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INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRICITY

What is Electricity?
Electricity is a form of energy produced by the movement of electrons. Electricity is electrical power or an
electric current. This form of energy can be sent through wires in a flow of tiny particles. It is used to
produce light and heat and to run motors.
Electricity is the flow of electrical power or charge. It is a secondary energy source which means that we
get it from the conversion of other sources of energy, like coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear power and other
natural sources, which are called primary sources. The energy sources we use to make electricity can be
renewable or non-renewable, but electricity itself is neither renewable nor non-renewable.

Nikola Tesla pioneered the generation, transmission, and use of alternating current (AC) electricity, which
can be transmitted over much greater distances than direct current. Tesla's inventions used electricity to
bring indoor lighting to our homes and to power industrial machines.

Benjamin Franklin's experiment with a kite one stormy night in Philadelphia, the principles of electricity
gradually became understood. Franklin proposed that "vitreous" and "resinous" electricity were not
different types of "electrical fluid" (as electricity was called then), but the same electrical fluid under
different pressures. He was the first to label them as positive and negative respectively, and he was the
first to discover the principle of conservation of charge.

Thomas Edison helped change everyone's life -- he perfected his invention -- the electric light bulb. Prior
to 1879, direct current (DC) electricity had been used in arc lights for outdoor lighting.

Kinds of Electricity

Electricity is a physical agent which pervades the atomic structure of all matter. We cannot create
electricity, although it can be generated (which is widely used). It is generated by a battery or dynamo,
which take place when battery or dynamo forces some of these existing electricity electrons to move.

a) STATIC ELECTRICITY. When two objects are rubbed together, electrons are moved from the
surface atoms, relatively more from one material than from the other. The object whose atoms
acquire an excess of electrons is said to have a negative charge, while other object is said to have
positive static charge. The term STATIC means fixed or at rest that we call static electricity, results
when a rubber rod, rubbed with a piece of wool, electron collects on the surface of the rubber
rod, imparting a negative static charge while positively charged atoms at the surface of the wool
give it a positive static charge. Therefore, this kind of electricity is generated through the action
of friction between two materials, or by potential difference.

b.) DYNAMIC ELECTRICITY. This refers to electrons in motion. Moving electrons constitute electric
current which are free because they had escaped from their atoms that still moving and which no
longer circulate about a central nucleus. Electrons are moved from atoms by electrical force which
frees the electrons from their atoms and causes them to move along the wire by chemical action
by heat, by magnetic effect or in a number of other ways that will be considered later. In all cases,
the wire must form an endless path or circuit from one side or terminal of the generator to the
other.

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Sources of Electricity

1. Friction – static electricity is generated by the action of friction between two materials. This has
been discussed in electron theory.
2. Chemical Action – a great deal of the world’s electricity is produced by batteries. These devices
generate a different or potential means of chemical action.
3. Heat Action – two dissolution metals bonded together in a junction when heated, exhibit a
difference of potential. Such bond is called thermocouple. The trip of an iron wire, for example,
may be welded to that of a copper wire. When this junction is heated, the iron wire shows a
positive charge, and a copper wire has a negative charge. Electricity generated by heat action is
called Thermoelectricity.
4. Light Action – photo-cells are semi-conduction devices which convert light directly into electrical
energy. Either sunlight or artificial illumination may be employed. This action is due to the ability
of lights energy to free electrons from the atoms of the semi-conductor material. This process is
called Photo-Electricity.
5. Pressure – a difference of potential appears across the faces of certain crystals, such as quartz,
when they are squeezed or stretched. This action is called PIezo-Electricity.
6. Mechanical Action – all electricity in large useful amounts is at present produce by rotating
machines working with the use of magnets. These machines, known as generators, are turned by
water power, gas engines or steam engines and sometimes by electric motors. Small generators
are found in automobiles. In some portable applications, small generators are driven by hand
cranks or foot pedals. Only small amounts of electricity are ordinarily produced by action of heat,
light, and pressure.

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ELECTRICAL CURRENT

Electricity is a term used to describe the energy produced (usually to perform work) when electrons are
caused to directional (not randomly) flow from atom to atom.

