The document discusses the generation, transmission, and distribution of electric power, detailing the voltage levels (11 kV for generation and 220 V for household supply) and the use of transformers for stepping up and down voltages. It explains the importance of fuses in protecting circuits, the characteristics of fuse wires, and the preferred parallel arrangement for household wiring to ensure independent operation of appliances. Additionally, it covers the role of switches and the safety measures needed when handling electrical circuits.
The document discusses the generation, transmission, and distribution of electric power, detailing the voltage levels (11 kV for generation and 220 V for household supply) and the use of transformers for stepping up and down voltages. It explains the importance of fuses in protecting circuits, the characteristics of fuse wires, and the preferred parallel arrangement for household wiring to ensure independent operation of appliances. Additionally, it covers the role of switches and the safety measures needed when handling electrical circuits.
The document discusses the generation, transmission, and distribution of electric power, detailing the voltage levels (11 kV for generation and 220 V for household supply) and the use of transformers for stepping up and down voltages. It explains the importance of fuses in protecting circuits, the characteristics of fuse wires, and the preferred parallel arrangement for household wiring to ensure independent operation of appliances. Additionally, it covers the role of switches and the safety measures needed when handling electrical circuits.
The document discusses the generation, transmission, and distribution of electric power, detailing the voltage levels (11 kV for generation and 220 V for household supply) and the use of transformers for stepping up and down voltages. It explains the importance of fuses in protecting circuits, the characteristics of fuse wires, and the preferred parallel arrangement for household wiring to ensure independent operation of appliances. Additionally, it covers the role of switches and the safety measures needed when handling electrical circuits.
EXERCISE 9(A4)
Question: 1
‘At what voltage and frequency is the electric power generated at the power
generating station?
Solution:
The electric power generated at the power generating station at 11 kV and 50 Hz
respectively.
Question: 2
(a) At what voltage is the electric power from the generating station transmitted?
Give reasonsto your answer.
(b) What is the nature of current transmitted from the power station?
Solution:
(a) Generation at voltage higher than 11 kV causes insulation difficulties, while
generation at voltage lower than 11 kV involves a very high current. Hence, electric
power from the generating station is transmitted at 11 kV.
(b) Alternating current (AC) is the nature of current transmitted from the power station
Question: 3
The voltage of power generated at the generating stationsis first steppedup before
its transmission. Give reason.
Solution:
Usually at 11 kV, power generated at generating stations which is very high. This power
is to be transmitted across far away distances from the generating stations. A lot of
energy is lost in the transmission line wires in the form of heat during transmitting the 11
kV power. Hence, using the step up transformer the voltage of power generated at the
stations is stepped up from 11 kV to 132 KV. This process is applicable only for
alternating current since direct current cannot be raised.
Question: 4
Explain with the aid of a simple diagram, the transmissionof electric power from
the generating station to your house.
Solution:The electric power is generated at 11 kV at a power generating station. The alternating
voltage is transmitted to the grid sub-station from here and stepped up to 132 kV using a
step-up transformer. It is then transmitted to the main sub-station. At the main sub-station
the voltage is stepped down to 33 kV using a step-down transformer and is then
transmitted to the intermediate sub-station. The voltage is stepped down to 11 kV using a
step-down transformer at the intermediate sub-station. From here it is transmitted to the
city sub-station, where the voltage is further stepped down to 220 V and is supplied to
our houses.
Question: 5
At what voltage and frequency is the a.c. supplied to our houses?
Solutio
The a.c.
upplied to our houses at 220 V of voltage and 50 Hz of frequency.
Question: 6
Name the device usedito (a) Increase the voltage at the generating station (b)
Decreasethe voltage at the sub-station for its supply.
Solution:
(a) Step-up transformer is used to increase the voltage at the generating station
(b) Step-down transformer is used to decrease the voltage at the sub-station for its supply.
Question: 7
(a) Name the three connectingwires usedin a householdcircuit.
(b) Which two wires mentionedin part (a) are at the samepotential?
(c) In which of the wire stated in part (a) the switch is connected?
Solution:
(a) Live wire, neutral wire and earth wire are the three connecting wires used in
household circuit(c) Live wire is the wire in which the switch is connected
Question: 8
What is the polefuse?Write down its current rating.
Solution:
Before connecting the cable from pole to the meter in a house, first a fuse of high rating
is connected in the live wire at the pole or just before the meter. This fuse is called the
pole fuse. The current rating of pole fuse is ~ 50 A.
