Principles of Electricity

Background to electricity, circuits,

and how to calculate
 Parts of the Atom
 Electrons – negatively charged particles that
revolve around the nucleus of the atom.
 Protons – Positively charged particles that
revolve around the nucleus of the atom.
 Neutrons – No charge in the atom.
-These parts are important to know
because they determine the charge of the atom.
-The charge of the atom creates the
energy used as electricity.
Parts of the Atom
 Parts of a Circuit

 Consists of 4 Parts
- Source
- Conductors
- The Load
- Control Device
 1 - Source

Source – Produces the force that causes

electrons to move.

Think of a water source that pushes water

through a pipe. Same principle.

Electrons (-) are attracted by positive charges,

and repelled by negative charges. (Opposite
charges attract each other.)
2 - Conductor or Path
Conductors – Provide an easy path for
electrons to move throughout the circuit.

Copper is the most commonly used conductor

in electronics and residential wiring.

Other conductors include other metals, and

water.
 3 - Load
Load – Part of the circuit that changes the
energy of the moving electrons into another
form of useful energy.

Think of a light bulb as a load.

As electrons move though the filament of the

lamp, the energy of electrons in motion is
changed into heat and light energy.
 4 - Control Device
Control Device – Opens or closes the circuit for
electrons to flow.

A light switch is a great example. The lights are off,

electrons can’t flow through to complete the circuit
because the switch is open. When the switch is closed,
the electrons can flow, and the circuit is closed.

Switches can be classified as NO (normally

open) or NC (Normally closed)
Four Values to Measure Electricity

Voltage Current

Resistance Watts
 Voltage

The force that The unit to

moves measure
electrons is voltage is
call known as
VOLTAGE. volts.

When
The common
calculating
voltage a
formulas,
residential
voltage is
circuit is 220
labeled as
volts.
“E”.
 Current

CURRENT – CURRENT IS A TYPICAL THE

MOVEMENT OF MEASURED IN RESIDENTIAL SPECIFICATION
ELECTRONS. AMPERES OR CIRCUIT S FOR A
AMPS. MEASURES 15 COMMON
AMPS. RESIDENTIAL
CIRCUIT ARE
220V/15A

WHEN
CALCULATING
FORMULAS,
CURRENT IS
LABELED AS “I”.
 Resistance
The opposing force in electrical current.

When electrons flow through a conductor, the

current are opposed by an insulator. The
insulator provides resistance.

Coating on a wire is the insulator.

Unit of resistance is the OHM (Ω).

OHM’s law states - Voltage / Current =

Resistance
 Ohm’s Law Cont.
 Voltage (E), Current (I), Resistance (R)
 Problem – We need to find the resistance
of a 220V/15Amp Circuit.
 What’s the formula?
E/I=R
 Answer? 14.67 Ohms (Ω)
Power and Watts Law

Power is the time rate of doing work

Defined in two ways: The rate at which

electric energy is delivered to a circuit

The rate at which an electrical circuit uses

electrical energy, or how much work it can do.
 Watts Cont.

Most electrical For example a light Amount of electricity

equipment is rated bulb may be rated your dwelling uses
based upon watts at 60w, 100w, and is measured in
used so on kilowatt/hours used.

Power formula – Volts times current

P = E x I. equals watts.
 3 Kinds of Circuits

Series Parallel Series –

Parallel
 Series Circuits
 Electrical circuit that only has one path for
electrons to flow.
 In Series circuits, Current (I) is constant
 Open Loop – the circuit is not complete.
 In simple terms, the switch is open, not
allowing electrons to flow to the load to
complete the circuit.
Series Circuits
 Voltage Drop
Voltage Drop – if there are two or more loads
in the circuit, the volts are distributed among
the loads evenly.

The total voltage in each load would equal

the source.

Example – Two lights are wired in the same

220V circuit. The voltage in each load will be
110V. Add the two together, =220V.
 Parallel Circuits
The loads are connected between the two conductors that lead
to the energy source.

There is no voltage drop if two or more loads are connected in

parallel. Voltage (E) is constant.

Example – A vanity light that has four lights. If wired in parallel,

the voltage at all four loads is 220V, same as the source.

If wired in series each light bulb would produce only 55 volts

each
Parallel Circuits
Series Parallel
Loads operate independently.

Meaning one switch to a light

can be turned off, but another
can still operate.

Example of a parallel circuit – In your

kitchen, you might have 3 different lights.
Each has their own switch. However, they
are connected on the same line, at the
breaker box. Hence, there are different lines
going to each load from the source
Series Parallel
 Safety
Never work in the circuit while it’s plugged in.
Always disconnect the lead from the source.

Before powering up the circuit, make sure all

wires are properly connected.

Never run the circuit with an exposed wire.

 Safety

Touch Never touch an exposed wire while connected.

Allow Never allow exposed wires touch. It creates a short.

If you are unsure if you are allowed to plug in the circuit,

Ask ask me.

Get If an emergency occurs, get my attention immediately.