Electrical theory

Applied Mechanical Level 2

Power source
volt lead acid batteries } Charged by the alternator } With copper/aluminum conductors (wires)
} }

} 12

Positive (red) is power Negative (black) is ground

} 50s

many manufacturers used to run reverse polarity (pos-ground neg-power)

Load
device which uses electricity to do work (motor, light bulb) } Load = Resistance
}A

Controls
open/close a circuit (window switch) } Regulate the flow of electricity in a circuit (blower motor) } Can be on the positive or negative side of the circuit
} Either

Grounds
grounds are used to save wiring } Vehicle frame/chassis is used as a ground
} Common

Grounds

Circuits
} Generally
} } } }

contain:

Source Switch* Load (device) Ground

Voltage
} Can
} } }

Be called:

Electromotive Force (EMF) Potential difference/potential Source voltage

} Measured

in volts (V) } Can be seen as E (EMF) } Is pressure that forces electricity } Pushes electrons

Current
}

Can Be called:
} } }

Flow Intensity Amperage

} } } }

Measured in Amps Represented by the symbol I or C Is the amount/flow of electrons pushed through a circuit Current will only flow if there is a path from the positive to the negative of the power source

Resistance
} Measured

in Ohms } Represented by the symbol R or } Is the opposition or restriction to current flowing

}

Wanted resistance
} Powered

devices (headlights, motors) (Wire pinhole, connectors, battery)

Unwanted
} Corrosion

Electrical Meters
Are used to measure Volts (Voltmeter) Amps (Ammeter) Ohms (Ohmmeter) Voltmeters must be connected in parallel Positive connected to positive of the positive side of circuit Negative connected to the ground or the ground side of the circuit Voltage will drop after any load/resistor Ammeters must be connected in series Positive and negative splicing into the circuit Ohmmeters should be wired in parallel Circuits should be turned off as ohmmeters input voltage An open will be shown as infinity Use ohmmeters to check continuity of a component

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Next: Voltage Drop

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Next: Voltage Drop

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Next: Voltage Drop

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Next: Voltage Drop

Voltage Drop
Picture this a cross country race as the equivalent of voltage drops.

Start

Hill 1

Hill 2

Hill 3

Finish

1. At the start of the race Edith is pumped up and has maximum energy (voltage). 2. After hill 1 she has lost a small amount of energy (voltage). 3. After hill 2 she has lost more energy (voltage). 4. After the last hill she has lost ALL of her energy (voltage).

Now what conclusions can you draw about voltage drops from the above analogy.
Back Next: Voltage Drop

Voltage Drop
A voltmeter is a simple calculator in that it displays the potential difference (voltage) between two points.
C Note: As current flows through each resistor voltage is lost. B Also note that the voltage lost is proportional to the size of the load causing the drop.

The sum of the voltage drops equal the applied voltage.

What is the voltage present at point A, B, and C?

Back Next : Electrical Meters

Voltmeter checking for opens.

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Next:Voltage Drop

Ammeter checking for opens.

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Incorrect and correct ohmmeter connections.

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Ohms Law Formulas

21

09-05

Electricity Is Real

E = electromotive force measured in volts V

E=IxR

I = intensity of current flow and is measured in amps A

I=ER

R = resistance measured in ohms ;

R=EI

Ohms Law Formulas

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09-05

So what do the preceding formulas mean? Current is directly proportional to voltage and inversely proportional to resistance So what does this mean? The above statement has two parts: 1. If you double voltage then current will double, if you halve the voltage then current will drop by one half. 2. If resistance is doubled then current will drop by one half, if resistance is halved then current will double.

Series Circuits

Characteristics } The circuit must be closed or have continuity (continuous, unbroken connection) if a the circuit is broken anywhere nothing will have power

Series Circuits

} Watch

the light bulbs in this video hooked up in series } Compare it to the diagram

Play Video

Series Circuit Video

Series Circuits

Current } There is only one path for current to flow } The current is the same at every point in the circuit

Series Circuits

Voltage } Voltage is shared between each load proportional to its resistance (larger resistance uses more voltage) } The sum of the voltage drops across each resistance equals to the total source voltage (battery)

Series Circuits

Resistance } Each resistance can be different } Total resistance of the circuit is equal to the added individual resistances

Series Circuits Video

Series Circuits
Take 5 minutes in groups of two or three to find the unknowns in questions 1-4 Use Ohms law And the circuit rules

E=IxR

I=ER

R=EI

Series Circuits
1. Find the resistance
}R

= V/I } R = 12v / 3amps }R=4

Series Circuits
2. Find the amperage
}I

= V/R } I = 12v / 2 } I = 6amps

Series Circuits
3. Find the total resistance and amperage
} Rt

= R1+R2 } Rt = 2+4 } Rt = 6
}I

= V/R } I = 12v / 6 } I = 6amps

Series Circuits
4. Find the amperage and the voltage drop for R1, R2 and R3
}I

= V/R } I = 12V / 8 } I = 1.5Amps

} R3

= Rt - (R1+R2) } R3 = 8 - 5 } R3 = 3v

Series Circuits
4. Find the amperage and the voltage drop for R1, R2 and R3
} } } } } } } } }

