Scribd
Upload
39 views2 pages

Domestic Electric Circuit

The document explains the components of a domestic electric circuit, including the live, neutral, and earth wires, as well as the importance of earthing for safety. It discusses short circuits, overloading, and the role of electric fuses in protecting circuits. Additionally, it compares alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC), highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of each type of current.

Uploaded by

230441
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
39 views2 pages

Domestic Electric Circuit

The document explains the components of a domestic electric circuit, including the live, neutral, and earth wires, as well as the importance of earthing for safety. It discusses short circuits, overloading, and the role of electric fuses in protecting circuits. Additionally, it compares alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC), highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of each type of current.

Uploaded by

230441
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

DOMESTIC ELECTRIC CIRCUIT

The electricity from the mains is supplied to the houses using a three-core wiring. They are
* The Live wire * The neutral wire and * The earth wire
Live Wire: It is at a high potential of 220 volts. The live wire has red insulation
Neutral wire: It is at the ground potential of zero volt. The neutral wire has black insulation
covering.
From the electric pole situated in our street, two insulated wires L and N come to our house.
In India, the potential difference between the two wire is 220V.
The Earth wire: It is a safety measure and does not affect the supply in any way. The green
earth wire is connected to a metal plate deep in the earth.

There are two separate circuits in a house, the lighting circuit with a 5 A fuse and the power
circuit with a 15 A fuse.

EARTHING OF ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES

 Earthing of an electrical appliance means connecting the metallic body of the powered
appliance to the earth through the earth wire.
 It is a safety measure which ensures any leakage of current to the metallic body of the
appliance.
 This is done by keeping the potential of metallic body equal to that of the earth (zero
volt) and the user may not get a severe electric shock by means of a metal wire called
“earth wire”.

SHORT CIRCUIT

 If due to defective or damage wiring, the live and neutral wires come in direct contact,
the resistance of the circuit becomes almost zero and an extremely large current flows
through the circuit. This is called short circuiting.
 Appliances can be protected from short circuiting by using an electric fuse in live
wire.

OVERLOADING

 If the current drawn from the mains exceeds the safety limit (5 A for domestic line
and 15 A for power line), then this is known as overloading.
 A circuit can be protected from overloading by using an electric fuse.

ELECTRIC FUSE

 It is a safety device to protect an electric circuit from overloading or short circuiting.


 It is a piece of wire of a material of low melting point which is connected to the live
wire in the circuit. A fuse wire is connected in series in the electric circuits.
 When an excessive current flows, the fuse melts and the circuit is broken.
 Fuse wire is made of pure tin or tin-copper alloy, having low melting point, which
melts and breaks the circuit if the current exceeds a safe value.
 The fuse wire must have proper thickness which depends on the maximum current
which the household wiring can safely carry.
AC& DC
 Alternating Current (AC) is a type of electrical current, in which the direction of
the flow of electrons switches back and forth at regular intervals or cycles.
 Frequency of Alternating current is equal to the number of cycles completed in one second.
 In India, frequency of AC is 50 Hz i.e., 50 cycles per second.

 Direct current (DC) is electrical current which flows consistently in one direction.
 Frequency of direct current (DC) is zero because the flow of current is unidirectional.

Advantages and disadvantages of A.C. over D.C.


AC is the short form used for Alternating Current and DC is the short form used for Direct
Current. In a circuit direct current flows only in one direction and alternating current flows in
both the direction.
Advantages * AC is less expensive and easy to generate than DC.
 Easy to convert into DC.
 AC can be transmitted across long distances without much energy loss, unlike DC.
 The power loss during transmission in AC is less when compared to DC.
Disadvantages: * Losses in AC is more than DC.

 It attracts a person who touches it, unlike D.C. which gives a repelling shock.

 At high voltages, it is more dangerous to work with ac than dc.

***************************************************************************

You might also like