Electricity and safety

Dr. Bablu K. Ghosh

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 ELECTRIC CURRENT
• An electric CURRENT exists
whenever electric charge flows
through a region, e.g., a simple
light bulb circuit. The
magnitude of the current is
measured in AMPERES
(Amps/A), where
• 1 ampere = 1coulomb/second
• I = Q/  t.

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 DC and AC

Electron Flow, D.C.

Electron Flow, A.C.

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 Electric Power

• In a circuit of resistance R, the rate at

which electrical energy is converted to
heat energy is given by
• P = IV but V = IR, then P = I(IR) =I2R
• where I2R is known as JOULE
HEATING per second is watt.
• An alternate formula for power can be
written, since I = V/R, then P = IV =
(V/R)V = V2 /R Watt
• P=V2 /R= I2R are power formulas which
apply only to resistors
• P = IV Applies to any device as Watt

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 Human body safety from electricity

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 Why is ac voltage more dangerous than an equal dc
voltage?

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 Currents are most dangerous at household
frequencies

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 The Plug
Most electric cables normally contain three wires:

• The live wire.

• The neutral wire.

• The earth wire.

Each of these three wire have different colours of insulation.

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 The Plug
You have to remember the names and colours of each of these three wires. You
also have to remember the position of each of these three wires in a standard plug.

Wire Insulation Location

Colour
LIVE Brown/Red BR – bottom right
NEUTRAL BLue BL – bottom left
EARTH Green/Yellow Centre

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 Electrical Safety
Appliances have three safety devices:

• The fuse.

• The earth wire.

• The switch.

These devices are designed to stop you from being electrocuted and to prevent the
appliance from being damaged.

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 The Switch
Together, the fuse and switch control the amount of electricity that enters an
appliance.

The fuse and the switch are connected to the live wire.

Electricity comes in through the live wire.

If the fuse is blown, or the switch is off, then the electricity cannot reach the
appliance.

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 No earthing of equipment

• No bonding
• Person can receive an electric shock if
equipment becomes faulty

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 Safety
• Personal safety • Equipment safety

• Grounded properly the • Proper current rating

device and use fuse in fuse connection in
proper place in series series

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 Prevention
To prevent electrocution, the earth wire is connected to the casing of the appliance.

If the live wire touches the casing, the

earth wire provides a path for the
electricity to flow.

This blows the fuse and switches the appliance off, leaving you safe.

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