AMPERAGE

It is very important to have a way to measure and quantify the flow of electrical current. When current
flow is controlled it can be used to do useful work. Electricity can be very dangerous and it is important to
know something about it in order to work with it safely. The flow of electrons is measured in units called
amperes. The term amp is often used for short. An amp is the amount of electrical current that exists
when a number of electrons, having one coulomb (ku`-lum) of charge, move past a given point in one
second. A coulomb is the charge carried by 6.25 x 10^18 electrons. 6.25 x 10^18 is scientific notation for
6,250,000,000,000,000,000. That is a lot of electrons moving past a given point in one second!
An ammeter is this instrument and it is used to indicate how many amps of current are flowing in an
electrical circuit.

VOLTAGE

We also need to know something about the force that causes the electrons to move in an electrical circuit.
This force is called electromotive force, or EMF. Sometimes it is convenient to think of EMF as electrical
pressure. In other words, it is the force that makes electrons move in a certain direction within a
conductor.
But how do we create this “electrical pressure” to generate electron flow? There are many sources of
EMF. Some of the more common ones are: batteries, generators, and photovoltaic cells, just to name a
few.

RESISTANCE

There is another important property that can be measured in electrical systems. This is resistance, which
is measured in units called ohms. Resistance is a term that describes the forces that oppose the flow of
electron current in a conductor. All materials naturally contain some resistance to the flow of electron
current. We have not found a way to make conductors that do not have some resistance.

Is resistance good or bad?

Resistance can be both good and bad. If we are trying to transmit electricity from one place to another
through a conductor, resistance is undesirable in the conductor. Resistance causes some of the electrical
energy to turn into heat so some electrical energy is lost along the way. However, it is resistance that
allows us to use electricity for heat and light. The heat that is generated from electric heaters or the light
that we get from light bulbs is due to resistance. In a light bulb, the electricity flowing through the filament,
or the tiny wires inside the bulb, cause them to glow white hot. If all the oxygen were not removed from
inside the bulb, the wires would burn up.

ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS

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QUANTITY SYMBOL BASIC UNIT UNIT OF SYMBOL

Current I-i Ampere A
Charge Q or q Coulomb C
Power P Watt W
Voltage E, e or V Volt V
Resistance R Ohm Ω
Reactance X Ohm Ω
Impedance Z Ohm Ω
Conductance G Siemens S
Admittance Y Siemens S
Susceptance B Siemens S
Capacitance C Farad F
Inductance L Henry H
Frequency F Hertz Hz
Period T Second s

Current- is a flow of electrical charge carriers, usually electrons or electron-deficient atoms. This charge
is typically carried by moving electrons into a conductor such a wire. It can also be carried by ions in an
electrolyte or by ions and electrons in plasma.

Charge- is a concept of energy or energetic impulse, greater, greater than a simple signal, applied to some
object or entity.

Power- is the rate at which work is performed or energy is converted.

Voltage- is an informal term for electric potential difference and also called electric tension.

- Is a measure of the energy of electricity, specifically it is energy per unit charge.

Resistance- is the opposition of a circuit element to a charge electric current.

Impedance- describes a measure of opposition to alternating current (AC).

Conductance- is the ability of the materials to pass electrons.

Admittance- is a measure of how easily a circuit or device will allow a current to flow.

Susceptance- is the imaginary part of admittance.

Capacitance- is the ability of a body to hold an electric charge.

Inductance- is the property of an electrical circuit causing voltage to be generated proportional to the
rate of a charge in current in a circuit.

Frequency- is the number of occurrences of a repeating event per unit time.

Period- is the duration at one cycle in a repeating event, so the period is the reciprocal of the frequency.

CONDUCTORS AND INSULATORS

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Conductors
Copper is considered to be a conductor because it “conducts” the electron current or flow of electrons
fairly easily. Most metals are considered to be good conductors of electrical current. Copper is just one of
the more popular materials that are used for conductors.
Other materials that are sometimes used as conductors are silver, gold, and aluminum. Copper is still the
most popular material used for wires because it is a very good conductor of electrical current and it is
fairly inexpensive when compared to gold and silver. Aluminum and most other metals do not conduct
electricity quite as good as copper.

