AR 224 – BUILDING UTILITIES 2

INTRODUCTION TO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
Basic Electrical Terms and Theories

Prepared by:
Arch. Elsinore B. Elcano
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):

1. Define and Discuss the different

terminologies and Units in Electrical system
2. Discuss the theories in electricity
3. Explain how electric current flows in a circuit
4. Differentiate between series and parallel
connections
5. Compute for the voltage, Current, and
Resistance using Ohm’s Law
 FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICITY

The technical term electricity is the

property of certain particles to
possess a force field which is neither
gravitational nor nuclear. To
understand what this means, we need
to start simply.
PARTS OF AN ANTOM.

https://www.livescience.com/37206-atom-definition.html
FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICITY

• Everything, from water and air to

rocks, plants and animals, is made up
of minute particles called atoms.
• Atoms consist of even smaller
particles called protons, neutrons and
electrons.
• An atom can be compared to a solar
system, with the nucleus being the sun
and the electrons being planets in
orbit.

https://www.livescience.com/37206-atom-definition.html
 FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICITY

The nucleus of the atom contains

protons, which have a positive charge,
and neutrons, which have no charge.
Electrons have a negative charge and
or bit around the nucleus.

https://www.livescience.com/37206-atom-definition.html
 FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICITY

• Electrons can be freed from their orbit by

applying an external force, such as
movement through a magnetic field, heat,
friction, or a chemical reaction.
• A free electron leaves a void, which can be
filled by an electron forced out of its orbit
from another atom. As free electrons
move from one atom to another, an
electron flow is produced. This electron
flow is the basis of electricity.

https://www.livescience.com/37206-atom-definition.html
 FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICITY

The cliché, “opposites attract,” is certainly

true when dealing with electrical charges.

Charged bodies have an invisible electrical field

around them. When two like charged bodies are
brought close together, they repel each other.
When two unlike charged bodies are brought
closer together, their electrical fields work to
attract.
https://www.slashgear.com/scientists-discover
FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICITY
Characteristics

When we look at the flow of electricity, we need

to look at its characteristics. There are three main
characteristics of electricity:
· Current (symbol I)
· Voltage (symbol E or V)
· Resistance (symbol R)
FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICITY
Current

The flow of free electrons in the same general

direction from atom to atom is referred to as
current and it is measured in amperes (“amps” or
“A”). The number of electrons that flow through a
conductor’s cross-section in one second
determines amps. Current can be expressed in a
number of different ways, such as:
 FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICITY
Current

When discussing current, the direction of current flow

needs to be considered. There are two different
theories about this:

· Conventional Flow
· Electron Flow

https://educatingphysics.com/gcse/electricity/electrical-current/
 FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICITY
Current

Conventional Flow

• This theory states that electrons flow from

positive to negative.
• Benjamin Franklin theorized this when very
little was known about electricity. It states
that an invisible fluid known as electricity
tended to flow through a wire from the
positive to the negative. https://www.tutapoint.com/knowledge-center/view/
coventional-flow-vs-eletron-flow
FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICITY
Current

Electron Flow

• This theory states that electrons flow from

negative to positive.
• When more was known about the behavior
of electrons, scientists discovered that
electrons actually flow from negative to
positive. https://www.tutapoint.com/knowledge-center/view/
coventional-flow-vs-eletron-flow
 FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICITY
Voltage

• Voltage is the force that is applied to a conductor

to free electrons, which causes
• electrical current to flow. It is measured in volts
or “V”. Current will flow in a conductor as long as
voltage, the electrical pressure, is applied to the
conductor.
FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICITY
Voltage

There are two methods that voltage forces

current to flow:
· Direct Current
· Alternating Current

https://electricalenergyworld.org/what-is-alternating-current-ac
 FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICITY
Voltage

There are two methods that voltage forces

current to flow:

Direct Current: With this method, the voltage

forces the electrons to flow continuously in
one direction through a closed circuit. This
type of voltage is called Direct Current (DC)
voltage. Batteries and DC generators produce
DC voltage.
https://researchpedia.info/difference-between-alternating-current-
and-direct-current/
 FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICITY
Voltage

Alternating Current: With this method,

voltage forces electrons to flow first in one
direction, then in the opposite direction,
alternating very quickly. This type of voltage
is called Alternating Current (AC) voltage. A
generator is used to produce AC voltage.
The voltage generated by utility companies
for our home, factories and offices is AC https://researchpedia.info/difference-between-alternating-current-
voltage. and-direct-current/
 FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICITY
Voltage
Trivia:

In 1887 direct current (DC) was king. At that time

there were 121 Edison power stations scattered across
the United States delivering DC electricity to its
customers. But DC had a great limitation -- namely,
that power plants could only send DC electricity about
a mile before the electricity began to lose power. So
when George Westinghouse introduced his system
based on high-voltage alternating current (AC), which
could carry electricity hundreds of miles with little loss
of power, people naturally took notice. A "battle of the
currents" ensued. In the end, Westinghouse's AC
prevailed. https://researchpedia.info/difference-between-alternating-current-
and-direct-current/
FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICITY
Resistance

The restriction to the flow of electrons

through a conductor is called resistance
and it is measured in ohms and abbreviated
“W”, the Greek symbol Omega. Resistance
is expressed in a number of ways:
FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICITY
Resistance

In general, there are four factors

that affect the amount of resistance
in a conductor:

· Material
· Length
· Cross-Sectional Area
· Temperature
 FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICITY
Resistance

Material - Rubber, glass and porcelain

are considered good insulators.

