Electrical Material

3/0 Gauge

200 Amps - Service Entrance

1/0 Gauge

150 Amps - Service Entrance and Feeder wire

3 Gauge

100 Amps - Service Entrance and Feeder wire

6 Gauge

55 Amps - Feeder and Large Appliance Wire

8 Gauge

40 Amps - Feeder and Large Appliance Wire

10 Gauge

30 Amps - Dryers, Appliances, and Air Conditioning

12 Gauge

20 Amps - Appliance, Laundry and Bathroom Circuits

14 Gauge

15 Amps - General Lighting and Receptacle Circuits

Wires

These are single insulated conductors no. 8 AWG or smaller.

No. 14

The smallest size of wire permitted.

Copper and Aluminum

Most commonly used materials for conductors.

Conductors

These are materials which allow the free flow of electrons through them.

Heat

Is generated as a result of the current flowing and the conductor resistance.

Cable

These are single insulated conductors no. 6 AWG or larger.

Bus Bars

These are large conductors which are not circular in cross section and usually found only to supply the main switch boards.

Circular MIL

Is an artificial area measurement, representing the square of the cable diameter when the diameter is expressed in mils (thousands of an inch).

250 MCM / ½ diameter

The smallest MCM size.

500 MCM

The biggest MCM size.

Armored Cable

It is a fabricated assembly of insulated conductors enclosed in a flexible metal sheath.

BX

The most common type of AC run without raceways is the NEC type flexible armored cable known by the trade name ______.

Metal Clad Cable

It is a factory assembled cable of one or more conductors each individually insulated and enclosed in a metallic sheath of interlocking tape of a smooth or corrugated tube.

Mineral Insulated Cable

It is a factory assembled conductor insulated with a highly compressed refractory mineral insulation enclosed in a liquid and gas tight continuous copper sheath.

Non-Metallic Sheathed Cable

It is also known by the trade name ROMEX. It is a factory assembly of two or more insulated conductors having a moisture resistant, flame retardant, and non-metallic material outer sheath.

Shielded Non-Metallic Sheathed Cable

It is a factory assembly of two or more insulated conductors in as extruded core of moisture resistant and flame-retardant material covered within an overlapping spiral metal tape.

Underground Feeder and Branch Circuit Cable

It is a moisture resistant cable used for underground connections including direct burial in the ground as feeder or branch circuit.

Service Entrance Cable

It is a single or multi-conductor assembly provided with or without an overall covering primarily used for service wire.

SE

With flame retardant covering.

USE

Without flame retardant covering.

Power and Control Cable

It is a factory assembled two or more insulated conductors with or without associated bare or covered grounding under a metallic sheath and is used for installation in cable trays, raceways, or were supported by wire.

Flat Cable Assemblies

It is an assembly of parallel conductors formed integrally with an insulating material web designed especially for field installation in square structural channels.

Flat Conductor Cable

It consists of the three or more flat copper conductors placed edge to edge separated and enclosed within an insulating assembly. This type of cable is used for appliance or individual branch circuits installed inside floor surfaces.

Medium Voltage Cable

It is a single or multi-conductor solid dielectric insulated cable rated at 2,000 to 35,000 volts. Trade name is Medium Voltage Solid Dielectric.

Insulators

These are materials which prevent the flow of electrons through them.

Heat-resistant thermoplastic

THHN trade name.

Moisture and Heat-resistant Thermoplastic

THW and THWN trade name.

Raceways

These are channels or wiring accessories so designed for holding wires, cables and busbars that are either made of metal, plastic, or any insulating medium.

Rigid

uPVC electrical moulding.

Flexible

Mica tube and liquid-tight flexible metal conduit.

Floor Raceways

Under-floor, cellular metal, cellular concrete (precast).

Ceiling Raceways

Header ducts (wireways), distribution ducts (laterals).

Conduits

These are circular raceways used to enclose wires and cables.

Rigid Steel Conduit

RSC

Rigid Steel Conduit

Heavy-wall steel conduits with an approximate thickness of 0.117mm.

Intermediate Metal Conduit

IMC

Intermediate Metal Conduit

With wall thickness of 0.071mm.

Electrical Metallic Tubing

EMT

Electrical Metallic Tubing

Thin-wall steel conduits.

Conduit Couplings / Condulets

RSC’s and IMC’s use the same fitting called _______ and are threaded alike at the joints.

IMC

Yields a larger inside diameter for easier wire pulling and is lighter than the RSC.

EMT

Are not threaded but use set screw and pressure fitting and are usually not embedded in concrete nor permitted in hazardous areas.

Conduit Body

It is a connecting component of two pieces of conduit.

