIONS
2.1 Commission
2.2 Consumer
2.3 Main
2.5 Installation
means all the electrical wiring and equipment fed from one
service line supplying energy to one or more consumers and
owned by the Consumer/s or landlord.
2.6 Point of Supply means the point at which the Commission supplies energy to
an Installation serving one or more Consumers.
Point of
Entrance
2.7 Entrance Cable means that portion of the installation between the point of
Supply and the meter, and made up in the form of a cable.
2.8 Consumer's
Terminals
3. CHARACTERISTICS OF SUPPLY:
3.1: The Commission supplies only single and three phase alternating current sixty hertz (cycle per seco
energy with the following declared voltages and characteristics:
(a) Single phase, 2 wire, 115 volts used for installations with loads up to a maximum of 30 ampere
Single phase, 3 wire, 115/230 volts for installations with loads up to a maximum of 200 ampere
(b)
Three phase, 4 wire, 115/230 volts from a delta-connected source for installations with combine
lighting and power loads up to maximum demand of 199 KVA. Voltage of 230 across phase wir
(c) 115 between either of two phase wires and earthed neutral, and 200 volts between this third ph
wire and neutral. (This third 200 volt phase wire must be positively identified with the colour blu
throughout the Installation or by whatever means of identification is required by the codes in for
Three phase, 4 wire, 230/400 volts from a star-connected source for installation with combined
lighting and power loads up to maximum of 350 KVA.
One of the following high voltages depending on the maximum demand of the load, location of
(d) installation and the voltage available at that location:
3 phase
3 phase
3 phase
3 phase
3 phase
(e)
3 wire
3 or 4 wire
3 wire
3 wire
3 wire
6.6 kV
12 kV
33 kV
66 kV
132 kV
Accordingly, it is important that the consumer consult the Commission before making plans for
installation to be supplied at high voltage.
3.2
3.3
3.4
The Commission reserves the right to change its system and its methods of
distribution form time to time within the limits of the Trinidad and Tobago
Electricity Commission Act Chapter 54.70 if it considers it advisable for an
economical and more efficient supply to the public. Where such changes
involve alteration to the Consumer's installation and equipment the
Commission will normally make the changes at its own expense.
3.5
FOR SUPPLY:
4.1
Application for supply should be made well in advance of the date the supply
is required. Such "Request for Supply" can be made at any of the
Commission's offices listed in the Contact Us section.
4.2
4.3
In all cases requiring mains extensions, the Consumer will be required to grant
the Commission all the necessary easements for the construction of such
mains as well as any extension thereof to supply other consumers. Such
mains with associated equipment shall be and will remain the property of the
Commission to operate, maintain and to be utilized as the Commission may
decide.
4.4
5. CHANGE
IN CONSUMER'S REQUIREMENTS:
5.1
5.2
The Consumer is liable for the cost of repairing any of the Commission's
equipment which is damaged because of the failure of the Consumer to
comply with the requirements of (5.1) above.
6. INSPECTION
6.1
OF CONSUMER'S INSTALLATION:
6.2
6.3
The Commission can inspect an Installation for purposes related to the supply
of electricity and can refuse to supply an Installation if it does not meet the
requirements of the Commission and or the Chief Electrical Inspector.
6.4
6.5
The Commission shall not be responsible for damage resulting from defects in
the Consumer's Installation. The Consumer is advised to obtain the services of
a Licensed Electrical Wireman to repair the Installation and obtain an
Inspection Certificate of Approval for the work undertaken by the Licensed
Electrical Wireman. A defective Installation disconnected from the system by
the Commission shall not be reconnected until the Inspection Certificate of
Approval has been presented to the Commission.
7. POINT OF SUPPLY:
7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
The Point of Supply for a Consumer's installation supplied at high voltage shall
be either the Consumer's Terminals which connect with the Service Line or the
Terminals of the Commission's disconnecting means or such other point as
negotiated between the Consumer and the Commission.
8. SERVICE LINE:
8.1
The Commission shall provide only one Service Line to supply a building
which shall be considered as any structure under one roof.
8.2
The Commission shall install an overhead Service Line to connect to the Point
of Supply as indicated in Figure 1.
FIGURE 1
8.3
8.4
8.5
FIGURE 2
9.2
9.3
9.4
9.5
The size of a Consumer's Entrance Cable for a building with two or more
metered Installations supplied at 115/230 or 230/400 volts shall not be less
than 16 sq. mm. This cable size is for copper conductors, rubber, polythene or
PVC insulated. Other approved cables can be used with equivalent current
carrying capacities.
