Choosing the right types of wiring is important as wiring connects various accessories for the

distribution of electricity from supplier meter board to many domestic appliances. In this article,
let us learn about the different types of wiring.

What is Wiring?

The electrical power distribution through wires in a perfect manner for the economical use of
wiring conductors inside a building or a room with better load control is known as electrical
wiring.

What is Electrical Wiring?

Electrical Wiring is a process of connecting cables and wires to the related devices such as fuse,
switches, sockets, lights, fans etc. to the main distribution board is a specific structure to the
utility pole for continues power supply.

Methods of Electrical Wiring Systems w.r.t Taking Connection

Wiring (a process of connecting various accessories for distribution of electrical energy from
supplier’s meter board to home appliances such as lamps, fans and other domestic appliances is
known as Electrical Wiring) can be done using two methods which are:

 Joint box system or Tee system

 Loop – in system

They are discussed as follows:

 Joint Box or Tee or Jointing System

In this method of wiring, connections to appliances are made through joints. These joints are
made in joint boxes by means of suitable connectors or joints cutouts. This method of wiring
doesn’t consume too much cables size.

You might think because this method of wiring doesn’t require too much cable it is therefore
cheaper. It is of course but the money you saved from buying cables will be used in buying joint

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boxes, thus equation is balanced. This method is suitable for temporary installations and it is
cheap.

 Loop-in or Looping System

This method of wiring is universally used in wiring. Lamps and other appliances are connected
in parallel so that each of the appliances can be controlled individually. When a connection is
required at a light or switch, the feed conductor is looped in by bringing it directly to the terminal
and then carrying it forward again to the next point to be fed.

The switch and light feeds are carried round the circuit in a series of loops from one point to
another until the last on the circuit is reached. The phase or line conductors are looped either in
switchboard or box and neutrals are looped either in switchboard or from light or fan. Line or
phase should never be looped from light or fan.

Advantages of Loop-In Method of Wiring

 It doesn’t require joint boxes and so money is saved

 In loop – in systems, no joint is concealed beneath floors or in roof spaces.
 Fault location is made easy as the points are made only at outlets so that they are
accessible.

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Disadvantages of Loop-In Method of Wiring

 Length of wire or cables required is more and voltage drop and copper losses are
therefore more
 Looping – in switches and lamp holders is usually difficult.

Different Types of Electrical Wiring Systems

The types of internal wiring usually used are

 Cleat wiring
 Wooden casing and capping wiring
 CTS or TRS or PVC sheath wiring
 Lead sheathed or metal sheathed wiring
 Conduit wiring

There are additional types of conduit wiring according to Pipes installation (Where steel and
PVC pipes are used for wiring connection and installation).

Surface or open Conduit type

Recessed or concealed or underground type Conduit

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  Cleat Wiring

This system of wiring comprise of ordinary VIR or PVC insulated wires (occasionally, sheathed
and weather proof cable) braided and compounded held on walls or ceilings by means of
porcelain cleats, Plastic or wood.

Cleat wiring system is a temporary wiring system therefore it is not suitable for domestic
premises. The use of cleat wiring system is over nowadays.

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Advantages of Cleat Wiring:

o It is simple and cheap wiring system

o Most suitable for temporary use i.e. under construction building or army camping
o As the cables and wires of cleat wiring system is in open air, therefore fault in cables can
be seen and repair easily.
o Cleat wiring system installation is easy and simple.
o Customization can be easily done in this wiring system e.g. alteration and addition.
o Inspection is easy and simple.

Disadvantages of Cleat Wiring:

o Appearance is not so good.

o Cleat wiring can’t be use for permanent use because, Sag may be occurring after
sometime of the usage.
o In this wiring system, the cables and wiring is in open air, therefore, oil, Steam, humidity,
smoke, rain, chemical and acidic effect may damage the cables and wires.
o It is not lasting wire system because of the weather effect, risk of fire and wear & tear.
o It can be only used on 250/440 Volts on low temperature.
o There is always a risk of fire and electric shock.
o it can’t be used in important and sensitive location and places.
o It is not lasting, reliable and sustainable wiring system.

 Casing and Capping wiring

Casing and Capping wiring system was famous wiring system in the past but, it is considered
obsolete this days because of Conduit and sheathed wiring system. The cables used in this kind
of wiring were either VIR or PVC or any other approved insulated cables.

