Thumb Rules for Electrical Fitment
mandatory for any project
list of thumb rule listed herewith
- Cable Capacity
- Current Capacity of Equipment
- Earthing Resistance
- Minimum Bending Radius
- Insulation Resistance
- Lighting Arrestor
- Transformer
- Diesel Generator
- Current Transformer
- Quick Electrical Calculation
- Contactors Types
Thumb Rules
- For Cu Wire Current Capacity (Up to 30 Sq.mm) = 6X Size of Wire in Sq.mm
Ex. For 2.5 Sq.mm = 6×2.5 = 15 Amp, For 1 Sq.mm = 6×1 = 6 Amp, For 1.5 Sq.mm = 6×1.5 = 9 Amp - For Cable Current Capacity = 4X Size of Cable in Sq.mm
Ex. For 2.5 Sq.mm = 4×2.5 = 9 Amp.
[su_box title="Nomenclature for cable Rating = Uo/U" style="noise" radius="5"]where Uo = Phase-Ground Voltage, U = Phase-Phase Voltage, Um = Highest Permissible Voltage[/su_box]
- 1 Phase Motor draws Current = 7Amp per HP.
- 3 Phase Motor draws Current = 1.25Amp per HP.
- Full Load Current of 3 Phase Motor = HPx1.5
- Full Load Current of 1 Phase Motor = HPx6
- No Load Current of 3 Phase Motor = 30% of FLC
- KW Rating of Motor = HPx0.75
- Full Load Current of equipment = 1.39xKVA (for 3 Phase 415Volt)
- Full Load Current of equipment = 1.74xKw (for 3 Phase 415Volt)
- Earthing Resistance for Single Pit = 5Ω, Earthing Grid = 0.5Ω
- Voltage between Neutral and Earth <= 2 Volt
- Resistance between Neutral and Earth <= 1Ω
- Creepage Distance = 18 to 22mm/KV (Moderate Polluted Air) or
- Creepage Distance = 25 to 33mm/KV (Highly Polluted Air)
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- As per NEC 1985 Earthing Resistance should be < 5Ω.
- Creepage in the design of electrical and electronics equipment clearance is the air distance between two electrical contacts or conductors. and conductor less than that distance will result in arc.
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- Minimum Bending Radius for LT Power Cable = 12 x Dia of Cable.
- Minimum Bending Radius for HT Power Cable = 20 x Dia of Cable.
- Minimum Bending Radius for Control Cable = 10 x Dia of Cable.
- Insulation Resistance Value for Rotating Machine = (KV+1) MΩ.
- Insulation Resistance Value for Motor (IS 732) = ((20xVoltage (L-L)) / (1000+ (2xKW)).
- Insulation Resistance Value for Equipment (<1KV) = Minimum 1 MΩ.
- Insulation Resistance Value for Equipment (>1KV) = KV 1 MΩ per 1KV.
- Insulation Resistance Value for Panel = 2 x KV rating of the panel.
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- Min Insulation Resistance Value (Domestic) = 50 MΩ / No of Points. (All Electrical Points with Electrical fitting & Plugs). Should be less than 0.5 MΩ
- Min Insulation Resistance Value (Commercial) = 100 MΩ / No of Points. (All Electrical Points without fitting & Plugs).Should be less than 0.5 MΩ.
- Test Voltage (A.C) for Meggering = (2X Name Plate Voltage) +1000
- Test Voltage (D.C) for Meggering = (2X Name Plate Voltage).
- Submersible Pump Take 0.4 KWH of extra Energy at 1 meter drop of Water.[/su_box]
- Arrestor have Two Rating:
- MCOV=Max. Continuous Line to Ground Operating Voltage.
- Duty Cycle Voltage. (Duty Cycle Voltage > MCOV).
- Current Rating of Transformer = KVA x 1.4
- Short Circuit Current of T.C /Generator = Current Rating / % Impedance
- No Load Current of Transformer =< 2% of Transformer Rated current
- Capacitor Current (Ic) = KVAR / 1.732xVolt (Phase-Phase)
- Typically the local utility provides transformers rated up to 500kVA For maximum connected load of 99kW,
- Typically the local utility provides transformers rated up to 1250kVA For maximum connected load of 150kW.
- The diversity they would apply to apartments is around 60%
- Maximum HT (11kV) connected load will be around 4.5MVA per circuit.
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- 4No. earth pits per transformer (2No. for body and 2No. for neutral earthing),
- Clearances, approx. 1000mm around TC allow for transformer movement for replacement.[/su_box]
- Diesel Generator Set Produces = 3.87 Units (KWH) in 1 Litter of Diesel.
- Requirement Area of Diesel Generator = for 25KW to 48KW = 56 Sq.meter, 100KW = 65 Sq.meter.
- DG less than or equal to 1000kVA must be in a canopy.
- DG greater 1000kVA can either be in a canopy or skid mounted in an acoustically treated room
- DG noise levels to be less than 75dBA at 1 meter.
- DG fuel storage tanks should be a maximum of 990 Litter per unit. Storage tanks above this level will trigger more stringent explosion protection provision.
