Electrical Installation Planning

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Learner Workbook
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Version 1
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Training and Education Support

Industry Skills Unit
Meadowbank

Product code: 5681

Enquiries
Enquiries about this and other publications can be made to:

Training and Education Support Industry Skills Unit, Meadowbank

Meadowbank TAFE
Level 3, Building J,
See Street,
MEADOWBANK NSW 2114

Tel: 02-9942 3200 Fax: 02-9942 3257

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© The State of New South Wales, Department of Education and

Training, TAFE NSW, Training and Education Support Industry Skills
Unit, Meadowbank, 2012.

Copyright of this material is reserved to TAFE NSW Training and Education

Support Industry Skills Unit, Meadowbank. Reproduction or transmittal in
whole or in part, other than for the purposes of private study or research, and
subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act, is prohibited without the written
authority of, TAFE NSW. Training and Education Support Industry Skills Unit,
Meadowbank.

ISBN 978-1-74236-390-5
 Electrical Installation Planning

Table of contents

Introduction ............................................................................................. 9

References .............................................................................................. 9

Risk Assessment Terminology .................................................................. 10

Section 1 - Performance Requirements Design and Safety ................... 11

Topics ................................................................................................... 11

Topic 1 - Protection Against Harmful Effects ............................................... 13

Topic 2 - A Correctly Functioning Electrical Installation ................................ 14

Topic 3 - Supply Characteristics ............................................................... 15

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Topic 4 - Methods of Determining Maximum Demand .................................. 19
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Topic 5 - Voltage Drop Limitations ............................................................ 20

Topic 6 - Arrangement Into Circuits .......................................................... 26

Topic 7 - External Factors ........................................................................ 28

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Topic 8 - Protection Against Direct Contact (Basic Protection) ................. 29

Topic 9 - Protection Against Indirect Contact (Fault Protection) ................... 31

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Topic 10 - Protection Against Thermal Effects ............................................. 36

Topic 11 - Protection Against Overcurrent .................................................. 38

Topic 12 - Protection Against Earth Fault Current ....................................... 41

Topic 13 - Protection Against Sources of Abnormal Voltages ..................... 41

Topic 14 - Protection Against Injury from Mechanical Movement ................... 43

Topic 15 - Integrity of Fire Rated Construction ........................................... 46

Tutorial - Section 1 ................................................................................. 48

Section 2 - Final Sub-Circuit Arrangements ............................................ 55

Topics ................................................................................................... 55

Topic 1 - Maximum Demand of Final Sub-Circuits ....................................... 56

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© TAFE NSW 2012
 Electrical Installation Planning

Topic 2 - Number and Type of Final Sub-Circuits ........................................ 59

Topic 3 - Current Requirements of Final Sub-Circuits .................................. 63

Topic 4 - Final Sub-Circuit Schedules and Layouts ...................................... 77

Tutorial - Section 2 ................................................................................. 80

Section 3 - Factors Affecting the Suitability of Wiring Systems ........... 87

Topics ................................................................................................... 87

Topic 1 - Construction Methods ................................................................ 89

Topic 2 - Installation Conditions ............................................................... 90

Topic 3 - External Influences .................................................................... 91

Topic 4 - Selecting Wiring Systems ........................................................... 92

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Tutorial - Section 3 ............................................................................... 104
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Section 4 - Maximum Demand on Consumer‘s Mains ............................ 109

Topics ................................................................................................. 109

Introduction ......................................................................................... 110

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Topic 1 - Methods of Determining the Maximum Demand .......................... 111

Topic 2 - Determining the Maximum Demand on Consumer‘s Mains ............ 112

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Tutorial - Section 4 ............................................................................... 124

Section 5 - Maximum Demand on Consumer‘s Mains and Sub-Mains .... 129

Topics ................................................................................................. 129

Topic 1 - Calculation of Maximum Demand .............................................. 130

Topic 2 - Calculating the Maximum Demand on Sub-mains ........................ 140

Tutorial - Section 5 ............................................................................... 148