Conductors - materials or substances which

allow electricity to flow through it.

Insulator, any of various substances that block

or retard the flow of electrical or thermal
currents. Length: The longer the conductor, the more
resistance in the conductor.
Resistance is increased or decreased in proportion to
the conductor’s length. For example, a 2-foot long
conductor would have twice the resistance of a one-
foot long conductor.
http://www.differencebetween.net/technology/difference-between-conductors-
and-insulators/
 FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICITY
Resistance

Cross-Sectional Area: As the cross-

sectional area of a conductor increases,
the resistance decreases, and vice
versa.
For example, if the area of a conductor is doubled,
the resistance is cut in half.

Temperature: Usually when the temperature of a

conductor increases, the resistance increases.
The temperature factor is not as predictable as the other factors, but it must be
considered when dealing with electricity.
 FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICITY
Two Arrangements:
Circuit Arrangements · Series Circuit
· Parallel Circuit
Electric Circuit – defined as a
complete conducting path that
carries current from a source of
electricity to and through some
electrical device (or load) and
back to the source.
A current can never flow unless
there is a complete (closed)
circuit.

https://byjus.com/physics/difference-between-series-and-parallel-circuits/
 FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICITY
Circuit Arrangements

Two Arrangements:
· Series Circuit Series Circuit
· Parallel Circuit
The elements are connected one after
the other in series. Thus, the resistance
and voltages add.

https://www.autodesk.com/products/eagle/blog/series-vs-parallel-circuits/
 FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICITY
Circuit Arrangements

Two Arrangements:
· Series Circuit Series Circuit
· Parallel Circuit

Illustration from: Architectural Utilities 2:

Electrical and Mechanical Equipments by
George S. Salvan
 FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICITY
Circuit Arrangements

Two Arrangements: Series Circuit

· Series Circuit
· Parallel Circuit

Illustration from: Architectural Utilities 2:

Electrical and Mechanical Equipments by
George S. Salvan
 FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICITY
Circuit Arrangements

Two Arrangements:
· Series Circuit Series Circuit
· Parallel Circuit Principle: In any series circuit, the total
Resistance (R) is the sum of the
resistance around the circuit.

I=V = __ __V___ _
R Rab + Rbc + Rcd +
Rda
Illustration from: Architectural Utilities 2:
Electrical and Mechanical Equipments by
George S. Salvan
Two Arrangements:
· Series Circuit
· Parallel Circuit

Architectural Utilities
2: Electrical and
Mechanical
Equipments
by George S. Salvan

The battery in the above figure is rated at 120v. The line resistance
{both wires) is 0.04 ohm, and the load resistance is 1.15 ohms.
Determine the (a) current flowing in the circuit, (b) the voltage across
the load (Vcd)·
Series Circuit
Principle:
Voltage, on the other hand, does not remain constant
throughout the circuit.
Voltage values can be measured across each resistor or load. This is
called the voltage drop. The total voltage (VT) is equal to the sum of all
the voltage drops in that circuit. A voltmeter can verify this. The formula
is:

(VT) = V1 + V2 + V3 …

The battery in the above figure is rated at 120v. The line resistance {both
wires) is 0.04 ohm, and the load resistance is 1.15 ohms. Determine the (a)
current flowing in the circuit, (b) the voltage across the load (Vcd)·
 FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICITY
Circuit Arrangements

Two Arrangements: Parallel Circuit

· Series Circuit
When two or more branches or loads in a
· Parallel Circuit
circuit are connected between the same
two points, they are said to be connected
in parallel or multiple.

Path 3

Path 2
Path 1

https://eschooltoday.com/science/electricity/what-is-a-parallel-circuit
 FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICITY
Circuit Arrangements

Two Arrangements: Parallel Circuit

· Series Circuit
· Parallel Circuit

Illustration from: Architectural Utilities 2:

Electrical and Mechanical Equipments by
George S. Salvan
 FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICITY
Circuit Arrangements

Two Arrangements: Parallel Circuit

· Series Circuit
· Parallel Circuit In parallel circuits, The loads operate
independently of each other, and therefore a
break in any one branch does not prevent the
line voltage from being applied to the remaining
branches.

https://study.com/academy/lesson/building-series-parallel-circuits-physics-lab.html
 FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICITY
Circuit Arrangements

Two Arrangements:
· Series Circuit
· Parallel Circuit
Parallel Circuit

The total resistance

Principle:
(RT) of a parallel circuit
decreases as more branches
are added.
Two Arrangements:
· Series Circuit
· Parallel Circuit
Parallel Circuit
From the circuit shown below, it should be apparent
that multiple loads are across the same voltage and,
in effect, constitute separate circuits. From this we
conclude that in the circuit is the sum of the
individual currents flowing in the branches.