10. METERS:
10.1
10.2 The Commission shall furnish, install, connect and maintain meter(s) required
for the measurement of electrical energy and maximum demand for billing
purposes. These meters shall remain the property of the Commission.
10.3 Outdoor meters sockets shall be supplied by the Consumer and shall conform
with the American National Standard Institute's Standard ANSI C12.7 for
watthour meter sockets.
10.4 Outdoor socket type meters shall be installed for single phase 115/230 volts
Installations up to a maximum of 200 amperes. The Consumer shall furnish
and install the Entrance Cable and meter socket. Meter sockets of the ringless
type are acceptable but must be provided with an approved means for sealing
the cover.
Consumers should obtain advice with respect to the selections of either the
100 or 200 ampere meter sockets for their Installations.
10.5 Meter Sockets shall be installed on an outer wall of the premises. Meters
whether installed indoor or outdoor, shall not be located over doorways, along
stairways or directly under water pipes or drainpipes and shall be mounted
free form shock, vibration and mechanical injury.
10.6 In a building elevated more than 2.4 metres above ground the meter shall be
located on one of the supporting columns of the building.
10.7 Meters shall be accessible for reading and testing at all times and located so
that the tops of the meters are not over 1.8 metres of less than 1.5 metres
above floor or finished grade. A clear space of at least 0.9 metres in front of all
meters must be available at all times.
10.8 Where the Commission decides to install an indoor type meter the Consumer
shall provide a meter-board for mounting the meter. Meter-boards shall be
sized for the Consumer's Tariff, as shown in fig. 3 and shall be made form 19
mm hardwood stock free from knots set plumb and level and securely
fastened to substantial supports.
Click on the relevant figures below to see details
FIGURE 3
10.9 Meters for a residential/commercial multi-storey and multi-occupancy building
shall be grouped in one location on either the basement or ground floor in an
accessible location. Where there are more than six metered Installations in
the building, the Commission shall permit the installation of groups of not less
then six meters on the basement floor, the ground floor and accessible
locations on any of the upper floors. Each meter circuit must be positively
identified with the Installation to which it is connected.
10.10 The Commission shall provide outdoor socket type class 200 meters for all
new 115/230 and 230/400 volts, three phase Installations with loads of up to
200 amperes per phase for Consumers. Consumers shall, therefore, be
required to provide ringless type outdoor 200 ampere, 7 jaw meter sockets for
such Installations. The Consumer may consider it an advantage to install a
meter socket with by-pass facilities, since this would enable meter testing
without disruption of supply.
10.11 Three phase, 115/230 volts and 230/400 volts Installations loads up to
maximum of 200 amperes per phase shall be metered by whole current or
self-contained socket type meter. For loads between 201 and 500 amperes
per phase current transformer metering shall be provided by the Commission.
The Consumer shall furnish and install the current transformer cabinet and
meter-board (see fig. 3) and meter cabinet where necessary. The meter
cabinet shall be sized to accommodate the appropriate meter board shown in
fig. 3 and shall have a minimum depth of 25.4 cm
Between the Current Transformer Cabinet and the meter board of the meter
cabinet a 20 mm conduit properly terminated and bushed containing three
1.5mm2 identified red, white, blue and four 2.5mm2 identified red, white, blue
and black 600 volts insulated conductors must also be provided and installed
by the Consumer.
The conductors between the current transformers and meter should not be
more than 15m in length. Lengths of not less than 0.9 metres must be
provided outside the two ends of the conduit to permit connection to the Meter
and the Current Transformers by the Commission as indicated in fig. 3. The
Consumer or his Contractor shall obtain the Current Transformers from the
Commission and install them in a Cabinet on the supply side of the Main
Switch.
10.12 Three phase, 115/230 volts and 230/400 volts Installations requiring loads in
excess of 500 amperes per phase shall be supplied and metered at high
voltage by the Commission. The metering unit shall be installed by the
Commission on a Distribution Pole supplied by the Commission or the
Consumer, or in the Consumer's Transformer Substation subject to
the conditions of the supply.
10.13 A Consumer shall at his own expense provide a new and approved location
for the meter whenever the meter becomes inaccessible for reading and
testing by reason of any building or other changes made by the owner or
occupant.