Question: 9
State the function of each of the following in a housecircuiting:
(a) kWh meter, (b) main fuse, and (c) main switch
Solution:
(a) After the company fuse, the cable is connected to a kWh meter. From this meter,
connections are made to a main switch and to a main fuse in the distribution box.
(b) Main fuse is connected only in the live wire and in case of high current it gets burnt
and the cut the connections to save appliances.
(c) Main switch is connected in both the live and neutral wires. It is used to break the
connections of the live as well as the neutral wires simultaneously from the main supply.
Question: 10
In what unit doesthe electric meter in a housemeasure the electrical energy
consumed?What is its value in S.I. unit?
Solutior
The electric meter in a house measure the electrical energy consumed in kWh.
1 kWh = 3.6 10° Jis its value in S.I. unit.
Question: 11
Where is the main fuse connectedin a housecircuit?
Solution:
The main fuse is connected in series only in the live wire before the main switch in the
distribution board of a house circuit
Question: 12
State one advantage of using the main switch in housewiring.
Solution:
The main switch is a double pole switch and has an iron covering. The advantage ofusing the main switch is that it can break both the connection of the live and the neutral
wires at the same time. This protects the electrical appliances from accidental damage
due to electrical faults.
Question: 13
Draw a circuit diagram to explain the ring systemof housewiring. State two
advantages of it.
Solution:
lamp. Socketoutet
so dbs
1 Ne
FO! ' F R
yy ¢T, .
2eAtse teh loe7 7
PESESE ERA Ap ate
ManfoseBox | '~ =
Ring system of house wing
Advantages of a ring system over tree system
(i) The wiring is cheaper in a ring system than in tree system
(ii) The sockets and plugs of same size can be used in a ring system while sockets and
plugs are of different size in a tree system
(iii) Each appliance has a separate fuse in a ring system. Therefore if due to some fault,
the fuse of one appliance burns, it does not affect the operation of the other appliances
while in a tree system when fuse in one distribution line blows, it disconnects all the
appliances connected to that distribution circuit.
Question: 14
Draw a labelled diagram with the necessaryswitch, regulator, etc. to connecta bulb
and a fan with the mains. In what arrangement are they connectedto the mains:
seriesor parallel?
Solution:Lamp. Socketoutet
é 2
\ Y
Ring system of house wiring
BQAfuse
Toother
appliances
Main fase Box
‘The appliances are connected in a parallel arrangement to the mains
Question: 15
How should the several electric lamps be connectedwith the mains sothat the
switching on or off a lamp has no effect on the operation of other lamps?
Solution:
All the electrical appliances in a building should be connected in parallel with the mains.
Each electrical appliances with a separate switch and a separate fuse connected in the live
wire so that switching on or off in a room has no effect on other lamps in the same
building.
Question: 16
Fig.9.12 showsthree bulbs A, B and C eachof rating 100 W, 220 V connectedto the
mains of 220 V. Answer the following:
Gps
(>) Mains
Cay Cae
(a) How is the bulb A connectedwith the mains? At what voltage doesit glow?
(b) How are the bulbs B and C connectedwith the mains? At what voltage doesthe
bulb B glow?
(c) How is the glow of bulbs A and C affected if bulb B getsfused?(d) How is the glow of bulbs B and C affected if bulb A getsfused?
Solution:
(a) Bulb A is connected with the mains in parallel. The bulb A glows when the voltage
applied across the bulb is 220 V
(b) Bulbs B and C are connected in series with the mains. The voltage at which they glow
will be divided by two from the mains supply voltage due to the series connection with
the mains. Thus bulb B will glow at 110 V
(c) If bulb B gets fused, bulb C will not glow which is connected in series with the bulb
B. This will not affect the glow of bulb A as it is connected in parallel with the mains.
(d) The glow of bulbs B and C will not be affected if bulb A gets fused.
Question: 17
Two setsA and B each of four bulbs are glowing in two separate rooms. When one
of the bulbs in set A is fused, the other three bulbs also ceaseto glow. But in set B,
when one bulb fuses, the other bulbs continue to glow.
i) Explain the difference in the two sets,
Which setof arrangement is preferred in housingcircuit and why?
Solution:
(i) In set A, all the three bulbs are in series connection. The voltage of source gets divided
connected in series in all the three bulbs and they operate at the same time. None of the
bulb can be operated independently and thus when one bulb fuses the other two bulb also
ceases to glow
In set B, all the three bulbs are in parallel connection. Therefore even when one of the
bulbs ceases to glow, the others continues to glow. So, each bulb operates independently.
