Chapter 3

INSTALLATION OF BASIC FINAL CIRCUITS

3.1 INTRODUCTION

 A final circuit is one of the outgoing feeders from a distribution board

(DB). It supplies a load or a group of loads without intervention of other
final circuits of the DB or some other final circuits connected to other
DBs.
 An internal electric distribution system in a building, therefore, consists
of several parallel loads connected to a local DB (Fig. 3.1).
 All wiring cables must be covered and positioned to satisfactory
protection against external damages resulted from mechanical
impacts, heat, water or high humidity, corrosion and pollution For
covering cables plastic or stainless-sheath
 conduit or trunking systems are installed which are erected
vertically or horizontally or parallel to edges of the interior (Fig. 3.1).
 Every installation should be divided into final circuits to avoid danger in
the event of a fault to provide;
1
safe operation, inspection, testing and maintenance
 Ceiling lamp

Antenna
Wall lamps

Socket outlets
Switch 30 30
30
120

Figure 3.1 Some typical final circuit wiring in a room

2
 Types of standard final circuits (FC):
- Lighting final circuits
- Socket-outlet final circuits
- Radial socket-outlet circuits
- Ring socket-outlet circuits
- Final circuits supplying fixed loads
- Control and signaling final circuits
- Information, audio-visual and monitoring final circuits
 Basic final circuits serving to a domestic or a small scale industrial
premise should be connected a DB through busbars using
standard protective devices (PDs, fuses or MCBs).
 As a rule current rating of a PD protecting a FC should not exceed
current rating of its FC cable.

3.2 LIGHTING FITTINGS

 Lighting final circuits used for domestic, commercial and industrial

services are simple. They are controlled from one point using
single-pole or double-pole branch switches to supply several
lamps from different positions by looping in at ceiling roses. The
terminal components of all lighting circuits are lampholders. 3
 Current rating of PD should 1.5 mm2
not exceed current rating of
its FC cable Several looped in lighting FC
6A

Radial FC of 13-A socket outlets

4.0 mm2
Intake 6A
30 A DP switch FC supplying fixed load Water
4.0 mm2
heater Fixed load

2.5 mm2
Spur
25 A
DB Ring main circuit of
13-A socket outlets 2.5 mm2
2.5 mm2

Fixed
JB FC-Final circuit
Spur equip.

Figure 3.2 Standard domestic final circuits.

4
A. Branch Switches
 On domestic installations, switches that control a lamp or a group of
lamps are usually 5-A or 10-A single-pole and cut off the line conductor.
 In circuits carrying heavy currents, 10-A or 15-A switch should be installed.
 They may be surface mounted or semi-recessed or flush type. They are
available as single- or multi-gang in construction with moving contacts
usually doll or rocker activated (Fig. 3.3(a) and (b)).

Positioning
 A suitable distance to fix them is in between 1.00 m and 1.30 m (on
average 1.20 m) above finished floor level and a minimum distance of 30
cm from edge of the entry door.
 In damp situations as in the case of bathrooms, switches should be fixed
outside and immediately adjacent to the excess door of the room.
 All single-pole switches should be connected to the same phase conductor
of the supply.

B. Ceiling Roses
 Ceiling rose (CR) is an efficient method of connecting lighting final circuit to
flexible cord of pendant (drop cord) type lampholder and looping in to the
other lighting FCs (Fig. 3.4).
 Ceiling roses can be fixed direct on ceiling, conduit boxes, or insulating
5
patresses. Ceiling-mounted types are manufactured with either
 Rocker
mechanis
m Tumbler Cam
Doll mechanism

(c)
(a) (b)
Ceiling mount L L E
plate
A
A L E
L '
Insulated
pull-cord
Plate AA' projection
cover

Side view

Figure 3.3 Moving contacts of 5-A or 10-A lighting switches (a) Rocker-operated
switch mechanism. (b) Tumbler-operated switch mechanism. (c) Pull-cord
operated ceiling mounted switch.

6
 Base
Live Switch Switch Live Live
flex return feed feed loop Earth terminal Line terminal
Neutral Neutral Neutral
Neutral
feed loop flex
terminal
Push-fit unit

Flexible
cord to lamp
Flexible-cord
grip
PVC cap

Strain terminal Earth terminal

Figure 3.4 (a) Ceiling roses: (a) Terminals of a four-terminal surface-

mounted type CR. (b) Parts of a three-terminal surface-mounted type CR.

