BEE star rating

• In order to provide us the efficiency information, Government of India (Bureau of

Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Power) introduced the Standards and Labelling
Program in May 2006.

• Under this program the manufacturers are required to place a label showing how
much electricity the appliance will consumer under certain conditions.

• The labels have been designed after a great deal of research.

• The labels contain a number of items. The highlight is the ‘STARS’. More is the stars,
more efficient is the appliance.

Fig.1 BEE Star rating

Electrification of residential buildings

(a) Layout of wiring

• Power and heating sub-circuits should be kept separate and distinct from lighting and
fan sub-circuits.
• All types of wiring, whether concealed or unconcealed, should be capable of easy
inspection.
• In all types of Wiring due consideration should be given for neatness and good
appearance.

• In 3~phase installations; care should be exercised to ensure balancing of loads on the

three phase circuit.
(b) Selection of type of wiring
Methods for residential wiring are

• PVC insulated wire on Teak Wooden Batten

• PVC insulated wire in surface steel / PVC conduits
• PVC insulated wire in concealed PVC conduits

Concealed conduit wiring with rigid PVC conduits is the most accepted wiring for modern
residential building

(c) General rules for conduit wiring with rigid PVC conduits
1. Only rigid PVC conduits shall be used
2. Conduits may be threaded type or pasted type
3. Conductors of different supply system shall not be bunched in same conduit
4. Number of conductors in conduit shall be as per table 1 shown below
5. For long run inspection type couplers shall be used
6. Saddles shall be provide at a spacing of 0.6m
7. Conduits in ceiling shall be laid while concreting the ceiling slabs
8. Suitable inspection boxes shall be provided to facilitate periodic inspection

Table 1
Size of wire Size of conduits
in mm2
20mm 25mm 32mm 40mm 50mm
1 7 13 20
1.5 6 10 14
2.5 5 6 10 14
4.0 3 6 10 11
6.0 2 5 9 11
10 4 7 9
16 2 4 5 12
25 2 2 6

(d) Selection of conductor size

1. All conductors should be PVC insulated Copper or Aluminium
 2. Conductor size for light circuits should not be less than 1mm2 for copper and 1.5mm2
for Aluminium

3. Conductor size for power circuits should not be less than 2.5 mm2 for copper and 4
mm2 for aluminum

(e)Reception and Distribution of Main Supply

1. There should be a circuit breaker or a linked switch on live conductor of the
2. Supply mains at the point of entry.
3. The wiring throughout the installation should be such that there is no break in the
neutral wire in the form of a switch or fuse unit.
4. All main switches should be either metal clad enclosed pattern or of any insulated
enclosed -pattern and should be fixed at close proximity to the point

(f) Switch boards

1. Open type switch boards shall be placed only in dry situations
2. In a situation or where inflammable or explosive dust, vapour or gas is likely to be
present, the switch board shall be totally enclosed
3. Switch boards shall not be erected above gas stoves or sinks, or within 2.5 m of any
washing unit in the washing rooms of laundries, or in bathrooms, toilets, or kitchens;
4. In case of switch boards unavoidably fixed in places with abnormal moist
atmosphere, the outer casing shall be weatherproof
5. Switch boards shall be fitted at a height of 1.3 m from floor level
6. MSB & DB shall be fitted a height of 1.5 m from floor level

(g) Selection of switches and sockets

1. 6A switches should be used for light, fan, exhaust fan, light plug socket etc.
2. 16A switches shall be used for power loads
3. All switches should have ISI certification

(h) Selection of light fittings and fans

Use ISI brand, highest energy star rated lights and fans

Rating of lamp, fan and socket outlet points for purpose of estimating the current to be
carried by any conductor, ratings as indicated below are assumed:

Incandescent lamps 60 watts

Ceiling and table fans 60 watts

Ordinary socket outlet points 100 watts

Fluorescent lamps 60 watts

Power socket outlet points 1000 watts (unless actual value specified)

(i) Single Phase Supply

• Single phase installation are preferred when connected load is less than 5kW
• All loads in a single phase installation are connected in parallel and supplied at the
same voltage.
• The feeder cables and the installation wiring should be designed such that switching
on or off any load in the system does not affect any other load in the system.
• Figure 2 shows a simple diagram of a single phase installation.

Figure 2 shows a simple diagram of a single phase installation.

