What is the difference between neutral and earth?

The reference point at zero potential is called a neutral and when a neutral point is
grounded then it is known as earth which acts as sink for unwanted voltages and
currents
Why is alternating current used for transmission?
Low DC voltage cannot be stepped up straightaway to high voltage and henceforth
transmission losses are huge. But on the other side AC voltage can be stepped up
using a transformer and thereby reducing transmission losses
What is corona?
Corona is a luminous, audible discharge that occurs when there is an excessive
localized electric field gradient upon an object that causes the ionization and partial
discharge of the air adjacent to this point due to the flow of these ions, giving rise to
a faint luminescent glow, along with the hissing sound
What is skin effect?
The tendency of a high-frequency alternating current to flow through only the outer
layer of a conductor. Now during the flow of an alternating current, the current
carrying filaments lying on the core has a flux linkage with the entire conductor cross
section including the filaments of the surface as well as those in the core. Whereas
the flux set up by the outer filaments is restricted only to the surface itself and is
unable to link with the inner filaments. Thus the flux linkage of the conductor
increases as we move closer towards the core and at the same rate increases the
inductance as it has a direct proportionality relationship with flux linkage. This
results in a larger inductive reactance being induced into the core as compared to
the outer sections of the conductor. The high value of reactance in the inner section
results in the current not being distributed in a uniform manner and forcing the bulk
of the current to flow through the outer surface or skin giving rise to the
phenomena called skin effect in transmission lines.
Why is the voltage stepped up before transmission?
Electrical power is proportional to voltage multiplied by the current. The resistance
in a wire opposes the flow of current (amperes). Power consumed (as heat) in a
conductor is the current (squared) multiplied by the resistance (ohms). To reduce
power loss in a wire, reduce the current flowing through it. So we step up the
voltage to reduce current
What are the standard transmission and distribution voltages?
Standard transmission voltages: 765 KV, 400 KV, 220 KV, 132 KV
Standard distribution voltages: 33 KV, 11 KV, 415 V, 230 V
Explain transmission and distribution systems?
After electric power is generated, voltage is stepped up and then power is
transmitted through transmission lines between transmission stations.
At distribution station voltage is stepped down and then transmitted to sub-stations
from where power is distributed after further stepping down
What are lightning arrestors?
Lightning arresters are devices that help prevent damage to apparatus due to high
voltages. The arrester provides a low-impedance path to ground for the current
from a lightning strike or transient voltage and then restores to a normal operating
conditions.
What is the difference between an insulator and a dielectric?
Insulators are substances which permit very less current flow through them.
Dielectrics are also insulators. But, more specifically, they are materials which can be
polarized. In di electric materials, the electrons are bound to the nucleus and have
limited movement. When an external voltage is applied to the dielectric, the nucleus
of the atoms is attracted to the negative side and the electros are attracted to the
positive side. Hence, the material gets polarized. This is a key feature of a dielectric.
Explain the principle of operation of relay and a circuit breaker?
A relay is an electrically operated switch. Many relays use an electromagnet to
mechanically operate a switch
A circuit breaker is an automatically operated electrical switch designed to protect.
Protective relay pilot devices to sense a fault condition and to operate the trip
What is 3-phase supply?
In a three-phase system, three circuit conductors carry three alternating currents (of
the same frequency) which reach their instantaneous peak values at one third of a
cycle from each other. Taking one current as the reference, the other two currents
are delayed in time by one third and two thirds of one cycle of the electric current.
What is a busbar?
A system of electrical conductors in a generating or receiving station on which power
is concentrated for transmission or distribution.
What are the disadvantages of low power factor?
Power in a Three Phase AC Circuit = P = 3 V x I Cos
Now, In case of Low Power Factor, Current will be increased, and this high current
will cause to the following disadvantages.
1) Large Line Losses (Copper Losses)
2) Large kVA rating and Size of Electrical equipments
3) Greater Conductor Size and Cost
4) Poor Voltage Regulation and Large Voltage Drop
5) Low Efficiency
6) Penalty from Electric Power Supply Company on Low Power factor
What is arc formation?
During opening of current carrying contacts in a circuit breaker the medium in
between opening contacts become highly ionized through which the interrupting
current gets low resistive path and continues to flow through this path even the
contacts are physically separated. During the flowing of electric current from one
contact to other the path becomes so heated that it glows. This is called arc.
Why do we require protection against lightening?
Lightning can enter your installation via power lines Etc. and mostly this may
result in damage to your equipment.
Lightning may inject high voltage or current into the generating source which
leads to tripping.
What is substation?
A substation is a part of an electrical generation, transmission
and distribution system. Transformers located at Substations transform voltage from
high to low, or the reverse, or perform any of several other important functions like
distributing power to varies places through a no of transmission lines
What is grading of a cable?
We know that the dielectric stress in an insulator is maximum at the conductor
surface and minimum at the center of the core. Grading of cable is meant the
distribution of dielectric material such that the differences between the maximum
gradient and the minimum is reduced
What are transmission cables made of?
Transmission cables are made up of copper or aluminum; insulated with high-quality,
oil-impregnated Kraft.
What is the purpose of a fuse?
A fuse has a specific current rating and if the current flowing through the fuse is
above the current rating of the fuse and the fuse will immediately blow off. So fuse
is used for protecting equipment being damaged from high current.
Explain the power rating of this bulb, say 60W, what if the voltage changes?
If the voltage increases, bulb glows brightly and if the voltage decreases bulb
becomes dim
Why is the earth pin in a 3-pin plug the longest and the thickest?
In case of any fault, the fault current should flow to the ground through the 3
rd
pin.
The pin should not be broken during fault otherwise fault persists with the device.
Which is the motor used in fan?
Single phase induction motor
Explain the basic operation of dc motor / generator, induction motor, synchronous motor,
stepper motor, and repulsion motor.
What is hysteresis loss?
Why do we use a starter for a dc Motor?
V E = I*ra
Where E is the back emf.
Back emf is zero during starting and therefore if any starter is not used then huge
starting current flows through the armature.
What are back emf, commutation, armature reaction, stray losses; and breakdown torque?
Why is an induction motor called a rotating transformer?
What is slip?
Slip is defined as the difference between synchronous speed and operating speed, at the
same frequency, expressed in rpm or in percent or ratio of synchronous speed
What is the purpose of compensating winding?
What will happen if you supply a fan with dc?
What is cogging and crawling?
Why shouldn't you start a shunt motor on a heavy load?
What are dummy coils?
What are CT and PT?






