PRACTICAL

ELECTRICITY
Uses of electricity
Heating effect of electric current
 When an electric current flows through a
resistance wire, the charges use their
energy to do work overcoming the
resistance.
 The work done is converted to heat energy
in the wire.
 The wire become hot.
 Electricalappliances using heating
effect of electric current have a heating
element, which converts electrical
energy to heat.
Examples of heating
 The heating element usually consists of a
resistance wire, which has the following
characteristics:
i. High melting point so that it does not melt
under high temperatures
ii. Low resistance so that large current can flow.
 Cables carrying electric current to the
appliances vary in thickness.
 Thicker cables are used to carry larger
current so that they do not get heated up
easily and causing the insulation layer to
burn.
 From the formula:
Potential difference = energy dissipated by
charge/quantity of charge
Energy dissipated by charge,
E = Q (Charge) X V (pot diff)
What is electrical power of an electrical appliance?

 Electrical power of an electrical appliance is

the rate at which electrical energy is supplied
by the appliance
 OR the amount of electrical energy supplied
per unit time.
 OR the rate at which energy is used by the
appliance.
 Electrical power = energy supplied per unit time

 Power = Energy = Q x V = I x t x V
time t t

P=VxI
Power Rating
 When an appliance is labeled 240 V and 3
kW, this means that when the appliance is
connected to a 240V supply, its power is 3
kW.

 What does the power rating 3 kW mean?

 3 kW means energy is supplied through
the appliance at the rate of 3kJ per second
. Examples:
 Comparing a 240V 3kW kettle and a 240V
100W light bulb, both connected to a 240V
supply:
 Calculate the current flowing through each of
the appliances
Kettle (240V 3kW) Light bulb (240V 100W)
 b. Calculate the resistance in each of the
appliances
Kettle (240V 3kW) Light bulb (240V 100W)

Comparing the results in Examples (i),

we can conclude that if the resistance of the appliance is
lower, its electrical power is ____________
ELECTRICAL
TARIFFS
Electrical Tariffs
 How much do you spend on electricity in
your house per month?

 Do you think it is low, high or ok?

Brunei Electrical Tariffs
Compare the two tariffs.
The DES has also prepared comparison monthly charges
between current usage with new tariffs:

Previously $30 = New $5.00 (500 kWh)

Previously $50 = New $40.00 (833 kWh)
Previously $100 = New $120.00 (1667 kWh)
Previously $150 = New $255.00 (2500 kWh)
Previously $200 = New $380.00 (3333 kWh)
Previously $250 = New $500.00 (4167 kWh)
Previously $300 = New $630.00 (5000 kWh)
Some facts:-
 Currently we have the highest energy
intensity in ASEAN and is ranked 12th out
of 198 countries.
 The actual cost of energy in 2010 is B$2
billion and will be doubled by 2035
 Government subsidies is B$1 billion in
2010 and projected to be B$2.5 billion in
2035
Electrical Hazards
Hazards
Electrical Hazards
 a. Electricity may be important in our daily life, it
can also be very dangerous.
 b. Electrical faults in an appliance or circuit can
cause fire, short circuit and electrocution to users.

 c. Dangers of electricity may be traced to 3 main

possible causes:
1. Damaged insulation
2. Overheating of cables
3. Damp conditions
 Damaged Insulation
 a. All electrical appliances required
2 wires to make a complete circuit:
the live wire and the neutral wire.

 b. The wires are insulated in

vulcanized rubber and housed
together in circular cable made of
insulating materials (PVC or braided
rubber)

 c. With time and use, the

insulating material may become
cracked and break.
Damaged Insulation
 If the vulcanized rubber covering the live wire is
damaged, the live wire becomes exposed
Two consequences:
(1) If the user touches the exposed live wire
accidentally, he may get a serious electric shock
or even electrocuted
(2) The exposed wires can cause short circuit and
result in large current flowing. The wires may
become hot and lead to fire.
Overheating of cables
a. When an unusually large
current flows in the
conducting wires, large
amount of heat is
produced in the wire
which can melt the
insulation and starts a fire.
Overheating of cables
 When do we get large current flow in the wire?
When there is a short circuit or overloading
(1) A short circuit can result when the live wire makes
contact with the neutral wire due to damaged
insulation
(2) Overloading happens when too many electrical
appliances are connected to the same socket
causing an excessively large current to flow.
Damp Conditions
Damp Conditions
 a. In damp condition, when a live wire is in
contact with the water, the water then provides a
conducting path for a large current to flow through
the water. Touching the water is like touching the
live wire.

 Dry skin has high electrical resistance and acts as

an insulated layer. When the skin is wet, the body
resistance is low and will allow large current to
flow through the body, causing electric shock or
electrocuted
 Safe Use of Electricity
a. Domestic supply of electricity in most countries is mainly
220V ~ 240V.
This is supplied by two cables from a local substation:
the live wire and the neutral wire
b. What are live wire and neutral wire?
The live wire is the wire at high voltage (for e.g. 240V)
The neutral wire is the wire at very low voltage or at zero
volt, to complete the circuit.
The dangerous wire is the live wire as it carries a high
voltage.
Domestic supply of electricity in most countries is
mainly 220V ~ 240V.
To ensure the safe use of electricity at home, 4
safety measures are taken.

1. Fuse
2. Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker
(ELCB)
3. Earth Wire
4. Double Insulation
Fuse
Fuse
Each fuse has a fuse-rating.
A 5A fuse means the fuse allows a
maximum of 5A current to flow through
it.
If the current exceeds this value, the fuse
wire melts and the circuit would be
broken(open).
Function:
It protects electrical appliance and the wiring
system from excessive current flow. (it
ensures the current-carrying capacity in
the wirings is not exceeded)
How it works:
When the current through the fuse exceeds
its rating, the fuse melts and opens the
circuit.
Choosing a fuse
the fuse rating must be slightly greater
than the current
Example
 In an appliance marked 240V 2000W, the
current flowing in the appliance is ______
A suitable fuse to use is _____ A.

1A 3A 5A 10A 13A 20A

 A 5A fuse and a 20A fuse would not be
suitable
 The 5A fuse melts and breaks the circuit
every time the appliance is used since the
current exceeds the fuse rating.
 The 20A fuse would allow a larger and
dangerous current to continue to flow through
the appliance without melting the fuse and
switching off the current.
 The large current may overheat the
appliance or the wiring system causing
damage.
Circuit Breakers
 These are mostly
electromagnetic switches
with a rating.
 When the current
exceeds the rating, the
circuit breaker switches
off the current supply to
the appliance.
 And it can only be reset
after the fault has been
fixed.
Circuit Breakers
Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ECLB)
 Modern household
wiring system has a
main switch called the
earth leakage circuit
breaker.
 It will switch off all the
circuits in the house in a
very short time (less
than 25 ms) if an earth
leakage current of more
than 30 mA (= 0.030 A)is
detected.
Earth Wire
Double Insulation
 An appliance which is
double insulated has the
whole of the inside
contained in plastic,
underneath an outer
casing
 If anything goes wrong
with the appliance, no
Live conductor can
touch the outer casing
because of their
nsulating plastic
Double Insulation
Double Insulation
Switch
Three Pin Plug
Three Pin Plug
Wiring a three pin plug
 Put cover back on and
screw tightly
 Blue wire to neutral pin
 Put cable under grip and
tighten grip
 Brown wire to live pin
 Tighten screw on the
terminals and no bare
wire exposed
 Green wire to earth pin
Exercises