• The consumer’s main switch-fuse* is connected after the meter and feeds a
Distribution Board (DB)

• It is important to note that fuses should be placed only in the live (or phase) wire and
never in the neutral wire. [This is because if used in the neutral and fuse has blown,
 there will be no flow of current. All the appliances connected will be having full
supply voltage applied to them, which is dangerous because a lay person could touch
the live parts thinking that because the appliance is not working the supply must be
off, which may result in electrical accidents]

• Similarly all switches should be installed on the live lines only and never on the
neutral. Similarly if the switch is on the neutral side and if it has not made full
contact, the appliances will not work causing an impression that the supply is off
when in fact full voltage is acting on the appliance which is dangerous.

• The wiring of each sub-circuit should be electrically separate from that of every other
sub-circuit. This means that every sub-circuit must have its own neutral wire as well
as phase wire drawn from separate points on the DB.

[This will be understood by reference to figure 4.2, Which shows how the wiring for
the light and power sub-circuit have been taken from separate points on the DB. ]

Fig. 4.2 Single phase installation with a number of sub-distribution boards having a common mainswitch
fuse
(j)Three-phase Four-wire Supply
➢ Any buildings, having a connected load greater than 5kW are given three-phase, four-
wire supply.
It is necessary that the load on the distribution system of the supply authority must
be balanced*.
* {In the case of domestic single phase consumers this is achieved by running the
three phase four wire distribution line along the residential area and connecting the
first consumer between red and neutral, the second consumer between yellow and
neutral, the third consumer between blue and neutral and repeating the same
sequence for the subsequent consumers.

In the case of industries and large buildings with large load requirement, three-phase
supply is provided so that by giving three—phase supply to three-phase motors and
three-phase loads balancing is automatically obtained.}

Balancing of the three phases in respect of single phase loads is achieved by

appropriate distribution of the single phase loads on the three phases.

Fig4.5 Three-phase four-wire distribution for single and three-phase loads having a common main switch fuse.
(i) Sub-Distribution Boards
Sub-distribution boards should, as far as possible, be located near the load centre of the area
which they supply and the final sub-circuits should be as short as possible.

(j) Earthing of domestic installations

1. Earthing of domestic installations is to be carried out as per IS 3043

2. One pipe earth station for single phase and two pipe earth stations for three phase
are mandatory
3. A detailed earthing design is not required for domestic building

(k) Testing of installations

Following tests are to be carried out to ensure that there are no defects which may cause
danger

1. Insulation resistance test

2. Polarity test
3. Test for earth continuity

Solved Problems

Q: Design and Estimate a suitable electrical system for a 1BHK residential

building.
Step 1: Plan of the building
Step 2: Location of electrical accessories & track of the conduit

Step 3: Calculation of connected load

6A sockets 16A sockets
Name of
Light points Fan points outlets outlets
room

Drawing
2 1 1
room
Dining room 2 1 1
Kitchen 2 1
Bed room 2 1 1 1
Toilet 1

Total light loads = (2+2+2+2+1) x 60 W= 9 X 60W =540W

Total fan loads = (1+1+1) x 60 W= 3 X 60W =180W

Total wattage for 6 A socket outlets = (1+1+1) x 100 W=300W

Total light loads =540+180+300 = 1020W

 Total wattage for 16 A socket outlets = (1+1) x 1000 W=2000W

Total power loads = 2000W

Connected load (CL) = (total light load+ Total power load) = 3020W

Since connected load is less than 5000W (5kW), single phase supply is selected.

Step 4: Calculation of number of sub circuits

Allowable load on one sub circuit is 1000W

Hence,

Number of sub circuits= CL/1000

Number of sub circuits= 3020/1000 =3.02~ 4 circuits.

Maximum 1000W load can be connected in each sub circuit,

Sub circuits can be arranged as follows

Sub circuit 1 : L1, L2, L3, , F1, F2, SB1,SB2, TL1, TL2, TL3 (only 10 points can be connected in

a light subcircuit)

Sub circuit 2 : 16A power socket (SB3)

Sub circuit 3 : 16A power socket (SB5)

Sub circuit 4: L4, L5,F3, SB4, TL4

Step 5:
Calculation of load current
P=VI (Assume unity Pf)

I= P/V

Therefore,

Load current = P / V = C.L/ V

= 3020/240

=12.58 A

By considering future expansion, and 20% extra load we have the load current to be
15.096A ~ 16 A

(a)Selection of main switch

Load current is 16 A

By referring Data sheet.

