Abbreviations for electrical distribution
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For distribution design, UK electrical engineers typically use PB (panelboard), DB (distribution board) and LV or HV for switchboards.
- Can we rationalise the selection of electrical panel abbreviations? Suggest DB, PB, LVSB and HVSB for the four main types of distribution equipment.
- Other distribution equipment:
BB busbar
BBTO busbar tap-off.
PFC power factor correction equipment
PFILT passive power quality filter
AFILT active power quality filter
ISOTXMR isolating transformer
PCONV power converter (electronic voltage conversion, including inverters, rectifiers and dc-dc converters)
ELISO isolator (cf ELSW for switch, already in BDNS. NB an isolator is distinct from a switch in that it is not necessarily specified to interrupt load current).
ATSW automatic transfer switch
FUSESW fuse-switch
RCCB residual current circuit breaker (regional variation, GFCI)
Note: there are many variations of circuit breaker in use to add description and for historic reasons, ACB, VCB, RCD, RCBO, MCB, etc. We could consolidate on the current abbreviation 'CB' or add the different types... - Circuits and hence cables are often named after the 'source' switchboard. However, the 'source' may become ambiguous if there are ring circuits or multiple sources in a design and the cable is a bus or can transmit power in opposite directions. How to resolve how we identify circuits/cables?
- Can we support regional variations for electrical engineering, since the words vary markedly and so the abbreviations are not portable?
Thank you @adam4521 for your thoughts.
It would be great to have some time together in one of our next weekly meeting to progress this together, as it introduces a good number of changes to the previous abbreviations which were inspired by the electrical design practice in UK.
About point 3, we support the suffix to augment the label name with additional information, so the 'source' switchboard could be included this way.
About point 4, it would be good to come up with a plan for this. We could add a column about a locale for specific abbreviations.
hi there -
we did a review of the most common components for electrical distribution with the Head of Electrical Engineering at Max Fordham, and then compared it against the suggestions from @adam4521 above and what is already in the BDNS database
| MXF suggestion | adam4521 | in BDNS | description | notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSP | main switch panel | No main switch panel in BDNS but main panel/board and mains switchboard. (Are either of these close enough) | ||
| DB | DB | distribution board | ||
| PB | panel board | BDNS has: distribution panel for itc equipment (ITPB) only | ||
| ISO | ELISO | isolator (disconnector) | isolator (cf ELSW for switch, already in BDNS. NB an isolator is distinct from a switch in that it is not necessarily specified to interrupt load current). | |
| BB | busbar | No Busbar in BDNS | ||
| RBB | rising busbar | No Busbar in BDNS | ||
| BBTO | busbar tapoff | No Busbar in BDNS | ||
| TX | TXMR | transformer | ||
| UPS | UPS | uninterruptible power supply | ||
| PFC | PFC | power factory correction | ||
| SPD | surge protection device | Not in BDNS | ||
| IVT | PCONV | invertor | adam4521 suggests PCONV for power conversion. At MXF we would specify in more detail. | |
| PVP | PVP | photovoltaic | PVP in BDNS is for photovoltaic panel | |
| GEN | GEN | generator | In BDNS, GEN for electricity generator, DG for diesel electricity generator, CSG clean steam generator | |
| ATS | ATSW | ATS | automatic transfer switch | |
| AHF | AFILT | AHF | active harmonic filter | |
| FUSESW | DSCTF | fuse-switch | DSCTF is electric protective device - disconnect fuse in BDNS | |
| PFILT | passive power quality filter | Not in BDNS | ||
| ISOTXMR | isolating transformer | Not in BDNS | ||
| RCCB | RCCB | residual current circuit breaker (regional variation, GFCI) | CB circuit breaker in BDNS | |
| MCB | Miniature Circuit Breaker | |||
| RCBO | Residual Current Breaker with Over-Current | |||
| RCD | residual current device |
TXMR rather than TX for transformer irked the MXF electrical team - "extra letters for no good reason" being the feedback.
otherwise there was either:
- good agreement between MXF requests and what is already in BDNS
- nothing in BDNS that satisfies the MXF request (so hopefully it is a simple addition ? )
so to summarise, as a minimum MXF would require the following to be added to be able to successfully use it on active projects:
| MXF suggestion | description |
|---|---|
| MSP | main switch panel |
| PB | panel board |
| ISO | isolator (disconnector) |
| BB | busbar |
| RBB | rising busbar |
| BBTO | busbar tapoff |
| SPD | surge protection device |
| IVT | invertor |
| RCCB | residual current circuit breaker (regional variation, GFCI) |
| MCB | Miniature Circuit Breaker |
| RCBO | Residual Current Breaker with Over-Current |
| RCD | residual current device |
(None of which already exist in the database)
whilst not all the abbreviations match with @adam4521 - if the above additions where added the only remaining suggestions from @adam4521 that aren't covered are PFILT, ISOTXMR.
Add different types of power converters individually
following todays meeting with @pisuke and @RitaLav it is suggested that the following are added:
| suggestion | description |
|---|---|
| MSP | main switch panel |
| PB | panel board |
| EISO | electrical isolator (disconnector) |
| BB | busbar |
| RBB | rising busbar |
| BBTO | busbar tapoff |
| SPD | surge protection device |
| IVT | invertor |
| REC | rectifier |
| DCDC | dc-dc converter |
| RCCB | residual current circuit breaker (regional variation, GFCI) |
| MCB | Miniature Circuit Breaker |
| RCBO | Residual Current Breaker with Over-Current |
| RCD | residual current device |
| PHF | passive harmonic filter |
| EISOTX | isolation transformer |
Notes:
- ISO -> EISO denoting electrical and avoiding confusion with the ISO standards body
- REC and DCDC added, picking up @adam4521 's suggestions for power conversion devices. therefore PCONV not required.
- PHF added (matching AHF already in BDNS). this means PFILT not required.
- ignoring FUSESW for now as DSCTF already in BDNS ???
- added EISOTX for isolation transformer (ISOTXMR is too long, (2 - 6 chars))
this should pick up the requirements from Max Fordham and the comments from @adam4521
I'll wait til next week for comments and then make a pull request
Is RBB needed in addition to BB (could 'rising' be added in metadata)?
No other comments
the reason it is currently separate is because when specifying you need a different / distinct product for the rising busbar
i.e.
RBB (rising busbar)
e.g.
https://www.se.com/uk/en/product-range/6760-canalis-ksr/?parent-subcategory-id=1310#overview
vs
BB (busbar)
e.g.
https://www.se.com/uk/en/product-range/1752-canalis-kn/?parent-subcategory-id=1310
having separate abbreviations therefore makes the drawing clearer.