10.14 Only authorized employees of the Commission and Government Electrical
Inspectors are permitted to break meter seals to carry out inspection or testing
of the meter and/or installation. All other persons are forbidden to interfere
with metering and associated equipment.
10.15 The Commission shall not permit pilot lights, voltmeters, ammeters or any
Consumer's equipment to be connected to the secondaries of its metering
transformers or associated metering equipment.
A Consumer shall furnish, install and maintain all wiring, equipment, and
apparatus, except the meter/s, connected with his Installation from the Point of
Supply.
11.2 Any accessible part of the Consumer's Installation between the Point of
Supply and the load side of the metering equipment shall be sealed by the
Commission. The Consumer shall provide the means by which the
Commission can apply its seals.
11.3 All equipment furnished by the Commission and installed in the Consumer's
premises shall always remain the property of the Commission and may be
removed therefrom either for servicing or when no longer required for the
particular Installation.
11.4 The portion of the Consumer's Installation between the Point of Supply and
Main Distribution Panel shall be subject to the approval of the Commission in
addition to the normal approval of all other authorities having jurisdiction.
11.5 The minimum sizes of Main Switches or Circuit Breakers permitted on
Consumers' Installations are as follows:Characteristic of Supply
115 volts, 2 wire, 1 phase
115/230 volts, 3 wire, 1 phase
115/230 volts, 4 wire, 3 phase
115/400 volts, 4 wire, 3 phase
11.6 In building with more than one separately metered Consumer's Installation a
metal splitter box with a suitably sized Circuit Breaker for each Installation
shall be installed between the Consumer's Entrance Cable and the meter
socket s by the Consumer/s or Landlord. Provision shall be made on the
splitter box for the Commission to apply its seals or locks. Each Circuit
Breaker in the splitter box shall be suitably identified with the
Consumer's Installation connected to it.
11.7 Where there are seven or more separately metered Consumers' Installation in
a building, a main disconnecting means or Circuit Breaker shall be installed
between the Consumers Entrance Cables and the group of Circuit Breakers in
the splitter box by the Consumer/s or Landlord. Provision shall be made for
sealing or locking of this switch or breaker by the Commission.
11.8 Where a Consumer requires a supply in a building already wired with one or
more metered Installation, he should consult the Commission before any work
is done. In all such cases adequately sized Entrance Cable and splitter
facilities shall be provided by the Consumer.
11.9 Where the Commission considers it necessary to install Transformers and
associated equipment on a Consumer's premises to supply the Consumer, the
Consumer shall furnish, construct and maintain an enclosure according to the
Commission's specification and without charge to the Commission.
11.10 The Commission shall not provide a supply at high voltage to any Consumer
unless the Consumer guarantees in writing that every portion of the
Consumer's Installation which is for use at high voltage will be maintained in
a safe and efficient state to the satisfaction of the Commission and an
authorized person will be available at all reasonable times for switching.
11.11 The Consumer shall furnish and install a high voltage Circuit Breaker as the
primary disconnecting means for an Installation with a maximum demand in
excess of 800 KVA. The Consumer should conform with the Commission's
Specification with respect to the rating and rupturing capacity of the Circuit
Breaker. The limits of the Consumer's protection setting shall be stipulated by
the Commission to ensure discrimination with the protection of the
Commission's system.
It is recommenced that the Consumer maintain an adequate supply of spare
parts for the normal maintenance of his circuit breaker and ancillary
apparatus.
11.12 Figs. 4 to 9 show examples of typical Installations and locations of the Service
Line, point of Supply, Entrance Cable and Consumer's Terminals. In all
cases,maintenance of all wiring, equipment and apparatus in the Installation is
the responsibility of the Consumer/s and/or landlord and not of the
Commission.
TYPICAL INSTALLATION
Single Metered Low Voltage Supply
FIGURE 4
TYPICAL INSTALLATION
Multi-Metered Low Voltage Supply (6 meters or less)
FIGURE 5
TYPICAL INSTALLATION
Multi-Metered Low Voltage Supply (7 or more meters)
FIGURE 6
TYPICAL INSTALLATION
Single Metered High Voltage Supply
FIGURE 7
TYPICAL INSTALLATION
High Voltage Supply with
Multiple Low Voltage Metering( 6 meters
FIGURE 8
or less)
TYPICAL INSTALLATION
High Voltage Supply with
Multiple Low Voltage Metering( 7 or more
meters)
FIGURE 9
The starting current of motors and inrush current of other apparatus such as
welders and X-ray machines shall be such as not to impair the quality of
supply rendered by the Commission to Consumers.