32A, 240V ICDP with 32A* Fuse unit is selected as Main Switch

* Here we cannot take 16A fuse unit. Because we have to consider fuse grading,

(b) Selection of Distribution board fuses and wires

Load current is 16 A

Number sub circuits are 4

By referring Data sheet.

32A, 240V, 6- way Distribution board is selected

➢ Load current in sub circuit 1 = 680/240 =2.833A ~ 3A

6 A fuse unit is selected for sub circuit1

1 mm2 PVC insulated Cu wire is selected for sub circuit1 (refer data sheet)

➢ *Load current in sub circuit 2 = 3000/240 =12.5A

*By general assumption, load in 16A power socket is 1000W. In some cases a maximum
of 3000W load can be connected to Power Socket.
➢ Load current in sub circuit 3 = 3000/240 =12.5A
 16A fuse unit is selected for sub circuit2 & sub circuit3

2.5mm2 PVC insulated Cu wire is selected for sub circuit 2 & sub circuit 3 (refer data
sheet)

➢ Load current in sub circuit 4 = 340/240 =1.42A ~ 1.5A

6 A fuse unit is selected for sub circuit4

1 mm2 PVC insulated Cu wire is selected for sub circuit1

Step 6: Schematic Step 7: Calculation of length of the conduit

Horizontal Vertical Run

Location Run (HR) m (VR) m

Sub circuit 1

AB 1.5 1.7
BC 1.5
BD 1.5 0.5
EF 1.5 1.2
EG
GH
GI
IJ
KL
LM
MN
QO
OP
TOTAL
Sub circuit 2

AB
BD
DQ
Total
Sub circuit 3

AB
 BD
EG
GI
total
Sub circuit 4

total
Grand
Total

Total length of the conduit =

Horizontal Run ( HR)+ Vertical Run(VR)=34.5+16.2~52 m

Adding a 20% wastage

Total length of the conduit=52+ [(20/100) X52] = 63 m

Step 8: Calculation of length of the wire

Here approximation method is used,

Length of phase and neutral wire = length of the conduit X 3

Length of earth wire = length of the conduit

For sub circuit 1

Length of the conduit=31.5~ 32m

Length of phase and neutral wire = 32 X 3 =96m
Type of wire: 1mm2 PVC insulated Cu wire

Length of earth wire =32X1 32 m

Type of earth wire: 14 SWG Cu wire

For sub circuit 2

Length of the conduit =10.5~ 11m

Length of phase and neutral wire = 11 X 3 =33m

Type of wire: 2.5 mm2 PVC insulated Cu wire
 Length of earth wire =11 X 1 = 11 m
Type of earth wire: 14 SWG Cu wire

For sub circuit 3

Length of the conduit =9.2~ 10m

Length of phase and neutral wire = 10 X 3 =30m
Type of wire: 2.5 mm2 PVC insulated Cu wire

Length of earth wire =10 X 1 = 10 m

Type of earth wire: 14 SWG Cu wire

For Main Switch Board and DB

Length of phase and neutral wire = 3m

Type of wire: 4 mm2 PVC insulated Cu wire

Step 9: Estimate for the electrification

Sl Material Specification Quantity
No
1 ICDP 32A, 240V 1 no.s
2 Kit Kat fuse 32A, 240V 1 no.s
3 Neutral link 32A, 200V 1 no.s
4 4-way DB 240V, 32A, 4-way 1 no.s
5 Kit Kat fuse 6A, 240V 1 no.s
6 Kit Kat fuse 16A, 240V 2 no.s
7 PVC insulated Cu wire 1mm2 96m
8 PVC insulated Cu wire 2.5mm2 63m
9 PVC insulated Cu wire 4mm2 3m
10 Angle batten lamp holder 6A, 240V 5 no.s
11 Ceiling rose 6A, 240V 7 no.s
12 Socket outlet with switch 6A, 240V 3 no.s
13 Socket outlet with switch 16A, 240V 2 no.s
14 SPST switch 6A, 240V 12 no.s
15 Teak wood Switch box with 6X4 5 no.s
hylum sheet
16 Main Switch box with lock 32A, 240V 1 no.s
17 PVC round blocks 12 no.s
18 Single core Cu wire 14SWG 43 m
19 Metal Screws 0.5 inch, 1 inch 100 no.s
20 PVC conduit ¾ inch, (19mm) 63
Total cost