The cables were carried through the wooden casing enclosures. The casing is made up of a strip
of wood with parallel grooves cut length wise so as to accommodate VIR cables. The grooves
were made to separate opposite polarity. the capping (also made of wood) used to cover the
wires and cables installed and fitted in the casing.

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Advantages of Casing Capping Wiring:

o It is cheap wiring system as compared to sheathed and conduit wiring systems.

o It is strong and long-lasting wiring system.
o Customization can be easily done in this wiring system.
o If Phase and Neutral wire is installed in separate slots, then repairing is easy.
o Stay for long time in the field due to strong insulation of capping and casing.
o It stays safe from oil, Steam, smoke and rain.
o No risk of electric shock due to covered wires and cables in casing & capping.

Disadvantages Casing Capping Wiring:

o There is a high risk of fire in casing & capping wiring system.

o Not suitable in the acidic, alkalies and humidity conditions
o Costly repairing and need more material.
o Material can’t be found easily in the contemporary
o White ants may damage the casing & capping of wood.

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  Batten Wiring (CTS or TRS)

Single core or double core or three core TRS cables with a circular oval shape cables are used in
this kind of wiring. Mostly, single core cables are preferred. TRS cables are chemical proof,
water proof, steam proof, but are slightly affected by lubricating oil. The TRS cables are run on
well-seasoned and straight teak wood batten with at least a thickness of 10mm.

The cables are held on the wooden batten by means of tinned brass link clips (buckle clip)
already fixed on the batten with brass pins and spaced at an interval of 10cm for horizontal runs
and 15cm for vertical runs.

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Advantages of Batten Wiring

o Wiring installation is simple and easy

o cheap as compared to other electrical wiring systems
o Paraphrase is good and beautiful
o Repairing is easy
o strong and long-lasting
o Customization can be easily done in this wiring system.
o less chance of leakage current in batten wiring system

Disadvantages of Batten Wiring

o Can’t be install in the humidity, Chemical effects, open and outdoor areas.
o High risk of firs
o Not safe from external wear & tear and weather effects (because, the wires are openly
visible to heat, dust, steam and smoke.
o Heavy wires can’t be used in batten wiring system.
o Only suitable below then 250V.
o Need more cables and wires.

 Lead Sheathed Wiring

The type of wiring employs conductors that are insulated with VIR and covered with an outer
sheath of lead aluminum alloy containing about 95% of lead. The metal sheath given protection
to cables from mechanical damage, moisture and atmospheric corrosion.

The whole lead covering is made electrically continuous and is connected to earth at the point of
entry to protect against electrolytic action due to leaking current and to provide safety in case the
sheath becomes alive. The cables are run on wooden batten and fixed by means of link clips just
as in TRS wiring.

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  Conduit Wiring

There are two additional types of conduit wiring according to pipe installation

 Surface Conduit Wiring

 Concealed Conduit Wiring

Surface Conduit Wiring

If conduits installed on roof or wall, It is known as surface conduit wiring. in this wiring method,
they make holes on the surface of wall on equal distances and conduit is installed then with the
help of rawal plugs.

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Concealed Conduit wiring

If the conduits are hidden inside the wall slots with the help of plastering, it is called concealed
conduit wiring. In other words, the electrical wiring system inside wall, roof or floor with the
help of plastic or metallic piping is called concealed conduit wiring. obliviously, it is the most
popular, beautiful, stronger and common electrical wiring system nowadays.

In conduit wiring, steel tubes known as conduits are installed on the surface of walls by means of
pipe hooks (surface conduit wiring) or buried in walls under plaster and VIR or PVC cables are
afterwards drawn by means of a GI wire of size if about 18SWG.

In Conduit wiring system, the conduits should be electrically continuous and connected to earth
at some suitable points in case of steel conduit. Conduit wiring is a professional way of wiring a
building. Mostly PVC conduits are used in domestic wiring.

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The conduit protects the cables from being damaged by rodents (when rodents bites the cables it
will cause short circuit) that is why circuit breakers are in place though but hey! Prevention is
better than cure. Lead conduits are used in factories or when the building is prone to fire
accident. Trunking is more of like surface conduit wiring. It’s gaining popularity too.

It is done by screwing a PVC trunking pipe to a wall then passing the cables through the pipe.
The cables in conduit should not be too tight. Space factor have to be put into consideration.