Section 6 - Cable Selection Based on Current Carrying Capacity

Requirements ..................................................................... 153

Topics ................................................................................................. 153

Topic 1 - Installation Conditions ............................................................. 154

Topic 2 - De-Rating Factors ................................................................... 158

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 Electrical Installation Planning

Topic 3 - AS/NZS 3008.1.1 Current Carrying Capacity Tables ..................... 161

Topic 4 - Cable Selection ....................................................................... 164

Tutorial - Section 6 ............................................................................... 181

Section 7 - Cable Selection Based on Voltage Drop Requirements ........ 191

Topics ................................................................................................. 191

Topic 1 - Voltage Drop Tables in AS/NZS 3008.1.1 ................................... 193

Topic 2 - Voltage Drop Calculations Using AS/NZS 3008.1.1 ...................... 196

Topic 3 - Cable Selection Based on Voltage Drop ...................................... 201

Topic 4 - Maximum Cable Length Based on Voltage Drop ........................ 210

Tutorial - Section 7 ............................................................................... 214

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Section 8 - Cable Selection Based on Earth Fault Loop Impedance
Requirements ..................................................................... 219
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Topics ................................................................................................. 219

Topic 1 - Cable Impedance Tables in AS/NZS 3008.1.1 ............................. 221

Topic 2 – Earth Fault Loop Impedance Calculations ................................... 224

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Topic 3 - Cable Selection Based on Earth Fault Loop Impedance ................. 230

Topic 4 - Maximum Length Based on Earth Fault Loop Impedance .............. 232
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Tutorial - Section 8 ............................................................................... 238

Section 9 - Selecting Protection Devices .............................................. 243

Topics ................................................................................................. 243

Topic 1 - Selection of Overload Devices ................................................... 245

Topic 2 - Short Circuit Hazards ............................................................... 252

Topic 3 - Selecting Short Circuit Protection Devices .................................. 261

Topic 5 – AS/NZS 3000 Requirements ..................................................... 268

Tutorial - Section 9 ............................................................................... 273

Section 10 - Selecting Devices for Isolation and Switching .................. 279

Topics ................................................................................................. 279

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 Electrical Installation Planning

Topic 1 - Requirements for Provision of Isolation ...................................... 280

Topic 2 - Need for Protection Against Mechanical Movement ...................... 291

Topic 3 - Selecting Devices .................................................................... 294

Tutorial – Section 10 ............................................................................. 305

Section 11 - Switchboards .................................................................... 309

Topics ................................................................................................. 309

Topic 1 – AS/NZS 3000 and Local Requirements ...................................... 310

Topic 2 - Tariff Structures ...................................................................... 321

Topic 3 - Main Switchboard Equipment .................................................... 324

Topic 4 - Layout Diagrams for Whole Current Metering .............................. 326

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Tutorial – Section 11 ............................................................................. 335
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Section 12 - Selecting Equipment for Damp Situations and ELV
Installations ....................................................................... 341

Topics ................................................................................................. 341

Topic 1 – Delineation of Damp Situations................................................. 342

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Topic 2 – Selection of Equipment for Damp Situations ............................... 350

Topic 3 – Voltage Range of ELV Installations ............................................ 359

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Topic 4 – Selecting Equipment for ELV Installations .................................. 360

Tutorial – Section 12 ............................................................................. 366

Section 13 - Special Situations (Construction and Demolition Sites;

Caravan Parks) ................................................................... 373

Topics ................................................................................................. 373

Topic 1 – Other Requirements and Standards .......................................... 374

Topic 2 - AS/NZS 3012 Electrical Installations in Construction and Demolition

Sites ................................................................................................... 375

Topic 3 - AS/NZS 3001 Electrical Installations — Transportable Structures and

Vehicles Including Their Site Supplies ..................................................... 379

Tutorial – Section 13 ............................................................................. 383

Section 14 - Special Situations (Marinas, Shows and Carnivals) .......... 389

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 Electrical Installation Planning