V1 = I X R1 V1 = 1.5amps X 3 V1 = 4.5v V2 = I X R2 V2 = 1.5amps X 2 V2 = 3v V3 = I X R3 V3 = 1.5amps X 3 V3 = 4.5v

Parallel Circuits

Characteristics } If there is a break in one of the parallels, current will still flow through the other parallels completing the circuit

Parallel Circuits

the light bulbs in this video hooked up in Parallel } Compare it to the diagram

} Watch

Play Video

Parallel Circuit Video

Parallel Circuits

Parallel Circuits

Characteristics } If there is a break in one of the parallels, current will still flow through the other parallels completing the circuit

Parallel Circuits

Current } Is divided through each loads branch depending on the resistors resistance } Total current flow is equal to the sum of the individual current flows (through each path)

Parallel Circuits

Voltage } The voltage to all paths is the same

Parallel Circuits

Resistance } The resistance of each path determine the current flow through } The total resistance of a parallel circuit will always be less that the smallest resistance in the circuit

Parallel Circuits Video

Parallel Circuits

Things to think about } Adding resistance in a parallel decreases total resistance because there are more conductive paths } Removing parallel resistances increase total resistance because there are fewer conducting paths

Parallel Circuits

When calculating total circuit resistance use the reciprocal

Parallel Circuits Video

Parallel Circuits
Take 5 minutes in groups of two or three to find the unknowns in questions 4-6 Use Ohms law And the circuit rules

E=IxR

I=ER

R=EI

Parallel Circuits
4. Calculate the total amperage
}

} Rt

=1+1 10 6 } Rt = 1 0.267 } Rt = 3.75

Parallel Circuits
4. Calculate the total amperage

} A=V/R } A=12v

/ 3.75 } A= 3.2 amps

Parallel Circuits
5. Calculate the total amperage, and amperages for each branch
}

} Rt

=1+1 6 4 } Rt = 1 0.4167 } Rt = 2.4

Parallel Circuits
5. Calculate the total amperage, and amperages for each branch
} A=V/R } A=12v

/ 2.4 } A= 5amps

Parallel Circuits
5. Calculate the total amperage, and amperages for each branch
} A1=V/R } A1=12v

/ 6 } A1= 2amps
} A2

=V/R } A2 =12v / 4 } A2 = 3amps

Parallel Circuits
5. Calculate the total amperage, and amperages for each branch
} A1=V/R } A1=12v

/ 6 } A1= 2amps
} A2

=V/R } A2 =12v / 4 } A2 = 3amps

Series Circuit

55

09-05

Three components that make up a circuit: Source Load(s) Path

Characteristics of a series circuit: one path for current to flow Rt = R1 + R2 + R3 etc the current flow is the same throughout an open anywhere will cause current to stop voltage drops are proportional to the resistor causing them the sum of the voltage drops = the applied voltage

Series Circuit

56

09-05

Calculate the following: Total circuit resistance Total current flow The voltage drop across each resistor

Continued

Series Circuit

57

09-05

Total circuit resistance:

Rt = R1 + R2 + R3 Rt = 1+2+3 Rt = 6

Continued

Series Circuit

58

09-05

Total current flow:

I=ER I = 12 6 I= 2 A
Continued

Series Circuit

59

09-05

The voltage drop across each resistor:

E1 = I X R 1 E1 = 2 X 1 E1 = 2 V

E2 = I X R 2 E2 = 2 X 2 E2 = 4 V

E3 = I X R 3 E3 = 2 X 3 E3 = 6 V

Parallel Circuit

60

09-05

Characteristics of a parallel circuit: more than one path for current to flow the voltage drop across each branch equals the applied voltage an open in one branch has little or no effect on the remaining circuit It = I1 + I2 + I3 etc (The total current = the sum of the individual branch currents Individual branch currents varies with the branch resistance 1 1 Rt =R1 + R + 1 R3 1 2 Rt is always smaller than the smallest resistor As more branches are added, total resistance decreases

61

09-05

Total circuit resistance:

Parallel Circuit

1 Rt = 1 1 1 R1 + R2 + R3

1 Rt = 1 1 1 4 + 6 + 8 1 Rt = .542

1 Rt = .25 + .166 + .125

t Electrical Fundamentals

R = 1.85

Prepared by R. Gorrie

62

09-05

Alternate method to calculate total circuit resistance when there are two loads:

Parallel Circuit
Use the product over the sum method:

Rt =

R1 x R2 R1 + R2

Rt =

4x6 4+6

Rt =

24 10
Prepared by R. Gorrie

Rt = 2.4
Could this method be used when there are more than 2 loads in the circuit
Electrical Fundamentals

