ELECTRICS

Basic Electrics

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Before You Start
The information included in this document is intended for experienced
personnel familiar with this type of equipment.
If there are any questions regarding the information provided or the
application of the provided information, please contact,
aftersales@powerscreen.com.
Operation and maintenance of the machine must be done in accordance with
the instructions in the operation manual for the machine.

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 STAY SAFE !

Electricity can kill

Isolate and lock out all supplies before
commencing work.

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 Switch Off, Tag out and Lockout Procedure

PRIOR TO CARRYING OUT MAINTENANCE OR ADJUSTMENT THE

FOLLOWING PROCEDURE MUST BE FOLLOWED: -
Ensure the plant is empty prior to shut down
Disengage each machine component (e.g. conveyors etc.) using the control
levers.
Turning off all machine components at once causes a pressure spike in the
hydraulic circuit. A slight pause between disengaging each component can
prevent this spike taking place.
Turn components off in the order:
Feeder Conveyor
Main conveyor
Screenbox/Fines Conveyor (Oversize Conveyor on Warrior models)
RH/LH side conveyor
Switch off engine and remove ignition key. Carry the key with you.
Engage emergency stop.
Place appropriate maintenance warning sign.
Use padlock to secure isolator and prevent restart.
NEVER WORK ALONE

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Introduction to Basic Electrics
The Principles Of Electricity

To understand electricity you first need to

understand a few basics.
Everything in the universe is made up of
atoms. You cannot see them, but they are
there. Atoms exist in all solids, liquids and
gases.
Atoms are made up of protons, neutrons and
electrons. The protons and neutrons are
contained within a nucleus.
The electrons orbit the nucleus. The
electrons in the outer orbits are known as free
electrons.
When a circuit is completed, the negatively
charged free electrons are attracted to the
positive terminal of the battery. This is the same
principle as two magnets being attracted to
each other.
The attraction causes the electrons to flow
from atom to atom (1), creating electricity.
This is what causes the bulb in this picture to
illuminate.
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Introduction to Basic Electrics
- Electrical Measurement Units

PRESSURE = VOLTAGE
In electrics it is important to remember a simple fact.
Electricity is a force, we cannot stop/start or control
electricity we can only manipulate it to make it work for us.

When it comes to electrical flow; there are a number of

elements to understand

Voltage
RESISTANCE Current
= PIPE SIZE
Resistance

These items are easily understood if compared to

plumbing in your house.

FLOW = CURRENT 6
Introduction to Basic Electrics
- Electrical Measurement Units - Voltage

PRESSURE = VOLTAGE

In electrics we view each component as its own force which is

present for a reason. The voltage is referred to as electrical
pressure and is measured in volts.

This pressure is required to power the system, without the

pressure there is no flow. As the plumbing diagram shows,
the pressure is stored in a tank, in electrics this is the
machines battery. If the tank is empty then we have no flow.
RESISTANCE
= PIPE SIZE
When measuring voltage we are not looking at what is
present in the wire, we are looking at the potential difference
between one end and the other. This is shown on the next
page.

FLOW = CURRENT 7
 Introduction to Basic Electrics
- Electrical Measurement Units - Voltage
If we were to put a multi-meter (set to
Vdc) over an open switch contact we
would pick up circuit voltage (12v),
this is because we are asking the
multi-meter what the difference is
between one probe and the other.
12.00

If we were to do the same test over a closed

switch contact, we would get a reading of no
voltage, there is a voltage present in the circuit
as the light is on but you have asked the
meter what the difference between 12v and
12v is, which is obviously 0v

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Introduction to Basic Electrics
- Electrical Measurement Units - Current
The next essential force in electrics is current which is
PRESSURE = VOLTAGE
symbolised as the flow.

Current is measured in amps but in Ohms/Watts Law is shown

as I which derives from the French phrase intensit de courant.