KINDS OF CONDUCTORS
Electric conductors are manufactured as wires or as cords. A wire is just one length of solid or stranded
body while a cord is composed of two conductors imbedded in one solid mass of rubber insulation or two
separated conductors twisted together along its length. A solid conductor has a solid body and therefore
rigid while a stranded conductor which is very flexible, is composed of many fine strands of wire twisted
together.

1. Annunciator wire, also called bell wire is used in bell and alarm wiring work. It is usually a No. 18 solid
wire.

2. Heater cord is used as a cord in heating devices such as flat iron, etc. It has asbestos fibers wrapped
around the rubber insulation.

3. Lamp cord consists of two stranded conductors imbedded in a solid mass of rubber insulation with a
slit between them. It is also called zip cord because the two conductors can be separated at the slit like a
zipper. The cord is mostly used in lamp shades.

4. Asbestos-covered wire is used as a conductor in electrical devices where a great amount of heat is
produced. The wire is covered with a layer of asbestos which is heat resistant.

5. Royal cord consists of two rubber covered wires around which is wrapped a hard rubber insulation. It
is used as extension cord for lights, sound system, etc.

6. Armored cable (BX) consists of two or more rubber covered wires wrapped with a spiral galvanized steel
armor. The cable is flexible and is used mostly as power lines for air conditioners, electric motors, service
entrance etc.

7. Drop cord consists of two heavily wrapped stranded conductors that extend from the ceiling outlet
down to a lamp socket. When the ceiling is rather high and the light cannot effectively illuminate the
room, the light cannot effectively illuminate the room, the light is brought down with the use of a drop
cord.
8. G and Y cord has green and yellow cotton protective braids wrapped around the rubber insulation. It is
used as extension cord for Christmas lanterns, etc. It is composed of two stranded conductors twisted
together along its length.

9. Thermoplastic wire is a most modern wire with a semi-plastic insulation. It is now used in most house
wiring jobs. The name is abbreviated T W.

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The longer the wire, the greater the resistance; the shorter the wire the lesser is the resistance.
Size of conductor. The resistance of a conductor is inversely proportional to its cross-sectional area. This
means the larger the conductor, the lesser resistance it will have per foot of length. Given the same length
and the same material, a No. 12 copper wire will give lesser resistance to the flow of current than does a
No. 30 copper wire.

The bigger the conductor, the lesser is the resistance; the smaller the conductor. The bigger is the
resistance.
The American Wire gage, also called Brown and Sharpe Gage is used to measure the size of wire
conductor. The diameter of round wires are commonly given by the number of the gage. The numbers
range from 4 zeroes to 40, that is from No. 0000 to No. 40. The size of wire decreases as the gage number
increases. Example: a No. 10 wire is bigger than a No. 12 wire. Wires bigger than No. 0000 are expressed
in C.M. (circular mils).

AMERICAN WIRE GAGE

In calculating the resistance of round wires, a circular measure is used to express the cross sectional are
of the wire, the circular mil. One circular mil is the area of a circle whose diameter is one mil. The term mil
means one-thousandth of an inch (.001 in.). If the size of wire measures 2 mils, then it has a sectional area
of 4 circular mils.
By formula, Mil equals diameter of wire times 1000.
Circular mil equals mil times itself.
The size of wire decreases as the gage number increases.

Electric insulators.
Why is it that in some materials like rubber, glass, porcelain, etc., electric current cannot pass through?
The free electrons in these materials are very strongly attracted to their nucleus, so that it would need a
very strong force to make even a single electron leave its orbit. Because of this nature, the materials
become insulators of electric current. An insulator is a material which does not allow electrical current to
flow through it.
Examples of insulators:
Sealing Wax Glass
Oil Rubber
Porcelain Plastic
Shellac Dry leather
Mica Dry air

The most common insulator of wire conductors is rubber. Plastic is next. Rubber insulation is used in the
manufacture of electric cords while thermoplastic insulation is used in the manufacture of solid
conductors. The purpose of an insulator is to prevent the electric current from going to a place where it
is not needed.

