LECTURE 1

SYMBOLS,ELECTRICAL AND
CIRCUIT DIAGRAMS
Electrical Symbols:
ELECTRICAL DIAGRAMS
An electrical diagram is a visual representation of
an electrical system, showing how electrical
components are interconnected. Here are the key
types of electrical diagrams and their elements.
Types of Electrical Diagrams:
• Schematic Diagrams: Shows an electric circuit
components and their connections but not
necessarily their physical locations. It’s useful for
understanding how circuits function.
Example of Schematic diagram
Cont…
• Wiring Diagrams: wiring diagram is a visual
representation of components and wires related to
an electrical connection. This pictorial diagram
shows us the physical links that are far easy to
understand an electrical circuit or system.
• Single-Line Diagrams: Represents the flow of
electricity with a single line, simplifying complex
circuits. It’s commonly used for power distribution
systems. A single-line diagram (SLD) is a high-
level schematic diagram showing how incoming
power is distributed to equipment.
Example of single line diagram.
• Block Diagrams: Offers a high-level overview of
the system, using blocks to represent components
or subsystems.
• Pictorial Diagrams: A pictorial diagram uses
pictures to represent the different components of
a particular system. Pictorial diagrams can vary
in level of detail. Some diagrams may have
realistic pictures to make the various components
easier to identify. Others might have simple
sketches that can easily be understood by the
average person working on a weekend project.
Examples of pictorial diagram
• Ladder Diagrams: These are used mainly in
industrial control systems, representing the logic
of relay systems and the sequence of operations.
Example of Ladder diagrams:
 CIRCUIT DIAGRAMS
• A circuit diagram is a graphical representation
of an electrical circuit, using standardized
symbols to illustrate the components and their
connections. These diagrams show how electrical
elements such as resistors, capacitors, transistors,
power sources, and wires are interconnected to
form a functional circuit.
Cont..
Circuit diagrams are essential for designing,
building, and troubleshooting electronic devices
because they provide a clear and simplified view
of how the components should be arranged and
how current flows through the system.
• There are two main types of circuit diagrams:
1.Schematic Circuit Diagrams: These diagrams
focus on the functionality and relationships
between components, using standardized
symbols to represent different elements. They do
not show physical placement but emphasize how
the circuit works.
2.Wiring Circuit Diagrams: These provide a
more practical view, illustrating the physical
layout of the wiring and components, and are
used for installation and repair purposes.
❖Principles of electrical testing and measuring
equipment.
The working principles of electrical testing and
measuring equipment are based on accurately
detecting and quantifying various electrical
properties such as voltage, current, resistance,
capacitance, and impedance. Here’s an overview
of key principles involved
Cont..
1. Ohm's Law: Many electrical measurement tools
rely on Ohm's Law, which defines the relationship
between voltage, current, and resistance (V = IR).
Tools like multimeters use this principle to
measure these variables across circuits.
2. Electromagnetic Induction: Equipment such as
clamp meters and transformers measure current
without direct electrical contact by detecting the
magnetic field generated around a conductor when
current flows through it.
3. Capacitive and Inductive Reactance: For devices
that measure capacitance or inductance (like LCR
meters), these principles help determine the behavior of
capacitors and inductors in AC circuits by analyzing
their opposition to changes in voltage and current.
4. Kirchhoff’s Laws: Voltage testers and network
analyzers use Kirchhoff’s laws to measure how current
and voltage distribute across different components in a
circuit. These laws help ensure the conservation of
charge and energy in complex circuits.
5.Wheatstone Bridge: This principle is used in
devices like ohmmeters to measure unknown
resistances. It balances two legs of a bridge circuit
to compare an unknown resistance with a known
one, providing highly accurate measurements.
6.Digital Sampling (ADC): In digital measuring
instruments like digital multimeters (DMMs) and
oscilloscopes, analog-to-digital converters (ADCs)
sample the analog signals and convert them into
digital values for precise measurement, display, and
analysis
❖Operation of batteries, cables and lighting.
1. Operation of Batteries:
Batteries store electrical energy chemically and release
it as needed through electrochemical reactions. They
consist of electrodes (anode and cathode) and an
electrolyte. When a battery is connected to a circuit, a
chemical reaction between the electrolyte and
electrodes produces a flow of electrons from the
negative terminal (anode) to the positive terminal
(cathode), creating a current.
