Showing posts with label Basic electrical knowledge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Basic electrical knowledge. Show all posts

Monday, September 16, 2024

Why electricity kill the human?

 Why 
Electricity kill the humans:

 because it disrupts the normal functioning of vital organs, particularly the heart, muscles, and nervous system. The severity of the effect depends on factors such as the current, duration of exposure, and the path electricity takes through the body. Here’s how electricity affects the body:



1. Interference with the Heart (Ventricular Fibrillation)

 Electric shock

 can disrupt the electrical signals that control the heartbeat, potentially causing ventricular fibrillation

This is an irregular and often fatal heart rhythm that prevents the heart from pumping blood effectively, leading to cardiac arrest and death if untreated.


 2.Muscle Contraction and Paralysis

   - Electric current passing through muscles causes them to contract involuntarily. With higher currents, muscles may "lock up," making it impossible to let go of the source of the shock. This prolonged exposure increases the risk of severe injury or death.

   - For high currents, muscles may contract so violently that they can cause broken bones or internal injuries.


 3. Nervous System Damage

   - The nervous system, which communicates using electrical impulses, can be severely disrupted by electric current. This interference can lead to loss of muscle control, paralysis, or even unconsciousness.


4. Burns and Tissue Damage

   High-voltage electric shocks can cause severe burns at both the point of entry and exit, as well as along the path the current travels inside the body. This can lead to internal damage, organ failure, or death due to thermal injuries.

   - Internal tissue damage may not always be visible immediately, but electric currents can destroy blood vessels, nerves, and organs.


 5. Respiratory Arrest

 If electricity passes through the chest, it can interfere with the diaphragm, which controls breathing. This may result in respiratory arrest stopping breathing, and leading to suffocation if not treated promptly.


Factors Affecting the Severity of Electric Shock:

Current (Amperage): 

Even low currents (as low as 10 mA) can cause harmful effects. Currents above 100 mA can be fatal.

Voltage:

 High voltage increases the likelihood of injury, but even household voltages (120V or 230V) can be lethal under the right conditions.

Path through the Body

If the current passes through vital organs (e.g., from hand to hand or hand to foot), the risk of death increases.

Duration: 

The longer the exposure to the current, the more severe the injury.

Resistance:

 The body’s resistance (mainly skin) affects how much current flows through. Wet or damaged skin reduces resistance, allowing more current to pass.


Electricity is particularly dangerous because it can cause sudden, catastrophic effects in the body, often without much warning.

Sunday, September 15, 2024

Which is more dangerous AC or DC & why?

 Both AC (Alternating Current) and DC (Direct Current) can be dangerous, but AC is generally considered more dangerous to humans than DC for several reasons:



1. Effect on the Heart:

   AC can cause 

ventricular fibrillation a dangerous and irregular heartbeat, even at lower currents (as low as 100-300 mA at 60 Hz). This is because AC repeatedly passes through zero, making it more likely to interfere with the natural rhythm of the heart.


  DC tends to cause muscle contractions, and while it can still be dangerous, it often causes the victim to be "thrown" away from the current source due to the strong muscle contraction, whereas AC may cause muscles to "freeze" and prolong the exposure.


2. Frequency Factor:

   - The standard household AC frequency (50-60 Hz) is particularly dangerous because it's close to the natural frequency of the human heart, increasing the likelihood of fibrillation.


3. Perception and Let-Go Threshold:

   - AC has a lower 

let-go threshold meaning that at certain currents, a person may not be able to let go of the conductor due to involuntary muscle contractions. With DC, while still dangerous, the let-go threshold is higher.


4. Peak Voltage:

   - For the same root-mean-square (RMS) voltage, AC reaches a peak voltage that is about 1.414 times higher than DC. For instance, 230V AC has a peak voltage of about 325V, which can cause more severe electric shock compared to 230V DC.


However (DC) can also be highly dangerous, especially at high voltages (e.g., electric cars, batteries in certain applications). Both AC and DC require careful handling and appropriate safety measures.

Saturday, September 14, 2024

Good grounding resistance value

 A good ground resistance value typically depends on the specific application, but in general:


-For residential and commercial grounding systems

 a resistance value of 5 ohms or lessis often recommended.

For critical systems

 like substations, communication towers, and sensitive electronics, the target is usually 1 ohm or less to ensure a reliable grounding system.

  


Lower resistance values ensure better protection against electrical faults and surges, providing a safer and more stable system. However, the actual required value can vary depending on factors like soil composition, moisture levels, and safety standards specific to the region or industry.

Friday, September 13, 2024

Definition of electricity

 Wat is electricity 

Electricity is a form of energy resulting from the movement or flow of electric charges, typically electrons. It can be generated through various means, such as chemical reactions (as in batteries), mechanical movement (as in generators), or solar energy (as in solar panels).



There are two main types of electricity:


1. Static Electricity: 

This occurs when there is a buildup of electric charges on the surface of a material. It doesn't flow like current electricity but can discharge, as seen in static shocks.


2.Current Electricity: 

This is the flow of electric charges through a conductor, such as a wire. It can be direct current (DC), where the charges flow in one direction, or alternating current (AC), where the flow of charges changes direction periodically.


