PHILIPPINE ELECTRICAL CODE:

EQUIPMENT FOR GENERAL USE

Topics:
 I. Flexible Cord / Cable

 II. Fixture (Luminaire) Wires

 III. Switches

 IV. Receptacles

 V. Luminaires (Lighting Fixtures), Lampholders &

Lamps
 VI. Appliances

 VII. Switchboards and Panelboards

 VIII. Industrial Control panel

 IX. Storage Batteries

I. Flexible Cord / Cable

 Flexible cords and cables are used to connect

electrical equipment to a power source.

 Flexible cords may have an electrical plug that

connects to a power source or they may be
permanently wired into a power source.
Examples:
 1. Lamp cord

 2. Elevator cable

 3. Portable power cable

 4. Heater cord

 5. Flexible stage and lighting power cable

 Examples:
Uses Permitted:
 1.Wiring of Luminaires

 2. Connection of portable lamps, portable and mobile

signs, or appliances
 3. Elevator cables

 4. Connecting appliances that can be easily moved for

maintenance and repair.

Uses not permitted:
 1. As a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure.
 2. Where run through holes in walls, structural ceilings,
suspended ceilings, dropped ceilings, or floors
 3. Where run through
doorways, windows, or
similar openings.

 4. Where attached to
building surfaces.
 Splices – Flexible cord shall be used only in
continuous lengths without splice or tap.

 Flexible cords and cables shall be protected by

bushings or fittings where passing through holes in
covers, outlet boxes, or similar enclosures.
 Pull at Joints and Terminals – Flexible cords and cables
shall be connected to devices and to fittings so that
tension is not transmitted to joints or terminals.
II. Fixture (Luminaire) Wires

Examples:
 Heat-resistant rubber-covered fixture wire

 ECTFE - solid or 7-strand

 ECTFE - flexible strand

 Tape insulated fixture wire - flexible stranding

Uses Permitted:
 Fixture (luminaire) wires shall be permitted for

installation in luminaires (lighting fixtures) and in

similar equipment where enclosed and protected.

Uses Not Permitted:

 Fixtures wires shall not be used as branch circuit
conductors.
 Minimum Size - the fixture (luminaire) wires shall not
be smaller than 0.75 mm2 (1.2 mm dia.)

 Marking - the thermoplastic insulated fixture

(luminaire) wire shall be durably marked on the
surface at intervals not exceeding 600 mm.
 Ampacity – the current, in amperes, that a conductor
can carry continuously under the conditions of use
without exceeding its temperature rating.
III. Switches

A. General-Use Snap Switches

 Faceplates - for snap switches mounted in boxes and

other enclosures shall be installed so as to completely

cover the opening and, where the switch is flush
mounted, seat against the finished surface.
 Box Mounted Snap
Switch
 Flush Mounted Switch
Mounting of Snap Switches:
 1. Surface-Type - Snap switches used with open wiring

on insulators shall be mounted on insulating materials

that separates the conductors at least 13 mm from the
surface wired over.
 2. Box Mounted - Flush-type snap switches shall be
mounted in boxes installed so that extension plaster
ears are seated against the surface.
 Box Mounted Snap
Switch
Use of Snap Switches:
 1. Alternating-Current General Use

 2. Alternating-Current/Direct-Current General Use

 3. Dimmer Switches
B. Knife Switches
 A knife switch is a type of switch used to control the

flow of electricity in a circuit. It is composed of a hinge

which allows a metal lever, or knife, to be lifted from or
inserted into a slot or jaw.
 Knife switch
 Single-Throw Knife Switches - shall be placed so that
gravity will not tend to close them.
 1. Single Pole Single Throw (SPST)
 2. Double Pole Single Throw switch (DPST)
 1. Single Pole Single Throw switch - connects or
disconnects one terminal either to or from another. It is
the simplest switch.
 Single Pole Single
Throw switch
 1. Double Pole Single Throw switch - Both load
terminals can be energized at the same time. They are
independent of each other and could be of different
voltages.
 1. Double Pole Single
Throw switch
 Double-Throw Knife Switches - shall be permitted to
be mounted so that the throw is either vertical or
horizontal.
 1. Single Pole Double Throw (SPDT)
 2. Double Pole Double Throw (DPDT)
 1. Single Pole Double Throw switch - connects a
common terminal to one or the other of two terminals.
It is always connected to one or the other.
 Single Pole Double Throw switch
 2. Double Pole Double Throw switch - acts exactly like
two separate SPDT switches connected to the same
switch bat.