(ii) Set B arrangement that is all the bulbs connected in parallel is preferred in housing
circuit because each appliances gets connected to 220 V supply for its normal working
and each appliance operates independently without being affected whether the other
appliance is switched on or off.
MULTIPLE CHOICE TYPE
Question: 1
The main fuse is connectedin:
(a) Live wire
(b) Neutral wire
(c) Both the live and earth wires.
(d) Both earth and the neutral wire.
Solution:
The main fuse is connected in live wireQuestion: 2
The electrical appliances in a houseare connectedii
(a) Series
(b) Parallel
(c) Either in seriesor parallel
(d) Both in seriesand parallel
Solution:
The electrical appliances in a house are connected in parallel
Question: 3
The electrical meter in a houserecords the consumption of:
(a) Charge
(b) Current
(c) Energy
(d) Power
Solution:
The electrical meter in a house records the consumption of energy.EXERCISE 9(B)
Question: 1
What is a fuse? Name the material of fuse. State one characteristic of the material
used for fuse.
Solution:
An electric fuse is defined as a safety device which is used to limit the current in an
electric circuit, The use of a fuse safeguards the circuit and the appliances connected in
that circuit from being damaged.
An alloy of lead and tin is used as the material of the fuse wire because its melting point
is low and specific resistance is more than that of copper, aluminium, ete.
Question: 2
Name the device usedto protect the electric circuits from overloading and short
circuit. On what effect of current doesit work?
Solution:
The device used to protect the electric circuits from overloading and short circuit is fuse.
It works on heating effect of current.
Question: 3
Complete the following sente
(a) A fuseis.a short pieceof wire of high and of material low
(b) A fusewire is made of an alloy of and . If the current in a
circuit exceedsthecurrent rating of the fuse wire it
(c)A fuseis connectedin with the wire.
(d) Higher the current rating, is the fusewire.
(e) Live wire is alsocalled wire.
Solution:
(a) A fuse is a short piece of wire of high resistance and of material low melting point.
(b) A fuse wire is made of an alloy of lead and tin. If the current in a circuit exceeds the
current rating of the fuse wire it melts.
(c) A fuse is connected in series with the live wire.
(d) Higher the current rating, thicker is the fuse wire.
(c) Live wire is also called phase wire.
Question: 4
Why is the fusewire fitted in a porcelain casing?
Solution:
Porcelain is an insulator of electricity. Hence, the fuse wire is fitted in a porcelain casingQuestion: 5
How is a fuse put in an electric circuit? State the purpose of usinga fuse in a circuit.
Solution:
Since porcelain is an insulator of electricity, hence the fuse wire is stretched between the
two metallic terminals T; and T> in a porcelain holder. This holder fits into a porcelain
socket having two metallic terminals to each of which the live wire of the circuit is
connected. Thus the fuse wire gets connected in the live wire. The diagram below
showing the fuse arrangement
Porcelain holder
Fuse wire
————
Live wire —— Live wire
Socket (fixed on board)
In order to safeguard the fuse from the flow of excessive current through it, a fuse is
connected with each electrical appliance.
Question: 6
Describe with the aid of a diagram someform of a fuse, which is usedin the electric
Porcelain holder
1 x %
Fuse wire
Live wire Tive wire
Socket (fixed on board)
The most common fuse arrangement is shown in the above figure. In this fuse
arrangement the fuse wire is stretched between the two metallic terminals T, and T> in a
porcelain holder (since porcelain is an insulator of electricity). This holder fits into a
porcelain socket having two metallic terminals to each of which the live wire of the
circuit is connected.
Copper has very low resistivity and high melting point. Thus fuse must not be replaced
with a copper wire.Question: 7
A fuseis always connectedin the live wire of the circuit. Explain the reason.
Solution:
If the fuse is put in the neutral wire, then due to some defect in the appliance an excessive
current flows in the circuit, the fuse blows off and current stops flowing in the circuit, but
the appliance remains connected to the high potential point of the supply through the live
wire. Now if a person touches the faulty appliance, he gets an electric shock because the
person comes in direct contact of the mains through the live wire. Therefore the fuse is
always connected in the live wire of the circuit.
Question: 8
How doesthe (i) thicknessand (ii) length of a fuse wire depend on its current
rating?
Solutior
(i)The current rating of the fuse wire is directly proportional to the thickness of the fuse
wire. Higher the thickness of fuse wire, higher will be the current rating.
(ii) The current rating of the fuse wire is independent on its length.
Question: 9
Two fusewires are rated 5 A and 20 A. Which of the two is (i) thicker, (ii) longer?