Nomenclature of CT: Ratio, VA Burden, Accuracy Class, Accuracy Limit
- Ratio: input / output current ratio
- Burden (VA): total burden including pilot wires. (2.5, 5, 10, 15 and 30VA.)
- Class: Accuracy required for operation (Metering: 0.2, 0.5, 1 or 3, Protection: 5, 10, 15, 20, 30).
- Accuracy Limit Factor:
Example: 1600/5, 15VA 5P10 (Ratio: 1600/5, Burden: 15VA, Accuracy Class: 5P, ALF: 10)
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- As per IEEE Metering CT: 0.3B0.1 rated Metering CT is accurate to 0.3 percent if the connected secondary burden if impedance does not exceed 0.1 ohms.
- As per IEEE Relaying (Protection) CT: 2.5C100 Relaying CT is accurate within 2.5 percent if the secondary burden is less than 1.0 ohm (100 volts/100A).[/su_box]
Contactors Specifications
| Type | Application |
| AC1 | Non Inductive Load or Slightly Inductive Load |
| AC2 | Slip Ring Motor, Starting, Switching OFF |
| AC3 | Squirrel Cage Motor |
| AC4,AC5,AC5a, AC5b,AC6a | Rapid Start & Rapid Stop |
| AC 5a | Auxiliary Control circuit |
| AC 5b | Electrical discharge Lamp |
| AC 6a | Electrical Incandescent Lamp |
| AC 6b | Transformer Switching |
| AC 7a | Switching of Capacitor Bank |
| AC 7b | Slightly Inductive Load in Household |
| AC 5a | Motor Load in Household |
| AC 8a | Hermetic refrigerant compressor motor with Manual Reset O/L Relay |
| AC 8b | Hermetic refrigerant compressor motor with Automatic Reset O/L Relay |
| AC 12 | Control of Resistive Load & Solid State Load |
| AC 13 | Control of Resistive Load & Solid State Load with Transformer Isolation |
| AC 14 | Control of small Electro Magnetic Load (<72 VA) |
| AC 15 | Control of Electro Magnetic Load (>72 VA) |
| Coil Voltage | Suffix |
| 24 Volt | T |
| 48 Volt | W |
| 110 to 127 Volt | A |
| 220 to 240 Volt | B |
| 277 Volt | H |
| 380 to 415 Volt | L |
a few more Rules
- For Motor
Size of Capacitor = 1/3 Hp of Motor ( 0.12x KW of Motor) - For Transformer
- < 315 KVA 5% of KVA Rating
- 315 KVA to 1000 KVA 6% of KVA Rating
- >1000 KVA 8% of KVA Rating
- 240V < 5 KW (single Phase)
- 415V <100 KVA (three Phase)
- 11KV <3 MVA
- 22KV <6 MVA
- 33KV <12 MVA
- 66KV <20 MVA
- 110KV <40 MVA
- 220KV >40 MVA
Insulation Temperature
Class A 105°C
Class E 120°C
Class B 130°C
Class F 155°C
Class H 180°C
Class N 200°C
| Voltage | IEC (60038) | IEC (6100:3.6) | Indian Elect. Rule |
| ELV | < 50 V | ||
| LV | 50 V to 1 KV | <=1 KV | < 250 V |
| MV | <= 35 KV | 250 V to 650 V | |
| HV | > 1KV | <= 230 KV | 650 V to 33 KV |
| EHV | > 230 KV | > 33 KV |
| As per Electrical Load Demand | |
| Up 6W Load demand | 1 Phase 230V Supply |
| 6W to 100KVA(100KW) | 3 Phase 440V Supply |
| 100KVA to 2500KVA | 11KV,22KV,33KV |
| Above 2500KVA | 66KV |
| Sq.ft Area | Required Load (Connected) |
| < 900 Sq.ft | 8 KW |
| 901 Sq.ft to 1600 Sq.ft | 16 KW |
| 1601 Sq.ft to 2500 Sq.ft | 20 KW |
| > 2500 Sq.ft | 24 KW |
| For Flats :100 Sq.ft / 1 KW | |
| For Flats USS /TC: 100 Sq.ft / 23 KVA | |
| For Domestic Load | 500 watt per 100 Sq. foot of the constructed area. |
| For Commercial | 1500 watt per 100 Sq. foot of the constructed area |
| Other Common Load | For lift, water lifting pump, streetlight if any, corridor/campus lighting and other common facilities, actual load shall be calculated |
| Staircase Light | in KW = 11 * No of Flats /1000 Ex: 200Flat=200×11=2.2KW |
Quick Electrical Calculation
- 1HP = 0.746KW
- 1KW = 1.36HP
- 1Watt = 0.846 Kla/Hr
- 1Watt = 3.41 BTU/Hr
- 1KWH = 3.6 MJ
- 1Cal = 4.186 J
- 1Tone = 3530 BTU
- 85 Sq.ft Floor Area = 1200 BTU
- 1Kcal = 4186 Joule
- 1KWH = 860 Kcal
- 1Cal = 4.183 Joule
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- Line Voltage = √3 Phase Voltage
- Line Current = Phase Current
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[su_box title="Delta Connection" style="noise" radius="5"]
- Line Voltage = Phase Voltage
- Line Current = √3 Phase Current
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