Unit – 4

1. List out the points to be checked while carrying out inspection of wiring install
(Jan-2016)
Solution: - Internal wiring should be inspected once a year and the following points should
be checked while carrying out inspection of the wiring installation.
1. Service Connections: In case of overhead line, check and ensure that:
(i) The lines are terminated at a sufficient distance from the building.
(ii) The danger notice exists to warn the staff.
(iii) The fuse wire of correct rating is provided on the phase line.
(iv) The lead-in wires are of size sufficient to carry the full- load current.
(v) The lead-in pipe is properly earthed and bonded and pipe ends are provided with
insulating bushes to protect the wires from mechanical damage. In case of underground cable
check up and ensure that (i) the cables are properly sealed and there is no leakage of cable oil
(ii) there are earth connections to the cable armouring.
2. Main Switchboard: In case of main switchboard check and ensure that
(i) The voltage available is correct. (i.e. within permissible limits of declared voltage.)
(ii) The main switch is provided close to the point of commencement of supply.
(iii) The fuse of correct size is provided on the live pole.
(iv) The main switch is easily identified and is easily accessible so that in case of emergency
the entire supply to the building can be switched off at once.
(v) There is a clear working space all round the board (as mentioned in IE rule 51 i.e. 0.914
m).
(vi) The phase and neutral wires are clearly marked for identification.
(vii) Caution notice in Hindi or other local language is placed.
3. Miscellaneous: The points to be checked are :
(i) No branch circuit feeds more than 10 points or 800 watt load.
(ix) The leakage current is not more than 1/5,000 of maximum supply current.
(iii) The insulation resistance between conductor and earth and between conductors is more
than permissible value as per IE rule.
(iv) The single pole switches are provided on the live conductor.
(v) The electrical resistance from the point of connection with the earth electrode to any point
on ECC in the complete installation is not more than one ohm.
(vi) The metallic frames of all power equipment are earthed by two independent earth
conductors.
(vii) The metallic covering of iron clad switch, distribution board. Sub main distribution
boards. GI pipe, conduit pipes enclosing VIR or PVC cables are properly earthed.

2. Mention the different types of tests conducted on wiring installations. Explain in

detail testing of polarity. (Jan-2016)
Solution: - Testing of Polarity of Single Pole Switches. It is necessary that single pole
switches are placed in + ve side or live side so that by making switch off the lamp can be
made quite dead. The reason of it is that if the switch in provided on neutral wire, then lamp
holder or the fan as well as part of wiring will remain alive, even when the single pole switch
is in open position which may easily lead to accidents.
For example, a person who is replacing lamp even after opening the single pole
switch is liable to get shock if he comes in contact with the line terminal of the lamp holder.
As regard the function of a single pole switch, it is equally effective whether it is connected
in live or neutral wire but from the safety point of view it is necessary that all single pole
switches are provided on phase or outer wire, never on neutral wire. To ensure that all the
switches are placed in phase or live conductors and not in neutral conductor, this test is
performed. A convenient and quicker method of performing this test is by means of a small
neon tube tester.
While performing polarity test by means of a small neon tube tester, its one terminal
is held in the hand and the other against the feed terminal of the switch; if the switch is
correctly connected the neon lamp will glow. Pocket neon testing tubes for the purpose are
available. An alternative method is by means of a test lamp. In this method all the lamps are
removed, main switch is put in ‘on’ position, main fuse is inserted, one end of test lamp is
connected to earth and the other end is tapped by lead to each contact of each switch in turn.
If the test lamp lights on one of the two contacts, it indicates that switch is on the live wire as
shown in Fig. 5.2 (a) and If test lamp, does not give light on either contact of the switch, it
indicates that the switch is on neutral wire, so must be connected correctly.
Testing of Earth Continuity Path. For safety all the metal pieces or coverings such as
conduits, metal covers of switches etc. must be solidly connected to earth otherwise on the
damage of insulation, the leakage current will start giving severe shock to the person
touching it. In case of conduit wiring there is a possibility of the conduit joints to become
loose or to be separated resulting in high resistance in the earth path.
For earth continuity test, main switch should be opened, main fuse withdrawn, all
other switches in on position and lamps in their respective holders. One end of the earth
continuity tester is connected to an independent earth and the other end is connected to the
wiring say to a switch or conduit. The pointer will indicate the earth resistance, which should
not exceed the value of one ohm. Higher than this value shows that conduit or switch has not
been properly earthed.