Cont..
The main operation of a battery involves:
• Discharge: When the battery powers a device, it
releases stored chemical energy as electrical energy.
• Recharge (for rechargeable batteries): The chemical
reaction is reversed by applying an external voltage,
restoring the original chemical composition of the
battery.
• Types include primary batteries (non-rechargeable)
and secondary batteries (rechargeable, e.g., lithium-
ion, lead-acid).
Cont..
2. Operation of Cables:
• Cables are used to transfer electrical energy from one
point to another, such as from a power source (battery,
generator) to electrical loads (lights, appliances). The
operation of cables is based on:
• Conductors: The inner material, usually copper or
aluminum, which allows electrical current to flow with
minimal resistance.
• Insulators: The outer layer of non-conductive material
(e.g., rubber, plastic) that protects the conductor and
prevents short circuits or contact with other conductive
materials.
Cont..
The efficiency of a cable depends on the material, gauge
(thickness), and length. Thicker, shorter cables with highly
conductive materials result in less energy loss.

3. Operation of Lighting:
• Lighting systems convert electrical energy into light.
There are different types of lighting technologies,
including:
• Incandescent bulbs: Use a filament that heats up when
electricity passes through, emitting light as it glows. This
is an older, less efficient method because much energy is
lost as heat.
Cont..
• Fluorescent lamps: Use a gas that, when excited
by electrical current, emits ultraviolet light. This
UV light is converted into visible light by a
phosphor coating inside the tube.
• LED (Light Emitting Diode): Operate by
passing an electrical current through a
semiconductor material, which emits light when
electrons recombine with electron holes. LEDs
are energy-efficient and have long lifespans
❖Operation of power distribution systems.
The operation of power distribution systems involves
the delivery of electrical power from generation plants
to end-users through a network of transformers,
substations, and distribution lines. Here's how the
system works in stages.
Cont..
1. Power Generation:
• Electricity is produced at power plants, which can
use various sources of energy such as coal, natural
gas, nuclear, wind, solar, or hydropower. The
generated electricity is typically at a high voltage
level, which allows it to be transmitted over long
distances with minimal energy loss.
Cont..
2. Transmission:
• From the power generation station, the electricity is
transmitted through high-voltage transmission lines.
These lines carry electricity over long distances to reach
local substations. The high voltage reduces energy
losses during the long-distance transfer of electrical
power
Cont..
3. Substations and Transformers:
• At substations, transformers step down the high
transmission voltage to lower levels suitable for
local distribution. Substations may also include
equipment for monitoring, controlling, and
protecting the system. They manage voltage
levels and reroute power in case of failures or
maintenance.
Cont..
4. Primary Distribution:
• In the primary distribution phase, electricity is
transferred from substations to local areas through
medium-voltage lines. These distribution lines
carry electricity closer to residential, commercial,
and industrial users. The voltages are still higher
than typical usage levels, often between 11 kV and
33 kV, depending on the application and region.
Cont..
5. Secondary Distribution:
• From the primary distribution lines, transformers
reduce the voltage further to the final usable level
(typically 110V, 220V or 415V in residential areas).
This power is then distributed to homes, offices,
factories, and other end-users. This part of the system
involves low-voltage distribution networks, which
connect directly to consumer premises.
Cont..
6. End-Use:
• Once the electricity reaches its final voltage
level, it is supplied to end-users for powering
electrical devices, lighting, heating, and
machinery.
Cont..
7. Control and Protection:
• Throughout the process, control systems ensure the
stability and reliability of the distribution network.
This includes monitoring load demands, managing
power quality, and rerouting power in the case of
faults or failures. Circuit breakers, fuses, and
protection relays are used to prevent overloading,
short circuits, and other issues.
 Questions:
1. Sketch the electrical symbols of resistor, switch,
capacitor, inductor and transformer.
2. With the aid of sketches, explain about
Schematic and wiring diagrams.
3. Explain any three working principles of
electrical testing and measuring equipment.
4. Explain the of operation of power distribution
systems.