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HVACR214 – Electrical for Oil. Lesson 1 Basic Electricity. Electronics. Will be a part of your every day job. 90% of the problems you encounter will be electrical. You will not understand anything else if you do not understand basic electrical. What is electricity?.
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HVACR214 – Electrical for Oil Lesson 1 Basic Electricity
Electronics • Will be a part of your every day job. • 90% of the problems you encounter will be electrical. • You will not understand anything else if you do not understand basic electrical.
What is electricity? • Electricity is a fundamental element of nature. • Electricity starts with an atom consisting of an electron and a proton. • The electrons jump from atom to atom.
What is electricity? • This movement of electrons creates electric current. • With the use of a proper conductor the current will move in a controlled manner and become usable.
What is electronics? • Electronics is a study of the movement of electricity through wires, switches, and loads.
Conductors • Conductors are substances like wire, metal, earth, and water where electrical current can easily pass. • Keep in mind that the human body is a great conductor of electricity.
Insulators • Insulators are substances such as rubber, cloth, dry wood, and glass that resists the flow of electricity. • Insulators are found on the top of power poles and around wires. • Insulators are there for safety and to isolate electrical wires. • Most insulation you will deal with will be rubber or plastic.
Electrical Production • Electricity is produced by one of four methods. • Friction creates static electricity. • Chemically is how electricity is produced in a battery. • Magnetism is how electricity is produced in a power plant. • Mechanically is how electricity is produced in a thermocouple.
Electro-magnetic Force • An electro-magnetic force is one that is created by a magnet spinning inside wires. The current that is generated by the spinning magnet is sent out over the wires to do work. This is power, voltage, and amperage.
Voltage • Voltage is the potential for electricity to do work. • Voltage is measured in volts.
Current • Current is the movement of electrons. • Current is measured and recorded in Amps.
Resistance • Resistance is a force that opposes electrical flow. • If there where to be no resistance than the current would run uncontrolled and would become what is known as a “short” circuit. • Resistance is measured in Ohms.
Wattage • Watts are the measurement of power. • A watt equals one amp of current flowing with a pressure (or potential) of one volt. • Watts are used by the power companies to bill customers.
Types of current • There are two types of current • Alternating Current • Direct Current
Direct Current • Known as “DC”. • Direct current is what is produced by batteries. It is what is used in automotive. • Direct current is used inside high tech electrical devices. • Direct current is used in a lot of higher end (more expensive) control devices.
Alternating Current • Alternating current is known as “AC” • Alternating current is what is available from the power company. • Alternating current has a wave pattern to the voltage levels that vary between positive and negative. • In the United States this change happens 60 times per second.
Frequency • Frequency is the measurement of the AC voltage shifts from positive to negative. • Frequency is measured in Hertz (of Hz) • This is usually based on times per second. • United States = 60 Hz • Europe = 50 Hz
Line Voltage • Line voltage is the power coming in from the power company. • Line voltage is high voltage and in most cases can cause you serious harm, if not death. • Line voltage is available from wall plugs.
Control Voltage • In most cases control voltage is lower voltage. • Control voltage in the heating air conditioning industry is 24 VAC. • VAC is Volts AC (or Alternating Current Voltage) • Control voltage is designed to be easy to handle and safer.