Insulators
Insulators are materials that have just the opposite effect on the flow of electrons. They do not let
electrons flow very easily from one atom to another. Insulators are materials whose atoms have tightly
bound electrons. These electrons are not free to roam around and be shared by neighboring atoms.
Some common insulator materials are glass, plastic, rubber, air, and wood.

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THE ELECTRIC CIRCUIT

The electric circuit. When you want to turn on the ceiling light, you simply use the switch on the wall.
When you want to use the electric fan you simply plug it in the wall outlet. The use of your electric
appliances is possible because of an electrical circuit. You must note that there is a circuit for every
electrical connection. The circuit enables the electric current to travel from its source and back to the
source. A circuit is path of electric current from its source and back.

The electric circuit.

When you want to turn on the ceiling light, you simply use the switch on the wall. When you want to use
the electric fan you simply plug it in the wall outlet. The use of your electric appliances is possible because
of an electrical circuit. You must note that there is a circuit for every electrical connection. The circuit
enables the electric current to travel from its source and back to the source. A circuit is path of electric
current from its source and back.

There are four common electric circuits which you should remember and understand. They are: open-
circuit, closed circuit, ground circuit, and short circuit. You will meet them very often in your study of
electricity and it is important that you know their uses and characteristics.

Open circuit. When there is a break in the circuit and the current could not pass through, the circuit is
open. The switch is a device which opens and closes the circuit. When the switch is “off”, the circuit is
open but when the switch is “on”, the circuit is closed. The switch is a convenient way of stopping the flow
of current when it is no longer need.

Closed circuit. When there is a continuous. When there is a continuous flow of current form its source and
back to the source without interruption, the circuit is closed. When the switch is turned “on”, the circuit
is closed. Electric current travels straight from the source to the electric appliance through the switch and
conductor. There is a closed circuit for as long as the appliance is “on” or being used. The moment the
switch is turned “off”, the circuit is no longer closed and the current will stop flowing. A closed circuit is
necessary to enable the appliance to function or to work.

Short circuit, There is a short circuit when the electric current takes a short cut from its usual path. Electric
current always takes the path of least resistance and will travel in the shortest way from the source and
back, if give n the chance. For instance, if two conductors of different potentials come into electrical
contact with each other, the current will “jump” back to the source without passing through the electrical
appliance. A short circuit is dangerous and should not be allowed to happen.
The cord of an electric flat iron is a common cause of short circuit. Due to constant use, the cord gets
twisted such that the two conductors become bare and touch each other. A big spark will occur because
of the uncontrolled movement of electrons.

Ground circuit. Have you noticed the electric bulb circuit in a passenger jeep? Why is there only one wire
connected to the bulb socket? All moving vehicles, such as jeeps, automobiles, etc., used ground circuits.
The metal body of the vehicle is used as return wire for the electric current. Metal parts are conductors
of electricity.

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Let us not confuse ground circuit and a “ground”. A “ground” is an accidental touching of one conductor
to the metal body of an appliance. This ground is not a circuit. Can you explain why? In electrical
appliances, the ground is dangerous and unnecessary. An electric flat iron that has a “ground” will produce
shock if touched.

The complete circuit.

There are four conditions which should be satisfied before we can fully utilize the satisfied before we can
fully utilize the electrical energy. First, there should be a source of electrical energy. Secondly, there should
be a system of making the electric current flow where we want it. Thirdly, there should be a way of
stopping the flow of electric current when we no longer need it. Fourth, there should be an electrical
device that receives the electrical energy and changes it into useful energy. If these conditions are met,
then we have a complete circuit. A complete circuit consist of a load, a path, a means of control, and a
source of electrical energy.

Source.
The source is the part of the circuit which supplies the electromotive force. At home, the source of
electrical energy is the wall outlets. These outlets are connected to the generator of the electrical
company. For small appliances, such as flashlight, transistor radio, etc., the battery is the source of electric
energy.

Control.
The control is the part of the circuit which connects and disconnects the wire. There must be a way of
stopping the flow of electric current when we no longer need it. The electric switch such as the push
button, tumbler switch, the toggle switch, etc., are devices which cut off the flow of electric current when
the appliance is no longer used. Sometimes, we simply remove the plug from the outlet and the appliance
stops working.