 It has two separate common terminals and each of

those is connected to one or the other of the other two
terminals on the same side of the switch.
 Double Pole Double Throw switch
 Double Pole Double
Throw switch
 Double Pole Double Throw switch
Use of Snap Switches:
 1. Isolating Switches – Knife switches rated at over

1200 amperes at 250 volts or less, and at over 600

amperes at 251 to 600 volts, shall be used only as
isolating switches and shall not be opened under load.
 2. To Interrupt Currents – To interrupt currents over
1200 amperes at 250 volts, nominal, or less, or over 600
amperes at 251 to 600 volts, nominal, a circuit breaker
or a switch of special design listed for such purpose
shall be used.
 3. General-Use Switches – Knife switches of ratings
less than specified in 1 and 2 shall be considered
general-use switches.
 4. Motor-Circuit Switches – Motor-circuit switches shall
be permitted to be of the knife-switch type.
C. Switch / Circuit Breaker Location:
 The grip of the operating handle of the switch or

circuit breaker is not more than 1980 mm (6 ft 7 in.)

above the floor or working platform.

 Hookstick operable isolating switches shall be

permitted at greater heights.
 Switches
IV. Receptacles

 A receptacle is a contact device installed at the outlet

for the connection of an attachment plug.

 A single receptacle is a single contact device with no

other contact device on the same yoke. A multiple
receptacle is two or more contact devices on the same
yoke.
 Receptacles:
 Rating - receptacles and cord connectors shall be
rated not less than 15A, 125V, or 15A, 250V, and shall
be of a type not suitable for use as lampholders.

 Receptacles for Aluminum Conductors - shall be rated

20A or less and designed for direct connection of
aluminum conductors and shall be marked with
CO/ALR.
Receptacle Mounting:
 1. Boxes That Are Set Back

 2. Boxes That Are Flush

 3. Receptacles Mounted on Covers - Held rigidly by

one or more screws, or be a device assembly.
 4. Receptacles in Countertops - Shall not be installed

in a face-up position.
 5. Exposed Terminals - Enclosed so that live wiring
terminals are not exposed to contact.
Receptacles Mounted
on Covers & Boxes
That Are Flush
Receptacle Faceplates (Cover Plates):
 Thickness of Metal Faceplates - Ferrous Metal (0.75

mm thick); Nonferrous Metal (1.00 mm thick)

 Grounding - Metal faceplates shall be grounded.

 Faceplates of Insulating Material - Shall be

noncombustible not less than 0.25 mm thick;
permitted to be less than 0.25 mm thick if formed or
reinforced to provide adequate mechanical strength.
V. Luminaires (Lighting Fixtures), Lampholders &
Lamps

Luminaire (Fixtures) in Specific Locations:

 1. Wet and Damp Locations - Shall be made so that

water cannot enter. It shall be marked “Suitable for

Wet Locations” or “Suitable for Damp Locations”
 2. Corrosive Locations - Shall be a type suitable for

such locations.
 3. In Ducts or Hoods - The temperature limits in the

area shall not be exceeded. Material shall be

excluded from vapors, grease, oil, or cooking vapors,
and shall be corrosion resistant.
 4. Bathtub and Shower Areas - No lighting fixtures
(cord-suspended luminaries), light tracks, pendants,
or ceiling suspended fans within 900 mm (3 ft)
horizontally and 2400 mm (8 ft) vertically from the top
of the bathtub rim or shower stall threshold.
 5. Luminaires (Fixtures) Near or Over Combustible
Materials - Shall not be subject to temperature in
excess of 90°C. And, shall be located at least 2400 mm
above the floor.
 900 mm (3 ft)
horizontally
and 2400
mm (8 ft)
vertically
Luminaires (Fixtures) in Clothes Closets
 1. Luminaire (Fixture) Types Permitted

