Which Class of Wire need to be used for House Wiring

Different Class of Conductor

• As per IEC 60228, Electrical wires/cables are classified into different classes according to the conductor’s flexibility, conductor hardness & thermal effects.
• There are four classes of flexibility for electrical cables
• Class 1 = Solid conductor= ideal conductors for permanent installations.
• Class 2 =Stranded conductor= conductors designed for fixed installation.
• Class 5 =Flexible conductor= preferred to used where flexibility is required, for movable equipment , where there is vibration in equipment.
• Class 6 =Very Flexible conductor= highly flexible conductors used in robotics, flexible codes.
• Classes 3 and 4 are not described in IEC 60228.
• The most basic type of conductor is a single, solid wire (Class 1). It provides a smaller diameter, the largest Cross-Sectional Area (CSA), and the clearest signal, it is mechanically fragile and susceptible to breakage after repeated bending cycles.
• To improve flexibility, wires are stranded together (Class-2, Class-5, Class-6). Class 2 is a multi-wired conductor, while classes 5 and 6 are fine or ultra-fine wired conductors. The IEC standard specifies values such as the maximum diameter and maximum resistance for the individual wires.
• The more wires that are stranded together to make a given size, the more flexible the conductor will be. This indicates that a higher class corresponds to a greater number of strands within the conductor. Additionally, stranded wires are significantly easier to manipulate and bend during installation compared to a single wire of equivalent cross-section.
• Classes 1 and 2 are intended for use in cables for fixed installations. On the other hand, Classes 5 and 6 are designed for use in flexible cables and cords but may also be used for fixed installations.

(A) Class 1: Solid Conductors

• Construction: Single Conductor, solid copper wire.
• Flexibility: Rigid and non-flexible. the cable should not be bent more than about four times its diameter
• Characteristics: High electrical conductivity and resistance to corrosion, but less suitable for environments requiring flexibility.
• Advantages: Less expensive than cables with multiple wires
• Disadvantages: Less suitable for applications involving movement.
• Heat and Losses: Class 1 wires are more efficient for fixed wiring due to lower resistance and heat generation. 
• Applications: Typically used in permanent, stationary installations, House wiring where the conductor will not be subject to frequent movement or low flexibility is not a problem such as in building wiring and power distribution.
• They are often used when cables with larger cross-sections are required for fixed installations. They are not suitable for very flexible cables, which are used, for example, in continuously moving objects such as robotic arms in industrial production

(B) Class 2: Stranded Conductors

• Construction: Composed of multiple smaller copper wires twisted or braided together to form a single conductor.
• Flexibility: More flexible than Class 1, allowing for some movement without breaking or damaging the wire.
• Characteristics: Offers a balance of flexibility and durability but may not be as conductive as a solid conductor of the same gauge.
• Advantages:Lower electrical resistance and less heat buildup under load.
• Disadvantages:Less suitable for applications involving movement.
• Heat and Losses:Class 2 wires are more efficient for fixed wiring due to lower resistance and heat generation. 
• Applications: Primarily used for fixed installations like permanent building and house wiring and for industrial applications with increased cable flexibility requirements.

(C) Class 5: Flexible Conductors

• Construction: Consists of many fine copper wires (often tinned for corrosion resistance) twisted together, making the conductor highly flexible.
• Flexibility: Extremely flexible, designed for applications where the conductor needs to withstand frequent movement, bending, or vibration without damage.
• Characteristics: High flexibility, durable against wear and tear, but may have slightly lower conductivity compared to solid conductors due to the finer strands.
• Advantages:Superior flexibility.
• Disadvantages:Higher electrical resistance, which can result in greater heat loss and voltage drops.
• Heat and Losses:Class 5 wires are not efficient for fixed wiring due to higher resistance and heat generation compared to Class-2. 
• Applications: Used in situations where more flexibility is required, such as in circuits that may need to be bent, coiled, or moved occasionally. Ideal for portable appliances and equipment that move constantly like portable cords, flexible cables, and power tools that require a durable, yet highly flexible conductor.

(D) Class 6: Extra Flexible Conductors

• Construction: Made up of very fine copper wires, typically tinned, twisted into a very flexible configuration.
• Compared to class 5, the number of strands and wires arranged around each other is even larger, which can further increase the flexibility of the wire
• Flexibility: The highest level of flexibility among copper conductors, suitable for applications requiring frequent movement or twisting.
• Characteristics: Very high flexibility, ideal for dynamic applications, but may have lower conductivity due to the fine strands.
• Applications: Used in highly flexible cable assemblies, robotics, automobile, machine and tool construction and flexible power cables where the conductor will experience constant movement and mechanical stress.