Architectural Utilities 2: Electrical and Mechanical Equipments

by George S. Salvan
POWER IN ELECTRIC CURRENT
Electric Current is defined as the rate at which charge
flows through a surface (the cross section of a wire.

https://www.thoughtco.com/electrical-current
POWER IN ELECTRIC CURRENT

The unit of electric power is the watt (W).

A larger unit of 1000 watts is the kilowatt

(kw). The power input in watts to any
electrical device having a resistance R and in
which the current is I is given by the
equation:

Wattage W = 12R or W = I (IR)

 POWER IN ELECTRIC CURRENT

https://www.110220volts.com/difference-between-volt-watt-amp
https://www.110220volts.com/difference-between-volt-watt-amp
 POWER IN ELECTRIC CURRENT

https://www.110220volts.com/difference-between-volt-watt-amp
 POWER IN ELECTRIC CURRENT
Differentiating Property Watts Volts

Basic Definition Watts is the unit of Power (P). Volts is the SI unit of potential difference and
EMF.

Explanation Watts specifies the rate at which energy is Volt is the defined as the difference in electric
transferred. potential across a wire when 1A current
dissipates 1 Watt of power across the wire.

Symbol W V

Formula One formula for watts is: One formula for volts is:
Difference Between W = Volts × Current V = Potential Energy/ Charge

Watts and Volts:

Measuring Device Watts can be measured by using a Power meter. Volts can be measured by using a Voltmeter.

Measurement Details Watts gives a more realistic measurement for Volts describe a small portion of voltage from
Power. the power source.

Measurement Difficulty The reading taking of Watts is difficult since it The reading taking of Volts is very easy when
requires the quantities of both voltage and compared to Watts.
current.

https://www.110220volts.com/difference-between-volt-watt-amp
POWER IN ELECTRIC CURRENT
POWER ENERGY
IN ELECTRIC
INCURRENT
ELECTRIC CIRCUITS

http://mbpictures.ph/product/meralco-power
 ENERGY IN ELECTRIC CIRCUITS

Since power is the rate

of energy use, it follows that:

energy = power x time

Therefore the amount of

energy used is directly
proportional to the power
of the system and to the
length of time.

https://residential.meralco.com.ph/meralco-online
 ENERGY IN ELECTRIC CIRCUITS

Sample Computation:
Find the daily energy consumption of the
appliances listed below if they are used daily for
the amount of time shown.
Toaster (1340 w) 15 min. or ¼ hr.
Percolator (500 w) 2 hr.
Fryer (1560 w) 39 min. or ½
hr.
Iron (1400 w) 39 min. or ½
Toaster = 1.34 kw x 0.25 hr. = 0.335 kwh
hr.
percolator = 0.5 kw x 2 hrs. = 1.00 kwh
fryer = 1.56 kw. x 0.5
= 0.78
hr. kwh
iron = 1.40 kw x 0.5
= 0.70
hr. kwh
= 2.815 kwh
ENERGY IN ELECTRIC CIRCUITS

Seat Work:
 SYLLABUS
Introduction to Electricity: Introduction to Electricity: (Electron, Neutron, Proton); Sources of Energy (Different types
of Energy sources in the Philippines: Renewable and Non-Renewable sources of Energy); Legislation: Electric Power
Industry Reform Act of 2001 (RA 9136); the Biofuel Act of 2006 (RA 9367); the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 (RA
9513); and the Climate Change Act of 2009 (RA 9729). Electrical Systems. Definition of electrical terms and electrical
units (Ion, Volt/Voltage, Ampere, Watt, Circuit, Resistance, Power, Energy, Transformer); Electric Current (Direct (DC),
Alternating (AC), Resistance); Ohms Law and Power Formula; Series and Parallel Circuit; Conductors and Wiring
Accessories: Conductors and Insulators, Wires and Cables, Raceway, Conduit, Connector, Outlet and Receptacles, Other
Wiring accessories (Junction box, Pull box, Switches), Branch Circuit, Electrical Circuit in a building, Electrical symbols,
Power and Lighting layout; Communications and Automated Building Management System: Telephone, Intercom, CATV,
PBAX; Building Automation and Intelligent Building System.

Mechanical system: Introduction to HVAC system; Theory of Heat and Principles of Thermodynamics; Principles of Air
Conditioning system; Fundamental Design of AC system; System and Components of different types of AC system;
Application of AC system; Principles of Fire Protection System; Fundamental Design of Fire Protection system; System
and Components of Different types of Fire Protection system; Application of Fire Protection System.
Vertical Transportation systems: Introduction to Vertical transportation systems: Elevator, Escalator and Other
Conveying systems; Elevator system; Escalator system; Mechanical Regulations on the design and installation of
elevators and escalators; Breakthroughs and innovations in Elevator and Escalator designs; Principles of crane system;
Fundamental design of crane system; System and Components of different types of crane; Application of different
crane types; Breakthroughs and innovation in Vertical Transportation and Conveying system.