Electrical Safety Flashcards
Ohms Law
The value of a current passing through a conductor is directly proportional to the potential difference between the ends of the conductor, and inversely proportional to the resistance of the conductor
Resistance
The opposition to a steady electrical current
Impedence
Is the AC (alternating Current) equivalent of Resistance
Reactance
The opposition to the flow of alternating current
Inductance
The property of a conductor by which a change in current in the conductor induces a voltage in the conductor itself
Capacitance
The property of a circuit element that permits it to store charge.
Conductors
A conductor is any material that easily allows electrons to flow. Copper and Aluminum are two great examples of good conductors that are used extensively for electric cables
Insulators
Any material that inhibits the flow of electrons. Glass and rubber are good examples of insulating materials
Semiconductors
Used in the manufacturer of diodes, transistors and integrated circuit chips. They are neither conductors nor insulators. Examples include carbon, silicon and germanium
Alternating current (AC)
Mains electricity in the UK is AC. 230v supply in the UK. Current flows back and forth
Direct Current (DC)
Can be produced by batteries. Circuit flows in one direction only
Diode
Effectively an electrical one way valve, conducts the current in a forward direction but not in reverse. Used to convert (rectify) AC into DC
Electromagnetic Radiation
EMFA arise whenever electrical energy is used. Can lead to acute effects. At low frequency can affect the nervous system. At high can raise the body temperature
High Voltage
In excess of 650 V AC
Low Voltage
AC current exceeding 50 V but not exceeding 1000 V
Circuitry - Effects of components in a series
If 2 lamps are connected in series and one breaks the circuit is broken and the 2nd lamp can’t work.
When in series the same current flows through them and the voltage is shared between them
Circuitry - Effects of components in Parrallel
If lamps are connected in parrallel and one breaks the circuit is not affected and the second lamp will still work.
When in parrallel the current is shared between them but the voltage available remains the same
Earthing Prinicples
Earth is the conductive mass of earth, whose electrical; potential at any point is conventionally taken at zero
In order to reduce the risk of serious electric shock it is important to provide a path for earth fault currents to operate the circuit protection
Dangers from Electricity - B-Safe
Burns Shock Arcing Fire Explosion
Electric Burn
Due to heating effect caused by the passage of electric current through the body tissues
Painful and slow to heal, permanent scarring is common
Electric Shock
Response to electrical current flowing through the body. Electricity can take multiple paths through the body and is difficult to predict and can be very painful or fatal
Potentially fatal effects of electric shock
Muscular contractions Respiratory failure Fibrillation of the heart Cardiac Arrest Injury from internal burns