Module 1

Building Electrical Systems

 Topics to be Discussed:

• Review of the Electrical Theory

• Electrical Materials, Components and Units
• Instruments in Measuring Electrical Parameters
 Review of the Electrical Theory

Electricity – it is a property of matter that results from the

presence or movement of electric charge. According to
modern theory, matter is electrical in nature.

Basic Data About the Atom

• Atom – it is the smallest particle of an element that is
capable of independent existence.
• Proton – it is a positively charged
particle.
• Electron – it is negatively charged
particle.
• Neutron – it is a particle with
neutral charge (no charge).
• Atomic Number – it
represents the number
of protons or electrons
of an atom.
• Atomic Mass – it
represents the sum of
protons and electrons
of an atom.
• Ion – it is an atom or a group of atoms that has a net positive
or negative charge resulting from unequal number of positively
charged protons and negatively charged electrons.

• Shell – it is an energy level

or region about the nucleus
of an atom in which
electrons move. The atom
has 5 shells, namely, the
K-shell (first orbit), the L-
shell (second orbit), the M-
shell (third orbit), the N-
shell (fourth orbit) and the
O-shell (fifth orbit)
• Valence electrons – are the electrons found in the outermost
shell (valence shell) or orbit of an atom.
Basic Data About the Atom
Particle Charge Mass

1.602 x 10-21 C, 1.672 x 10-27

Proton
positive kg

1.602 x 10-21 C, 9.107 x 10-31

Electron
negative kg

No charge, neutral 1.672 x 10-27

Neutron
kg
 Electrical Classification of Materials

• Electrical Conductors – these are materials that

allow the essentially free passage of current when
connected to a battery or other source of electrical
energy.
• Electrical Insulators – these are materials that
possess low conductivity or offer a relatively high
resistance to the flow of electric current. They are also
called as dielectrics.
• Electric Semiconductors – these are materials that
have conductivity about midway between good
conductors and good insulators.
 Electrical Current

• Electric Current (I) – it is the motion or transfer of

charges from one region of a conductor to another. Its
unit is the Ampere (A) named after André Marie
Ampère.

How exactly electrons move to form electricity?

(Video Presentation)
 Sources of Electric Current
The following are the methods by which electric
current can be produced:
• Static electricity from friction
• Thermoelectricity is electricity from heat
• Piezoelectricity is electricity from pressure
• Electrochemistry is electricity from a chemical action
• Photoelectricity is electricity from light
• Magnetoelectricity is electricity from magnetism
 Fundamental Units of Electricity
• Electric Voltage (V or E) – it is the driving force behind
current flow. The unit of voltage is the Volt (V). Voltage level
governs the amount of current flow. An increase in voltage
causes more current flow and vice versa.
• Electric Current (I) – it is the motion or transfer of charges
from one region of a conductor to another. Its unit is the
Ampere (A).
• Electric Potential Difference – it is the difference in the
electric potentials of two charged bodies. Its unit is the volt.
• Electric Resistance (R) – it is the property of a material
that limits the amount of flow of current and converts electric
energy to heat energy. Its unit is the Ohm (Ω).
Relationship of Current,
Voltage, and Resistance
 Ohm’s Law
According to Ohm’s Law, “At steady-
state condition, the voltage across a
resistor is directly proportional to
the current flowing through it with
the temperature remaining
constant.”

𝑽 𝑽
𝑽 = 𝑰𝑹 𝑹= 𝑰=
𝑰 𝑹

Where:
V = applied voltage in volts Georg Simon Ohm
I = current drawn in amperes (1787 – 1854)
R = resistance in ohms
 Conditions for Ohm’s Law

• Ohm’s law can be applied either to the entire circuit or

a part of a circuit
• When Ohm’s law is applied to a part circuit, part
resistance and the potential difference across that part
resistance should be used
• Ohm’s law can be applied to both dc and ac circuits
 Limitations of Ohm’s Law
Ohm’s law is not applicable to the following:
• For metals which get heated up due to the flow of
current through them
• For electrolytes where enormous gases are produced
on either electrode
• For vacuum radio valves
• For arc lamps
• For semiconductors
• For gas-filled tubes, in which the ions are generated as
a result of current flow
• For appliances such as metal rectifier and crystal
detectors, in which the operation depends on the
direction of current
 Electrical Power
Electrical Power (P) – it is defined as the rate at
which electrical energy is expended or used up.
It is the rate electric energy is converted into
another form, such as light, heat or mechanical
energy (or converted from another form into
electrical energy). Its unit is the Watt (W).

𝑷 = 𝑽𝑰 𝑽𝟐
𝑷= 𝑷 = 𝑰𝟐𝑹
𝑹

Where: R = resistance in
ohm
P = electrical power in watt
V = voltage in volt
I = current in amperes
 James Watt

Note:
1 horsepower (HP) = 746 W
 Energy

• Energy – it is the capacity to do work. It is measured in

Joules (J).
• Electrical Energy Consumption – it is the rate at which
power is consumed over a specified period in of time.

𝑾 = 𝑷𝒕

Where:
P = electrical power in watt
t = time
W = electric energy consumed
 Electric Circuit
Electric Circuit – it is a collection of electrical
elements interconnected in some specific way
through which electric current flows or it is intended to
flow.

A circuit consists of a
source, conducting parts
and a load. It also has a
means to open or close the
circuit, i.e., a switch.
 Closed, Open and Short Circuits

• Closed Circuit – it is an uninterrupted path that allows a

continuous flow of current through an electrical circuit. In a
building, the circuit is closed when a switch is turned on.
• Open Circuit. If the path of current flow is interrupted such
as if the switch in a circuit is open (turned off), an open circuit
results.
• Short Circuit. If an inadvertent shortcut develops in a circuit
that permits current flow through an unintentional path, a
short circuit is created. A short circuit occurs when current
leaks out of the intended conductor path such as out of a
wire with damaged insulation.
tps://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=http
Instruments to Measure Current, Voltage, Power

Sources:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.atlearner.com%2F2023%2F04%2FAmmeter.html&psig=AOvVaw3OovitgOo3vxMUP9KZnWTo&ust=1706445053702000&source=images
&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBMQjRxqFwoTCJDMurHJ_YMDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcircuitglobe.com%2Fvoltmeter.html&psig=AOvVaw3LbvfVSp4xGTvaF1pBJPw9&ust=1706445242307000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978
449&ved=0CBMQjRxqFwoTCJCz24rK_YMDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAJ
https://www.etechnog.com/2021/05/wattmeter-connection-diagram-and-wiring.html
https://freelyelectrons.blogspot.com/2019/09/wattmeter-types-of-wattmeter.html

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fengineeringslab.com%2Ftutorial_electrical%2Fuse-of-single-phase-wattmeter-
1451.htm&psig=AOvVaw1W2kjChsXKXMWVQHL0Qjgh&ust=1706445553885000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBMQjRxqFwoTCNi7tZ7L_YMDFQAAAAAdAAAAA