Load.
The load is the part of the circuit which uses the electrical energy. The electric appliances receive the
electrical energy. The electric bulb changes electrical energy into light. The electric stove changes electric
energy into heat. The electric bell changes electricity into sound and the floor polisher changes the
electrical power into rotary motion. Can you name some more electrical appliances and theirs uses?
Comparison between water system and electric circuit.
To fully understand the complete circuit, let us compare it to the water system which is very familiar to
you.

Water will flow through the pipe if it is not pushed forward. The water pump forces the water to flow. The
electrons will not flow through the wire if there is no “pump:” to make it move. The generator or the
battery forces the electrons to flow through the electric wire.
The water pipe and the electric.

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Appliances for motion. Any appliance which uses an electric motor can provide motion. Examples: electric
fan, floor polisher, electric mixer, washing machine, sewing machine, electric shaver. In some buildings,
there are elevators and escalators which use electric motors. In factories, the electric motor is used to
operate such machines as the drill press the lathe machine, the planer, the circular saw, the scroll saw,
etc.

Appliances for heat. Any appliance which uses a heating element can provide heat. Examples: electric flat
iron, toaster, water heater, electric oven electric stove, cigarette lighter, etc.

Appliance for light. Any appliance which uses a filament or electric rods gives off light. Examples:
Incandescent bulb, fluorescent lamp, mercury vapor lamp, sodium vapor lamp, are lamp neon lamp.

Appliances for sound. Sound-producing appliances are: electric bell, chimes, automobile horn, siren, radio
set, television set, record player, sound system, stereo set.
Series connection. Normally, there is only one load in the circuit. But sometimes several loads are
connected in a single circuit. For example, Christmas lams are connected in series in the circuit.

CIRCUIT DIAGRAMS

Circuit diagrams are a pictorial way of showing circuits. Electricians and engineers draw circuit diagrams
to help them design the actual circuits. Here is an example circuit diagram.

THE SERIES CIRCUIT

A series circuit has more than one resistor (anything that uses electricity to do work) and gets its name
from only having one path for the charges to move along. Charges must move in "series" first going to one
resistor then the next. If one of the items in the circuit is broken then no charge will move through the
circuit because there is only one path. There is no alternative route. Old style electric holiday lights were
often wired in series. If one bulb burned out, the whole string of lights went off.

THE PARALLEL CIRCUIT

Like the series circuit, parallel circuits also contain a voltage (current) source as well as wires and other
components. The main difference between a series circuit and a parallel circuit is in the way the
components are connected. In a parallel circuit the electricity has several paths that it can travel.

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DIRECT CURRENT

Direct current. The electric current which always travels in one direction in the external circuit is called
direct current. Let us trace the flow of current in a battery circuit. The flow of current in the external circuit
starts from the negative terminal of the battery, passes through the wire conductor, to the appliance (bell)
and then back to the battery through the positive terminal. This direction of flow never changes.

ALTERNATING CURRENT

What is alternating current (AC)?

Most students of electricity begin their study with what is known as direct current (DC), which is electricity
flowing in a constant direction, and/or possessing a voltage with constant polarity. DC is the kind of
electricity made by a battery (with definite positive and negative terminals), or the kind of charge
generated by rubbing certain types of materials against each other.

OHM'S LAW

Probably the most important mathematical relationship between voltage, current and resistance in
electricity is something called “Ohm’s Law”. A man named George Ohm published this formula in 1827
based on his experiments with electricity. This formula is used to calculate electrical values so that we can
design circuits and use electricity in a useful manner.

OHM'S LAW
I = V/R,
I = current, V = voltage, and R = resistance
*Depending on what you are trying to solve we can rearrange it two other ways.
V=IxR
R = V/I
*All of these variations of Ohm’s Law are mathematically equal to one another.

Let’s look at what Ohm’s Law tells us. In the first version of the formula, I = V/R, Ohm's Law tells us that
the electrical current flowing in a circuit is directly proportional to the voltage and inversely proportional
to the resistance. In other words, an increase in the voltage will tend to increase the current while an
increase in resistance will tend to decrease the current.

