Multivector Review and Training Center

PHILIPPINE ELECTRICAL CODE

Electrical Wires and Cable

Stranded wire - consist of group of wires twisted to form a metallic string.
Cord - A small, very flexible insulated cable.
Cable - strands of insulated electrical conductors laid together, usually around a
central core, and surrounded by heavy insulation.
Electrical Insulation - A material having high electrical resistivity and therefore
suitable for separating adjacent conductors in an electric circuit or preventing
possible future contact between conductors.
Ampacity - the current in ampere a conductor can carry continuously under the
condition of use without exceeding its temperature rating.

Cable Wiring Methods and Materials

1. Armored Cable ( AC, ACT, and ACL )
- fabricated assembly of insulated conductors enclosed in a flexible
metal sheath used both in exposed and concealed work for branch
circuit and feeders in both exposed and concealed work and in cable
tray where identified for such use.

2. Metal Clad Cable ( MC )

- factory assembled cable of one or more conductors, each individually
insulated and enclosed in a metallic sheath interlocking tape, or a
smooth or corrugated tube, used specifically for services, feeders,
branch circuit, either exposed or concealed, and for indoor or outdoor
work.

3. Metal Insulated Cable, Metal Sheathed Cable ( MI )

- factory assembled cable of one or more conductors insulated with
highly compressed refractory mineral insulation and enclosed in a
liquid tight and gas tight continuous copper sheath, used in a dry ,
wet, or continuously moist location as in service, feeders, or branch
circuits, indoors or outdoors, exposed or concealed.

4. Non-metallic Sheated Cable (NM and NMC)

- factory assembled two or more insulated conductors having a
moisture resistant, flame retardant and non-metallic outer sheath
- used specifically for one or two family dwellings, multifamily
dwellings and other structure, except prohibited in section 5.5.9.
5. Shielded Non-metallic Sheated Cable (SNM)

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- a factory assembled two or more insulated conductors in an extruded

core of moisture resistant and flame resistant non-metallic, covered
with an overlapping spiral metal tape and wire shield and jacketed
with an extruded moisture, flame, oil, corrosion, fungus and sunlight
resistant non-metallic material
- used where operating temperature do not exceed the rating worked on
the cable

6. Service Entrance Cable (SE & USE)

- a single or multi-conductor assembly provided with or without an
overall covering, primarily and for services
- used for installation in cable trays, raceways or where supported by a
messenger wire

7. Underground Feeder and Branch Circuit Cable (UF)

- a moisture resistant cable
- used for underground, including direct burial in the earth, as feeder
or branch circuit cable

8. Power & Control Tray cable (TC)

- a factory assembled two or more insulated conductors with or without
associated bare or covered grounded conductor under nonmetallic
sheath.

9. Flat Cable Assemblies (FC)

- an assembly of parallel conductors formed integrally with an
insulating material web specially designed for field installation in
metal surface raceway
- used for branch circuit not exceeding 30 amperes and in locations
where they will not be exposed to severe physical damage.

10. Flat Conductor Cable (FCC)

- consists of three or more flat copper conductor placed edge to edge &
separated and enclose within an insulating assembly
- used for general purpose and appliance branch circuits and for
individual branch circuits specifically in hard, smooth, continuous
floor surfaces specially for under carpet (up to 914 mm2) wiring to
floor outlets (floor mounted type FCC).

11. Medium Voltage Cables (MV)

- single or multi-conductor solid dielectric insulated cable rated at
2,001 or higher
- used for power system up to 35,000 volts nominal, in wet or dry
locations, in raceway, cable trays.

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12. Integrated Gas Spacer Cable (IGS)

- a factory assembled cable of one or more conductors, each
individually insulated and enclosed in a loose fit nonmetallic flexible
conduit rated 0 – 600 V
- a cable and conduit system for underground use, including direct
burial in the earth, as service-entrance conductors or as feeder or
branch circuit conductors
- advantages include low material and installation cost, eliminate field
pulling or cables into conduit and eliminates the cost of assembly of
conduit in the field
- uses SF6 (sulfuric hexafluoride gas) insulation.

Raceway Methods and Materials

Raceways
The raceways wiring accessories or channels designed for holding wires cables, or
busbars which are either made of metal or any insulating material. They provided
mechanical protection to conductors while keeping them accessible for wiring
changes: conduits connectors, conduit, coupling, clamps, hangers etc. cable trays,
bus metal raceway, non-metal raceways.