LR Conduit Body

Inlet alights with access and outlet is on the right. Attached to IMC conduit bodies for change of direction.

LL Conduit Body

Inlet alights with the access, and outlet is on the right. Use this type of conduit body for a 90-degree bend in the conduit run.

LB Conduit Body

Inlet aligns with the access, and the outlet is on the back. Use these conduit bodies where circuits pass from an exterior wall.

T-Shaped Conduit Body

Inlet is in line with the access and outlets on the left and right side. Cover is removable for easy access to the conductors.

C-Shaped Conduit Body

Inlet and outlet are on the top and bottom of the access cover. Pull conductors in straight runs.

X-Shaped Conduit Body

Four hubs for wire access. Allows for the easiest wire installation.

10 ft / 3.05m

Standard length of steel conduit.

RSC

Minimum requirement of utility companies for service entrance conduit is ______.

Asphaltum

When steel conduits are installed in direct contact with the earth, it is advisable to use the hot-dip galvanized type and to coat the joints with _________>

Wireway

Protects conductors by preventing kinks and damage from elements like dust or water.

Cable Tray

Are mechanical support systems that provide a rigid structural system for electrical cables, raceways, and insulated conductors used for electric power distribution, control, signal instrumentation, and communication.

Cable Bus System

It is a power distribution system using multiple parallel conductors braced in a rigid enclosure. Each conductor is insulated and fully continuous from source to load.

Busway / Bus Duct

Is a sheet metal duct or also cast resin insulated containing either copper or aluminum busbars for the purpose of conducting a substantial current of electricity.

Electrical Boxes

Are points in the wiring system wherein pulling of conductors is done.

Utility Box

Also called switch box / outlet box. It is an enclosure for housing or storing or holding fuses.

Junction Box

These are metal or plastic where the wires go to live when they are joined together.

2 1/2” / 3 1/2” deep

Junction box measurement.

2×3 and 2 1/2” deep

Junction box measurement that generally contain 3 wires.

Pull Box

It is a box with blank cover which is inserted in one or more runs or raceways to facilitate the pulling of wires.

Wiring Devices

Includes all devices that are normally installed in wall; outlet boxes, including receptacles and their matching cap (plug), switches, dimmers, pilot light, attachment plugs and wall plates.

Receptacles

Are contact devices installed at the outlet for the connection of a single attachment plug.

Power Receptacle

Is the wiring device in which the utilization equipment (appliance) cord is plugged into.

Power Outlet / Convenience Outlet

The complete setup which establishes connection between the conductor of the flexible cord and the conductors connected permanently to the receptacle.

Lighting Outlet

Is an outlet intended for direct connection to a lamp receptacle, lighting fixture, or pendant cord terminating in a lamp holder.

Receptacle Outlet

Is a power outlet where one or more receptacles are installed.

GFCI 15A Outlet

15 Amp -120 Volt

50 Amp -120 / 240 Volt

30 Amp - 240 Volt

GFCI 20A Outlet

GFCI 15A Outlet

Two-Pronged Receptacle

Provides electricity to plugged in aplliance.

Two-Pronged Receptacle

Grounded Receptacle

Third prong (ground) reduces the risk of electric shock and protects equipment from electrical damage.

Tamper-Resistant Receptacle

A built-in shutter system prevents objects from being inserted, except when simultaneous, equal pressure to both slots is provided by a plug.

Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter Receptacle

Reduces the risk of fire, by interrupting power within an arc fault occurs anywhere in the circuit, including within items plugged into it.

Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter Receptacle

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter

Prevents shock by quickly shutting off power to the circuit if the electricity flowing into the circuit differs from that returning, indicating a leakge current.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter

Surge Suppression Receptacle

Protects sensitive electronic equipment from transient surges.

USB Receptacle

Provides a permanent USB connection source.

GFCI

The ground-fault circuit interrupter. A fast-acting circuit breaker designed to shut off electric power in the event of a ground-fault within as little as 1/40 of a second.

ACFI

A circuit breaker that breaks the circuit when it detects the electric arcs that are a signature of loose connections in home wiring.

Switches

Is an outlet intended for direct connection to a lamp receptacle, lighting fixture, or pendant cord terminating in a lamp holder.

Normal Duty Switch

Intended for normal use in light and power circuits as in general-purpose switches.

Heavy Duty Switch

Intended for frequent interrupting.

Light Duty Switch

Intended to connect the loads occasionally such as service switches.

Toggle

These are surface mounted switches, and this kind of switch uses a lever to change the state of a connection. It is practicable as either a momentary or maintained switch.

Wet Areas

GFCI is used in _______.