Which Class of Conductor Used for House hold Wiring:

• To reduce power consumption, eliminate heating of wires, The Selection of House wire is most important.
• The selection of Wires broadly depends on conductor Resistance, Current, Quality of conductor material, Cross section area and power consumption.
• Resistance: A conductor with higher resistance will consume more power (P = I²R, where P is power, I is current, and R is resistance).
• Current: If both conductors are used in the same application with the same current, the one with the higher resistance will consume more power.
• Conductor Quality: Many people believe that wire quality simply by measuring its diameter and doing a mathematical calculation to estimate resistance. Conductor resistance is not just about the size of copper but it also depends on copper purity. For example, impure or recycled copper may have a bigger cross-sectional area but still higher resistance, which means more heat, more energy loss and shorter wire life.
• Conductor Size: The material (copper, aluminum, etc.) and the cross-sectional area of the conductor also significantly affect resistance and power consumption.
• Power Consumption: The power consumption of a conductor is primarily determined by its resistance and the current flowing through it, rather than its classification (Class 2 or Class 5). However, the classification itself does provide some context regarding the conductor’s characteristics:
• There are mainly two types of Conductors solid (Class-1) and stranded (Class-2 & Class-5).

(A) Selection between Class-1 or Class-2 (Solid or Standard):

• Solid conductor (Class-1) has less flexibility hence not easily passing in conceal conduits of house wires and making hot spots at conductor bends. Due to less flexibility easily break conductor at its termination location.
• The cables used in Building wiring switched to Class 2 copper conductors as it offered better flexibility over the Class 1 solid copper conductors. It is also technically superior and avoid hot spots at bends without compromising the current carrying capacity on account of its resistance being the same as specified for Class 1 copper conductors.
• Multi-stranded conductor (Class-2) shall be replaced to single solid conductors (Class-1) for all the House wiring.

(B) Selection between Class-2 & Class-5 (Standard or fine Standard):

• Stranded conductor can be divided broadly in two types one is multi-strand conductor (known as class-2 conductor) other is Flexible stranded conductor (known as class-5 conductor).
• The difference between Class-2 & Class-5 Wires are as under
• Resistance: The conductor resistance of class 5 is high compared to class 2 conductor, the heat generated for the same current loading will be different on both class of conductors

Copper Conductor Resistance based on class (IS:694)
Wire Size	Copper Conductor Resistance (Ω/Km)		Insulation Thickness (mm)		Tensile Strength (N/mm2)
	CLASS-2	CLASS-5	CLASS-2	CLASS-5	CLASS-2	CLASS-5
0.75 Sq.mm	24.5	26	0.7	0.6	12.5	10
1 Sq.mm	18.1	19.5	0.7	0.6	12.5	10
1.5 Sq.mm	12.1	13.3	0.7	0.6	12.5	10
2.5 Sq.mm	7.41	7.98	0.8	0.7	12.5	10
4 Sq.mm	4.61	4.95	0.8	0.8	12.5	10

• Insulation: The insulation thickness for the class 5 conductor cable is lesser than specified for class 2, not better for higher load conditions
• Mechanical Strength: The mechanical strength of insulation for class 5 is lesser in comparison to class 2, this can lead to issues during conduit pull.
• Flexibility: The difference lies mainly in flexibility.
• Class 2 wires have fewer strands (Conductor) of more diameter. Example :14/0.31mm(max.) 14 strands each of 0.31 mm (max.). typically, 7 strands are used which makes them less flexible and more suitable for fixed installations.
• Class 5 wires have more strands (Conductor) of less diameter. Example: 32/0.21mm(max.) 32 strands each of 0.21 mm (max.). Typically, 30 to 50 strands are used, which makes them more flexible and easier to bend.
• Application: For fixed wiring application conductors with Class 2 copper shall be used. Worldwide the usage of class 2 conductors is specified for building wires as it offers lower resistance, mechanical strength is higher.
• Class 5 wires are commonly used in applications where flexibility is important, such as in portable appliances and equipment where the lengths are preferably 1.5 to 2-meter, power tools, panel wiring (As bending and routing of such cables in constricted paths do not stress on the cable and handling and installation of such conductors in confined areas is easier).
• Amount of Copper content: Actually, in class 5 conductors, copper content is less than that of class 2 conductor which make them more flexible wires. The reason is copper wires with class 5 conductor are cheaper.
• Lesser copper content in wire leads to increased cable resistance and which may in turn increase power consumption and loss. on the other side these coper wires with class 5 conductor can bring disaster in a building as it increases the disconnection time of protective device due to its increased resistance. The power loss of class 5 conductor is higher and is against the concepts of energy conservation or sustainability.

