Member-Designed Schools Activity

An Introduction to AC Current

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 Member-Designed Schools Activity

An Introduction to Semiconductors

This tutorial introduces the trainee to AC Curent

You will learn about:

- AC Current We suggest you study the DC
- Safety Current tutorial first in order to
- Oscilloscope understand the construction of
- Rectifiers circuits.

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 Member-Designed Schools Activity

An Introduction to Semiconductors

You will need the following:

Battery Holder and two 4 LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) 12V AC Motor
1.5volt AA Batteries

9V DC Motor
5 Leads with Crocodile Clips 3 Multimeters

Motor Mounts
Transformer
7 Crocodile Clips 240VAC to 12VAC
to assemble to the Multimeter and Transformer
Leads
2 Gear Wheels
Assorted Resistors
Mains Plug
to connect the transformer
with 1 Amp Fuse
Components to
2 x 1 Amp Fuses
mount the motors
Oscilloscope
(About £22)

Fuseholder Nuts and Bolts

Available from shops such as Maplin or

on-line from such as Amazon, RS Components, Farnell. Professional Home For Life ® For Engineers and Technicians
Cost £130-£150.
 Member-Designed Schools Activity

An Introduction to AC Current

Safety

Wiring a UK Plug

Only use plugs with insulation on the pins so that if it is

pulled out of the socket there is no risk of electric shock

The BROWN lead must be connected to the live

terminal with a short lead so that if the lead is pulled
out it disconnects before the other leads.

The BLUE lead must be connected to the Neutral

No terminal.
Insulation
Do Not Use The GREEN and YELLOW lead must be connected to the
Earth Terminal with a long lead so that it is the last to
be pulled out.
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 Member-Designed Schools Activity

An Introduction to AC Current

Safety

The right fuse

Look at the wattage on the label on the appliance

Just because it is a 13 Amp Plug
Light Bulb under 200W – use 1 Amp Fuse
does not mean you use a 13 Amp fuse.
CD Player, etc, over 200W under 700W use 3 Amp Fuse
Use only the correct fuse!
Toaster, Iron, Vacuum Cleaner, etc, over 700W under 1200W
use 5e.g.
Amp A Fuse
CD Player should have had a 3Amp fuse
but it was fitted with a 13 Amp fuse
Iron, Vacuum
andCleaner,
caught Tumble Dryer,
fire before theetc, overblew.
fuse 1200W under
2000W use 10 Amp Fuse = electric fire!
13Amps
Not much left of the house!
Fire, Washing Machine, Dishwasher, Tumble Dryer over 2000W
use 13 Amp Fuse
Professional Home For Life ® For Engineers and Technicians
 Member-Designed Schools Activity

An Introduction to AC Current

Safety

The right fuse

Look at the wattage on the label on the appliance

Light Bulb under 200W – use 1 Amp Fuse

CD Player, etc, over 200W under 700W use 3 Amp Fuse

Toaster, Iron, Vacuum Cleaner, etc, over 700W under 1200W

use 5 Amp Fuse

Iron, Vacuum Cleaner, Tumble Dryer, etc, over 1200W under

2000W use 10 Amp Fuse

Fire, Washing Machine, Dishwasher, Tumble Dryer over 2000W

use 13 Amp Fuse
Professional Home For Life ® For Engineers and Technicians
 Member-Designed Schools Activity

An Introduction to AC Current

Professional Home For Life ® For Engineers and Technicians

 Member-Designed Schools Activity

An Introduction to AC Current

AC Current is generated by a rotating coil in a

magnetic field.

So one half of the coil (red) is passing the North

Pole and then passes the south pole of the
magnetic field, and vice versa for the other half
(blue) of the coil.

This circular motion creates a sine wave which

is first positive, then negative, then positive
again, etc.

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 Member-Designed Schools Activity

An Introduction to AC Current

Diodes This circuit converts AC to DC

Diodes only conduct current in one direction.

1000

+12V +12V

Connect the Oscilloscope to view the wave form

-12V

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 Member-Designed Schools Activity

An Introduction to AC Current

Construct the DC and AC Motors with the Gear Wheels

so the DC Motor drives the AC Motor

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 Member-Designed Schools Activity

An Introduction to AC Current

Use the DC Motors to drive the AC Motor

The AC Motor will act as a Generator of AC Current

9 V Battery

Measure the AC Voltage from the AC Motor

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 Member-Designed Schools Activity

An Introduction to AC Current

9 V Battery

Measure the AC Waveform from the AC Motor

Professional Home For Life ® For Engineers and Technicians

 Member-Designed Schools Activity

An Introduction to AC Current

9 V Battery

Measure the AC Waveform from the AC Motor

Professional Home For Life ® For Engineers and Technicians

 Member-Designed Schools Activity

An Introduction to AC Current

9 V Battery

Measure the AC Waveform from the AC Motor

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 Member-Designed Schools Activity

An Introduction to AC Current

Coal Fired Power Station

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 Member-Designed Schools Activity

An Introduction to AC Current

Nuclear Power Station

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 Member-Designed Schools Activity

An Introduction to AC Current

Hydroelectric Power Station

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 Member-Designed Schools Activity

An Introduction to AC Current

Wind Turbines

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 Member-Designed Schools Activity

An Introduction to AC Current

Wave Turbine

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 Member-Designed Schools Activity

An Introduction to AC Current

Well Done

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 Member-Designed Schools Activity

An Introduction to AC Current

Thank You

Institution of Engineering & Technology

160,000 Engineers World-Wide

Professional Home For Life ® For Engineers and Technicians