Solution:
(i) More the thickness of wire, more will be the current and thus more electrons can pass
through a greater area. Therefore 20 A wire will be more thicker than the 5 A wire.
(ii) Both fuse wires may be of same length
Question: 10
Explain the meaning of the statement'the current rating of a fuseis 5 A’
Solution:
The current rating of a fuse is 5 A means that the fuse wire will melt if current exceeds 5
A in the circuit.
Question: 11
‘A fuseis rated 8 A’. Can it be usedwith an electrical appliance of rating 5 kW, 200
Vv?
Solution:
The safe limit of current which can flow through the electrical appliance is I= P / V
Now,
Substituting 5 kW and 200 V in I= P / V, we get
I=P/V1= 5000 / 200
1=25A
25 A is greater than 8 A.
Hence, such fuse cannot be used
Question: 12
An electrical kettle is rated 3 KW, 250 V. Give reasonwhether this kettle can be used
in a circuit which containsa fuse of current rating 13 A.
Solution:
The safe limit of current for kettle is I= 3000 / 250 = 12 A
Yes, this kettle can be used in a circuit which contains a fuse of current rating 13 A as the
safe limit of current for kettle is 12 A.
Question: 13
(a) What is the purposeof a switchin a circuit?
(b) Why is the switch put in the live wire?
(c) What precaution do you take while handling a switch?
Solution:
A switch is an on-off device for current in a circuit (or in an appliance). It is connected in
the live wire. The appliance gets connected to the high potential point through the live
wire. The current flows in the appliance because the circuit is complete as the neutral
wire provides the return path for the current. In the off position of the switch, the circuit
is incomplete and no current reaches the appliance through the live wire.
g switch g switch
<* ol fs ol
‘S
Supply Supply
—_»>—____—_Nn >on
(@) Switch in’ON' position (b) Switch in ‘Off position
If switch is connected in the neutral wire, then in off position, no current passes through
the bulb. But in the off position of switch, the appliance remains connected to the high
potential terminal through the live wire,a
Switch Suro Switch Supply
‘ van
(a) Switch in ON’ position {a) Switch in'OFF' position
Therefore, it is deceptive and dangerous to connect a switch in the neutral wire.
Safety precaution while using a switch: A switch should never be touched with wet
hands.
Question: 14
(a) A switchis not touchedwith wet handswhile putting it on or off. Give a reason
for your answer.
(b) Name the wire to which a switch is connected.
Solution:
(a) If water reaches the live wire, it forms a conducting layer between the hand and the
live wire of the switch due to which a current passes to the hand through it and the person
may get a fatal shock. For this reason, the switch should never be touched with wet
hands.
(b) The switch is connected to the live wire.
Question: 15
It is dangerousto connectthe switch in the neutral wire. Explain your answer.
Solution:
It is dangerous to connect the switch in the neutral wire in case of excessive current. The
fuse blows off due to excessive current and the current stops flowing in the circuit. But
the appliance still remains connected to the high potential point of the supply through the
live wire. Now, if the person touches the body of that appliance, he gets an electric shock.
Thus it is highly unsafe to use fuse in the neutral wire.
Question: 16
Draw a circuit diagram using the dual control switchesto light a staircaseelectric
light and explain its working.
Solution:
Two switches S; and S2 are used. Switch S; is fitted at the bottom and the switch S2 at the
top of the staircase. The off position of the bulb is shown in figure (a)
——E——(a) Bulb off
The bulb can now be switched ‘on’ by either the switch S; or the switch S2
independently. If the switch S; is operated, the connection *ba’ is changed to “be”, which
completes the circuit and the bulb lights up [as shown in figure (b) below]
(b) Bulb on through switch Sy
Similarly, the connection ‘be’ changes to ‘ba’ on operating the switch S2, which again
completes the circuit [as shown in figure (c) below]
() Bulb on through switch S,
Similarly, one can switch off the bulb either from the switch S, or the switch S» if the
eeebulb is in on position as shown in figure (b) or (c).
Question: 17
What purposeis servedby the terminals of a three way pin plug? Draw a diagram
and name the pins.
Solution:
To connect the appliance to the electric supply, all electrical appliances are provided with
acable having a plug at one end.
In this three pin plug, the top pin is for earthing, the pin on the left is for live and the pin
on the right is for neutral. In the good quality plugs, these are marked as E, L and N
respectively.
Question: 18
The diagram in fig. showsa three pin plug.
Label the three pins.
(a) Why istop pin thicker and longer than the other two?
