ELECTRICAL SWITHES

MOHAMMED
MUKABBIR QUAMAR
B.ARCH 3 YR DAY
RD
DISTRIBUTION BOARD
A distribution board (also known as panel board, breaker panel, or electric panel) is a
component of an electricity supply system that divides an electrical power feed into
subsidiary circuits, while providing a protective fuses circuit breaker for each circuit in a
common enclosure. Normally, a main switch, and in recent boards, one or more residual-
current devices (RCD) or residual current breakers with overcurrent protection (RCBO),
are also incorporated.
The distribution board is an assemblage of parts including one or more fuses or circuit or
to other distribution board. Main function of distribution board is to protect the circuit and
electrical equipment.

CIRCUIT BREAKER
A circuit breaker is an automatically operated electrical switch designed to protect
an electrical circuit from damage caused by excess current from an overload or short
circuit. Its basic function is to interrupt current flow after a fault is detected. Unlike a fuse,
which operates once and then must be replaced, a circuit breaker can be reset (either
manually or automatically) to resume normal operation.
Circuit breakers are made in varying sizes, from small devices that protect low-current
circuits or individual household appliance, up to large switchgear designed to protect high
voltage circuits feeding an entire city. The generic function of a circuit breaker, RCD or
a fuse, as an automatic means of removing power from a faulty system is often
abbreviated as OCPD (Over Current Protection Device)
All circuit breaker systems have common features in their operation, but details vary
substantially depending on the voltage class, current rating and type of the circuit breaker.
The circuit breaker must first detect a fault condition. In small mains and low
voltage circuit breakers, this is usually done within the device itself. Typically, the heating
or magnetic effects of electric current are employed. Circuit breakers for large currents or
high voltages are usually arranged with protective relay pilot devices to sense a fault
condition and to operate the opening mechanism. These typically require a separate
power source, such as a battery, although some high-voltage circuit breakers are self-
contained with current transformers, protective relays, and an internal control power
source.
Once a fault is detected, the circuit breaker contacts must open to interrupt the circuit;
this is commonly done using mechanically stored energy contained within the breaker,
such as a spring or compressed air to separate the contacts. Circuit breakers may also
use the higher current caused by the fault to separate the contacts, such as thermal
expansion or a magnetic field. Small circuit breakers typically have a manual control lever
to switch off the load or reset a tripped breaker, while larger units use solenoids to trip the
mechanism, and electric motors to restore energy to the springs.

The circuit breaker contacts must carry the load current without excessive heating, and
must also withstand the heat of the arc produced when interrupting (opening) the circuit.
Contacts are made of copper or copper alloys, silver alloys and other highly conductive
materials. Service life of the contacts is limited by the erosion of contact material due to
arcing while interrupting the current. Miniature and molded-case circuit breakers are
usually discarded when the contacts have worn, but power circuit breakers and high-
voltage circuit breakers have replaceable contacts.
When a high current or voltage is interrupted, an arc is generated. The length of the arc
is generally proportional to the voltage while the intensity (or heat) is proportional to the
current. This arc must be contained, cooled and extinguished in a controlled way, so that
the gap between the contacts can again withstand the voltage in the circuit. Different
circuit breakers use vacuum, air, insulating gas, or oil as the medium the arc forms in.
Different techniques are used to extinguish the arc including
MINIATURE CIRCUIT BREAKER

A miniature circuit breaker (MCB) automatically switches off electrical circuit during an abnormal
condition of the network means in overload condition as well as faulty condition. Nowadays we use an
MCB in low voltage electrical network instead of a fuse. The fuse may not sense it but the miniature
circuit breaker does it in a more reliable way. MCB is much more sensitive to overcurrent than fuse.

Handling an MCB is electrically safer than a fuse. Quick restoration of supply is possible in case of a
fuse as because fuses must be re-wirable or replaced for restoring the supply. Restoration is easily
possible by just switching it ON. Let’s look at the working of the miniature circuit breaker.

CONCEALED CONDUIT WIRING:

PVC conduit pipes are placed inside the chiseled brick/block wall before plaster. The wall is later
completely plastered and painted. Electrical wires are laid inside the conduits. This type of wiring is
aesthetically appealing since they are no electrical wires/conduits seen on the top of the wall.
Advantages:
• It is the safest wiring system of all the ones mentioned above
• It is Aesthetically appealing
• There is no risk of fire or mechanical wear and tear
• There is no risk of damaged cable insulation
• It is safe from humidity, chemical affects and smoke
• There is No risk of shock
• Its most Reliable and popular wiring system
• Do not hamper interior layout as conduits are concealed in wall
• Renovations can be easily performed as old wires can be easily replaced

Disadvantages:
• Its expensive when compared to other surface conducting methods
• Its very hard to find any defects in the wiring
• Adding additional conduit in future is cumbersome (Needs wall chiseling)
• Changing of location of appliances or switches is difficult
• Installation is difficult as compared to other methods
• Complicated to add/manage additional connection in the future
CASING CAPPING WIRING

This is one of the simple forms of electric wiring systems. This is little bit old/conventional
wiring system. Now days we very often use this cashing capping electric wiring system.
As the name referred in this wiring, PVC insulated wires are placed in plastic cashing and
covered with cap. The cashing is of rectangular cross section as shown.

The color of cashing channel and cap are normally white or grey. The cashing channel
and cap are normally made of either plastic or wood. The channels and caps are available
in the market in standard length. The commonly available standard lengths are 1 meter,
10 feet and 6.5 feet etc.

In cashing capping wiring system, we first cut the cashing channels in required length
with capping cover. Then we screw these on the wall as per layout planning of our wiring.
Normally, we insert screw after each 30 cm in the channel.

SWITCHES
In electrical engineering, a switch is an electrical component that can "make" or "break"
an electrical circuit, interrupting the current or diverting it from one conductor to
another.[1][2] The mechanism of a switch removes or restores the conducting path in a
circuit when it is operated. It may be operated manually, for example, a light switch or a
keyboard button, may be operated by a moving object such as a door, or may be operated
by some sensing element for pressure, temperature or flow. A switch will have one or
more sets of contacts, which may operate simultaneously, sequentially, or alternately.
Switches in high-powered circuits must operate rapidly to prevent destructive arcing, and
may include special features to assist in rapidly interrupting a heavy current. Multiple
forms of actuators are used for operation by hand or to sense position, level, temperature
or flow. Special types are used, for example, for control of machinery, to reverse electric
motors, or to sense liquid level. Many specialized forms exist. A common use is control
of lighting, where multiple switches may be wired into one circuit to allow convenient
control of light fixtures.

SOCKETS
AC power plugs and sockets allow electric equipment to be connected to the alternating
current (AC) power supply in buildings and at other sites. Electrical plugs and sockets differ
from one another in voltage and current rating, shape, size, and connector type. Different
standard systems of plugs and sockets are used around the world.
Plugs and sockets for portable appliances became available in the 1880s, to replace
connections to light sockets with wall-mounted outlets. A proliferation of types developed
for both convenience and protection from electrical injury. Today there are about 20 types
in common use around the world, and many obsolete socket types are found in older
buildings. Coordination of technical standards has allowed some types of plug to be used
across large regions to facilitate trade in electrical appliances, and for the convenience of
travelers and consumers of imported electrical goods.
 In India the power plugs and sockets are of type C, D and M respectively.
 Type C: also known as the standard "Euro" plug. This socket also works with plug E
and plug F.
 Type D: mainly used in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and some African countries. This socket
only works with plug D.
 Type M: looks like plug D, but with larger pins. This socket only works with plug M.