BASIC ELECTRICITY
Unit Learning Outcomes: At the end of the unit, you are expected to:
a. Explain the sourced and kinds of electricity
b. Identify the parts of a complete electrical circuit
c. Apply the Ohms Law in house hold electrical connections
d. Apply the correct procedure in electrical house wiring
Metalanguage
Please refer to these definition in case you will encounter difficulty in the
understanding educational concepts.
Electric charge a property of some subatomic particles, which determines their
electromagnetic interactions. Electrically charged matter is influenced by, and
produces, electromagnetic fields.
Electric current - a movement or flow of electrically charged particles, typically
measured in amperes. Describes a flow of electric charge. Electric current is
either Direct Current (DC) a single-direction flow, or Alternating Current (AC)
which describes a current that repeatedly changes direction.
Electric field - an influence produced by an electric charge on other charges in its
vicinity.
Electrical energy - is a form of energy present in an electric field or magnetic
field, electrical energy is measured in joules. It can be converted to work through
the use of an electrical device or machine such as electric motor.
Electric potential - The capacity of an electric field to do work, typically
measured in volts.
Electromagnetism - a fundamental interaction between the magnetic field and the
presence and motion of an electric charge.
Electric power - is the name given to electrical energy production and
distribution.
ELECTRICITY
Electricity is come from the Greek word ήλεκτρον, (elektron) and also in the
New Latin word of electricus, meaning amber. Electricity is a widely used form of
energy that encompasses a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow
of electric charge. The electric charge is the flow or movement of lost electron from
an atom. In atom theory, the center of an atom is a nucleus. The nucleus contains
positively charged particles called proton or positron, the negatively charged called
electrons and the uncharged particles called neutrons. The negative charge is equal to
the number of positive charged in an atom. When the balancing force between protons
and electron is upset caused by friction, induction, or chemical charge, an atom may
gain or lose an electron. The effect is the free movement of these electrons from an
atom now called electric current.
Sources of Electricity
There are different sources of electricity that can harness in different way. The
mechanical way, this kind of electricity source convert the primary energy like wind,
geothermal, hydropower, ocean power and solar power and secondary energy like
coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear power by using electric generator to produce electricity.
The chemical way, this kind of electricity source used electric cells or battery to
produce electricity.
A. Types of Mechanical Source of Energy
1. Geothermal Energy
Geo means earth and thermal means heat. Meaning geothermal energy is
the heat energy of the earth. Geothermal Energy can be harnessed from
the Earth's natural heat associated with active volcanoes or geologically
young inactive volcanoes still giving off heat at depth. Steam from high-
temperature geothermal fluids can be used to drive turbines and generate
electrical power, while lower temperature fluids provide hot water for
space heating purpose, heat for greenhouses and industrial uses, and hot or
warm springs at resort spas.
2. Hydropower Energy
The term hydro comes from an ancient Greek word for water. This is a
force of moving water from rivers or storage reservoirs. The process starts
with the annual hydrologic, or water cycle, providing seasonal rain and
runoft trom snow pack. The runoff from rain and snow collects in lakes,
streams and rivers and flows to dams downstream. The water funnels
through a dam, into a powerhouse and turns a large wheel called a turbine.
The turbine turns a shaft that rotates a series of magnets past copper coils
in a generator to create electricity. The water then returns to the river.
From the powerhouse, transmission lines carry electricity to communities.
3. Ocean Power
Ocean Power Oceans have tremendous energy in the movement of their
currents and waves. There are two kinds of marine currents: two-way
(tidal) currents, and one-way currents. 1. Two-way currents are the ocean
tides, caused by gravitational pull of the moon and sun. Each heavenly
body pulls on the part of the ocean nearest to it, causing bulges in water
height. As the earth rotates, those bulges move in relation to the world's
coastlines, pulling water onto and away from the shore. So, the turning of
the earth causes a moving pattern in the ocean: at every coast in turn, the
level rises and falls, resulting in two high tides and two low tides daily. 2.
One-way currents are like massive-riversil of ocean water flowing within
the ocean for hundreds sometimes thousands of miles.
4. Solar Power
Solar Power Solar Energy, provided by the sun is the most inexhaustible
and cleanest source of energy known. Its heat and light arrive week in
and week out -free. But not in uniform amounts each day, or in
concentrated form, and not at all at night. Consequently, the barriers to
greater use of solar energy by a world faced with dwindling energy
resources are significant:mainly, diffusion and the inability economically
to store solar energy, use it directly, or convert it to electricity.
5. Wind Power
Wind Power is a renewable resources. Wind is a form of solar energy.
The basic machinery that converts wind power to electricity is called a
wind turbine. The force of the wind spins blades attached to a hub are
called the rotor. The turning rotor spins a generator, producing electricity.