7
 B. Lampholders

 They are used to hold lamps and to keep lamps in contact with the circuit
conductor. Connection to lamp is made from flexible cable.
 There are basically three types of lampholders; (a) bayonet, (b) screw and
(c) batten.

Cord grip
Brass
cap
Porcelain
Terminal for
wiring
base
Phosphor-bronze
screw connection
(a) Ring for holding
lampshade Brass outer
Pin to press cover
against contacts
of bulb Porcelain
Bayonet slot insulating ring
(skirt)
Bottom view (b)
Base showing terminals

(c)
Skirt

8
Figure 3.5 Lampholders:(a) Bayonet, (b) Screw and (c) Batten
3.2 LIGHTING FINAL CIRCUITS
 Ligthing circuits used for domestic, commercial and industrial services
are simple.
 A lighting final circuit (FC) sets out from a local DB with a protective
device connected only on any of the phase line, and cut off by a
single-pole switch connected to the same phase line conductor.
 Lighting of rooms may be controlled from one point as in the case of
room, bathroom, kitchen lighting, etc., but in the case of staircase or
corridor lighting, it is necessary to control the lamp circuit from more
than one point using two-way and/or intermediate switches.
 Lighting FCs are commonly protected by 5-A or 6-A MCBs and wired
by 1.5 mm2 single-core line and neutral cables and protective
earthing (PE) conductor.

(i) Simple Lighting Final Circuits

 The final circuit may serve one or more number of lamps controlled
from the same switch (Fig. 3.6 and 3.7).
 The standard color codes on cables should be observed for
connecting PD and switch to the line (L) and PE conductor in each
element.
 For controlling several lamps looping-in to different point of usage 9vıa
CRs is effective using single-pole switches (Fig. 3.7).
 PE
From L
MB E
N
Main earthing E

terminal
Local DB
(MET)
E
Switch
Figure 3.6 A simple lighting final circuit. Lamp

Ceiling Ceiling
rose rose
N
E To the next
N N E
From N E L ceiling rose
MB E
L L L

MET E E
Local DB
E E
Switch

Lamp

Figure 3.7 Looped-in two simple lighting fittings controlled from different positions
using three-plate (four-terminal) ceiling rose.
10
(ii) Multi-position Control of Lighting Final Circuits
 Lighting circuits may also be required to turn on/off from different
switching positions as in the case of staircases or halls etc. For two
position control two two-way swıtches (Fig. 3.8). and for more than
two positions two two-way switches and several intermediate
switches may be required (3.9).
Cord-operated Ceiling
two-way switch rose
From N
local DB E E N
L E
2 L

Single-core
cable in conduit Flexible
Two-way cable
switch E

E
Lamp
1

Figure 3.8 Wiring diagram of a lighting final circuit to control of a single lamp
or a group of lamps from two-control positions (two-way switching).
11
 Cord-operated
two-way switch
From N N
To the other
local DB E N E
E ceiling rose E
L L L
3
PE
Flexible
cable Single-core
E
cable in conduit
Intermediate
switch
Lamp
E E
3 2

1 2
1 4

Two-way switch E
3 2
Alternate
1 4 position

Figure 3.9 Corridor or staircase lighting circuit controlled by two two-way

and one intermediate switch at three switching positions (three-way
switching).
12
Some important recommendations related to applications of lighting
final circuits are:
 When the supply cable is 1.5 mm2, no lighting circuit shall be allowed
to supply a total load exceeding 10 A (this corresponds to looped in 20
lamps each 100 W). In normal installations the number of lighting
points or lamps connected to a lighting final circuit is limited to eight or
ten.
 Loop-in method is an effective way of supplying several lighting points
wired in conduit. This method is applicable to control a lamp or a
group of lamps for both one-way and multi-way switching (Fig. 3.8 and
3.9)
 Joints or connections are made at switch terminals, ceiling roses, outlet
boxes or lampholders. This allows to find faulty point easily.
 There must be one PE conductor connected to each separate lighting
circuit from DB.
 Looping in PE conductor of one final circuit from another final circuit is
not allowed.
 While wiring groups of several lighting FCs, all cables passing through
the same conduit or switch or joint boxes must be connected to the
same phase in order to avoid electrical shock during maintenance
and line-to-line insulation failure of cables. 13
Some important recommendations for the usage switches are:

 Single-pole, two-way, intermediate switches are used to control

domestic lighting points or fixed equipment although there is no
objection to use of double-pole switches.
 Switches used to control only discharge lamps, must have a nominal
current rating of at least twice the steady current of the circuit.
 Outdoor switches shall be water-tight and metal-clad.
 The mounting distance of local switches after the finished floor level
(AFF) should be between 1.0 m and 1.3 m AFF (measured at dolly
level). If several switches are mounted in two or more horizontal
rows, the lowest row shall have a mounting height of 1.0 m AFF.
 All switches shall be mounted inside the room on the side of the door
where the catch or lock is situated and the nearest switches being
approximately 30 cm from the door frame.

14
3.3 SOCKETS AND PLUGS (IEE Reg. 553-01)

 Socket outlets provide an easy and convenient method of connecting

portable appliances to the supply via a plug and a connecting flexible
cable.
 The socket outlet is permanently connected to final circuit cables and
only correct plug can be inserted.
 The terminals of a socket outlet and plug are marked with letters L, N
and E (Fig. 3.10), and wired with appropriate colored cables to avoid
mistakes. All domesticsocket outlets are shuttered type operating
single-phase a.c. or two-wire d.c. circuit operating at 250 V.

Front view
Bottom view
Switch
13 A
E cartridge E
fuse
N L N Figure 3.10
L

Flexible cord to
Plug equipment
Socket (top view)
outlet
Brown Blue
Green
/yellow 15
 The socket outlets and plugs having standard current ratings are:
13-A socket outlet (BS 1363) with fused plug (BS 1363) is universally
accepted for domestic and office installations. It is also extensively used in
industrial premises. It has three non-interchangeable entries and
rectangular in cross-section.
 Accompanying with it 13-A fused plug used with flexible cords to serve
portable appliances. Any appliance not exceeding 1.5 kW may safely be
connected to 13-A socket outlet via 13-A plug (Fig. 3.12). Flexible cords
connected to plugs shall have brown (phase), blue (neutral) and
yellow/green (earth). Current ratings of socket outlets and plugs used for
different applications are;
- 2 A is used for fixed workshop equipment
- 5 A, 15 A and 30 A socket outlets and plugs (BS 196) are used for
industrial applications with a maximum voltage of 250 V. Any plug
with single- or double-pole fuses may be used with these sockets.
- 16 A, 32 A, 63 A and 125 A socket outlets and plugs (BS 4343) are
heavy industrial type for single- and three- phase applications. Fuses
cannot be fitted in sockets or plugs. 16 A single- or three-phase
socket outlets can be wired only radial circuits with a protective fuse
not exceeding 20 A.
16
 Standard available fuse links are;
for 5 A plugs 2 A and 5 A
for 15 A plugs 2 A, 5 A, 10 A and 15 A
for 30 A plugs 10 A, 15 A, 20 A and 30 A
 General recommendations in installing socket outlets. -
- Any socket outlet adaptors (acting as spur) to be connected to a single
socket should contain fuses to prevent the socket outlet being
overloaded.
- The mounting distance of a socket outlet is 30-40 cm +AFF.
- All socket outlets in one room shall normally be connected to one
phase of the supply.
- Neutral or earth wire should not be borrowed from the nearest socket-
outlet final circuit.
- In large rooms socket outlets should be grouped in phases. No socket
outlets shall be fitted nearer than two meters to each other if they are
wired on different phases as shown in Fig. 3.11.
E E
N L N L Figure 3.11
Phase 1 Phase 2
2m 17
 - Switched socket-outlets are recommendable, but not essential, in
locations where frequent removal of plugs that cause wear due to
arcing across contacts.
- No socket outlet final circuit shall be allowed in a bath or shower
room except at reduced voltage levels using isolating transformer.
- As a general rule one socket outlet, single or twin, is required for a
wall in domestic applications.