 Surface-mounted or Recessed Incandescent Luminaire

 Surface-mounted or Recessed Fluorescent Luminaire
 Recessed and Surface Mounted
 2. Luminaire (Fixture) Types Not Permitted
 Incandescent Luminaires (Fixtures) with open or partially
enclosed lamps.
 Pendant Luminaires (Fixtures)
 Lampholders
 Pendant Luminaires
 Lampholders
 3. Clearances Permitted for Different Luminaire Fixture
(From the Nearest Storage Space)
 Surface-mounted incandescent luminaire - 300 mm
 Surface-mounted fluorescent luminaire - 150
 Recessed incandescent luminaire - 150 mm
 Recessed fluorescent luminaire - 150 mm
 Branch circuit conductors shall be within 75 mm from
the ballasts with temperature rating not lower than
90°C.
VI. Appliances

Provisions for appliances (In General):

 The branch-circuit rating shall not be less than 125%

of the marked rating for motor-operated appliances.

 The branch-circuit rating shall not be less than 100%

of the marked rating rated at continuous loading.

 Branch Circuit. The circuit conductors between the

final overcurrent device protecting the circuit and the
outlet(s).
Heating Equipment:
 Marking Required Each unit of fixed electric space

Heating Equipment - shall be provided with a

nameplate giving the identifying name and the normal
rating in volts and watts or in volts and amperes.
 Marking of Heating Cables (Rating)

 120 volt, nominal — yellow

 208 volt, nominal — blue
 240 volt, nominal — red
 277 volt, nominal — brown
 480 volt, nominal — orange
VII. Switchboards and Panelboards

 Switchboard - a large single panel, frame, or assembly

of panels on which are mounted on the face, back, or
both, switches, overcurrent & other protective devices,
buses, and usually instruments.
Switchboards:
 a) Clearance - The clearance from the ceiling shall not

be less than 900 mm to the top of the switchboard.

 b) Location of Switchboards - Switchboards shall be

located in permanently dry locations and then where

competent supervision and accessible to only
licensed electrical practitioner.
 Panelboard - a single panel or group of panel units
designed for assembly in the form of a single panel,
including buses and automatic overcurrent devices,
and equipped with or without switches for the control
of light, heat, or power circuits; designed to be placed
in a cabinet or cutout box placed in or against a wall,
partition, or other support; & accessible only from the
front.
 A panelboard with main
circuit breaker disconnect
Classification of Panelboards:
 a. Lighting and Appliance Branch-Circuit Panelboard -

Shall have more than 10% of its overcurrent devices

protect lighting and appliance branch circuits.
 b. Power Panelboard - Shall have 10% or fewer
overcurrent devices protect lighting and appliance
branch circuits.
Number of Overcurrent Devices in One Panelboard:
 Shall have not more than 42 overcurrent devices of

lighting and appliance branch-circuit panelboard shall

be installed in any one cabinet.
 2-pole circuit breakers (21 overcurrent devices in the

panel)
 3-pole circuit breakers (14 overcurrent devices in the

panel)
VIII. Industrial Control panel

 An assembly of a systematic & standard arrangement

of two or more components such as motor controllers,
overload relays, fused disconnect switches, and circuit
breakers and related control devices such as
pushbutton stations, selector switches, timers,
switches, control relays, and the like with associated
wiring, terminal blocks, pilot lights, and similar
components. The industrial control panel does not
include the controlled equipment.
 Industrial Control panel
IX. Storage Batteries

 Nominal Battery Voltage

 Lead-Acid Type - 2V/cell for the lead-acid type
 Alkali Type - 1.2V/cell

 Sealed Cell or Battery - is one that has no provision

for the addition of water or electrolyte or for
external measurement of electrolyte specific gravity.

 Storage Battery - A battery comprised of one or more

rechargeable cells of the lead-acid, nickel-cadmium,
or other rechargeable electrochemical types.
 Lead-Acid Type