- Electrical Wiring Definition: Electrical wiring is the distribution of electrical power through wires inside a room or building for effective load management.
- Types of Wiring Systems: The main types are cleat, casing, batten, conduit, and concealed wiring, each with specific uses and characteristics.
- Cleat Wiring: A temporary method using insulated wires and porcelain cleats, ideal for short-term setups but not for permanent installations.
- Casing and Batten Wiring: Casing wiring uses wooden or plastic enclosures to protect wires, while batten wiring secures cables on wooden battens. Both methods are durable but have specific environmental limitations.
- Conduit and Concealed Wiring: Conduit wiring involves running cables through metal or PVC pipes, while concealed wiring hides these conduits under the wall plaster. These methods offer high safety and aesthetic value but are costly and complex to install.
What is Electrical Wiring?
Electrical wiring is the electrical power distribution through the wires in a perfect manner for economic use of wiring conductors inside a room or building with better load control.
Electrical wiring system is classified into five categories:
- Cleat wiring
- Casing wiring
- Batten wiring
- Conduit wiring
- Concealed wiring
Cleat Wiring
Material Used in Cleat Wiring
- VIR or PVC insulated wires
- Weather proof cables
- Porcelain cleats or plastic cleats (two or three grooves)
- Screws
Procedure of Cleat Wiring
In this wiring VIR or PVC insulated wires are braided and compounded on walls or ceiling with the help of porcelain cleats.
The wires can be weather proof. Simple wire laying is done in this scheme of wiring. In present days, this kind of wiring scheme is not recommended for house or building. Only in temporary army campus or festival related pandels this wiring is used.
Advantages of Cleat Wiring
There are some advantages of this type of wiring.
- Cheap and easy wiring
- Easy to fault detection
- Easy to repair
- Alteration and addition is easy.
Disadvantages of Cleat Wiring
The disadvantages of this wiring are
- Bad appearance
- Exposed to weather to be affected by humidity, rain, smoke, sunlight etc
- Chances for shock or fire
- Used in only 220V in low ambient temperature.
- Not long lasting
- Sag happens
Casing Wiring
Material Used in Casing Wiring
- VIR or PVC insulated wires
- Casing Enclosure (made of wood or plastic)
- Capping (made of wood or plastic)
- Casing and capping joints.
Procedure of Casing Wiring
Casing wiring is an older method where PVC or VIR insulated wires are run through a casing enclosure and covered with a capping for protection.
Advantages of Casing Wiring
Advantages of this kind of wiring scheme are
- Cheap and easy to install
- Strong and durable wiring
- Customization can be done easily
- Safe from smoke, dust, rain and steam etc.
- Due to casing and capping no risk of shock.
Disadvantages of Casing Wiring
There are some disadvantages in casing wiring; they are
- Very costly
- Not suitable for weather with high humidity and acidic conditions.
- Insect like termites or ants can damage wooden casing and capping.
- High risk of fire.
Batten Wiring
Material Used in Batten Wiring
- CTS or TRS cable
- Straight teak wooden batten (at 10 mm thick)
- Tinned brass link clip ( buckle clip)
- Brass pins
Procedure of Batten Wiring
In batten wiring, single, double, or three-core cables are laid on a straight teak wooden batten. The cables are secured using tinned brass clips fixed with brass pins. Clips are spaced 10 cm apart for horizontal runs and 15 cm for vertical runs.
Advantages of Batten Wiring
The advantages of this kind of wiring are given below.
- Easy installation
- Cheap in material cost
- Appearance is better.
- Customization is easy
- Less chance of leakage current
Disadvantages of Batten Wiring
The disadvantages of batten wiring are
- Not suitable for outdoor wiring
- Humidity, smoke, steam etc directly affect on wires.
- Heavy wires are not recommended for this wiring scheme.
- Only suitable for below 250 V.
- High risk of fire.
Conduit Wiring
Material Used in Conduit Wiring
- Conduit
Metallic Conduit- Class A conduit: thin layer steel sheet low gauge conduit
- Class B conduit: thick sheet of steel high gauge conduit
Non-Metallic Conduit
13, 16.2, 18.75, 20, 25, 37, 50 and 63 mm (diameter) PVC conduit. - VIR or PVC insulated cables
- GI wire of 18SWG
- Screw
- Coupling
- Elbow
- Rigid off set
- 2-hole strap
- Lock nut
Procedure of Conduit Wiring
Conduit wiring is challenging to install. Conduit pipes with GI wires inside are attached to the wall or ceiling using 2-hole straps and base clips at regular intervals. The GI wire helps pull the electrical wires through the conduit.
Advantages of Conduit Wiring
The main advantages are
- The safest wiring
- Appearance is better
- No risk of fire or mechanical wear and tear.
- No risk of damage of cable insulation
- Safe from humidity, smoke, steam etc.
- No risk of shock
- Long lasting
Disadvantages of Conduit Wiring
The disadvantages of conduit wiring are
- Very expensive
- Installation is not easy
- Not easy to customize for future
- Hard to detect the faults.
Concealed Wiring
Material Used in Concealed Wiring
Same materials are used in concealed wiring as conduit wiring.
Procedure of Concealed Wiring
Concealed wiring is properly named as concealed conduit wiring. It is very laborious to install. The layout of this wiring is done under the plaster of the wall of the building. Conduit pipes are buried under the plaster of wall with GI wire inside. After, with the help of GI wires, the main PVC insulated cables are drawn through the conduit.
Advantages of Concealed Wiring
Same as conduit wiring
Disadvantages of Concealed Wiring
Same as conduit wiring.