12.2 Motors up to 750 watts in size can be supplied at either 115 or 230 volts,
single phase.
12.3 Motors of over 750 watts and up to 5,600 watts in size can be supplied at 230
volts either single or 3 phase depending on the supply available in the district
except that single phase motors rated between 3,750 and 5,600 watts shall be
arranged for no load starting.
12.4 Motors of over 5.6 kilowatts in size shall be supplied at 3 phase an must be
arranged for .reduced voltage starting. The Commission will be prepared to
consider on written application, direct-on-line starting of motors of these sizes
where the supply to the Consumer's Installation is at high voltage.
12.5 Other apparatus not larger than 2.5 kilovolt-amperes in size can be supplied
at either 115 or 230 volts, single phase.
12.6 Apparatus larger than 15 kilovolt-amperes in size and up to and including 15
kilovolt- amperes can only be supplied at 230 volts, single phase.
12.7 Apparatus larger than 15 kilovolt-amperes in size can only be supplied form a
3 phase supply.
12.8 In certain areas where only a single phase supply is available, an application
to the Commission for the installation of apparatus mentioned in paragraphs
(12.4 ) and (12.7) will be specially considered by the Commission.
12.9 Single phase appliances and motors supplied from 3 or 4 wire Installations
shall be so connected that the operating current unbalanced will be a
minimum.
12.10 Motors and appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioning units, video
recorders, computers, microprocessor controlled equipment and television
sets should be provided with devices for protection against voltage
fluctuations, and other variations from normal supply conditions.
12.11 Three phase motors, apparatus and other equipment should be protected
against single phasing conditions.
12.12 Consumers with voltage sensitive equipment must provide their own
stabilizing equipment to meet the limits of the sensitivity of their equipment. In
such cases the Consumers should consult the Commission before finalizing
plans for installing such equipment.
12.13 Fluorescent and other lighting fittings of inherently poor power factor must be
corrected to a value of at least 0.8 before being connected to any Installation
supplied by the Commission.
13.5 The use of the Commission's poles, towers, structures or other facilities for the
purpose of fastening or supporting any radio equipment or any wire, ropes,
signs, banners or anything of any nature or the locating of same in such
proximity to the Commission's Installations as to cause or be likely to cause
interference with the supply of electricity is prohibited by the Commission and
the Commission shall have the right to move such items without notice unless
consent has been given by the Commission in writing.
13.6 The Commission shall use all diligence in supplying a regular and
uninterrupted supply and will not be liable for damage occasioned by the
interruptions which the Commission could not reasonably have foreseen and
guarded against or where such interruptions are necessary for repairs or
changes in the Commission's generation, transmission or distribution
equipment.
13.7 Consumers shall notify the Commission when their supply is interrupted or
unsatisfactory.
13.8 Consumers and the general public are requested to notify the Commission of
any defects, trouble or accidents affecting the Commission's system or the
supply of electricity.
13.9 Consumers shall permit identified and authorized employees of the
Commission to enter their premises for purposes related to the supply of
electricity.
13.10 Employees of the Commission are forbidden to demand or accept from the
public or any Consumer reward for services rendered or to make, modify or
alter any rates, terms, conditions or contracts or to waive negotiated
contracts, rules and regulations under the Act by which the Commission
operates.
13.11 Electrical energy purchased from the Commission shall be used by the
Consumers only for the purpose specified in the applications and conditions
for supply. Consumers shall not retail or otherwise dispose of electrical energy
except with the written consent of the Commission and/or through the
obtaining of he necessary licences as required by the Trinidad and Tobago
Electricity Commission Act Chapter 54.70
13.12 The Consumer shall be charged for the use of electrical energy under the
tariff which is most appropriate in relation to the use for which the Consumer
requires the supply and/or the characteristics of the supply.
13.13 All previous notices, instructions, regulations or advice issued by the
Commission which in any way conflict with the information contained in this
booklet are now considered null and void.
13.14 The Commission reserves the right to impose upon the Consumer any further
requirements not inconsistent with these regulations or to amend these
regulations as may be deemed necessary in the interest of the Consumer and
the Commission.
13.15 Rules and regulations in this booklet are not intended to conflict with existing
and regulations of the Electricity (Inspection) Act Chapter 54.72 or any other
having jurisdiction.