Comparison of Class 2 and Class 5 copper conductors
Property	Characteristic	CLASS-2	CLASS-5
Installation	Passing through Conduit	Easy to Pass through Conduits due to less flexible compared to Class-5	Conductor is more Flexible hence change of Cable getting Stuck in Conduit
	Termination	No of Strands are less hence easy to crip Lugs	No of Strands are higher hence difficult to hold all strand under Lugs while crimping
	Maintenance	In case of replacement easy to pull out Wire from Conduit	difficult to pullout from conduit after installation.
Mechanical	Tensile Strength	Higher mechanical Strength to withstand Stress	Mechanically weak compared to Class-2
	Loose Connection	Cable stay firm near its termination in case of vibration	Might get loose in case of vibration
	Conductor Roundness	Conductor bunch is circular due to less number of strands	Due to more no of Strands and it’s arrangement. Not circular as compared to class-2
	Conductor Structure	Fewer Strands (Conductor) of large Size	More Strands (Conductor) of Small Size
Electrical	Resistance	Less conductor Resistance	Higher Conductor Resistance
	Current Capacity	Higher Current carrying capacity	Less Current carrying capacity
	Derating Factor	Better conductor roundness makes symmetrical arrangement in conduit, reduce derating Factor	Higher derating Factor
	Amount of Copper	Use of Copper is higher than Class-5 for the Same Size of Conductor	Use of Copper is less than Class-2 for the Same Size of Conductor
	Power Loss	Less Power Loss due to less resistance	6 to 8% Higher Power Loss compared to Class-2
	Insulation	Insulation thickness is higher than Class-5	Insulation thickness is less than Class-2
	Heat Built up	Minimal (Due to less Resistance)	Heat Faster under Load
Cost	Cheaper	5 to 8% Costly (due to more Copper) than Class-5	Cheaper than Class-2
Application	Fixed /Movable	Typically used fixed / Permeant Wires installation in wall and ceiling where wires are permeant and used regularly	Used for Flexible application like Power cord, extension Wires Board, for Movable parts

• Multi-stranded conductor (Class-2) shall be used for house wiring due to its Less Resistance, Less heat loss, Low Power consumption, better insulation, higher mechanical Strength.

Conclusion:

• Actually, Wires with Class-5 copper are used for appliance wiring and panel wiring (Not Fixed Wiring) only and they are also manufactured accordingly. Wiring with Class-5 copper conductors do not conform to the code of practice of wiring and hence it’s illegal to use them in fixed wiring and In IS 694 specifies panel wire and building wire as a similar group of functioning. This created a confusion and an create opportunity to misuse of Class 5 conductors as building wires because Class-5 Wires are 8 % cheaper than wires with Class-2 copper conductor.
• However, we must avoid to use Class-5 Wires for Wiring Application due to its less copper content (due to its more flexibility) in wire will lead to increase cable resistance and which may in turn increase the power consumption, higher watt loss, higher voltage drops, higher fault loop impedance.
• Higher impedance of the circuit may lead to accidents due to higher disconnection time of protective device. Less mechanical strength, less insulation hence heats up in load and not safe in continuous load.
• For fixed wiring application, House Wiring conductors with Class 2 copper shall be used.

Electrical Energy Saving Tips

How to save  Electrical energy at Home

In our home we use lot of electrical equipment like Tv, Freeze, Washing machine,Mp3 player. music system, computer laptop. But we have not adequate knowledge for how to use this electrical equipment in proper way Due to this ignorance we are paying more electricity Bill which we are not actually use.

Do you know in actual we are consuming more electricity or paying more amounts what we actually not use it?

