NATIONAL CERTIFICATE

ELECTROTECHNICS N4
(8080074)

1 February 2022 (X-paper)

09:00–12:00
REQUIREMENTS: Graph paper

Nonprogrammable calculators may be used.

This question paper consists of 6 pages and a formula sheet of 2 pages.

022Q1E2201

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DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
NATIONAL CERTIFICATE
ELECTROTECHNICS N4
TIME: 3 HOURS
MARKS: 100

INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION

1. Answer all the questions.

2. Read all the questions carefully.

3. Number the answers according to the numbering system used in this

question paper.

4. Answer questions in any order but keep subsections of questions together.

5. Start each question on a new page.

6. Only use a black or blue pen.

7. Write neatly and legibly.

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QUESTION 1: PRINCIPLES OF ELECTRICITY

1.1 Complete the following sentences by writing only the missing word or words
next to the question number (1.1.1–1.1.10) in the ANSWER BOOK.

1.1.1 A/An … is the smallest particle of a chemical element that can exist.

1.1.2 A flow of electricity that results from the ordered directional

movement of electrically charged particles is defined as a …

1.1.3 The unit in which … is measured, is ohm. ❖

1.1.4 … law is one of the two principal laws of electromagnetism.

1.1.5 One of the principal sources of emf is the movement of the … and
magnetic fields.

1.1.6 A positive temperature coefficient of resistance means the higher the

temperature, the … the resistance of the material.

1.1.7 A capacitor comprises plates and an insulating material referred to

as the …
❖
1.1.8 The right-hand grip rule states that if the solenoid is gripped in the
right hand with the fingers pointing in the direction of the current, the
outstretched thumb then points to the … of the solenoid.

1.1.9 … states that any network that has two terminals and consists of
resistances, voltage sources and current sources can be replaced
by a single current source in parallel with a single resistance.

1.1.10 A battery is made up of two or more …

(10 × 1) (10)

1.2 Two batteries of 50 V and 60 V with an internal resistance of 0,4 Ω and 0,5 Ω
respectively are connected in parallel to supply a load of 25 Ω.
❖
Use Norton’s theorem and calculate the voltage drop across the 25 Ω resistor. (9)

1.3 A straight conductor 25 cm long is moved at right angles to a magnetic field of

flux density 0,12 Wb/m² with a velocity of 3 m/s.

Calculate:
❖
1.3.1 The magnitude of the emf induced in the conductor.

1.3.2 The force required to produce this movement if the ends of this
conductor were connected to a circuit drawing 450 mA.
(2 × 2) (4)

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1.4 An overhead line of copper conductor 160 m in length with a diameter of

1,8 mm is capable of carrying 12 A.
❖
Calculate the diameter of an aluminium conductor of the same length, which,
when connected in parallel with the copper conductor, increases the carrying
capacity of the line to 35 A. Take the resistivity of copper as 0,017 μΩm and
that of aluminium as 0,022 μΩm. (7)
[30]

QUESTION 2: DC MACHINES

2.1 A short-shunt compound motor has an input power of 15,6 kW. It has a shunt
field resistance of 100 Ω, an armature resistance of 0,04 Ω and a series field
resistance of 0,22 Ω.
❖
Calculate the emf generated at this load if the terminal voltage is 240 V. (6)

2.2 Which methods can be used to counteract the effects of armature reaction in a
DC machine? (4)

2.3 The open-circuit characteristics of a shunt-excited direct-current machine is as

follows:

Terminal voltage (V) 50 150 190 210 220

Field current (A) 0,6 1,8 2,6 3,3 3,8

Plot the graph on the GRAPH PAPER and determine: ❖

2.3.1 The voltage to which the machine will excite on no-load when the
shunt is connected if the total field resistance is 70 Ω. (8)

2.3.2 The value of critical resistance. (2)

[20]
❖
QUESTION 3: AC THEORY

3.1 A coil with a resistance of 5 Ω and an inductance of 24 mH is connected in

series with a 200 µF capacitor.

If this circuit is connected to a 240 V, 50 Hz, AC supply, calculate:

3.1.1 The value of the supply current. (5)

3.1.2 The voltage across the coil.

❖ (2)

3.1.3 The total power of the circuit. (1)

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3.2 A single-phase induction motor draws a current of 8 A at a power factor of

0,8 lagging when connected to a load supply of 225 V, 50 Hz.

3.2.1 Explain the term power factor.

❖ (2)

3.2.2 Give THREE disadvantages of a poor power factor. (3)

3.2.3 Calculate the power supplied in kW. (2)

3.3 An instantaneous value of a current is represented by i 36 sin 314t.

Calculate:

3.3.1 The RMS value of the current. (1)

3.3.2 The frequency. ❖ (1)

3.3.3 The instantaneous value of the current 1,5 ms after the start of a
cycle. (3)
[20]

QUESTION 4: TRANSFORMERS

4.1 State whether each of the following losses is a variable or a constant loss:

4.1.1 Copper losses

4.1.2 Iron losses ❖ (2 × 1) (2)

4.2 State the colour of silica gel:

4.2.1 Before absorbing moisture

4.2.2 After absorbing moisture

(2 × 1) (2)

4.3 The no-load current of a 3 000/150 V single-phase transformer is 25 A at a

power factor of 0,3. The primary winding has 150 turns and the supply
frequency is 60 Hz.

Calculate: ❖
4.3.1 The maximum value of the flux in the core.

4.3.2 The power loss on no-load.

4.3.3 The value of the magnetising current.

(3 × 2) (6)
[10]

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QUESTION 5: AC MACHINES

5.1 Give FOUR advantages of an induction motor when compared to a DC motor. (4)

5.2 Name THREE main parts of an induction motor. ❖ (3)

5.3 The name plate of a four-pole single-phase induction motor indicates the full
load speed as 1 000 r/min when the motor is connected to a 230 V, 50 Hz
supply.
❖
Calculate the drag of the motor at full load speed. (3)
[10]

QUESTION 6: GENERATION AND SUPPLY OF AC POWER AND MEASURING INSTRUMENTS

6.1 Name TWO types of feeders used in a distribution system. (2)

6.2 Explain how each of the feeders named in QUESTION 6.1 works. (2)

6.3 What is the name of the nuclear power station in South Africa? ❖ (1)

6.4 The value of a resistor is measured by the voltmeter-ammeter method.

The internal resistance of the voltmeter is 600 Ω. When the voltmeter is
connected directly across the resistor to be measured, the ammeter reads
2,25 A and the voltmeter 100 V.

Calculate the value of the unknown resistor as follows:

6.4.1 Approximately (1)

6.4.2 Accurately ❖ (2)

6.4.3 Percentage error in the value of the resistor (2)

[10]

TOTAL: 100

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FORMULA SHEET

PRINCIPLES OF ELECTRICITY

1. 2.

3. ... 4. 1 1 1 1 1 1
...

5. 6.
100

7. 8.
4
.
9. 1 10. 1
1

11. 12.

13. 14.

15. 16.
.

17. 18.
.

19. 20.

21. ... 22. ...

23. 1 24. ...

1 1 1
...

DIRECT CURRENT MACHINES

25. 2 26.
60

27. 2 28.

29. 30.

31. 32.
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ALTERNATING CURRENT THEORY

33. 2 34. 2 . . 57,3 °

35. or 0,707 or 36. or 0,637 or

37. 1 38.
60

39. 2 40.

41. 42.

43. 44. 1

45. 46.

47. 48.

TRANSFORMERS

49. 4,44 50.

ALTERNATING CURRENT MACHINES

51. Ns 52.

MEASURING INSTRUMENTS

53. 54.

55. 56.

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