Topics ................................................................................................. 389

Topic 1 – AS/NZS 3004 Electrical Installations—Marinas and Recreational Boats

.......................................................................................................... 390

Topic 2 – AS/NZS 3002 Electrical installations – Shows and Carnivals ........ 396

Tutorial – Section 14 ............................................................................. 399

Section 15 - Special Situations (HV Installations; Hazardous Areas) and

Documentation ................................................................... 403

Topics ................................................................................................. 403

Topic 1 – High Voltage Installations ........................................................ 404

Topic 2 – Hazardous Locations ............................................................... 408

Topic 3 – Responsibilities ....................................................................... 416

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Topic 4 – Mandatory Documentation ....................................................... 418
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Topic 5 – Design Documentation ............................................................ 419

Tutorial – Section 15 ............................................................................. 420

Tutorial Answers ................................................................................. 423

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Resource Evaluation Form .................................................................... 459

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Developed by Training & Education Support Industry Skills Unit, Meadowbank

© TAFE NSW 2012
 Electrical Installation Planning

Section 1 - Performance Requirements

Design and Safety

Topics
• Protection against harmful effects

• Correct functioning

• Supply characteristics

• Determining maximum demand

• Voltage drop limitations

• Arrangement into circuits

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• External factors

• Protection against:
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 Direct contact

 Indirect contact
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 Thermal effects

 Over current
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 Earth fault current

 Abnormal voltages

 Mechanical movement

• Integrity of fire rated construction.

Aim
Learners will be introduced to basic electrical design considerations when
selecting electrical equipment to meet safety and performance standards.

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 Electrical Installation Planning

Learning Objectives
Learners should be able to meet the following learning objectives:
 Outline the harmful effects against which the design of an electrical
installation must provide protection.
 Outline the acceptable performance standards of a correctly functioning
electrical installation.
 Explain each of the supply characteristics that shall be considered when
designing an electrical installation.
 Describe the acceptable methods for determining the maximum demand in
consumer's mains and sub-mains.
 State the AS/NZS 3000 requirements limiting voltage drop in an installation.
 State the reason for dividing electrical installations into circuits and the
factors that shall determine their number and type.
 List typical external factors that may damage an electrical installation and

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that shall be considered in the installation design.
 Describe the methods for protecting persons and livestock against direct
contact with conductive parts.
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 Describe the methods for protecting persons and livestock against indirect
contact and the typical application of each.
 Describe acceptable methods of protection against the risks of ignition of
flammable materials and injury by burns from the thermal effects of current,
in normal service.
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 Describe the acceptable methods for protecting persons and livestock against
injury and property against damage from the effects of over current.
 Outline the requirement for protection against earth fault current.
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 Describe the likely sources of abnormal voltages and the methods for dealing
with this potential hazard.
 Outline the requirement for protection against the harmful effects of faults
between live parts of circuits supplied at different voltages.
 Explain the need for protection against injury from mechanical movement and
how this may be achieved.
 Describe the features of 'fire rated construction' and how the integrity of the
fire rating can be maintained in relation to electrical installations.

Introduction
As an electrician, especially in the contracting industry, you will be required to
make design decisions about various parts of an installation. This may be as
simple as selecting the correct current rating of a circuit breaker to protect the
circuit for a piece of equipment, or as complex as the complete design of an
installation.

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 Electrical Installation Planning

Topic 1 - Protection Against Harmful Effects

Risk management has three parts.
 Identification, what is the risk?
 Assessment, what danger and how often the risk will occur?
 Mitigation, what actions and processes can be used to eliminate or control the
risk?

Activity 1 - Protection Against Dangers and Damage

Read AS/NZS 3000 clause 1.5.1

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1. What 3 items require protection? a) _____________________________

b) _____________________________

c) _____________________________
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2. What are the 3 major risks? a) _____________________________

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b) _____________________________

c) _____________________________

Now the risks have been identified, it is obvious that assessment will show the
dangers are catastrophic and frequent. Designing an electrical installation to the
appropriate Australian standards will mitigate the risks to an acceptable level.

