AWG, American Wire Gauge Day 1 QOD: What is the standard system of wire sizes in the United States? AWG, American Wire Gauge Agenda: 1. QOD & Measurements 2. Module 26109-11: Conductors & Cables 3. Activity – Cables 4. Review Learning Target: 1. Students will accurately select proper conductors for an application.

Conductors and Cables Learning Targets: Students will demonstrate the knowledge of National Electric Code (NEC) related to conductors. Students will accurately select proper conductors for a specified application. Students will demonstrate the proper installation of selected conductors.

Introduction Electricians must be able to select and install wire and/or cable appropriate for the job Pull wire or cable through conduit runs in order to terminate

Conductors and Insulation The term conductor describes the current-carrying portion of a wire or cable. More commonly, it is used to describe the entire wire or cable assembly the conductor the insulating outer covering Wire sizes in the United States are expressed in American Wire Gauge (AWG) numbers. In the AWG wire sizing system, the larger the number, the smaller the cross-sectional area of the wire.

Conductors and Insulation

Conductors and Insulation For wire sizes larger than No.16 AWG, the wire size is marked on the insulation.

Conductors and Insulation Wires smaller than No.6 are available as solid or stranded, while No.6 and larger are shown only as stranded. Depending on wire size, the wires may have 7, 19, or 37 strands. Stranding is done to make the wires, especially larger sizes, more flexible and easier to handle. Solid wires larger than 8 AWG should not be terminated in pull boxes or disconnect switches.

Conductors and Insulation

Conductors and Insulation Compact conductors are those that have been compressed to reduce the air space between strands, resulting in a smaller outside diameter. This is commonly done with aluminum conductors.

Conductors and Insulation Using circular mils to express the cross-sectional area of a wire is a much easier way to express the wire size than using square inches. Ampacity is the current in amperes a conductor can carry continuously under the conditions of use without exceeding its temperature rating. The NEC® ampacity tables allow electricians to determine the ampacity of all types of conductors, with different insulating materials and in different operating conditions. Copper is the most common conductor because of its excellent conductivity, ease of use, and relatively low cost. All current-carrying conductors, including the grounded conductor, must be insulated when used in buildings or after the first over-current protective device.

Conductors and Insulation The value of any material used to manufacture wire is determined by its conductivity, cost, availability, and workability. Conductivity describes the ease with which a material can carry electric current. For example, the conductivity of aluminum is two-thirds that of copper. Cost of conductive material varies widely. For example, platinum, a very good conductor, is much more expensive than copper, another very good conductor. Conductive materials such as copper and aluminum are widely available, which makes them an affordable choice for conductors. Aluminum conductors are lighter and more flexible. or workable, than copper conductors, but that advantage is reduced because aluminum wire terminations require special materials and treatments

Conductors and Insulation Thermoplastic is a popular and effective insulation material in use today. Polyethylene (PE) is used for insulation of control and communications wiring. Thermoset insulating material such as RHW, maintain their form when heated. Insulation applied to building wire is coded using letters to indicate the type of insulation and its environmental rating. For example, the letter W indicates that the insulation is rated for use in a wet, outdoor location.

Conductors and Insulation A color code is used to help identify wires by the color of the insulation to make it easier to install and connect the wires. For example, three- conductor cable has one white or gray, one black, one red, and a grounding wire. Four-conductor cable has the same as three plus a fourth blue wire. The grounding conductor may be bare, green, or green with a yellow stripe.

Conductors and Insulation

Conductors and Insulation Ungrounded conductors are not normally color-coded; however certain power distribution arrangements require orange color-coding for the phase conductor that has the higher voltage to ground. Conductor selection is often based on the temperature rating of the wire, with conductor ampacities based on the ambient temperature plus the heat produced by current in the wire. In general, conductors with a higher temperature rating are able to handle higher current in higher ambient conditions. Fixture wire, used for the interior wiring of fixtures, is available in sizes from No.18 to No.10 AWG.

Conductors and Insulation

Day 2 QOD: What increases the flexibility of a wire? Stranding Agenda: 1. QOD & Measurements 2. Module 26109-11: Conductors & Cables 3. Activity – Cables 4. Review Learning Target: 1. Students will accurately select conductors for a specified application. 2. Students will demonstrate the proper installation of selected conductors.

Conductors and Insulation Cables consist of two or more insulated wires and possibly a grounding wire, covered by a non-metallic or metallic sheath. All cables are marked to show important properties, including wire size number of conductors cable type voltage rating

Conductors and Insulation

Conductors and Insulation Non-metallic-sheathed cable such as Type NM and Type NMC is widely used for branch circuits and feeders in residential and commercial systems.

Conductors and Insulation Type NM cable is suitable for dry locations only, while Type NMC is permitted for dry, moist, damp, and corrosive locations. Both may be used in concealed locations. Both cannot be used as service entrance cable, embedded in concrete, or used in hazardous locations. Type UF cable is similar to Type NMC cable, except Type UF can be buried underground. Type NMS cable that contains a factory assembly of power, communications, and signaling conductors enclosed within a moisture-resistant, flame-retardant sheath.

Conductors and Insulation Type MV (medium voltage) cable can be buried, installed in wet and dry locations, and is suitable for voltages ranging from 2,001 to 35,000 volts.