 The following recommendations can be made in installing domestic

interiors:
Kitchen area
-Socket-outlets may be located 30-40 cm above working surface or floor
level.
-No socket-outlet should be allowed close to sinks within 2 m.
-A cooker should be supplied from a separate final circuit isolated with a
30-A or 45-A double-pole switch. A socket outlet on the control unit of a
cooker may lead to shock risk due to flexible cord of any appliance,
therefore its length should be limited to 50 cm.
18
Dining and Living rooms
For a separate dining area socket outlets are required for hot tables and
for a radio or television. Therefore, recommendable number of socket
outlets is 3 twin for dinning hall.. For a living area applicable number of
sockets may be 2 single and 4 twin.

Bedrooms
In bedrooms socket outlets are required on each side of bed. One
additional socket outlet may be installed for other appliances such as
heater or vacuum cleaner.
The following table gives recommended number socket outlets in
domestic premises:
Location Number of socket outlets
(S-single, T-twin)
Kitchen 4(T)
Living room 6 (2S+4T)
Dinning hall 3 (T)
Double bedroom 4 (1S+3T)
Single bedroom 3 (1S+2T)
Garage 2 (T)
Hall 1 (T)
Storage/ workshop 1 (T) 19
3.4 SOCKET-OUTLET FINAL CIRCUITS

Socket-outlet FCs provide supply to every appliance at its closest point.

For most common applications 13-A (BS1363) sockets and plugs wired in
the form of radial or ring final circuits (Fig. 3.14) supplied from the main or
sub-main distribution board are commonly used.
The earth terminal (E) of socket outlet should be connected to PE
conductor of the socket-outlet FC (IEE Reg 543-02-07). If the mounting
box of a socket outlet is metal, it must also be connected to the earth
terminal of the socket outlet.

I - Radial Socket-outlet Circuits

As shown in Fig 3.14, in a radial circuit each socket is fed from the
previous one. The phase, neutral and protective conductors are connected
to line, neutral and earth terminals at each socket outlet. The fuse and
cable sizes are given in Table 3.1.

20
■ Some of the important recommendations for installing socket-outlets are:

- The rating of protective device should not exceed 20 A (or max load of 5 kVA) if
the area to be served is about 50 m2, and 30 A if the area to be served is 75 m2
- The maximum number of socket outlets (twin is counted as one) that can be
fitted to a 4 mm2 radial circuit to serve 50 m2 area is six (Table 3.1), and ten if the
area is 75 m2.
- The rating of protective device depends on the area to be served. It is 30 A if the
area exceeds 20 m2 (Fig 3.15).
Maximum area served 50 m 2
MCB PVC 4
30 A or 32 A mm 2

Maximum area served 20 m 2

PVC 2.5
MCB 20 A
mm 2

Figure 3.12 Radial circuits serving two different floor areas.

21
II - Ring Socket-outlet Circuits
The ring final circuits are formed similar to radial final circuits by wiring; each
socket from the previous one, but connecting the last socket back to the supply
point forming a complete ring (Fig. 3.16). Two ends of the phase conductor are
connected to the terminal of protective device and two ends of the neutral
conductor and also protective conductors are also brought back to respective
terminals in the DB.
E
N L

Spur
25 A socket
L E E
From N N L N L
MB Cable size: 2.5 mm2
PE
MET
E
N L
Local DB

Figure 3.13 Ring socket-outlet FC

22
 Living room WM
Kitchen

Hall
WP

Bedroom
Cloak

Table 3.14 23
 ■ In domestic premises, in a ring circuit only 13-A socket outlet wired with
2.5 mm2 and protected with 30-A fuse or MCB must be used. Although the
rating of the cable is in the order of 20 A, since the circuit is split into two
ways round the circuit, the cable will not be overloaded.
■ In any part of a premise, the number of socket outlets to be connected to
a ring socket-outlet circuits according to the floor area covered by the
circuit should not exceed that given in Table 3.1. Also, the estimated
maximum demand on the circuit should not exceed the rating of the
overload protective device.

