BASICS OF

ELECTRICAL
ENGINEERING

A. Richard Pravin
St. Anne’s College of Engineering and Technology
 First, An Analogy

Force: The difference in the water levels ≡ Voltage

Flow: The flow of the water between the tanks ≡ Current

Opposition: The valve that limits the amount of water ≡ Resistance

Force
Flow

Opposition
 VOLTAGE

 Voltage is the electrical force that

causes current to flow in a circuit.
 It is measured in volts (V).

Alessandro
Volta
1745-1827
Italian
Physicist
 CURRENT
 Current is the flow of electrical charge
through an electronic circuit.
 The direction of a current is opposite to
the direction of electron flow.
 Current is measured in ampere (A).
 Direct Current (dc) or Alternating
Current(ac)

Andre
Ampere
1775-1836
French
Physicist
 Flashlight

Switch Switch
Light Light
Bulb Bulb

Battery - +
Battery

Block Diagram Schematic Diagram

 Flashlight Schematic

Current

Resistance

- + - +
Voltage

 Closed circuit (switch closed)  Open circuit (switch open)

 Current flow  No current flow
 Lamp is on  Lamp is off
 Lamp is resistance, uses  Lamp is resistance, but is
energy to produce light (and not using any energy
heat)
 ELECTRIC CIRCUIT

 An electrical circuit is a connection of

circuit elements into one or more
closed loops.

 Electrical circuit elements are idealized

models of physical devices that are
defined by relationships between their
terminal voltages and currents. Circuit
elements can have two or more
terminals.
 CIRCUIT TOPOLOGY

 A circuit consists of a mesh of loops

 Represented as branches and nodes in
an undirected graph.
 Circuit components reside in the
branches
 Connectivity resides in the nodes
CIRCUIT COMPONENTS

 Active vs. Passive components

 Active ones may generate electrical power.
 Passive ones may store but not generate power.
 Lumped vs. Distributed Constants
 Distributed constant components account for
propagation times through the circuit branches.
 Lumped constant components ignore these
propagation times. Appropriate for circuits small
relative to signal wavelengths.
 Linear, time invariant (LTI) components
are those with constant component values.
 ACTIVE CIRCUIT
COMPONENTS

 From non-electrical sources

 Batteries (chemical)
 Dynamos (mechanical)
 Transducers in general (light, sound,
etc.)
 From other electrical sources
 Power supplies
 Power transformers
 Amplifiers
 PASSIVE LUMPED
CONSTANTS
 Classical LTI
 Resistors are AC/DC components.
 Inductors are AC components (DC short
circuit).
 Capacitors are AC components (DC open
circuit).

 Other components
 Rectifier diodes.
 Three or more terminal devices, e.g.
transistors.
 Transformers.
 CURRENT FLOW

 Conventional Current assumes

that current flows out of the Conventional
positive side of the battery, Current
through the circuit, and back to
the negative side of the battery.
This was the convention
established when electricity was
first discovered, but it is
incorrect!
 Electron Flow is what actually
happens. The electrons flow out
of the negative side of the Electron
battery, through the circuit, and Flow
back to the positive side of the
battery.
 Engineering vs. Science

 The direction that the current flows does not affect what
the current is doing; thus, it doesn’t make any difference
which convention is used as long as you are consistent.
 Both Conventional Current and Electron Flow are
used. In general, the science disciplines use Electron
Flow, whereas the engineering disciplines use
Conventional Current.
 Since this is an engineering course, we will use
Conventional Current .
Electron Conventional
Flow Current
 Resistance

 Opposition to flow in electrical circuits is called

resistance (or impedance).
 Measured in Ohms (Ω)
 Temperature also affects resistance.
 As a conductor gets hotter, the amount of resistance
increases.
R=ρL/A
Where
R = Resistance (Ω)
ρ = Resistivity of wire – a function of Temperature
L= Length of wire
A= Cross-sectional area of wire
 Ohm’s Law

 Ohm’s Law:
Current in a resistor varies in direct proportion
to the voltage applied to it and is inversely
proportional to the resistor’s value.
 Stated mathematically:
V
V + -
I
R I R

Where: I is the current (amperes)

V is the potential difference (volts)
R is the resistance (ohms)
Ohm’s Law Triangle

V V
I ( amperes, A )
I R R

V V
R ( ohms,  )
I R I

V
V I R ( volts, V )
I R
 Example: Ohm’s Law

Example:
The flashlight shown uses a 6 volt battery and has a bulb
with a resistance of 150 . When the flashlight is on, how
much current will be drawn from the battery?
 Example: Ohm’s Law
Example:
The flashlight shown uses a 6 volt battery and has a bulb
with a resistance of 150 . When the flashlight is on, how
much current will be drawn from the battery?
Solution:
Schematic Diagram
IR
V
+
VT = VR I R
-

VR 6V
IR   0.04 A 40 mA
R 150 
 Circuit Configuration
Components in a circuit can be connected in one of two ways .