The second version of the formula tells us that if either the current or the resistance is increased in the
circuit, the voltage will also have to increase. The third version of the formula tells us that an increase in
voltage will result in an increase in resistance but that an increase in current will result in a decrease in
resistance.

As you can see, voltage, current, and resistance are mathematically, as well as, physically related to each
other. We cannot deal with electricity without all three of these properties being considered.
(The symbol for an Ohm looks like a horseshoe and is pictured after the "100" in the diagram.

George S. Ohm, a scientist of the early 1800s, formulated a law that links the relationship of Electromotive
Force (EMF), current flow and resistance in a basic circuit. He found out that: “The current in a circuit is
directly proportional to the applied voltage and inversely proportional to resistance in the circuit”.
Or in simpler form;

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When Resistance goes up or down – current goes up or down, assuming the voltage is the same.

When Voltage goes up or down – current goes up or down, assuming the resistance is the same.

When Resistance Goes Up – current goes down, assuming voltage stays the same.

When Resistance Goes Down – current goes up, assuming voltage stays the same.

Volts
Discovered and named after the Italian Scientist: Alessandro Volta

(1745-1827)
Unit of measurement for electrical pressure.
Electromotive Force, EMF is another way of indicating voltage.
The capital letter V is the acceptable abbreviation for volts.
The symbol used in calculations is the letter E, for EMF.
Voltage is measured with a Voltmeter.

Amperage is represented by “I”

Amps
Discovered and named after Frenchman: André Marie Ampere

(1775-1836)
Unit of measurement for current flow.
A and amps are acceptable abbreviations for amperes.
The capital letter I is for intensity - used in mathematical calculations.
Amperes is measured by an Ammeter not an amp-meter.

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Resistance is represented by “R”

Ohms
The German scientist George Simon Ohm (1787-1854) discovered the relationship between volts amps
and resistance and produced Ohms Law.
Unit of measurement for electrical resistance.
The symbol for ohms is _____, the last letter of the Greek alphabet.
The symbol used in calculations is the letter R, for resistance.
Ohms are measured by an Ohmmeter.

ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT IN BUILDING

Basic Wiring Installation

All wiring installation must be conformed with the Philippine Electrical Code (PEC) as well as to any codes
of the particular locality.

Service is the conductors and equipment for delivering energy from the serving utility to the wiring system
of the premises served.

Service Cable is the service conductors made up in the form of a cable.

Service Drop is the overhead service conductors from the last pole or other aerial support to and including
the splices, if any, connecting to the service entrance conductors at the building or other structure.

Service Conductors are the supply conductors that extend from the street main or from transformers to
the service equipment of the premises supplied.

Service Entrance Conductors (overhead system) the service conductors between the terminals of the
service equipment and a point usually outside the building, clear of the building walls, where joined by
tap or splice to the service drop.

Service Entrance Conductors (underground system) the service conductors between the terminals of the
service equipment and the point of connection to the service terminal.

Service Entrance Conductors (sub-sets) building of multiple occupancy shall be permitted to have two or
more separate sets of service entrance conductors which are tapped from one service drop.

Service Equipment the necessary equipment, usually consisting of a circuit breaker(s) or switch(es) and
fuse(s) and their accessories, connected to the load end of service conductors to a building or other
structure, or an otherwise designated area, and intended to constitute the main control and cut-off of the
supply.

Service Lateral the underground service conductors between the street main, including any risers at a
pole or other structure or from transformers, and the first point of connection to the service entrance
conductors in a terminal box or meter or other enclosure, inside or outside the building wall. Where there
is no terminal box, meter or other enclosure, the point of connection shall be considered to be the point
of entrance of the service conductors into the building.

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Service Point is the point of connection between the facilities of the serving utility and the premises
wiring.

Service Raceways is the raceway that encloses the service-entrance conductors.

THE BRANCH CIRCUIT

Electric Circuit refers to the complete path traversed by an electric current. In short, electric circuit is the
entire house wiring installation.