(b) Why are the pins splitted at the ends?
Solution:
The three pins in the plug are labelled as E, L and NHere E signifies the earth pin,
L is for live wire and
N is for neutral wire
(a) The earth pin is made long so that the earth connection is made first. This ensures the
safety of the user because if the appliance is defective, the current passes to the earth as
soon as the live pin gets connected and the fuse blows off. The earth pin is made thicker
because even by mistake it cannot be inserted into the hole of the live or neutral
connection.
(b) The pins are splitted at the ends to provide a spring action so that they fit in the socket
holes tightly.
Question: 19
Draw a labelled diagram of a three pin socket.
Solution:
Here E is for earth pin, N for neutral wire pin and L for live wire pin
Question: 20
The diagram in Fig. showsa three-pin socketmarked as 1, 2 and 3.(a) The earthing of an electric appliance is useful only if the fuseis in the live wire.
Given the reason.
(b) Name the part of the appliance which is earthed.
Solution:
(a) If the fuse is in the neutral wire, then although the fuse burns due to the flow of heavy
current, but the appliance remains at the supply voltage so that on touching the appliance
current flows through the appliance to the person touching it. Hence, the fuse must be
connected in the live wire only.
(b) The part of the appliance which is earthed is the metallic case.
Question: 24
For earthing an electrical appliance, one has to remove the paint from the metal
body of the appliance where the electrical contact is made. Explain the reason.
Solution:
The paint provides an insulating layer on the metal body of the appliance. Therefore the
paint must be removed from the body part where connection is to be made to make earth
connection.
Question: 25
What is the colour codefor the insulation on (a) live, (b) neutral and (c) earth wire?
Solution
According to the new international convention
(a) Brown for live wire
(b) Light blue for neutral wire and
(c) Green or yellow for earth wire
Question: 26
Name the colour codeof the wire which is connectedto (i) metallic body of an
appliance, (ii) switch for the appliance.
Solution:
(i) The colour code of the wire which is connected to metallic body of an appliance is the
green colour ie., earthing wire.
(ii) The colour code of the wire which is connected to switch of the appliance is red
colour i.e., live wire.
Question: 27
How doesthe colour code of wires in a cable help in housewiring?
Solution:The colour coding of wires in the circuit of house wiring helps us to connect the switch,
fuse, sockets, etc. through proper wire.
Question: 28
A power circuit usesa cable having three different wires.
(a) Name the three wires of the cable.
(b) Between which of the two wires should the heating element of an electric geyser
be connected?
(c)To which wire should the metal caseof the geyserbe connected?
(d)To which wire should the switch and fuse be connected?
Solution:
(a) The three wires of the cable are live wire, earth wire and neutral wire
(b) The heating element of an electric geyser should be connected between live wire and
neutral wire
(c) The metal case of the geyser should be connected to earth wire
(d) The switch and fuse should be connected to live wire
Question: 29
State two circumstances when one may get an electric shockfrom an electric gadget.
What preventive measuresmust be provided with the gadgetto avoid it?
Solution:
An electric shock may be caused from an electrical gadget in the following cases
(i) If the fuse is put in neutral wire, due to some defect in the appliance an excessive
current flows in the circuit, the fuse burns and the current stops flowing in the circuit. But
the appliance still remains connected to the high potential point of the supply through the
live wire. If a person touches the faulty appliance in this situation, he gets an electric
shock because the person will come in contact of the mains through the live wire.
Preventive measure: The fuse must always be connected in the live wire.
(ii) When the live wire of a faulty appliance comes in direct contact with its metallic case
due to break of insulation after its constant use, the appliance acquires the high potential
of the live wire. A person touching the appliance will get a fatal shock because current
flows through his body to the earth.
Preventive measure: Proper ‘earthing’ of the electric appliance should be done
Question: 30
Why is it necessaryto have an earth wire installed in a power circuit, but not ina
lighting circuit?
Solution:
It is necessary to have an earth wire installed in a power circuit because power circuitcarries high power and costly devices. It can damage the device if there is some unwanted
power signal in the wire. To reduce this effect earth wire is necessary.
MULTIPLE CHOICE TYPE
Question: 4
The rating of a fuseconnectedin the lighting circuit is:
(a) 15A
(bl) 5A
(0) 10A
(d) Zero
Solution:
The rating of a fuse connected in the lighting circuit is 5 A
Question: 2
A switch must be connectedin the:
(a) live wire
(b) neutral wire
(c) earth wire
(d) either earth or neutral wire
Solution:
A switch must be connected in the live wire