An Introduction to

Electrical Circuits
Basic Electrical Measurement Instruments,
Safety Measures, Resistance, and Ohms Law
(2nd week)

Objectives
At the end of this topic you should be able to:
Appreciate what an ammeter, a voltmeter, an
ohmmeter, a multimeter, an oscilloscope, a
wattmeter, a bridge megger;
Distinguish between linear and non-linear
devices;
Describe a conductor and an insulator, giving
examples of each;
Learn to measure resistance and voltage using
an analog multimeter (VOM);
Enumerate safety devices and precautions;
State the basic SI units;
Recognize derived SI units; and

Objectives
At the end of this topic you should be able to:
Appreciate that electrical power P is given by P
= VI = I2 R
= V2 / R watts;
Calculate electrical power;
Explain the importance of fuses in electrical
circuits; and
Appreciate the dangers of constant high
current flow with insulation materials.

Basic Electrical Measuring

Instruments
An
ammeter
is
an
instrument used to measure
current
and
must
be
connected in series with the
circuit.
Figure
2.2
shows
an
ammeter
connected
in
series with the lamp to
measure the current flowing
through it.
Since all the current in the
circuit passes through the

Basic Electrical Measuring

Instruments
A
voltmeter
is
an
instrument used to measure
p.d. and must be connected
in parallel with the part of
the circuit whose p.d. is
required.
In Figure 2.2, a voltmeter is
connected in parallel with
the lamp to measure the
p.d. across it.
To
avoid
a
significant
current flowing through it a

Basic Electrical Measuring

Instruments
An ohmmeter is an instrument for measuring
resistance.

Basic Electrical Measuring

Instruments
A multi-meter, or universal instrument, may be
used to measure voltage, current and resistance.

Basic Electrical Measuring

Instruments
The oscilloscope may be used to observe
waveforms and to measure voltages and currents.
The display of an oscilloscope involves a spot of
light moving across a screen.

Basic Electrical Measuring

Instruments
The amount by which the spot is deflected from
its initial position depends on the p.d. applied to
the terminals of the oscilloscope and the range
selected. The displacement is calibrated in volts
per cm.
For example, if the spot is deflected 3 cm and the
volts/cm switch is on 10 V/cm then the magnitude
of the p.d. is 3cm10V/cm, i.e. 30V.

Basic Electrical Measuring

Instruments
A wattmeter is an instrument for the
measurement of power in an electrical circuit.

Basic Electrical Measuring

Instruments
A BM80 or a 420 MIT megger or a bridge megger
may be used to measure both continuity and
insulation resistance.
Continuity testing is the measurement of the
resistance of a cable to discover if the cable is
continuous, i.e. that it has no breaks or high
resistance joints.

Basic Electrical Measuring

Instruments
Insulation resistance testing is the measurement
of resistance of the insulation between cables,
individual cables to earth or metal plugs and
sockets, and so on.
An insulation resistance in excess of 1 M is
normally acceptable.

MULTITESTER
It is the best instrument that can
measure voltage, resistance and
current.
It is generally made of two types: the
analog and the digital

DIGITAL MULTITESTER
Apieceoftestequipmentusedformeasuri
ngvoltage,current,resistance,andpossibly
other
electricalquantitiesanddisplayingthevalu
einnumberform.

ANALOG MULTITESTER

Although older than the

commonly
preferred
digital multimeter, do
come
with
several
unique advantages.

Although both digital

and analog multimeters
measure varying units,
such as voltage, current,
and resistance, they
display their readings in
distinctly different ways.

PARTS OF MULTITESTER
POINTER

The needle-shape
that moves over
scale of a meter.
mechanically
connected
to
moving coil.

rod
the
It is
the

It
indicates
the
measured values on
the multimeter.

PARTS OF MULTITESTER
RANGE
KNOB

SELECTOR

(Selector
Switch)
makes it possible to
select
different
function and range of
the meter.

PARTS OF MULTITESTER
ADJUSTMENT SCREW

makes it possible to
adjust the pointer to
the zero position of
the scale.

PARTS OF MULTITESTER
SCALE

is a series of marking
used for reading the
value of quantity.