63

09-05

Total circuit current flow:

Parallel Circuit

It = E Rt It = 12 1.85 It = 6.5 A
Electrical Fundamentals Prepared by R. Gorrie

64

09-05

The current flow through each resistor:

Parallel Circuit

I 1 = E1 R 1 I1 = 12 4 I1 = 3 A

I 2 = E2 R 2 I2 = 12 6 I2 = 2 A

I 3 = E3 R 3 I3 = 12 8 I3 = 1.5 A
Prepared by R. Gorrie

Test Your Work: It = I1 + I2+ I3 It = 3 + 2 + 1.5Fundamentals Electrical

It = 6.5 A

65

09-05

The voltage drop across each resistor:

Parallel Circuit

E1 = I 1 X R 1 E1 = 3 X 4 E1 = 12 V

E2 = I 2 X R 2 E2 = 2 X 6 E2 = 12 V

E3 = I 3 X R 3 E3 = 1.5 X 8 E3 = 12 V
Prepared by R. Gorrie

Electrical Fundamentals

66

09-05

Series-Parallel Circuit

How do you deal with something like this???

1. Divide the circuit into separate series and parallel portions and label each 2. Reduce the parallel portion to a single resistance value 3. Now treat the whole circuit as a series circuit
Electrical Fundamentals Prepared by R. Gorrie

67

09-05

Series-Parallel Circuit Problem

Calculate: Total resistance: Rt Total current flow: It Individual voltage drops: E1, E2, E3, and E4 Individual current flows: I1, I2, I3, and I4 The horsepower consumed by R4: hp4
Electrical Fundamentals Prepared by R. Gorrie

68

09-05

Series-Parallel Circuit Problem C

Step 1: Divide and label the series and parallel circuits

Electrical Fundamentals

Prepared by R. Gorrie

69

09-05

A B C Series-Parallel Circuit Problem

Step 2: Calculate RtA, RtB and RtC

RtA ! R1 ! 2

1 1  R2 R3 1 RtB ! 1 1  2 3 1 RtB ! 0.5  0.33 1 ! 1.2; RtB ! .83

RtB !

RtC ! R4 ! 10

Rt = RtA+RtB+RtC Rt = 2+1.2+10 Rt = 13.2

Electrical Fundamentals Prepared by R. Gorrie

70

09-05

RtA=2 RtB=1.2 RtC=10 Rt=13.2

A B C Series-Parallel Circuit Problem

Step 3: Calculate the total current It

E Rt 12 It ! 13.2 It ! 0.91 It !
Electrical Fundamentals Prepared by R. Gorrie

71

09-05

RtA=2 RtB=1.2 RtC=10 Rt=13.2 It=0.91A

A B C Series-Parallel Circuit Problem

Step 4: Calculate the individual voltage drops: E1 E2 E3 and E4

E 1 ! I t x R1 E1 ! 0.91 x 2 E1 ! 1.82V

EB ! It x RtB EB ! 0.91 x 1.2 EB ! 1.09V

E4 ! It x R4 E4 ! 0.91 x 10 E4 ! 9.1V

Because EB=1.09V (parallel circuit) then E2 and E3 will each be 1.09V Heres a gift: Check your workremember Kirchhoff?

E1 + EB + E4 = ET 1.82V + 1.09V + 9.1V = 12.01V Electrical Fundamentals

Why not exactly 12V?

Prepared by R. Gorrie

72

09-05

RtA=5 RtB=0.93 RtC=10 Rt=15.93 It=0.91A E1=1.82V EB=1.09V E4=9.1V

A B C Series-Parallel Circuit Problem

Step 5: Calculate the individual current flows: I1 I2 I3 and I4
E1 R1 1.82 I1 ! 2 I1 ! 0.91A EB R2 1.09 I2 ! 2 I2 ! 0.55A I2 ! EB R3 1.09 I3 ! 3 I3 ! 0.36A E4 R4 9.1 I4 ! 10 I4 ! 0.91A I4 !

I1 !

I3 !

What can you conclude about this?

Right! The sum of the individual branch currents = the total by R. Electrical Fundamentals Prepared current Gorrie i.e. 0.55A + 0.36A = 0.91A

73

09-05

RtA=5 RtB=0.93 RtC=10 Rt=15.93 It=0.91A E1=1.82V EB=1.09V E4=9.1V I1=.91A I2=.55A I3=.36A I4=.91A

A B C Series-Parallel Circuit Problem

Step 6: Calculate the horsepower of R4: hp4

watts 746 E4 x I 4 hp4 ! Note: Ensure that 746 you use the correct 9.1 x 0.91 voltage value for hp4 ! the equation 746 8.28 hp4 ! 746 Electrical Fundamentals Prepared by R. Gorrie hp4 ! 0.011hp hp4 !