2.

0 STANDARD FINAL CIRCUITS

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. 2.1).
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. Forcovering 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. 2.1).
Every installation should be divided into final circuits to avoid danger in the event of a
fault to provide;
safe operation, inspection, testing and maintenance.

Figure 2.1: Some of types of final circuit wiring in a room.

➢ 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

1
 ➢ 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.

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.

Figure 2.2. Standard domestic final circuits

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

2
 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.

C. Ceiling Roses

➢ Ceiling rose (CR) is an efficient method of connecting lighting final circuit

to flexible cord of pendant (drop cord) type lamp holder and looping in to
the other lighting FCs (Fig. 2.4).
➢ Ceiling roses can be fixed direct on ceiling, conduit boxes, or insulating
patresses. Ceiling-mounted types are manufactured with either three (2-
plate CR) or four terminals (3-plate CR).

a. b.

c.
Figure 2.3 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.

3
 b.
a.
Figure 2.4 (a) Ceiling roses: (a) Terminals of a four-terminal surface-mounted type CR.
(b) Parts of a three-terminal surface-mounted type CR.
C. Lamp holders
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 lamp holders; (a) bayonet, (b) screw and(c) batten.

a. b.

c.

Figure 2.5 Lamp holders:(a) Bayonet, (b) Screw and (c) Batten

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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. 2.6 and 2.7).
• 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 vıa CRs is
effective using single-pole switches (Fig. 2.7).

Figure 2.6 A simple lighting final circuit.

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Figure 3.7 Looped-in two simple lighting fittings controlled from different
positions using three-plate (four-terminal) ceiling rose.

(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. 2.8). and for more than two positions two two-way
switches and several intermediate switches may be required (2.9).

•
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).

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Figure 2.9 Corridor or staircase lighting circuit controlled by two two-way and one
intermediate switch at three switching positions (three-way switching).

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 20lamps 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. 2.8 and 2.9)
• Joints or connections are made at switch terminals, ceiling roses, out let boxes
or lamp holders. 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.
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.

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 • 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.

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.
2.10), and wired with appropriate colored cables to avoid mistakes. All domestic
socket outlets are shuttered type operating single-phase a.c. or two-wire d.c.
circuit operating at 250 V.

Figure 2.10
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. 2.12). 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;

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 - 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.
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. 2.11.

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

Figure 2.11
- 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.

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The following recommendations can be made in installing domestic interiors:
Kitchen area
o -Socket-outlets may be located 30-40 cm above working surface or floor level.
o -No socket-outlet should be allowed close to sinks within 2 m.
o -A cooker should be supplied from a separate final circuit isolated with a30-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.
Dining and Living rooms
For a separate dining area socket outlet are required for hot tables and for a radio or
television. Therefore, recommendable number of socket outlets is 3 twin for dining 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)

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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. 2.14) 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 2.14, 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.
■ 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 2.15).

Figure 2.12 Radial circuits serving two different floor areas.

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. 2.16). 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.

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Figure 2.13 Ring socket-outlet FC

Figure 2.14
■ In domestic premises, in a ring circuit only 13-A socket outlet wired with2.5 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.

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Table 2.2 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

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 out lets 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.

13
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. 2.15 (b)) as a part of a ring socket outlet circuit, or at the
origin of the ring circuit in DB (Fig. 2.15 (c)).

Figure 2.15 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 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.

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a.

c.

Figure: 2.16
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 exceed1.5 kW. These devices should
be connected to the final circuit via 13-Afused 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. 2.17(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. 2.17
(b)).

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 a. b.
Figure 2.17 (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

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).
■ 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.

16
-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.
- They supply 1.5 or 3 liters of hot water per minute for electrical loading of3 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-Acord 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.
2.18 (a)). A single element 3-kW heater is the most usual in domestic usage. Double pole
switch-fused or non-fused is required for controlling the element, and must be fixed out
of reach, and water tank must be bonded (Fig. 2.18(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 as possible to the space
of usage.

17
 a.

b.

Figure 2.18 Immersion water heater. (a) Water heater element with thermostat. (b) Wiring arrangement.

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

3. Self-contained storage water heaters.

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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. 2.20).

Figure 2.20 Possible wiring connections of storage type water heaters.

- 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.

19