Scale can have

different types of
scale, for voltage and
current readings the
scales have mostly
linear which mean
equal division for
resistance.

PARTS OF MULTITESTER
TEST PROBES

Positive
(red),
negative (black), is
use to connect the
circuit
to
the
electrical
components
being
tested.

PARTS OF MULTITESTER
ZERO-OHM
ADJUSTMENT KNOB

is used to zero-in the

pointer
before
measuring
resistance.

PROPER CARE AND

MAINTENANCE OF THE
MULTITESTER

1. Read manual of instruction on how to operate the

multitester.
2. In reading the amount of voltage, always start
with the highest range to avoid reading voltage
higher than the tester is set to the tester setting.
3. Be sure that the tester is set to the correct range
setting: resistance range when measuring the
ohm, voltage range when measuring voltage and
ammeter range when measuring the value of
electric current.
4. Always check the condition of its battery. Worn
out batteries will damage the internal setting of
the tester.

RESISTANCE READING

VOLTAGE READING

CURRENT READING

Conductors and Insulators

A conductor is a material having a low resistance
which allows electric current to flow in it.
All metals are conductors and some examples
include copper, aluminum, brass, platinum, silver,
gold and carbon.
An insulator is a material having a high resistance
which does not allow electric current to flow in it.
Some examples of insulators include plastic,
rubber, glass, porcelain, air, paper, cork, mica,
ceramics and certain oils.

Fuse
If there is a fault in a piece of equipment then
excessive current may flow.
This will cause overheating and possibly a fire;
fuses protect against this happening.
Current from the supply to the equipment flows
through the fuse.
The fuse is a piece of wire which can carry a
stated current; if the current rises above this
value it will melt.

Fuse

Fuse

Fuse
If the fuse melts (blows) then there is an open
circuit and no current can then flow thus
protecting the equipment by isolating it from the
power supply.
The fuse must be able to carry slightly more than
the normal operating current of the equipment to
allow for tolerances and small current surges.
With some equipment there is a very large surge
of current for a short time at switch on.

Fuse
If a fuse is fitted to withstand this
large current there would be no
protection against faults which
cause the current to rise slightly
above the normal value.
Therefore special anti-surge fuses
are fitted.
These can stand 10 times the
rated current for 10 milliseconds.
If the surge lasts longer than this
the fuse will blow.

Schematic
Symbol

Fuse
Example
If 5A, 10A and 13A fuses are available, state
which is most appropriate for the following
appliances which are both connected to a 240 V
supply
(a.) Electric toaster having a power rating of 1
kW
(b.) Electric fire having a power rating of 3 kW.
Power P = VI, from which, current I = P / V
(a.) the toaster, current I = P / V = 1000 /

Fuse
Example
If 5A, 10A and 13A fuses are available, state
which is most appropriate for the following
appliances which are both connected to a 240 V
supply
(a.) Electric toaster having a power rating of 1
kW
(b.) Electric fire having a power rating of 3 kW.
Power P = VI, from which, current I = P / V
(b.) For the fire, current I = P / V = 3000/240 =

Insulation and the Dangers of

Constant High Current Flow
The use of insulation materials on electrical
equipment, whilst being necessary, also has the
effect of preventing heat loss, i.e. the heat is not
able to dissipate, thus creating possible danger of
fire.
In addition, the insulating material has a
maximum temperature rating this is heat it can
withstand without being damaged.

Insulation and the Dangers of

Constant High Current Flow
The current rating for all equipment and electrical
components is therefore limited to keep the heat
generated within safe limits.
In addition, the maximum voltage present needs
to be considered when choosing insulation.

International System of Units

(SI units)
The system of
science is the
(International
abbreviated to
metric system.

units used in engineering and

Systme Internationale dUnits
system
of
units),
usually
SI units, and is based on the

This was introduced in 1960 and is now adopted

by the majority of countries as the official system
of measurement.
Derived SI units use combinations of basic units
and there are many of them.

International System of Units

(SI units)
Two examples are:
Velocity meters per second (m/s)
Acceleration meters per second squared
(m/s2)
SI units may be made larger or smaller by using
prefixes which denote multiplication or division by
a particular amount.

International System of Units

(SI units)

International System of Units

(SI units)