Conduits
Either pipes or tubing, which are either flexible or rigid for electric wires. The most
common electrical raceways.

Fittings
Accessories such as locknuts, bushing couplers, adapters nipples and connectors or
other part wiring system that is intended primarily to perform a mechanical rather
than function.

Connectors
A metal sleeve, usually made of copper, that is slipped over and secure to the
butted ends conductors in making a joint. Also called a splicing sleeve.

1. Intermediate Metal Conduit (IMC)

- a metal raceway of circular cross-section with integral or associated
couplings, connectors and fittings approved for the installation of
electrical conductors
- has wall thickness less than rigid metal conduit but greater than EMT
- used in all atmospheric conditions and occupancies, or areas subject
to severe corrosive influences when protected by corrosion
protection.

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2. Rigid Metal Conduit

- similar to that of IMC and when installed in concrete or in contact
with coil, it does not generally require supplementary corrosion
protection unless subject to severe corrosive influences

3. Rigid Non-metallic Conduit

- resistant to moisture and chemical atmospheres
- underground materials, fiber, soapstone, rigid polvinyl chloride
(PVC), fiberglass, epoxy, and high density polyethylene, above
ground (PVC)

4. Electrical Metallic Tubing

- general purpose raceway of the same nature as rigid metal conduit
and IMC
- used for both exposed and concealed work where it will not be
subjected to severe physical damage or (unless suitably protected) to
corrosive agents

5. Flexible Metallic Tubing

- circular in cross-section, flexible, metallic and liquidtight without a
nonmetallic jacket
- used in dry locations, in accessible locations when protected from
physical damage or concealed such as above suspended ceilings and
branch circuits

6. Surface Metal Raceway

- used for exposed wiring where the possibility of severe physical
damage is not a problem
- restricted to dry locations and voltages under 300 volts
- its principal use is for rewiring or extending existing electrical
system.

7. Under Floor Raceways

- called under floor ducts, consist of separate duct system buried in the
concrete floor or flush with surface of the floor
- it come complete with junction boxes and fittings to provide access
along the length of the duct for receptacles and telephone outlets
- may consists of single, double, or triple ducts run parallel to provide
telephone signal and power raceways.

8. Cellular Floor Raceways

- maybe metal or concrete, where cells of the cellular floor system is
assigned with particular usage for power or signal wiring, and a

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header ducts tap into the cells and a carry the wiring to the necessary
panel board or boxes.

9. Wire ways
- ducts with square or rectangular cross-section made of sheet metal
and the standard length of each ducts is 10 feet
- where the wiring is readily accessible through cover plates, which
make up one of the walls of the ducts, is 10 feet
- cover plates may be hinged or unhinged, screwed in place, or merely
snapped into place
- cannot be buried, concealed in walls or exposed to corrosives
atmosphere for in general they are mounted exposed outdoors and
may carry systems rated at 600 volts.

10. Busways
- an approved completely assembled metal troughing and fitting when
contain bare conductors intended for use as feeders, the conductors
being suitably supported of insulators.
- factory made systems of copper of aluminum bars, rods, or tubes
designed to carry heavy currents from 50 to 6,000 amp
- conductors can be solid bars, square or rectangular hollow tube
hollow ovals or solid 1 – beams
- can be mounted horizontally or vertically and can be also used as
service entrance feeders.

Continuous plug in Busways

- used to serve equipment that may be relocated periodically, such as in
wood working shops.
- have regularly spaced openings that permitted plugging of switches or
circuit breakers and conduit or flexible cable is then run from devices
to the equipment being served.

Trolley Busways
- permits travelling equipment to be connected to a power source
- a rolling power takeoff in contact with the busways conductors
- as the equipment moves, the trolley contact on the conductor.

11. Cable Trays

- are open raceway like assemblies made of steel aluminum or a
suitable non-metallic material
- they are used in buildings to route cables and support them out of the
way of normal building activities

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Trough Type Trays

- protect cables from damages and give good support and ample
ventilation through straight sections

Ladder Trays
- provide maximum ventilations to power cables and other heat-
producing cables

** Cables suitable for use in cable trays are marked CT (Cable Tray) on the
outside of the jacket

12. Cablebus
- an approved assembly of insulated conductors with fittings and
conductor terminations in a completely enclosed, ventilated
protective metal housing

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