Hitachi Construction Truck Manufacturing Ltd.

Fundamentals of Electricity
Level 1

HTT-EP1-0606

PRESENTATION TOPICS
Basics of Electricity
Ohms Law
Types of Electrical Circuits and Their Characteristics
The Relationship Between Magnetism and Electricity
Operating Principles of Electromagnetic Devices

ELECTRICITY:
The flow of electrons from atom to atom in a conductor.
Electrons: Negatively Charged
-

Neutrons: Neutrally charged

N N

Protons: Positively Charged

++
N + +
N +

N N

Conductor = Electrons easily dislodged

Insulator = Electrons NOT easily dislodged
Semi-Conductor = Neither good conductor nor insulator

CONDUCTOR:
Allows electrons to easily flow from one atom to another.
When the electrons flow from one atom to another electricity is
produced.
Electrons are dislodged by electrical charges
which are either POSITIVE or NEGATIVE

Nucleus

Nucleus

Nucleus

Nucleus

Nucleus

Nucleus

REPELS

ATTRACTS
Electron Flow = CURRENT

Difference between Positive and Negative = VOLTAGE

ELECTRICITY CONSISTS OF:

Current:
The flow of electrons through a conductor, measured in AMPERES. Amperes is the
quantity of electrons flowing past a point in the circuit per second.
1 AMPERE = 6.28 BILLION ELECTRONS per Second!!!
Voltage:
The electrical pressure or force causing electrons to flow in a conductor, measured in
VOLTS.
The larger the difference between the positive and negative charges in a circuit
the HIGHER the VOLTAGE.
Resistance:
Opposition to current flow, measured in OHMS. Created in a conductor by:
1. The Resistance of the electron dislodging from its orbit around the nucleus
2. The collisions of the electrons moving through the conductor.
1 OHM resistance will allow 1 AMPERE to flow when 1 VOLT is applied to a circuit.

OHMS LAW: The amount of voltage, current and resistance in a

circuit are related. Current in a circuit is directly proportional to the
voltage applied and inversely proportional to the circuit resistance.
Stated as:

I = E/R
I is Current

E
I

E is VOLTAGE R is RESISTANCE
8 Volts 4 AMPS = 2 OHMS
8 Volts 2 Ohms = 4 AMPS
4 Amps x 2 Ohms = 8 VOLTS

Electrical Circuits:
A path for electron flow from a voltage source through the
components and connectors and back to the source.
An electrical circuit contains:
1. A Voltage source (Battery, Alternator)
2. A conductor that provides the path for current
3. Electrical Components which provide resistance to flow
(Switches, Resistors, Motors)

OPEN CIRCUIT

CLOSED CIRCUIT

CONVENTIONAL VS. ELECTRON THEORY:

Conventional Theory: Electrons flow from the positive side of the
terminal through the circuit to the negative terminal.

Electron Theory: Electrons flow from the negative terminal

through the circuit to the positive terminal.

Electron Theory IS CORRECT, BUT Conventional Theory is the

original and more common in everyday use.

SERIES CIRCUIT
POP!
+

PARALLEL CIRCUIT
POP!
+

SERIES/PARALLEL CIRCUIT

POP!
+

CHARACTERISTICS OF A CIRCUIT:
Series Circuit:
Current Same at all points in the circuit
Voltage Total Voltage equals sum of the voltage drops across
each resistance.
Resistance Total resistance equals sum of resistance in the
circuit
- 6 Volts

- 6 Volts
2 Amps

3 Ohms

3 Ohms
+

2 Amps

2 Amps
12 Volts

CHARACTERISTICS OF A CIRCUIT:
Parallel Circuit:
Current Total Current is equal to the sum of current in all paths
Voltage Total voltage is the same is the voltage across each
parallel path
Resistance Total resistance is less than the resistance of any
one path
Total Resistance = 1.5 Ohms
3 Ohms

4 Amps

4 Amps

Total Current = 8 Amps

3 Ohms
+

12 Volts

CIRCUIT FAULTS:

SHORT
OPEN
GROUND

MAGNETS:
A key component of electricity.
Have a North and South pole
Magnetic Lines of force extend from the north to south pole.
Magnetic lines have direction but NO FLOW.
Lines form a MAGNETIC FIELD
Like poles repel / Opposite poles attract

MAGNETISM AND ELECTRICTY:

Related through the phenomenon of ELECTROMAGNETISM
When current flows through a conductor magnetic lines of force
(flux) are created around the conductor
The lines of force combine to form a magnetic field (More
Current the stronger the field)
Direction of current determines the direction of the lines of force
Direction of
Current

Direction of
Magnetic field

COILS:
When a conductor is wound in a coil, the electromagnetic fields
combine creating one magnetic field with a north and south pole.
Direction of current determines the direction of the
electromagnetic field around the conductor and polarity of the
magnetic field.
The strength of the magnetic field depends on the number of
loops of wire in the coil and the amount of current passing
through.
N

S
Voltage

More Loops OR Current = Stronger Magnetic Field.

ELECTROMAGNETS:
When a coil is wound around an iron core it creates an
electromagnet.
The strength of the magnetic field is greatly increased because
iron is a much better conductor than air.
The iron core conducts the magnetic lines through the centre of
the core

N
Voltage

RELAYS:
A switch which is opened and closed by an electromagnet
Iron Core can be stationary or moveable

N/O

N/O

N/C

N/C

DE-ENERGIZED

ENERGIZED

CONTACTORS:
A larger relay, with heavy duty, high current capacity.
Controlled by a low voltage circuit.
Low voltage circuit CONTROLS High voltage circuits.

High Voltage
Output

Low Voltage
Control

Heavy Duty
Contacts

SOLENOID SWITCHES:
Converts electrical energy into mechanical movement, (Starter).
The metal core moves when the coil is energized.
After the coil is de-energized the core is returned to its normal
position by a spring.

SOLENOID VALVES:
Operates in the same ways as the solenoid switch.
Opens or closes a valve
When energized the iron core shifts, core is part of the valve.
After the coil is de-energized the core is returned to its normal
position by a spring.

INTERLOCKS:

Electrical contacts can also function as interlocks.

A relay can control several interlocks simultaneously.

Interlocks can be normally closed or normally open, referring

to the position of the relay when NOT energized.
High Voltage
Contacts

Low Voltage
Interlock

CIRCUIT INTERLOCKS:
Through interlocks relays can control multiple circuits at the
same time and can set entire operating sequences into operation
by energizing or de-energizing other relays.
High Voltage
Contacts

Low Voltage
Interlock

RELAY Activated

SWITCH Activated