Commercial wiring

This picture is a 600 volt 3 phase 800 amp main service switch. There are 3 Breakers on the bottom, each feeding a 600/208/120 3 phase trannny which
then feeds a 208 volt 3 phase Y (WYE) meter bank located as close to the suites as they could. The meter banks then feed the indivudual Condo units in the floors. Notice to the right, there is a meter for the house panel. Also the switch in the forefront on the right supplies the elevator motor circuit at 3 phase 600 volt.

After it has been transformed to 208 volts, this panel Distributes it to the suites as shown here with this main breaker panel. This one feeds 2 meter banks and a separate feed to another area. One of these Breakers feeds the meter bank to the right servicing 21 suites. The other Breaker feeds another meter bank a few floors up which then feeds the suites on the floors in that area. Because the voltage is now lower at 208/120 volts, it requires the larger cables to the meter banks. Usually 600 volts is taken to the local areas and then transformed to the lower 208/120 volts for distribution. In this case, another 600 volt feed was taken to the top floors and transformed just as this is done here to feed the upper floors..

Shown to the Left is the High rise House panel. This will service perimeter lights, hallway lights, water and sump pumps, parking area lights and all other things that are common to all the tennants. The breakers in the middle are for rooftop HVAC units.
To the right is one of the meter banks that is located a couple floors up. This services suites located on or near the floor close to it, in this case 18 suites..

A look into the suites, showing how the boxes are installed on the metal studs. BX is used throughout the entire suite for all the wiring. All the same rules apply here as they do for a house, as this is a residence just like anywhere else. ie: vapour barriers, number of outlets, kitchen counter plugs, Arc fault breakers for sleeping areas etc...