Types of Conduit

Following conduits are used in the conduit wiring systems (both concealed and surface conduit
wiring) which are shown in the above image.

Metallic Conduit

Non-metallic conduit

Metallic Conduit:

Metallic conduits are made of steel which are very strong but costly as well.

There are two types of metallic conduits.

Class A Conduit: Low gauge conduit (Thin layer steel sheet conduit)

Class B Conduit: High gauge conduit (Thick sheet of steel conduit)

Non-metallic Conduit:

A solid PVC conduit is used as non-metallic conduit now a days, which is flexible and easy to
bend.

Size of Conduit:

The common conduit pipes are available in different sizes genially, 13, 16.2, 18.75, 20, 25, 37,
50, and 63 mm (diameter) or 1/2, 5/8, 3/4, 1, 1.25, 1.5, and 2 inch in diameter.

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Advantage of Conduit Wiring Systems

o It is the safest wiring system (Concealed conduit wring)

o Appearance is very beautiful (in case of concealed conduit wiring)
o No risk of mechanical wear & tear and fire in case of metallic pipes.
o Customization can be easily done according to the future needs.
o Repairing and maintenance is easy.
o There is no risk of damage the cables insulation.
o it is safe from corrosion (in case of PVC conduit) and risk of fire.
o It can be used even in humidity, chemical effect and smoky areas.
o No risk of electric shock (In case of proper earthing and grounding of metallic pipes).
o It is reliable and popular wiring system.
o sustainable and long-lasting wiring system.

Disadvantages of Conduit Wiring Systems

o It is expensive wiring system (Due to PVC and Metallic pipes, Additional earthing for
metallic pipes Tee(s) and elbows etc.
o Very hard to find the defects in the wiring.
o installation is not easy and simple.
o Risk of electric shock (In case of metallic pipes without proper earthing & grounding
system)
o Very complicated to manage additional connection in the future.

Comparison between Different Wiring Systems

Below is the table which shows the comparison between all the above mentioned wiring systems.

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(Source: https://www.electricaltechnology.org/2015/09/types-of-wiring-systems-electrical-
wiring-methods.html)

Types of Electrical Wiring:

 Tee system or Joint box system

The connection of appliances is done with this wiring. It does not consume too much cable size
so it is ideal for temporary installations and it is cheap.

 Loop-in system

This system is used in such a way that the lamps and other appliances are parallelly connected so
that each appliance is controlled individually. They are easily accessible for finding faults.

 Cleat Wiring

This wiring consists of ordinary VIR or PVC insulated wires and is braided and compounded on
walls and ceilings by means of porcelain cleats, wood, or plastic. It is a kind of temporary system
and is not suitable for domestic usage. For example, used in an under-construction building.

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  Batten Wiring

This kind of wiring uses single-core, double core, and three core TRS cables. These cables can
be steam proof, chemical proof, and waterproof. It is cheap compared to any other electrical
wiring system in an electric circuit.

 Casing and Capping Wiring

In this wiring, the VIR cables are enclosed under wooden casings. It is obsolete now these days.
Repairing is easy when the phase and neutral wire are separately installed in slots.

 Lead Sheathed Wiring

This contains electrical conductors which have an outer sheath made up of aluminum alloy
containing 95% lead. This sheath protects the cables from atmospheric corrosion, moisture, and
mechanical damage.

 Conduit Wiring

This kind of wiring is further classified into surface conduit wiring and concealed conduit wiring
as follows:

 Surface Conduit Wiring: These types of wiring are installed on the roof or walls. Here,
holes are made at equal distance and conduit is installed with the help of plugs
 Concealed Conduit Wiring: These are hidden inside the walls by plastering it with the
help of plastic or metallic piping. Depending upon the type of piping, these are again
classified into:
 Metallic Conduit: These are made of steel which is costly but very strong. Metallic
conduit is again classified into:
 Class A Conduit: A thin layer of a sheet made of steel or also called a low gauge conduit
 Class B Conduit: A thick layer of a sheet made of steel or also called a high gauge
conduit
 Non-Metallic Conduit: These uses flexible and easy to bend wires such as solid PVC
conduit

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 Electrical Wiring Safety

Home wiring projects should not be undertaken lightly.

Failing to take the proper precautions or to use the right tools can put you and your family in
danger. Common risks include electrocution and possible electrical fire.