What is voltage build up of a generator?
What is a universal motor?
Why is transformer rating in KVA?
What is voltage regulation?
Why is an induction motor used for most domestic applications?
What is regenerative braking?
Give an example where a transformer is used in a dc application.
What is the problem with a fan that does not rotate unless rotated manually to start?
What are brushless alternators?
What is eddy current loss?
What is plugging of an induction motor?
What is the principle of operation in a tube light?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of compact fluorescent lamps?
Which is more dangerous - shock due to ac or dc?
What is an UPS?
What is the approximate power production capacity of India / Andhra Pradesh?
Explain the principle of dc motor.
Explain the uses of servomotor.
How do you specify the rating of transformer?
How is speed control of ac motors achieved?
Differentiate MC and MI instruments.
How do you convert fixed ac to variable dc?
Explain low pass filter?
How is the alternator synchronized to the main busbar?
What is a Scott connected transformer?
What is commutation in dc machines?
What are damper windings?
What are cooling methods used to cool a transformer?
Can you start a series motor without load? If no, why?
Draw the equivalent circuit of a transformer.
What is R model of a circuit?
What is specified in synchronous watts?
How are lines affected due to switching operations?
Is there any difference between the circuit breakers and the isolators?
What do we prefer, overhead cables or underground cables?
Is corona more in dc lines or ac lines?
Are single induction motors self-starting?








What is a shunt?
What is phase swinging?
What is phase margin?
What type of motor is needed in hoists?
What is IDMT?
What is current chopping?
Which circuit breaker uses current chopping circuit?
Can an inverter be used as a converter? How?
What are the types of faults that can occur in a 3-phase line?
What is a ground line?
What is form factor?
What is an oscillator?
Does an oscillator have input? If so, draw it?
How do you start an induction motor?
As we know, once a supply is connected to a three phase induction motor a rotating magnetic
field will be set up in the stator, this will link and cut the rotor bars which in turn will induce rotor
currents and create a rotor field which will interact with the stator field and produce rotation. Of course
this means that the three phase induction motor is entirely capable of self starting.
The need for a starter therefore is not to provide starting but to reduce heavy starting currents and
provide overload and no-voltage protection.

Direct-on-Line Starter (DOL)
The DOL starter switches the supply directly on to the contacts of the motor. As the starting current
of an induction motor can be 6-8 times the running current the DOL starter is typically only used for
motors with a rating of less than 5kW.