TYPES OF ELECTIC CURRENT
Alternating Current (AC) I
This are the electric charge that move forward, then backward, then forward,
then backward, over and over again The voltage or current that changes polarity or
direction, respectively, over time. The back-and-forth motion occurs between 50 and
60 times per second, depending on the electrical system of the country. This is called
the frequency and is designated as either 50 Hertz (50Hz) or 60 Hertz (60Hz).
Direct Current (DC)
This are the movement (or flow) of electric charge is only in one direction.
The voltage or current that maintains constant polarity or direction, respectively, over
time.
KINDS OF ELECTRICITY
Static Electricity
Static electricity is the build-up of electric charge on the surface of an object,
which remains stationary until it is discharged.
Dynamic Electricity
Dynamic electricity is the flow of electric charge through a conductor, producing
an electric current.
ELECTRICAL TOOLS AND EQUIPMENTS
Electrical task can be accomplished systematically to save time, effort, and
resources. Most of the work cannot be done using bare hands. To do the task,
electrical tools or equipment are needed to perform the job.
The following are common electrical tools and equipment needed in the
installation of electrical wiring.
1. SCREW DRIVERS - These tools are made of steel hardened and tempered at
the tip used to loosen or tighten screws with slotted heads. They come in various
sizes and shapes.
A. Standard/Flat Screw Driver. The blade tip is wedge-shaped and resembles a
negative (-) sign. This is used to drive screws with a single slot head.
B. Philips Screw Driver. This has a cross tip resembling a positive (+) sign. This is
used to drive screws with cross slot heads.
C. Stubby Screw Driver. It comes in either Standard or Philips screw driver with short
shank or blade and a shorted handle used to turn screws in tight space where standard
screw driver cannot be used.
D. Allen Screw Dnver/Wrench. This could be in the shape of a screw driver or a
wrench, Its function is to drive screw with hexagonal slot head
2. HAMMERS - These are tools used in driving or pounding and pulling out nails.
They are made of hard steel, wood, plastic or rubber.
3. PLIERS - These made from metal with insulators in the handle and are used for
cutting, twisting, bending, holding, and gripping wires and cables.
A. Combination Pliers (Lineman's Pliers). This is used for gripping, holding, and
cutting electrical wires and cables and even small nails. They are usually used by
linemen in doing heavy tasks.
B. Side Cutting Pliers. This type of pliers is used for cutting fine, medium and big
wires and cables.
C. Long Nose Pliers. This is used for cutting and holding fine wires. This can reach
tight space or small opening where other pliers cannot reach and also used in making
terminal loops of copper wires.
4. WIRE STRIPPER - A tool used for removing insulation of medium sized wires
ranging from gauge #10 to gauge #16.
5. ELECTRICIAN'S KNIFE - This is used by linemen to remove insulation of
wire and cables in low and high voltage transmission lines.
6. PORTABLE ELECTRIC DRILL - A small drilling machine with a chuck
capacity of all to 3/8 It is used in making. holes on metal sheets and concrete
walls.
7. HACKSAW - This tool is used to cut metal conduit and armored cable.
ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS
Materials and Description Pictures
Convenience outlet - a device
that acts for as a convenient
source of electrical energy
current consuming appliances. It
is where the male plug of an
appliance is inserted and usually
fastened on the wall or connected
in an extension cord. It maybe
single, duplex, triplex or
multiplex and could be surface
type or flush type
Male plug - a device inserted to a
convenience outlet to conduct
electric current. A flat cord is
attached to it on one end and the
other end is connected to a
current consuming instrument or
appliance.
Lamp holders - devices that hold
and protect the lamp and are also
called as -Lamp.
Sockets/Receptacles These come
in many designs and sizes. They
are classified as flush, hanging
(weather proof/chain) and
surface types
Switch - a device that connects
and disconnects the flow of
electric current in a circuit There
are many shapes, designs, and
types and they are classified as
hanging, flush, and surface type
Fuse - a circuit protective device
that automatically blows and cut
the current when and over load or
short circuit happens.
Circuit Breaker - a protective
device used to automatically
blows and cuts the current when
trouble in the circuit such as
short circuit or overload occurs
Flat Cord - is a duplex stranded
wire used for temporary wiring
installation and commonly used
in extension cord. assembly. It
comes in a roll of 150 meters and
with sizes of gauge # 18 and
gauge # 16 awg (American wire
gauge).
Electrical Wire/Conductor -
electrical material that could be:
a. Stranded wire which is made
of multiple strands joined
together to make a single wire.
b. Solid wire is made of a single
strand of copper or aluminum
wire. These are used in wiring
installation inside and outside the
buildings.