Strongly advise working with a professional to get these projects done safely and smoothly.

Wiring Tips

Confident that you know what you’re doing? Be sure to keep these safety tips in mind to avoid
hazards during your home wiring project.

 Power Off

Make sure the power is off at the breaker before you start and use a voltage tester to verify that
wires and/or electrical connections are completely dead before you start working on them. Make
sure everyone in your home is aware that electrical work is going on. Tape the circuit breaker
into the off position.

 Know Your Electrical Code

Know the wire code of your country. Its purpose is to protect electrical workers and make
electrical installations and equipment safer. Know the code and stay on top of new rules and best
practices for wiring, maintenance, and installation so you can stay safe on the job.

 Make Sure Your Body Is Dry

Often we have seen people touching electrical cables and charges with wet hands. Like, it
happens quite a lot that at one moment you are doing the dishes and suddenly you remember that
you have to put your phone on charge and during that you just forget that drying your hands is
important before reaching for the socket.

Let’s admit the fact that yes, this happens a lot but honestly even this mistake can cost you your
life. You never know if the cables aren’t covered properly or if there’s a little part broken and
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you touch it with your wet hands then yes an electric shock is expected for sure. So, the next
times you deal with any electrical product, whether it’s your charger or the microwave oven, just
make sure that your body is dry and especially your hands.

 Wear The Right Safety Gear

Whether you're just starting pre-apprenticeship electrician training, are an apprentice, or already
have years of experience under your belt—you must always wear appropriate safety gear while
working with electricity.

Standard personal protection equipment includes goggles, insulated gloves, sleeves, hoods,
blankets, line hose, and non-conducting hard hats. Just like your tools, this gear should be
inspected before each use—and discarded or sent for repair if not serviceable.

 Don’t Use Steel Ladders

People usually use steel or aluminum ladders when they are fixing electrical equipment that’s on
height, but this again is one big mistake because if you get even the slightest shock of electricity,
the whole current will pass through your body and you might as well die. So, make sure that you
are using a wooden ladder or any other insulated ladder that won’t let the current pass through it.

 Use The Right Tools

Before you begin, make sure you have a plan in place as to what outlets, switches and fixtures
will be involved in your project. Make sure you have all the appropriate tools, including but not
limited to: needle nose pliers, wire cutters, cable & wire stripper, fish & colored tape, voltage
tester, continuity tester, electric & rightangle drill. You may be able to rent some of this
equipment from your local hardware store.

 Buy The Right Parts

If you are installing new receptacles make sure the new ones match the wiring in your home. A
AL-CU stamp means it can be used on aluminum and copper wiring. If it is unmarked or there is
a slash through the AL if should only be used on copper wiring.

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  Be Careful What You Touch

Never touch plumbing or gas pipes while working with electricity they are often used to ground
electrical systems.

 Include A Junction Box

Never splice wires together and conceal them within a wall without a junction box — an
accessible junction box should always be used to join wires.

 Avoid water at all times when working with electricity.

 Replace Old Wiring That Shows Signs of Deterioration or Fraying
 Fix Fuse and Breaker Problems
 Don’t Overload

Overloaded outlets or extension cords can create a fire hazard.

Homes with Aluminum Wiring

According to the CPSC, homes wired with “old technology” aluminum wire — manufactured
before 1972 — are 55

TIMES more likely to have one or more connections that will reach “fire hazard conditions” than
a home wired with copper.

That’s because of deterioration processes in the aluminum that cause increased resistance to the
flow of electricity, which can result in overheating, sometimes at hazardous levels, when current
is flowing in the circuit.

Signs of electrical system problems include:

● hot to the touch face plates on receptacles or switches

● Flickering lights
● Circuits that don’t work
● The smell of burning plastic at outlets or switches

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If your home is wired with aluminum, you can replace or repair it to permanently reduce the risk
of electrical fire in your home. We recommend consulting with an electrician to determine
whether a complete replacement (with copper wiring) or a COPALUM (“pigtailing”) repair is
recommended for your home.

Final Thoughts

If in doubt, consult a detailed reference book or find a professional to do the work. Even if you
think you got the project right, one mistake could leave a potential fire hazard lurking (waiting)
in your walls. A reputable electrician understands all aspects of home wiring and may be able to
wire your home safely in less time than it takes you to learn.

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