In order for current to flow there must be a voltage present and

a load put on the circuit such as a bulb, resistor or motor. This
will cause the free electrons to flow through the conductor
(copper wire) from battery positive to negative/ground, this
continues until the potential difference has been realised i.e. the
circuit has been switched off/disconnected.
RESISTANCE
= PIPE SIZE
In electrics there are 2 different types of current, these are:

Alternating Current
Direct Current

These are explained on the next page

FLOW = CURRENT

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Introduction to Basic Electrics
- Alternating Current (AC)
Although all the systems we will consider are DC Systems it is
important to point out the difference between AC/DC
AC current and voltages vary over time between positive and
negative, and the resulting waveform shape is a sine wave.
A common misconception of AC current is that it raises and lowers.
This is not necessarily true.
Alternating current is what is used in our houses and is fed and
then retracted, up and down the same wire like the sea tides. This
is how our house electricity meters work, they detect what is going
in and what comes back to see how much electricity we have
consumed.
Alternating current is found on our machines in some sensors that
detect ranging speeds/frequency e.g. engine speed sensor.
That said alternating current cannot be used to power our
machines as it would continuously charge and flatten the batteries.
Alternating current is what is produced by our engines alternator
and is then rectified by a device called the rectifier. (Details of the
alternator can be found on the How to Introduction to Alternators).
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Introduction to Basic Electrics
- Direct Current (DC)
Once the alternator rectifier has done its work, the type of
current and voltage we are left with is Direct Current.

Direct current is created by the rectifier and is taken from the

high points of the alternating current produced by the
alternator. This is then fed to the machine batteries for
storage.

This current only flows in one direction and provides a

consistent rate of the machine voltage 12/24v.

DC is required by the machine systems to constantly provide

a feed to the powered circuits as an alternating current would
cause the ECUs to throw up faults due to the values being
outside their parameters.

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Introduction to Basic Electrics
Electrical Measurement Units - Resistance
The third main element of the electrical system is resistance,
this is measured in Ohms() this is symbolised by the taps
on the plumbing system. The more resistance that is provided
by the resistor the more difficult it is for the current to flow.
There are 2 types of resistance, there is good resistance and
bad resistance.
Good resistance is shown at 1, this is a standard light bulb
which is a resistor, the coils in the light bulb resist the flow of
the electricity causing heat and light (although light is mainly
due to the gases contained within the bulb). Resistors come
in many different forms and we use them to restrict the flow of
current on its way to the battery negative/ground as you may
not want the full flow of electricity to that component.
Bad resistance is caused by damaged wires, poor
connections or corrosion as shown at 2, this high resistance
will drain the current which as you can see is causing the
second bulb (3) to glow dim, this is because the current is
fighting the high resistance, leaving very little current for the
bulb.

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Introduction to Basic Electrics
Electrical Measurement Units - Watts
Wattage (W) is the electrical term used for Power, this
can be either the power something produces or the
power something consumes.
An example of a consumer is a light bulb, these are
given wattage ratings and the higher the wattage, the
more light they produce, this is because a 40w bulb will
use more power than a 21w bulb.
An example of a power producer is a motor such as an
generator, it creates power which can be fed back to the
electrical system it is part of.
Another example of a producer is an engine, it is also
rated by wattage but in automotive applications it is
converted to horse power (HP)
Kilowatt = 1 Horse Power
Wattage can be calculated by using Watts Law which is
an unofficial equation for using 2 electrical values to
find out the third. (Shown on page 15)

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Introduction to Basic Electrics
- Circuits
An essential aspect of a working electric circuit it that it is a closed
loop.

You will only achieve current flow in a circuit when there is a closed
loop around the circuit

Basic Circuit

Consider the following Basic Circuit

This is a very simple circuit with a battery, switch and bulb

No Current will flow from the battery through the bulb until the
switch is closed.

When the switch is closed Current is forced by the voltage

(pressure) from positive to negative (high pressure low
pressure) through the bulb and back to the battery.

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Introduction to Basic Electrics
- Basic Laws Of Electrics

V = Voltage
OHMS LAW: WATTS LAW:
I = Current
R = Resistance

V P = Power P

I R V I

V = IxR P = VxI
I = V/R V = P/I
R = V/I I = P/V
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Introduction to Basic Electrics
- Basic Laws Of Electrics

Voltage (V) : Measured In VOLTS

Current (I) : Measured in AMPS
Resistance (R) : Measured in OHMS
Power (W) : Measured in WATTS

Voltage (V) = Power Source (Battery) = 24VDC

Resistance (R) = Load (Solenoid)

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Introduction to Basic Electrics
Using a Multi-meter

Voltage :
Select DC Voltage range. Remember, the meter must be connected in Parallel to
read DC Voltage.

Current :
Select DC Amps range. Remember, the meter must be connected in series to
read DC current.

Resistance and Continuity:

Select () Ohms range. Remember, the meter must be connected in Parallel.

ALWAYS switch the power OFF before doing

resistance and continuity checks!

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Questions?

Thank You For Listening.

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