Conductors and Insulation Type MC (metal clad) cable consists of one or more insulated conductors encased in a metal tape or a metallic sheath. MC cable is used for services, feeders, and branch circuits for power and lighting circuits

Conductors and Insulation High-voltage cable may be shielded with metallic or non-metallic sheathing to protect against surface discharge or burning due to corona discharge in ionized air

Conductors and Insulation Channel wire assemblies (Type FC) contain an entire wiring system that includes cable, cable supports, splicers, and other components.

Conductors and Insulation Type Tap devices enable lighting or small appliance circuits to be connected to the flat, Type FC cable.

Conductors and Insulation Type FCC flat conductor cable contains an entire branch wiring system and is designed for installation under carpeting to supply floor outlets in commercial applications

Conductors and Insulation Type TC cable may be used in cable trays and raceways or may be buried.

Conductors and Insulation Type SE (service entrance) cable is designed for above ground installation only. Type USE (underground service entrance) cable is designed for underground installation, including direct burial in the earth.

Conductors and Insulation Instrumentation control wiring links the field-sensing, controlling, printout, and operating devices that form an instrumentation control system. usually has two or more conductors, and often shielding, along with a ground wire surrounded by an outer protective jacket.

Conductors and Insulation Shields are often provided on instrumentation control wiring to prevent stray electrical interference from affecting signals being carried by the control wiring.

Conductors and Insulation A shield ground wire provides continuous contact with a specified grounding terminal for all instruments within a loop. Typically, the shielding in instrumentation circuits is grounded at one end of the conductor only. A plastic jacket covers and protects the components within the instrumentation control wire.

Activity: Electrical Cables Objective: List important facts about electrical cables found in the book. Individual Task: Prepare a Tree Map to classify facts about electrical cables discussed in class. Be prepared to present your work to the class. (Module 26109-11 / pp.7-14)

CLASSIFYING Cables NM & NMC UF NMS MV MC Tree Map

Underground and direct burial applications Day 3 QOD: Where can type UF cable be used? Underground and direct burial applications Agenda: 1. QOD & Measurements 2. Module 26109-11: Conductors & Cables 3. Activity – Wire Pulling 4. Review Learning Target: 1. Students will accurately select conductors for a specified application. 2. Students will demonstrate the proper installation of selected conductors. 3. Students will demonstrate the knowledge of National Electric Code (NEC) related to conductors.

Conductors and Insulation Conductors can be installed in conduit by pulling them through using fish tape, pull line, and pulling equipment. Fish tapes, made of nylon or flexible steel, are available in lengths up to 200 feet and are equipped with a hook or loop to attach conductors.

Conductors and Insulation The tape is fed through the conduit between the points through which the wire is to be pulled.

Conductors and Insulation A rigid fishing tool, called a rodder, is used to pull through long conduit runs.

Conductors and Insulation String lines can be attached to a piston-like plug called a mouse and drawn through the conduit with vacuum power.

Conductors and Insulation The conduit can also be pressurized to push the mouse through the conduit. Once the string is through the conduit, a fish tape is connected to the string and pulled back through where conductors are then attached to the fish tape. Wire grips, also known as basket grips, are used to attach the cable to the fish tape.

Conductors and Insulation If it is determined that the conductors will be difficult to pull with a fish tape, a nylon pull line should be used instead. Pulling equipment is available to help electricians pull conductors through conduit.

Conductors and Insulation Manually operated pullers are used on smaller jobs where hand pulling is not possible or practical. Several attachments are available for power pullers to increase their versatility.

Conductors and Insulation Electrically driven pullers are useful when the friction caused by long runs and several conduit bends must be overcome. Several attachments are available for power pullers to increase their versatility.

Conductors and Insulation It is important to keep the conductors straight and parallel, and free from kinks, bends, and crossovers during the pull. To overcome the friction in long conduit runs, use a specially formulated wire lubricant to make pulling easier. Apply lubricant to the wires and the conduit. Once the conductors have been pulled, ensure that there is enough length of conductor to allow for bends, splices and terminations. The NEC® specifies a minimum of 6 inches for connections made to wiring devices or for splices.

Day 4 QOD: What color is typically used for the fourth conductor of a power cable? Blue Agenda: 1. QOD & Measurements 2. Module 26109-11: Conductors & Cables 3. Review for Test – Introduction to Electrical Circuits Review Questions – p. 22 Trade Term Quiz – pp. 23-24 Supplemental Exercises – pp. 25-26 4. Review Learning Target: 1. Students will accurately select conductors for a specified application. 2. Students will demonstrate the proper installation of selected conductors. 3. Students will demonstrate the knowledge of National Electric Code (NEC) related to conductors.

Day 5 FCC QOD: What type of conductor cable is flat? Agenda: 1. QOD & Measurements 2. Module 26109-11: Conductors & Cables 3. Review for Test – Introduction to Electrical Circuits Review Questions – p. 22 Trade Term Quiz – pp. 23-24 Supplemental Exercises – pp. 25-26 4. Review Learning Target: 1. Students will accurately select conductors for a specified application. 2. Students will demonstrate the proper installation of selected conductors. 3. Students will demonstrate the knowledge of National Electric Code (NEC) related to conductors.

It is grounded at one end only Day 6 QOD: What is true of shielding in instrumentation circuits? It is grounded at one end only Agenda: 1. QOD & Measurements 2. Module 26109-11: Conductors & Cables 3. Test 4. Review Learning Target: 1. Students will accurately select conductors for a specified application. 2. Students will demonstrate the proper installation of selected conductors. 3. Students will demonstrate the knowledge of National Electric Code (NEC) related to conductors.