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 Electrical Installation Planning

Topic 2 - A Correctly Functioning Electrical

Installation
So how do we select the correct equipment so that we do not cause electric
shock and/or potentially burn the installation to the ground? Section 1.6 of
AS3000 (2007) gives guidance.

Activity 2 - Design of an Electrical Installation

Read AS/NZS 3000 clause 1.6.1

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1. List 5 functions that an a) _____________________________________
electrical installation must
be able to perform. __________________________________

b) _____________________________________
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__________________________________

c)______________________________________
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__________________________________

d) _____________________________________

__________________________________

e) _____________________________________

__________________________________

f) ______________________________________

__________________________________

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 Electrical Installation Planning

Topic 3 - Supply Characteristics

The electrical equipment and the wiring systems installed must be compatible
with the characteristics of the supply. Most installations are supplied by large
electrical distributors, however it is not uncommon for private supply sources to
be in use. In remote areas solar, wind and small internal combustion generators
are common. Larger factories may have their own steam turbines as a source of
supply.

Overseas countries such as the United States use a 110 V, 60 Hz system.

Equipment to suit the American supply will not be compatible with Australia‘s 230
V, 50 Hz system.

Activity 3 - Design of an Electrical Installation.

Read AS/NZS 3000 clause 1.6.2

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1. List 9 characteristics of the a)__________________________________

supply system that must be
compatible with the electrical b) _________________________________
installation connected to it.
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c) __________________________________

d) _________________________________

e)__________________________________

f) __________________________________

g) _________________________________

h) _________________________________

i) __________________________________

(a) Generally the supply in Australia is alternating current.

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 Electrical Installation Planning

(b) If an installation‘s maximum demand is greater than that of the supply

available it is normal for the supply distributor to ask for a financial
contribution to any upgrades in infrastructure.

The number of supply phases will depend on the maximum demand and
load types. Small installations up to 100 A will generally be connected only
to 1 phase and a neutral. If the load exceeds 100 A or a 3 phase motor is
installed 3 phases and a neutral will be connected. Known as a 4 wire 3
phase supply it is shown in Figure 1.

The Service and Installation Rules of New South Wales gives guidance
on the number of phases connected to an installation.

A
A

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MEN N
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B
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C
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N
MEN B

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figure 1. figure 2.

Outside metropolitan areas 3 phase supply is not always available. Many rural
distributors use a 3 wire 2 phase supply as shown in Figure 2. Heavy loads are
wired across A and B phases but are connect to 480 volts single phase, not 415
volts. A 3 phase 415 V motor would not be compatible with the 2 phase 480 volt
supply.

(c) The nominal supply voltage is 230 volts for single phase supply and 400
volts for three phase supply, not 240/415 Volts. All calculations for this
subject are to be performed at 230/400 V.

It is important to ensure the supply voltage is within tolerance. If the voltage is

either too high or too low, damage to electrical wiring and equipment will occur.

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 Electrical Installation Planning

Activity 4 - Supply Characteristics

Use AS/NZS 3000 clause 1.6.2 (c) to Complete

the following activities:

1. Calculate the maximum

permissible supply voltage
for a single phase 230 V
installation.

2. Calculate the minimum

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permissible supply voltage
for a single phase 230 V
installation.
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3. Calculate the maximum
permissible supply voltage
for a three phase 400 V
installation.
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4. Calculate the minimum

permissible supply voltage
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for a three phase 400 V

installation.

(d) The standard frequency in Australia is 50 Hz. Operation at any other

frequency will cause three phase induction motors to run at speeds different
to rated values and cause changes in characteristics of other inductive
devices.

(e) The maximum current that is supplied to the installation can be limited at
the electricity distributor‘s discretion. Maximum demand will be covered in
the next topic.

(f) The prospective short circuit current is the maximum possible current that
could flow under short circuit conditions. Protection devices must be capable
of interrupting this current without damage.

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