3. Write short note on service lines. (Jun -2015)

Solution: - This describes various types of utility electrical services and supply voltages. The
nominal system supply voltages listed below can vary by ±10% or more. Watt Node meter
models are available in seven different versions that cover the full range of electrical services
types and voltages. Meters and current transformers are designed for use on either 50 or 60
Hz systems.
Classification of Different Services:
Alternating current electric power distribution systems can be classified by the following
properties:
Frequency: 50 Hz or 60 Hz
Number of phases: single or three phase
Number of wires: 2, 3, or 4 (not counting the safety ground)
Neutral present:
Wye connected systems have a neutral
Delta connected systems typically do not have a neutral
Voltage levels:
Low Voltage: 600 volts or less
Medium Voltage: 601 volts to about 34,500 volts
High Voltage: 46,000 volts and up
Line-to-line voltages are typically 1.732 times the phase-to-neutral voltages
In symmetrical three-phase electrical system, the phase-to-neutral voltages should be equal
if the load is balanced.
4. Write the reason for excess recording of energy consumption by energy meter (Jan -
2015)
Solution: - Meters can be manipulated to make them under-register, effectively allowing
power use without paying for it. This theft or fraud can be dangerous as well as dishonest.
Power companies often install remote-reporting meters specifically to enable remote
detection of tampering, and specifically to discover energy theft. The change to smart power
meters is useful to stop energy theft.
When tampering is detected, the normal tactic, legal in most areas of the USA, is to
switch the subscriber to a "tampering" tariff charged at the meter's maximum designed
current. At US$0.095/kWh, a standard residential 50 A meter causes a legally collectible
charge of about US$5,000.00 per month. Meter readers are trained to spot signs of tampering,
and with crude mechanical meters, the maximum rate may be charged each billing period
until the tamper is removed, or the service is disconnected.
A common method of tampering on mechanical disk meters is to attach magnets to
the outside of the meter. Strong magnets saturate the magnetic fields in the meter so that the
motor portion of a mechanical meter does not operate. Lower power magnets can add to the
drag resistance of the internal disk resistance magnets. Magnets can also saturate current
transformers or power-supply transformers in electronic meters, though countermeasures are
common. Rectified DC loads cause mechanical (but not electronic) meters to under-register.
DC current does not cause the coils to make eddy currents in the disk, so this causes reduced
rotation and a lower bill.
Some combinations of capacitive and inductive load can interact with the coils and
mass of a rotor and cause reduced or reverse motion. All of these effects can be detected by
the electric company, and many modern meters can detect or compensate for them. The
owner of the meter normally secures the meter against tampering. Revenue meters'
mechanisms and connections are sealed. Meters may also measure VAR-hours (the reflected
load), neutral and DC currents (elevated by most electrical tampering), ambient magnetic
fields, etc.
Even simple mechanical meters can have mechanical flags that are dropped by
magnetic tampering or large DC currents. Newer computerised meters usually have counter-
measures against tampering. AMR (Automated Meter Reading) meters often have sensors
that can report opening of the meter cover, magnetic anomalies, extra clock setting, glued
buttons, inverted installation, reversed or switched phases etc.
Some tampers bypass the meter, wholly or in part. Safe tampers of this type normally
increase the neutral current at the meter. Most split-phase residential meters in the United
States are unable to detect neutral currents. However, modern tamper-resistant meters can
detect and bill it at standard rates.
Disconnecting a meter's neutral connector is unsafe because shorts can then pass through
people or equipment rather than a metallic ground to the generator or earth. A phantom loop
connection via an earth ground is often much higher resistance than the metallic neutral
connector. Even if an earth ground is safe, metering at the substation can alert the operator to
tampering. Substations, inter-ties, and transformers normally have a high-accuracy meter for
the area served.
Power companies normally investigate discrepancies between the total billed and the
total generated, in order to find and fix power distribution problems. These investigations are
an effective method to discover tampering. Power thefts in the U.S. are often connected with
indoor marijuana grow operations. Narcotics detectives’ associate abnormally high power
usage with the lighting such operations require. Indoor marijuana growers aware of this are
particularly motivated to steal electricity simply to conceal their usage of it.