Series Circuits Parallel Circuits

 Components are connected  Both ends of the components
end-to-end. are connected together.
 There is only a single path  There are multiple paths for
for current to flow. current to flow.

Components
(i.e., resistors, batteries, capacitors, etc.)
 Series Circuits
Characteristics of a series circuit
 The current flowing through every series component
is equal.
 The total resistance (RT) is equal to the sum of all of
the resistances (i.e., R1 + R2 + R3).
 The sum of all of the voltage drops (VR1 + VR2 + VR2) is
equal to the total appliedVvoltage
R1 (VT). This is called
IT
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law.+ -

+ +
VT VR2
- -

- +
RT 20
VR3
 Example: Series Circuit
Example:
For the series circuit shown, use the laws of circuit theory to calculate
the following:
• The total resistance (RT)
• The current flowing through each component (IT, IR1, IR2, & IR3)
• The voltage across each component (VT, VR1, VR2, & VR3)
• Use the results to verify Kirchhoff’s
V
Voltage Law.
R1
IT + -

+ IR1 +
VT IR2 VR2
- IR3 -

21
- +
RT
VR3
 Example: Series Circuit
Solution:
Total Resistance:
R T R1  R2  R3
R T 220   470   1.2 k
R T 1890  1.89 k

Current Through Each Component:

VT
IT  (Ohm' s Law) V
RT
12 v I R
IT  6.349 mAmp
1.89 k

Since this is a series circuit :

IT IR1 IR2 IR3 6.349 mAmp
 Example: Series Circuit
Solution:
Voltage Across Each Component:

VR1 IR1 R1  (Ohm' s Law)

VR1 6.349 mA 220 Ω 1.397 volts

VR2 IR2 R2 (Ohm' s Law)

VR2 6.349 mA 470 Ω 2.984 volts V
I R
VR3 IR3 R3 (Ohm' s Law)
VR3 6.349 mA 1.2 K Ω 7.619 volts
 Example: Series Circuit

Solution:
Verify Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law:
VT VR1  VR2  VR3
12 v 1.397 v  2.984 v  7.619 v
12 v 12 v
 Parallel Circuits
Characteristics of a Parallel Circuit
 The voltage across every parallel component is equal.
 The total resistance (RT) is equal to the reciprocal of the sum of
the reciprocal:
1 1 1 1 1
   RT 
R T R1 R 2 R 3 1 1 1
 
R1 R 2 R 3
 The sum of all of the currents in each branch (IR1 + IR2 + IR3) is
equal to the total current (IT). This is called Kirchhoff’s Current
Law. IT

+ + + +
VT VR1 VR2 VR3
- - - -

25
RT
 Example: Parallel Circuit
Example:
For the parallel circuit shown, use the laws of circuit theory to calculate
the following:
• The total resistance (RT)
• The voltage across each component (VT, VR1, VR2, & VR3)
• The current flowing through each component (IT, IR1, IR2, & IR3)
• Use the results to
IT verify Kirchhoff’s Current Law.

IR1 IR2 IR3

+ + + +
VT VR1 VR2 VR3
- - - -

26 26
RT
 Example: Parallel Circuit
Solution:
Total Resistance:
1
RT 
1 1 1
 
R1 R 2 R 3
1
RT 
1 1 1
 
470  2.2 k 3.3 k
R T 346.59 

Voltage Across Each Component:

Since this is a parallel circuit :

VT VR1 VR2  VR3 15 volts
 Example: Parallel Circuit
Solution:
Current Through Each Component:
V
IR1  R1 (Ohm' s Law)
R1
V 15 v
IR1  R1  31.915 mAmps
R1 470 

V
V 15 v
IR2  R2  6.818 mAmps
R2 2.2 k  I R

VR3 15 v
IR3   4.545 mAmp
R3 3.3 k 

VT 15 v
IT   43.278 mAmp
RT 346.59 
 Example: Parallel Circuit
Solution:
Verify Kirchhoff’s Current Law:
IT IR1  IR2  IR3
43.278 mAmps 31.915 mA  6.818 mA  4.545 mA
43.278 mAmps 43.278 mAmps
 Kirchhoff’s Laws

Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL):

The sum of all of the voltage drops in a
series circuit equals the total applied
voltage.

Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL):

Gustav Kirchhoff
1824-1887 The total current in a parallel circuit equals
German Physicist the sum of the individual branch currents.
 Electrical Power

 Electrical power P is the work done per time

by a current I (amperage) under pressure
(voltage) V or E.
 The unit of electrical power is the watt (W).
 Watts (P) = volts (V) X amperes (I)

P=VxI
 Electrical Power
Relationships
P=V·I
or
P = I2· R
or
P = V2 / R
P is the electric power in watt (W).
V is the voltage in volts (V).
I is the current in amps (A).
R is the resistance in ohms (Ω).

Kilowatts = watts / 1000

Horsepower = 746 watts
 Electrical Energy

 Electrical Energy is Electrical Power P

multiplied by the time of use t.
Electrical Energy = P t (in Wh or kWh)
 Electrical Energy is what you pay for!
Electric Energy Cost ($) = (Pt)($/kWh)
Energy Storage Elements

 Capacitors store energy in an electric field.

 Inductors store energy in a magnetic field.
 Capacitors and inductors are passive
elements:
 Can store energy supplied by circuit
 Can return stored energy to circuit
 Cannot supply more energy to circuit than is
stored.
 Capacitors

 Capacitance occurs when two conductors are

separated by a dielectric (insulator).
 Charge on the two conductors creates an electric
field that stores energy.
 The proportionality constant C is called
capacitance.
 Capacitance is measured in Farads (F).
 Inductors

 Inductance occurs when current flows through a

(real) conductor.
 The current flowing through the conductor sets up
a magnetic field that is proportional to the current.
 The voltage difference across the conductor is
proportional to the rate of change of the magnetic
flux.
 The proportionality constant is called the
inductance, denoted L.
 Inductance is measured in Henry (H).
 Alternating Currents

 An alternating current such as that produced

by a generator has no direction in the sense
that direct current has. The magnitudes vary
sinusoidal with time
E = Emax sin q
i = imax sin q
Emax
imax

time,
t
 Pure Resistance in AC
Circuits

R Vmax
Voltage
imax
A V Current

a.c. Source
Pure Inductor in AC Circuit

L Vmax
Voltage
imax
A V Current

a.c.

X L 2 fL
Pure Capacitor in AC Circuit

C
Vmax
Voltage
imax
A Current
V

a.c.

11
XXCC 
22 fC
fC
 Power factor

The power factor is equal to the real or true

power P in watts (W) divided by the apparent
power |S| in volt-ampere (VA):
PF = P(W) / |S(VA)|
PF - power factor.
P - real power in watts (W).
|S| - apparent power - the magnitude of the complex power
in volt·amps (VA).
PF = |cos φ|
3 Phase circuit
 Three-phase Voltage
Sources

Y-connected Source -connected Source

Single Phase Transformer

• The primary winding is connected to the

incoming power supply.
• The secondary winding is connected to the
driven load.
• The two windings of are linked together by
the magnetic field.
Step Down Transformer
Step Up Transformer
Power System
 Quantity Unit Name Unit Symbol
Electric current (I) Ampere (amp) A
Voltage (V, E)Electromotive
force (E) Volt V
Potential difference (Δφ)
Resistance (R) Ohm Ω
Electric power (P) Watt W
Volt-Ampere-
Reactive power (Q) var
Reactive
Apparent power (S) Volt-Ampere VA
Capacitance (C) Farad F
Inductance (L) Henry H
Conductance (G)Admittance
siemens / mho S
(Y)
Electric charge (Q) Coulomb C
Electric charge (Q) Ampere-hour Ah
Energy (E) Joule J
Energy (E) Kilowatt-hour kWh
 TEXT BOOKS &
REFERENCES

 William H. Hayt Jr, Jack E. Kemmerly and Steven M. Durbin,

Engineering Circuits Analysis‖, Tata McGraw Hill
publishers, 6 edition, New Delhi, 2003.
 Joseph A. Edminister, Mahmood Nahri,
―Electric circuits‖, Schaum‘s series, Tata McGraw-
Hill, New Delhi, 2001.
 Paranjothi SR, ―Electric Circuits Analysis,‖ New Age
International Ltd., New Delhi, 1996.
 Sudhakar A and Shyam Mohan SP, ―Circuits and Network
Analysis and Synthesis‖, Tata McGraw Hill, 2007.
 Chakrabati A, ―Circuits Theory (Analysis and synthesis),
Dhanpath Rai & Sons, New Delhi, 1999.
 Charles K. Alexander, Mathew N.O. Sadiku,
―Fundamentals of Electric Circuits‖, Second Edition,
McGraw Hill, 2003.
THANK YOU