According to the energy auditors we can easily save between 5 and 10% of their energy consumption (and costs) by changing our behavior such as switching electrical equipment off at the mains rather than leaving it on standby, turning off lights when they’re not being used

By saving Electrical energy will directly reflected to saving money so it is very necessary to under stood ghost unit or amount which we are paying without using the appliances.

The major appliances in your home — refrigerators, clothes washers, dishwashers — account for a big chunk of your monthly utility bill. And if your refrigerator or washing machine is more than a decade old, you’re spending a lot more on energy than you need to.

Today’s major appliances don’t hog energy the way older models do because they must meet minimum federal energy efficiency standards. These standards have been tightened over the years, so any new appliance you buy today has to use less energy than the model you’re replacing. For instance, if you buy one of today’s most energy-efficient refrigerators, it will use less than half the energy of a model that’s 12 years old or older.

Lighting

• Get into the habit of turning lights off when you leave a room. —-Saving Energy 0.5 %
• Use task lighting (table and desktop lamps) instead of room lighting.
• Take advantage of daylight
• De-dust lighting fixtures to maintain illumination—–Saving Energy 1 %
• Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL):

1. CFL use 75% less energy than Normal bulbs.
2. CFL are four times more energy efficient than Normal bulbs.
3. CFL can last up to ten times longer than a normal bulb.

• Use electronic chokes. in place of conventional copper chokes.—-Saving Energy 2 %
• Get into the habit of turning lights off when you leave a room.
• Use only one bulb for light fittings with more than one light bulb, or replace additional bulbs with a lower wattage version.
• Use energy-saving light bulbs that can last up to ten times longer than a normal bulb and use significantly less energy. A single 20- to 25-watt energy-saving bulb provides as much light as a 100-watt ordinary bulb.
• Use tungsten halogen bulbs for spotlights—they last longer and are up to 100% more efficient.
• Fit external lights with a motion sensor.
• Use high frequency fittings for fluorescent tubes because they cut flicker and are even more efficient than energy-saving light bulbs. They are suitable for kitchens, halls, workshops and garages.

Save on Your Fridge & Freezer:

• Defrost your fridge regularly.
• Check that the door seals are strong and intact.
• Don’t stand Freezer’s Back Side too near the Wall.
• Avoid putting warm or hot food in the fridge or freezer—it   requires more energy to cool it down.
• Clean condenser coils twice a year.
• Get rid of old refrigerators!  They use twice the energy as new Energy Star® models.
• Keep refrigerators full but not overcrowded.
• Defrost your fridge regularly. When ice builds up, your freezer uses more electricity. If it frosts up again quickly, check that the door seals are strong and intact.
• Do not stand the fridge next to the oven or other hot appliances if you can help it. Also ensure there is plenty of ventilation space behind and above it.
• Keep the fridge at 40°F and the freezer at 0°F. Empty and then turn your fridge off if you go on a long vacation (but make sure you leave the door open).
• Aim to keep your fridge at least three-quarters full to maintain maximum efficiency. A full fridge is a healthy fridge.
• Avoid putting warm or hot food in the fridge or freezer—it requires more energy to cool it down.

AIR CONDITION UNIT

• For Home Purpose use Window unit Instead Of Split Unit.
• For Office and Commercial Purpose Use Split AC instead of Window unit.
• Consider installing a programmable t. Just set the times and temperatures to match your schedule and you will save money and be comfortably cool when you return home.
• Get air conditioner maintenance each year.
• Checks the condenser coils, the evaporator coils, the blower wheel, the filter, the lubrication and the electrical   contacts.
• Replace worn and dirty equipment for maximum efficiency.
• Replace air conditioner filters every month.
• Turn off central air conditioning 30 minutes before leaving your home.
• Consider using ceiling or portable fans to circulate and cool the air.
• Try increasing your air conditioner temperature. Even 1 degree higher could mean significant savings, and you will probably not notice the difference.
• Keep central air conditioner usage to a minimum—or even turn the unit off—if you plan to go away.
• Consider installing a programmable thermostat. Just set the times and temperatures to match your schedule, and you will save money and be comfortably cool when you return home.
• Get air conditioner maintenance each year—ensure your service person checks the condenser coils, the evaporator coils, the blower wheel, the filter, the lubrication and the electrical contacts. Replace worn and dirty equipment for maximum efficiency.
• Replace air conditioner filters every month.
• Buy the proper size equipment to meet your family’s needs—an oversized air conditioner unit will waste energy.
• If you have a furnace, replace it at the same time as your air conditioner system. Why? Because it is your furnace fan that blows cool air around your home, and a newer furnace fan provides improved air circulation all year round, plus saves energy costs.