5. Find the materials required for 1- overhead service lines of a house located 10 meters
away from pole, with following loads :Lightning =300 watts, Heating= 2500 watts.
Assume safety factor=2 (Jan -2015)
Solution: - power supply and another for domestic supply. Assuming efficiency of motor
85% and power factor 0.8, we have full- load currents of motors as
1 2 34 0.75 1, 000 0.75 , 415 , 3 1.54 3 415 0.85 0.8 3.7 1, 000 3.7 , 415 , 3 7.57 3 415
0.85 0.8 5.5 1, 000 5.5 , 415 , 3 11.25 3 415 0.85 0.8 I I For kW V phase motor A I For kW
V phase motor A I For kW V phase motor A × =
Total full- load current for these motors = 1.54 + 1.54 + 7.57 + 11.25 = 21.9 A
Hence cable from meter board to main board shall have a current carrying capacity 1.6 times
of full- load current of the mot Hence 3-core, 1100 V grade PVC insulated, 16 mm2
aluminium conductor having current carrying capacity of 38 A shall be used from meter
board to main board. The current rating of main switch in the starting current of one motor of
highest rating plus full
1. Length of 31 mm exible conduit from meter board to main switch board and from main
switch board to distribution board, including wastage = 1.0 m
2. Length of 25 mm exible conduit from HG conduit to motor terminals fan machine no. 4,
including wastage = 1.0 m
3. Length of 19 mm exible conduit required for connecting motor switches to motor starters
for all the four machines and HG conduit to motor terminals for machines no. 1,

