2015 Flashcards
State the reason why a residual current device (RCD) used for personal protection is required to switch both the phase and neutral poles?
Any ONE of:
● Transposed connections on the RCD have no effect
● Ensure there are no transient voltages on the neutral
● Removes the danger if the neutral is above earth potential
A three-phase, delta-connected induction motor is controlled by a DOL starter. The motor is protected by HRC fuses and a thermal overload.
State what would occur if one fuse blew (opened) while the motor was
operating normally under full load.
Any ONE of:
● The current in the two live phases rises.
● The motor will stall
● The thermal overload will operate
State the reason why a three-pole MCB would be used to protect a threephase final subcircuit instead of three HRC fuses.
Any ONE of:
● To ensure that a fault on one phase will fully disconnect the supply to the load
● Where the load supplied is sensitive to the loss of one phase
● It is easier to reset after a fault
● MCB cost is significantly less than
equivalent HRC fuses
Describe the characteristics of a thermistor.
A thermistor is a device which changes resistance with temperature
Where in a motor circuit would a thermistor be located?
It would be located in the windings of
the motor
New mains have been installed in a 230V, single-phase domestic
installation. During the work the phase and neutral were interchanged at the mains entry box.
State TWO hazardous situations that could arise if the installation was
livened.
Any TWO of:
● A touch voltage hazard between
conductive parts and the mass of earth.
● Protective devices within the installation may not operate under fault conditions.
● The neutral is being switched throughout the installation.
● The protective device for the installation may not operate.
AS/NZS 3000 requires that a test voltage of 500V d.c. is used for an
insulation resistance test of a low voltage electrical installation.
Explain why the voltage is a d.c. voltage.
Any ONE of:
● To ensure capacitive or inductive
reactance does not influence the
test result.
● A constant maximum voltage is a
more stringent test than the
momentary peaks of an a.c.
waveform.
Some protective devices on a switchboard in an electrical installation have a fault duty lower than the prospective short-circuit current rating of the
installation.
State TWO hazards that could occur when a high prospective short-circuit
fault current occurs in the electrical installation.
Any TWO of
● Flash over on switchboard between
protective devices
● A protective device could rupture and expose live parts
● A protective device could rupture and cause a fire
AS/NZS 3000 requires that a test voltage of 500V d.c. is used for an
insulation resistance test of a low voltage electrical installation.
Explain why a voltage of 500V is applied.
To stress the insulation at a voltage
above 325V a.c. (or peak a.c. voltage.
100 metres of three-phase mains cable gave an insulation test result of 100MΩ. Calculate the insulation resistance of 500m of the same type of cable.
R2 = R1 x L1 / L2
= 100 x 100 / 500
= 20M
Define the term ramp-time as it applies to a variable speed drive
controlling a motor.
The time taken for the motor to change from one speed to another.
State ONE reason why thermistors would be used for motor protection in addition to thermal overloads and HRC fuses.
To protect the motor against excessive temperature in the motor windings.
State the reason why 6 conductors are required between a star/delta
starter and a three-phase motor
● To enable the motor to be connected in star on starting.
● And to be connected in delta while
running
A three-phase motor is controlled by a variable speed drive. The motor is
required to operate at low speeds for extended periods.
What additional actions need to be taken in respect to the motor?
● Additional motor cooling is required
● As conventional cooling is inadequate at low speeds for extended periods
The total clearance time of an HRC comprises the pre-arcing time and the arcing time.
Define the term pre-arcing time.
It is the time taken between the fuse
elements beginning to melt and the
initiation of the arc
The total clearance time of an HRC comprises the pre-arcing time and the arcing time.
Define the term arcing time
The time between the initiation of the
arc and the extinguishing of the arc.
Describe what happens in an electrical installation when a fault occurs and there is correct discrimination between protective devices.
Only the protective device electrically
closest to the fault operates.
State what would occur if a 230V, single-phase capacitor-start motor that was running suddenly experienced a 50% drop in speed due to mechanical
overloading and the electrical protection failed to operate?
Any ONE of:
● The motor would stall and burn out
● The centrifugal switch will re-engage
and the motor will burn out
State the precaution that needs to be taken when an HRC fuse rated at AC 20, 550V is used for protection in a d.c. final subcircuit.
Any ONE of:
● Ensure that the fuse markings show an equivalent DC rating.
● Obtain correct information from
manufacturer if there is no DC rating.
A single-phase, split-phase induction motor comprises a stator, a start
winding, a centrifugal switch and a run winding.
The start winding and centrifugal switch form a closed circuit, the run
winding is open-circuited. Explain why the motor does not rotate when it is switched on.
● To start the motor a simulated rotating magnetic field is required
● The field is created by the different
electrical characteristics between the
start and run windings.
● An open-circuit run winding means no rotating magnetic field effect can be produced
The single-phase split-phase motor in a refrigerator is a sealed unit that
incorporates only the start and run windings.
State how the start winding is disconnected after starting.
By an external current relay
State ONE reason why a universal motor is generally used in
conjunction with a gear train.
Any ONE of:
● To limit the no-load speed of the
motor
● To produce a high torque at a
reduced speed
The single-phase split-phase motor in a refrigerator is a sealed unit that
incorporates only the start and run windings.
At what percentage (%) of full-load speed does the start winding
become disconnected?
60% to 80% of full-load speed
Describe what could occur if a universal motor was not used in
conjunction with a gear train.
At no-load the motor could attain
excessive speed and self-destruct
Describe how to reverse the direction of rotation of a single-phase capacitor-start motor.
Any ONE of:
● Reverse the connections to the start
winding
● Reverse the connections to the run
winding
Describe how to reverse the direction of rotation of a universal motor.
Any ONE of:
● Reverse the connections to the
armature
● Reverse the connections to the
field windings