Water Heater:

• Check your hot water temperature. It does not need to be any higher than 140°F for washing purposes.
• Plug the basin or bath when you run any hot water.
• Use a timer to make sure the heating and hot water are only on when needed.
• Insulate your hot water pipes to prevent heat loss, and your water will stay hotter for longer. Plus, you will also use less energy to heat it. And simply fitting a jacket onto your hot water tank can cut waste by up to three quarters.
• Take showers—a bath consumes 5 times more hot water. Buy a low-flow showerhead for more efficiency and it will pay for itself in no time.
• Avoid washing dishes under hot running water, and do not pre-rinse before using the dishwasher.
• Repair dripping hot water taps immediately
• Make sure hot water taps are always turned off properly.

Washing Machine:

• Wash full loads of Washing Machine—you will use your machine less often, saving time, and it is more energy-efficient.
• Wash at a lower temperature or the economy setting to save even more.
• Use the spin cycle, and then hang washing out rather than tumble drying—your clothes and linens will smell fresher!
• If you need to tumble dry, try a lower temperature setting.
• Use your dryer for consecutive loads, because the built-up heat between loads will use less energy.

Oven/Electrical Cooker:

• Make sure your oven door closes tightly.
• Use a microwave rather than conventional oven, when possible.
• Keep the center of the pan over the element, and keep the lid on when cooking on the stovetop.
• Only boil the amount of water that you need—just ensure there is enough water to cover the heating element. Turn the element or electric kettle down as soon as it reaches the boiling point.

COMPUTER / LAPTOP

• Buy a laptop instead of a desktop, if practical. —-Saving Energy 5 %.
• If you buy a desktop, get an LCD screen instead of an outdated CRT.
• Use sleep-mode when not in use helps cut  energy costs by approx  40%.
• Turn off the monitor; this device alone uses more than half  the system’s  energy.
• Screen savers save computer screens, not energy.
• Use separate  On/Off switch Socket Instead of One.
• Laser printers use more electricity than inkjet printers.

FAN:

• A ceiling fan in operation through out night will gobble up 22 units in a month.
• There is a wrong notion that fan at more speed would consume more current.
• Fan running at slow speed would waste energy as heat in the regulator.
• The ordinary regulator would take 20 watts extra at low speed.
• The energy loss can be compensated by using  electronic   regulator

Buy efficient electric appliances:

• They use two to 10 times less electricity for the same functionality, and are mostly higher quality products that last longer than the less efficient ones. In short, efficient appliances save you lots of energy and money.
• In many countries, efficiency rating labels are mandatory on most appliances. Look Energy Star label is used.
• The label gives you information on the annual electricity consumption. In the paragraphs below, we provide some indication of the consumption of the most efficient appliances to use as a rough guide when shopping. Lists of brands and models and where to find them are country-specific and so cannot be listed here, but check the links on this page for more detailed information.
• Average consumption of electric appliances in different regions in the world, compared with the high efficient models on the market

Ghost consumers:

• Identify the “ghost consumers” which consume power – not because they are in use, but because they are   plugged in and are in stand-by mode.
• The TV consumes 10 watt power When It’s is in Stand by Mode.

Ex.  TV is in stand-by-mode  for 10 hours a Day.

Energy Consumption  /  Day= 10 X 10 = 100 Watts. = 0.1 KWH.

Energy consumption /  Month= 1X100X30=3000 Watts=3KWH ( Unit) .

Energy Consumption in Rupees. = 3 X 4 = 12 Rs/Month.

• The TV consumes 5 watt power when we  don’t  plug out from switch Board.

Ex.  TV is in un Plug Mode for 10 hours a Day.

Energy Consumption  /  Day= 5 X 10 = 50 Watts. = 0.05 KWH.

Energy consumption /  Month= 1X50X30= 1500 Watts=1.5 KWH ( Unit) .

Energy Consumption in Rupees. = 1.5 X 4 = 6 Rs/Month.

• The cell phone charger uses 3 watt per hour when plugged.
• Mosquito mats consume 5 watts per hour.
• If you use an electric geyser, do not leave it in thermostat mode, for it causes standing losses of 1-1.5 units.