Electrical wiring

Let there be light….

•
Electricity
Electricity is a form of energy that can produce light, heat, magnetism,
chemical changes. It is the second energy source, which means that we get it
from the conversion of other energy source.
• One might define electricity as the separation of positive and negative electric
charge.
• In a simple way electricity is movemet of electrons of a conductor.
• When the charges are separated and stationary we call this static electricity.
The charging of a capacitor is an example.
• The separation of charge between clouds and the earth before a lightening
discharge is a static electricity.
• When the charges are in motion we have variable electricity.
• Electronics refers to the flow of charge (moving electrons) through nonmetal
conductors (mainly semiconductors), whereas electrical refers to the flow of
charge through metal conductors. For example, flow of charge through silicon,
which is not a metal, would come under electronics; whereas flow of charge
through copper, which is a metal, would come under electrical.
 How is Electricity Produced?
• Friction: “static electricity” from rubbing or walking across
a carpet.
• Pressure: piezo electricity from squeezing crystals together
(quartz watch)
• Heat: voltage produced at junction of dissimilar metals
(thermocouple)
• Light: voltage produced from light striking photocell (solar
power)
• Chemical: voltage produced from chemical reaction (wet or
dry cell battery)
• Magnetism: voltage produced using electromotive induction
(AC or DC generator).
 Electricity Basics
Electricity starts with electrons. Every atom
contains one or more electrons. Electrons have a
negative charge.
The atom

Nucleus : Protons (+) and

neutrons
Electrons (-) rotating on
orbits or energy bands
which are called shells
Valence electrons:
Electrons that are in the
orbits farther from the
nucleus
 Basic Electricity
• Protons
• Positively charged particles located at the center, or nucleus,
of each atom
• Electrons
• Small very light particles with a negative electrical charge
• These electrons move in orbit around the nucleus of an atom.
• Neutrons
• Do not have an electrical charge
• These particles add weight to the atom
• Located at the nucleus of an atom
 Basic Electricity
• Electron Movement
• The outer ring of an atom is called the valance ring
• The number of electrons on the valance ring determine
the electrical characteristics
• Current flow may be defined as the mass movement of
valence electrons from atom to atom through a conductor
 Terms used in Electricity
• Electricity is a form of energy that can produce light, heat,
magnetism, chemical changes
• Resistance: tendency of a material to prevent electrical flow
• Conductor: if electricity flows easily
• Insulator: material that provides great resistance
• Amperes: measure of the rate of flow of electricity in a
conductor
• Volts: measure of electrical pressure
• Watts: measure of the amount of energy or work that can be
done
• Ohms: measure of electrical resistance to flow
 Conductors
Most metals have electrons that can detach
from their atoms and move around. These are
called free electrons. Gold, silver, copper,
aluminum, iron, etc., all have free electrons.
An element with 1, 2, or 3 valance electrons is a
good conductor of electricity
 Elements with less than 4 Electrons in their
outer rings make good conductors
1 2 3

Because the Electrons are easily dislodged from their orbit

and pushed to the atom next to them. (Electron flow)
 Basic Electricity Cont.
• Semiconductors
• An element with 4 valance electrons
• Used to manufacture diodes and transistors
• Silicone is one of the most common semiconductors
 Insulators
In many materials, the electrons are tightly
bound to the atoms. Wood, glass, plastic,
ceramic, air, cotton ... These are all examples of
materials in which electrons stick with their
atoms. Due to the electrical attraction of the
electrons and protons it is very difficult to get
the electrons to move. Since the electrons don't
move, these materials cannot conduct electricity.
These materials are electrical insulators. These
material have 5 or more electrons on the
valance ring .
Elements with More than 4 Electrons in their outer
rings make good insulators
5 7

Because the Electrons remain in the outer rings

when electromotive force ( Voltage) is present.
 Electric charge
• The proton and the electron exhibit a force of attraction due
to their electrical charge. The proton is said to be charged
positive(+) and the electron negative(-). They have the same
magnitude but opposite charge.
• The electron electric charge is 1.6 x 10-19 Coulombs. Current
always flow from :
• Positive terminal to the negative terminal as per the
conventional theory
• Negative terminal to the positive terminal as per
electronic theory.
 Coulomb
• A coulomb is a count of the number of electrons
passing a given point on a conductor in one
second.
• The number of electrons in a coulomb is 6.24 x
1018 or 6,240,000,000,000,000,000
• One coulomb per second equals one amp.
• The charge is expressed as Q or q. If the charge
is constant we use Q. If the charge is
in motion we use q(t) or q.
• According to fundamental laws, charge cannot be
either created or destroyed, only transferred from
one point to another.
 Ampare
1 amp physically
18
means that
6.24x10 electrons move through a
wire every second.
1 ampere = 1coulomb/second
18

Q
i
t
We normally refer to current as being
either direct (dc) or alternating (ac).
1

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

i(t) i(t) 0

-0.2

-0.4

-0.6

t -0.8 t
a c current
d c curren t
-1
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5

a c cu rren t
Ammeter

• Instrument that measures the rate of current

flow in ampares.
• There are two types of ammeter:
• the DC ammeter
• the AC ammeter.
• Caution: An in-line ammeter should always
be connected in series with the circuit. If
accidentally connected in parallel, it will burn
up.
 Volt
• Volt is the pressure used to force the electrons
from one atom to another.
• One volt is the force required to push one
amp through one ohm of resistance.
• The volt is unit of electrical pressure, similar
to pressure used to make gases and liquids
flow through pipes.
•
 Voltage sources

Battery Solar cell

Power supply

Generator
• A solar cell is a device that converts the energy of sunlight
directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect.
Simple explanation of solar cell.
• Photons in sunlight hit the solar panel and are absorbed by
semiconducting materials, such as silicon.
• Electrons (negatively charged) are knocked loose from their
atoms, allowing them to flow through the material to produce
electricity. Due to the special composition of solar cells, the
electrons are only allowed to move in a single direction.
Complementary positive charges, called holes, are also
created and flow in the opposite direction to the electrons.
• An array of solar cells converts solar energy into a usable
amount of direct current (DC) electricity.