Circuits identification

[DaveW4]

Hi. Is there an industry-specific way of identifying circuits or do you just give them id's yourself. Apologies for the basic question, I can't find the trainee forum.

 

[Mike Johnson]

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[littlespark]

As far as identifying circuits go, just do as much as needed to stop any future confusion.
In domestic, it’s simply descriptions.... upstairs, downstairs, lights, power, boiler etc. Can’t go far wrong.
Commercial is different. You may find each accessory is marked up with the corresponding OCPD, contains db number, phase number and cct number.
Everybody has their own way of doing things, but as long as the circuit chart at the db matches what it does, then it’s all fine

 

[DaveW4]

As far as identifying circuits go, just do as much as needed to stop any future confusion.
In domestic, it’s simply descriptions.... upstairs, downstairs, lights, power, boiler etc. Can’t go far wrong.
Commercial is different. You may find each accessory is marked up with the corresponding OCPD, contains db number, phase number and cct number.
Everybody has their own way of doing things, but as long as the circuit chart at the db matches what it does, then it’s all fine

Thanks. I, for example, have a DB named DBC1 - Distribution Board Cafe One
with 3 circuits named DBC1L - Distribution Board Cafe One Lighting
DBC1P - Distribution Board Cafe One Power
DBC1EL - Distribution Board Cafe One Emergency Lighting
is this acceptable?
Distribution board schedule diagrams and schematic drawings match.

 

[DaveW4]

Thanks. I, for example, have a DB named DBC1 - Distribution Board Cafe One
with 3 circuits named DBC1L = Lighting, DBC1P = DBC1Power and DBC1EL = DBC1Emergency Lighting.
Is this acceptable for a college project?
DB Schedule diagrams and Schematic drawings match.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

I always include the DB outgoing way number and phase, so I would avoid ending a DB name with a digit. So DB 'C' would have 3-phase circuits DBC1, DBC2... and single-phase circuits DBC3L1, DBC3L2, DBC3L3, DBC4L1... This is fairly conventional. Adding abbreviations for the circuit function won't necessarily be understood.

 

[DaveW4]

I always include the DB outgoing way number and phase, so I would avoid ending a DB name with a digit. So DB 'C' would have 3-phase circuits DBC1, DBC2... and single-phase circuits DBC3L1, DBC3L2, DBC3L3, DBC4L1... This is fairly conventional. Adding abbreviations for the circuit function won't necessarily be understood.

 

[DaveW4]

Cheers, Looks like I have a lot of work to do to change everything by tomorrow!!!
I think I will take the 'cheers' back! ?

 

[Mike Johnson]

I think the "DB" on each circuit is superfluous, "Light up", Light dwn", "Sock Kit" is easy understood, but it all accords what your tutors have told you to do and how they want to see it.

Obviously on a three phase board it becomes a little more complicated.

 

[DaveW4]

I think the "DB" on each circuit is superfluous, "Light up", Light dwn", "Sock Kit" is easy understood, but it all accords what your tutors have told you to do and how they want to see it.

Obviously on a three phase board it becomes a little more complicated.

Think I will leave it as it is and add a note saying how I would do it in the future.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

It can be, but if you have a lot of DBs or the DB naming scheme isn't obvious,, it's helpful to know what the letters and numbers represent. If the DBs have numbers, I include punctuation e.g. DB7-12L1. In theatre work we have large numbers of circuits usually identified with just a number and possibly with a phase ident. So there might be dimmer circuits 1 to 192, contactor circuits 1 to 96 etc. Then to reference the circuit to a DB way rather than a geographical number block, I tend to make that explicit by including DB.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Identifying the circuit inside a DB with the suffix DB I still think is superfluous, on large commercial installation away from the DB that would be useful, but not normally needed in domestic installations, unless we are talking mansions here, have to admit that on my own house installation I have plans and spread sheets showing each socket identified by room number, socket/light number or letter and the MCB and RCD it is powered by, now days the last two are only one letter they now being an RCBO rather than the two units.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Examples of above detail, OTT maybe, but then I am retired and in Lockdown so have some time on my hands.