Table 3.2 Fuse and cable sizes for ring and final circuits using 13-A (BS 1363)

Type of Overcurrent Minimum conductor

circuit protective device size mm2 Maximum floor Maximum number
Rating(A) Type (PVC insulated) area served, m2 of socket outlets

Ring 30 or 32 Any 2.5 100 See note 1

Radial 30 or 32 Cartridge 4 75 See note 1
fuse
Radial or MCB 2.5 50 6
Radial 20 Any 2.5 less than 30 6
20 Any
24
Note 1: Maximum number of socket outlet to be connected is 10
■ Some recommendations in installing ring socket outlet circuits.
- The maximum number of sockets that can be fitted to a 2.5 mm2 ring circuit is ten
(a double socket outlet is counted as one).
- The rating of protective device should not exceed 30-32 A (or max load of 7 kVA).
- Kitchen area requires a separate socket-outlet final circuit.
- For small domestic premises at least two ring circuits should be installed.
- Fixed appliance are to be distributed uniformly along a ring circuit
- In the same premise if two or more circuits are to be installed, the socket outlets
and permanently connected equipment should be reasonably shared out among
the circuits, so that the total load is balanced.
-When designing ring or radial circuits in kitchens, special attention should be given
in loading, which may require separate circuits. This is because the maximum
demand of some equipment may exceed the rating of the circuit cable and of PDs.

III-Spurs to a Ring Socket-Outlet Circuit (IEE On-Site Guide)

A spur is a branch cable connected to a ring final circuit. Depending on the
application in a ring circuit a spur branch may be non-fused or fused.

25
1. Non-fused Spur
The total number of non-fused spurs must not exceed the total number of
socket outlets and fixed appliances connected directly in the ring circuit.
A non-fused spur must be connected either at the terminals of a socket
outlet (Fig. 3.15(a)) or at a joint box (Fig. 3.15 (b)) as a part of a ring
socket outlet circuit, or at the origin of the ring circuit in DB (Fig. 3.15 (c)).

Part of a ring
circuit

Permanently
Part of a ring connected
circuit equipment
<1.5 kW

Part of a ring
circuit

Figure 3.15 Various circuit arrangements of non-fused spurs.

- A non-fused spur can only feed one single or twin socket outlet, or one fixed
appliance.
- The connecting cable must have a current rating not less than that of the
26
conductors forming the ring (2.5 mm2).
2. Fused Spurs
- Also, the total number of non-fused spurs must not exceed the total number of
socket outlets and fixed appliances connected directly in the ring circuit.
- A fused spur may be connected to a ring circuit through a fused connection unit, and
rating of the fuse must not exceed 13 A.
- When a fused spur serves socket outlets the minimum conductor size of the
connecting cable should be 1.5 mm2, but its current rating must not exceed current
rating of the spur fuse.

Various spur circuit arrangements feeding a permanently connected load are shown
in the following figure.

Permanently
Permanently connected
Part of a ring
Part of a ring connected
circuit equipment
circuit JB equipment
(<1.5 kW)
(<1.5 kW)

Fused connection unit

(with or without switch)
(a) Fused connection unit (b)
(with or without switch) Permanently
connected
equipment
(<1.5 kW)
Part of a ring
circuit
Table 3.16
Non-fused spur (c) 27
socket outlet
 3.5 FINAL CIRCUITS SUPPLYING FIXED LOADS

■ Some of the fixed loads may be connected either (a) to ring or radial
circuits feeding 13 A socket outlets, or (b) on individual final circuits from
the consumer unit.
The group (a) devices include fixed small space heaters, fans, small
water heaters, hand dryers, etc.,and their power rating should not exceed
1.5 kW. These devices should be connected to the final circuit via 13-A
fused plug, and controlled by a single or a double-pole switch.
The group (b) devices consist of floor standing fixed equipment and
covers water heaters, cookers, clothes dryer, water heaters etc. rated at
more than 1.5 kW. Each of these items should be wired on a separate
circuit, and be controlled by a double-pole fused or non-fused switch.
Switch must be fixed adjacent or at an excesible position close to
equipment.
■ Double-pole switch (Fig. 3.17(a)) may sometimes acts as a
terminating element to fix connecting flexible cable if the equipment is
close to the switch. If not, a separate wall-mounted flex outlet plate fitted to
the adjacent equipment should be installed (Fig. 3.17 (b)).