7. Explain points to be checked while carrying out inspection of wiring installed (Jan-
2015)
Solution: - Conductors configuration spacing and clearances, Span lengths
1) No conductor of an overhead line, including service lines, erected across a street shall at
any part thereof be at a height less than-
(a) For low and medium voltage lines 5.8 metres
(b) For high voltage lines 6.1 metres
(2) No conductor of an overhead line, including service, lines, erected along any street shall
at any part thereof be at a height less than-
(a) For low and medium voltage lines 5.5 metres
(b) For high voltage lines 5.8 metres
(3) No conductor of an overhead line including service lines, erected else- where than along
or across any street shall be at a height less than-
(a) for low, medium and high voltage lines up to and including 11,000 volts, if bare ;4.6
metres
(b) for low, medium and high voltage lines up to and including 11,000 volts, if insulated 4.0
(c) for high voltage lines above 11,000 volts 5.2 metres
(4) For extra-high voltage lines the clearance above ground shall not be less than 5.2 metres
plus 0.3 metre for every 33,000 volts or part thereof by which the voltage of the line exceeds
33,000 volts: PROVIDED that the minimum clearance along or across any street shall not be
less than 6.1 metres.
8. Write the reason for excess recording of energy consumption by energy metre (June-
2014)
Solution: - Meters can be manipulated to make them under-register, effectively allowing
power use without paying for it. This theft or fraud can be dangerous as well as dishonest.
Power companies often install remote-reporting meters specifically to enable remote
detection of tampering, and specifically to discover energy theft. The change to smart power
meters is useful to stop energy theft. When tampering is detected, the normal tactic, legal in
most areas of the USA, is to switch the subscriber to a "tampering" tariff charged at the
meter's maximum designed current.
At US$0.095/kWh, a standard residential 50 A meter causes a legally collectible
charge of about US$5,000.00 per month. Meter readers are trained to spot signs of tampering,
and with crude mechanical meters, the maximum rate may be charged each billing period
until the tamper is removed, or the service is disconnected.
A common method of tampering on mechanical disk meters is to attach magnets to
the outside of the meter. Strong magnets saturate the magnetic fields in the meter so that the
motor portion of a mechanical meter does not operate. Lower power magnets can add to the
drag resistance of the internal disk resistance magnets. Magnets can also saturate current
transformers or power-supply transformers in electronic meters, though countermeasures are
common.
Rectified DC loads cause mechanical (but not electronic) meters to under-register. DC
current does not cause the coils to make eddy currents in the disk, so this causes reduced
rotation and a lower bill. Some combinations of capacitive and inductive load can interact
with the coils and mass of a rotor and cause reduced or reverse motion.
All of these effects can be detected by the electric company, and many modern meters
can detect or compensate for them. The owner of the meter normally secures the meter
against tampering. Revenue meters' mechanisms and connections are sealed. Meters may also
measure VAR-hours (the reflected load), neutral and DC currents (elevated by most electrical
tampering), ambient magnetic fields, etc.
Even simple mechanical meters can have mechanical flags that are dropped by
magnetic tampering or large DC currents. Newer computerised meters usually have counter-
measures against tampering. AMR (Automated Meter Reading) meters often have sensors
that can report opening of the meter cover, magnetic anomalies, extra clock setting, glued
buttons, inverted installation, reversed or switched phases etc.
Some tampers bypass the meter, wholly or in part. Safe tampers of this type normally
increase the neutral current at the meter. Most split-phase residential meters in the United
States are unable to detect neutral currents. However, modern tamper-resistant meters can
detect and bill it at standard rates.
Disconnecting a meter's neutral connector is unsafe because shorts can then pass
through people or equipment rather than a metallic ground to the generator or earth. A
phantom loop connection via an earth ground is often much higher resistance than the
metallic neutral connector. Even if an earth ground is safe, metering at the substation can
alert the operator to tampering.
Substations, inter-ties, and transformers normally have a high-accuracy meter for the
area served. Power companies normally investigate discrepancies between the total billed and
the total generated, in order to find and fix power distribution problems. These investigations
are an effective method to discover tampering. Power thefts in the U.S. are often connected
with indoor marijuana grow operations. Narcotics detectives’ associate abnormally high
power usage with the lighting such operations require. Indoor marijuana growers aware of
this are particularly motivated to steal electricity simply to conceal their usage of it.

9. Find the material required for 1pase overhead service line of a house located 10
meters away from pole, with full loads : Lighting = 300 Watts; Heating= 2500 Watts
Assume safety factor=2. (June-2014)
Solution: - power supply and another for domestic supply. Assuming efficiency of motor
85% and power factor 0.8, we have full- load currents of motors as
1, 000 0.75, 415, 3 1.54 3 415 0.85 0.8 3.7 1, 000 3.7, 415, 3 7.57 3 415 0.85 0.8 5.5 1, 000
5.5, 415 , 3 11.25 3 415 0.85 0.8 I I For kW V phase motor A I For kW V phase motor A I For
kW V phase motor A=Total full-load current for these motors = 1.54 + 1.54 + 7.57 + 11.25 =
21.9 A
Hence cable from meter board to main board shall have a current carrying capacity 1.6 times
of full- load current Hence 3-core, 1100 V grade PVC insulated, 16 mm2 aluminium
conductor having current carrying capacity of 38 A shall be used from meter board to main
board. The current rating of main switch in the starting current of one motor of highest rating
plus full load current
1. Length of 31 mm exible conduit from meter board to main switch board and from main
switch board to distribution board, including wastage = 1.0 m
2. Length of 25 mm exible conduit from HG conduit to motor terminals fan machine no. 4,
including wastage = 1.0 m
3. Length of 19 mm exible conduit required for connecting motor switches to motor starters
for all the four machines and HG conduit to motor terminals for machines.