Star Delta starter
This is the most common form of starter used for three phase induction motors. It achieves an
effective reduction of starting current by initially connecting the stator windings in star configuration
which effectively places any two phases in series across the supply. Starting in star not only has the
effect of reducing the motors start current but also the starting torque.
Once up to a particular running speed a double throw switch changes the winding arrangements
from star to delta whereupon full running torque is achieved.

Auto-Transformer Starting
This method of starting reduces the start current by reducing the voltage at start up. It can give
lower start up currents than star-delta arrangements but with an associated loss of torque.
It is not as commonly utilised as other starting methods but does have the advantage that only
three connection conductors are required between starter and motor.

Rotor Resistance Starter
If it is necessary to start a three phase induction motor on load then a wound rotor machine will
normally be selected. Such a machine allows an external resistance to be connected to the rotor of








the machine through slip rings and brushes.
At start-up the rotor resistance is set at maximum but is reduced as speed inceases until eventually it
is reduced to zero and the machine runs as if it is a cage rotor machine.

How would you conserve electricity at home, being an electrical engineer?
What is the generating voltage in India?
What is power line communication?
Power-line communication (PLC) carries data on a conductor that is also used simultaneously for
AC electric power transmission. Power-line communications systems operate by adding a modulated
carrier signal to the wiring system. Ex: LAN, Internet

What is the difference between an overcurrent relay and a fuse?
A relay is a switch which is not usually meant to open under fault conditions and send a signal to
breakers when they sense a fault . A fuse is fault protection device. When a short circuit develops,
high current flows and the fuse link melts causing the circuit to open

How can you control the output voltage in an inverter and converter?
What are travelling waves?
What is the general industrial power factor in India?



Why is the wave form sinusoidal?
Sinusoidal waveform is the most fundamental waveform for several reasons.

(i) Every periodic wave, no matter what its shape, can be expressed in terms of multiple sine and
cosine waves(fundamental and harmonics). This is the basis of the Fourier series and Fourier
analysis.

(ii) Signal processing involves differentiation and integration. The derivative and integral of sinusoids
are also sinusoids. For example d/dx of sin x is cos x, which is, in essence, a sinusoid slightly
displaced (phase difference of 90 degrees).
This very powerful property of sinusoids gives them huge advantages over other waveforms.

(iii) The electric generator produces sinusoidal waveforms because of its constructional geometry. So
our home power supply is also an alternating sine wave.

The sinewave is therefore the most basic waveform to study in order to understand any other
waveform.










Give some practical applications of variable resistance.
Explain the working of a ceiling fan?
Ceiling fan is a Single phase Induction motor. Generally we use a capacitor start &Run AC Motor for
ceiling Fans.
Motor principle: whenever current carrying conductor is placed in a magnetic field-it experiences
force.
Stator: supplied by 1-phase voltage, current will produce in the stator winding-so magnetic field. But
AC motor needs a rotating magnetic field in order to turn the motor shaft (fan blades). This is done by
applying voltage with different phases to different windings. In a single phase system (like at your
house where you would use a ceiling fan) there is only one voltage phase. The capacitor is used to
provide a phase shift (i.e. a time offset between currents) in the windings of the motor, making it
appear that the motor is operating in a multiphase system.In Simple Terms, A single Phase is Split
Into Two. There are also other methods to split Phase But using a capacitor is less expensive.
Now we have magnetic field.
We need current carrying conductor:
Because of Induction, voltage will develop in rotor. As it is a closed circuit current will produce, so
current carrying conductor placed in magnetic field.
Rotor will rotate.

What are the equipment in a substation?
Instrument transformers are high accuracy class electrical devices used to isolate or transform
voltage or current levels. The most common usage of instrument transformers is to operate
instruments or metering from high voltage or high current circuits, safely isolating secondary control
circuitry from the high voltages or currents. The primary winding of the transformer is connected to
the high voltage or high current circuit, and the meter or relay is connected to the secondary circuit.
Instrument transformers may also be used as an isolation transformer so that secondary quantities
may be used in phase shifting without affecting other primary connected devices.
CT - series connected type of instrument transformer
PT - parallel connected type of instrument transformer

What are instrument transformers?
What is the significance of having 11KV as the generation voltage?
What do the three pins of a socket represent?
Explain basic circuitry of voltage stabilizer.