28
 ON

D. P.switch
contacts

Neon
indicator

Figure 3.17 (a) 30-A or 45-A double pole switch. (b) Flex outlet plate

A. WATER HEATERS

There are three methods of providing hot water to houses:

1. Instantaneous type
2. Immersion heaters or circulators
3. Self-contained storage heaters

29
 Electrical connection for water heaters
■ Any water heater having power rating more than 1.5 kW should not
be connected to ring or radial socket-outlet circuits. They should be
supplied from the local distribution board with a separate circuit.
■ In the installations of water the heater must be permanently
connected to the electric supply through two double-pole switches; one is
used for functional switching and the other for isolation. The heater is
directly connected to the isolation (IEE Reg. 554-05-03) with a length of
heat-resistant flexible cable. If the distance between the water heater and
the isolation switch is long, a wall-mounted power flex outlet should be
installed close to the heater. Generally:
■ All the metal parts of the heaters in contact with the water must be
solidly and metallically connected to supply pipe, which is connected to
the main earthing terminal (IEE Reg. 554-05-02).

30
■ In bathrooms, the installation of water heater should follow the rules of IEE
Regulation (IEE Reg. 601-08-01).
- No switch or other means of control should be accessible to the person
using the shower or a fixed bath tube.
The switch must be fixed an a convenient position outside the bathroom, or
to use a cord operated ceiling switch within the room.
Wall-mounted switches should be 20-A double pole and ceiling mounted
switches should be 15-A double pole with a pilot light indicator for 'on' and
'off' visual indication.
-The length of the connecting flexible cable must be of the same size as that of
installed cable.

1. Instantaneous water heaters. These provide instantaneous supply of hot

water. These are suitable in locations where connection to the central water
heater system is difficult and expensive, and often used to provide hot water
for hand washing or showers in cloakrooms, workshops, etc. - They all
include a thermostat with a safety cut.

31
- They supply 1.5 or 3 liters of hot water per minute for electrical loading of
3 kW or 6 kW. When used for showers with a load of 4 to 7 kW.
- They must have separate final circuit and controlled by a 30-A or 45-A
cord operated ceiling-mounted double pole switch with pilot light.
The unit should be provided with a metallic sheath connected to the local
supplementary equipotential bonding (IEE Reg. 602-08-04).
2. Immersion Heaters. These are available in various types and loading
and are installed in metallic cylinder or tank controlled with thermostat
(IEE Reg. 554-04) (Fig. 3.18 (a)). A single element 3-kW heater is the
most usual in domestic usage. Double pole switch-fused or non-fused
isrequired for controlling the element, and must be fixed out of reach, and
water tank must be bonded (Fig. 3.18(b)).

- Dual heaters are also available in the same housing; one of them short
and the other is long. Since hot water will be available at the top of the
housing, the short heater provides a small amount hot water quickly and
economically, the other one is used when it is required to heat all the
water in the tank. This type of water heaters is installed with special dual
switches.
-These heaters are very efficient. They should be fixed as near 32as
possible to the space of usage.
 Top view
Thermostat

L
N
Heat resistant
E flexible cord

Protection is provided
Tank by 15 A MCB or fuse
connected
to SEB Sorage water
tank Thermostat and
heater elements

Heat resistant 2.5 mm2

flexible cord cable
DP switch for DP switch for
isolation, 20 A functional switching,
20 A

Figure 3.18 Immersion water heater. (a) Water heater element with
thermostat. (b) Wiring arrangement. 33
 Living room WM
Kitchen

Hall
WP

WH

Bedroom
Cloak

Examples for the usage of double-pole switches for supplying fixed

34
loads.
3. Self-contained storage water heaters.
They are used to supply hot water more than one tap. Various types are
available; non-pressure, semi-pressure, pressure cistern and two-in-one. -
- The heater elements are rated at 6 kW to 15 kW depending on the
thermal capacity, and heater circuit is connected to the consumer DB and
protected by 30 A, 45 A or 60 A MCB or fuse as appropriate (Fig. 3.20).

Protection is provided by
30 A MCB or fuse
Tank
connected
to SEB Thermostat and
heater elements

Heat resistant 4 mm2 4 mm2

flexible cord cable cable
DP switch for DP switch for Functional DP
isolation, 30 A isolation, 30 A switch, 45 A

Figure 3.20 Possible wiring connections of storage type water heaters.

35
- The control requires special fused or non-fused double-pole switch, which
also acts as a terminating element for wiring.
- Wiring to each storage heater from the isolation switch or remotely from a
wall-mounted flex outlet plate must be done by heat resistant flexible cords
of adequate size
- If there is more than one storage heater, each heater may have its own
separate functional switching as well as a double-pole switch for isolation.

36
 PASSIONATELY
THANK YOU ALL !!!!

37