Branch Circuit is defined by Philippine Electrical Code (PEC) as: “the circuit conductors between the final
over current device protecting the circuit and the outlet(s).” meaning the branch circuit is the only wiring
installed between the circuit over current protective device such as fuse or circuit breaker, and the outlets.

Other purposes of Branch Circuit:

1. Branch Circuit for Appliance

- a branch circuit that supplies energy to one or more outlets to which appliances are to be
connected, and that has no permanently connected lighting fixtures that are not a part of an appliance.

2. Branch Circuit for General Purposes

- a branch circuit that supplies a number of outlets for lighting and appliances.

3. Branch Circuit for Individual

- a branch circuit that supplies only one utilization equipment.

4. Branch Circuit for Multi-wire

- a branch circuit that consists of two or more ungrounded conductors that have a potential
difference between them, and a grounded conductor that has equal potential difference between it and
each ungrounded conductor of the circuit and that is connected to the neutral or grounded conductor of
the system.

FUSE AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

Circuit Breakers

An automatically operated electrical switch designed to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused
by overload or short circuit. Its basic function is to detect a fault condition and interrupt current flow.
Unlike a fuse, which operates once and then must be replaced, a circuit breaker can be reset (either
manually or automatically) to resume normal operation. Circuit breakers are made in varying sizes, from
small devices that protect an individual household appliance up to large switchgear designed to
protect high voltage circuits feeding an entire city.

Fuse

The basic purpose of the fuse is to protect and is composed of an alloy which has a low melting point. A
strip of this fuse is placed in series with the circuit. The working principle is that if the current is in excess
then the strip would melt and break the circuit. There are different variants of fuse boxes available with

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different types of circuit breaking. For instance, in the case of slow blow fuses, a small overload is carried
for some period without the circuit been broken.

BRACH CIRCUIT AND FUSE SIZE

Fuse Rating:

20 amperes = for lighting outlet

30 amperes = for convenience outlet (general purpose)

60-100 amperes = for main fuse

Circuit Breakers Rating:

60-100 amperes = for main breaker

Branch Circuits:

15 amperes = for lighting fixtures

20 amperes = for convenience outlet (general purpose)

30 amperes = heavy duty appliance outlets

Causes of Over Current

There are two principal causes of overcurrent
1. Overload in the equipment or conductors
2. Short circuit or ground fault

Raceways

Raceways are channels or wiring accessories designed for holding wires, cables or bus-bars that are
either made of metal, plastic, or any insulating mediums.

Common Types of Raceways

1. Cable Raceways
2. Surface Raceways
3. Cable Tray/Duct
4. Cable Ladder-

Types of Switches

1. Single Pole Switch

- The single pole switch with two terminals used to turn on and off the light or appliance from
a single location.

SLRC – PRE LET REVIEW T.L.E BASIC ELECTRICITY

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2. Canopy Switches
- Tumbler, pull chain and push button, are small size compact switches mounted in the
canopies of lighting fixtures, to control the lamps at the fixture.
3. Single Pole Touch Switch
- The button is switched to turn the light off and on.
4. Feed Through Switch
- This type of switch is being used in parallel cords.
5. Three-Way Switch
- This type of switch is used to control lights from two different locations in which two three-
way switches are required for each installation.
6. Four-Way Switch
- Four-way switch is used to control an electrical circuit from three points. In using a four-way
switch, install the four way switch between the two-three-way switches.
- A four-way switch is a special double pole, double throw switch, use between two-three-way
switches to provide an additional switch from which a light may be operated. When the switch
is operated; an isolated jumper conducts current to contact diagonally.
7. Dimmer Switch
- This type of switch is used to switch a light from bright light (100 %) to a dim light
(approximately 25 %) by turning a knob.
8. Photo-Cell Switch
- A photo-cell switch also known as photo-eye sensor is a kind of automatic switch. When the
cap of the device is being covered by dark shadows it will automatically switch on the load
such lights. And when it is expose into bright or sunlight the device itself will automatically
shut off the loads. The photo-cell has electronic components inside.

SLRC – PRE LET REVIEW T.L.E BASIC ELECTRICITY