Electricity is used to power devices, machines, and lighting, and is essential in modern life for communication, transportation, and more.

Thursday, September 12, 2024

Definition of earthing and grounding

 Definition of earthing and grounding

The terms "earthing" and "grounding" are often used interchangeably, but they have subtle differences based on their usage in electrical systems:



1.Earthing:


   Definition: 

Earthing refers to the physical connection of electrical equipment or systems to the earth's conductive surface, typically through a conductor.

   Purpose:

 The main purpose of earthing is to protect humans and equipment from electrical shocks by providing a path for fault currents to flow directly into the ground.

   Usage:

 Commonly used in British and European standards.

   Application: 

Earthing is specifically used for connecting the non-current carrying parts of the equipment (like the metal casing) to the earth.


2. Grounding:

   Definition:

 Grounding refers to connecting electrical circuits to a reference ground, usually the earth, but it can also refer to connecting to a common point like the chassis of equipment.

   Purpose:

 Grounding is done to ensure the proper functioning of the electrical system by maintaining a reference voltage level, and it helps in stabilizing voltage during faults or surges.

   Usage: 

More commonly used in American standards.

   Application: 

Grounding usually involves the current-carrying parts of the system, such as the neutral wire in an AC circuit.


Key Difference:

 While both terms involve connections to the earth, earthing is focused on safety and preventing electric shocks, whereas grounding ensures system stability and proper functioning.

Monday, September 9, 2024

Different between VA and AH

 The terms "VA" (Volt-Ampere) and "Ah" (Ampere-hour) are used to describe different aspects of electrical systems, particularly batteries and power supplies:


1. VA (Volt-Ampere):

   - VA is a unit of apparent power, used primarily in alternating current (AC) systems like UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supplies).

   - It indicates the capacity of a power supply or UPS, representing the combination of voltage (V) and current (A) the device can handle.

   - It helps to determine how much power the system can supply to connected equipment but doesn't directly indicate how long it will last.



2. Ah (Ampere-hour):

   - Ah is a unit of battery capacity, indicating how much charge a battery can store.

   - It represents the amount of current a battery can supply over a specific time, e.g., a 10Ah battery can deliver 10 amps for one hour or 1 amp for 10 hours.

   - It is directly related to the battery’s runtime and storage capacity, showing how long it can provide power to a load.



**Key Difference**:

- VA measures power capacity in AC systems, while Ah measures battery capacity and energy storage in DC systems. They are not directly interchangeable as they serve different purposes in electrical calculations.

Calculations of va and ah

1. Calculating VA (Volt-Ampere)


The formula for calculating VA is:


{VA} = \{Voltage} (V) \times \{Current} (A)

\]


Example Calculation:

If a device operates at 230V and draws 5A of current, the VA is calculated as:


{VA} = 230V \times 5A = 1150 \,{VA}


This means the device requires an apparent power of 1150 VA to operate.


 2. Calculating Ah (Ampere-hour)


The formula for calculating Ah is:


{Ah} = \frac{Current} (A) \times \{Time} (h)}{Load Efficiency Factor}}

\]


For a basic calculation (assuming 100% efficiency):


{Ah} = \text{Current} (A) \times \{Time} (h)

\]


Example Calculation:

If a battery provides 10A for 3 hours, the Ah is calculated as:


\[{Ah} = 10A \times 3h = 30 \,{Ah}

\]


This means the battery can deliver 10 amps of current continuously for 3 hours before running out of charge.


Converting VA to Ah (Approximate Conversion)


For UPS systems and batteries, VA and Ah are sometimes used interchangeably for practical reasons, though they measure different things. To roughly convert VA to Ah for battery backup calculations:


\[{Ah} \approx \frac{VA} \times \{Backup Time (hours)}}{Battery Voltage}}

\]


Keep in mind this conversion is an approximation, as it depends on factors like power factor, efficiency, and actual load.


Example Calculation:

For a 1200 VA UPS running on a 12V battery for 2 hours:


{Ah} \approx \frac{1200 \, {VA} \times 2 \,{hours}}{12V} = 200 \,{Ah}

\]


This means you would need a battery of around 200 Ah to provide power for 2 hours at 1200 VA. 


Let me know if you need a more specific calculation or further explanation!

Saturday, September 7, 2024

Different between electrical and electronic

 The terms "electrical" and "electronics" are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different areas of technology:


1.Electrical:

   Focus

Deals with the study, design, and application of systems and devices that use large-scale electrical power. 

  Applications:

 Includes power generation, transmission, distribution, and the functioning of devices like motors, generators, transformers, and power lines.

  Components

Involves larger, higher power components such as conductors, insulators, switches, and circuit breakers.

   Energy Flow:

 Primarily concerned with the flow of electrical energy, often in the form of alternating current (AC).



2. Electronics:

  Focus:

 Focuses on the design and use of smaller-scale components that control the flow of electrons, primarily for processing information or signal control.

   Applications:

 Includes devices such as computers, smartphones, radios, televisions, and other digital and analog systems.

   Components:

 Uses smaller, low-power components like transistors, diodes, integrated circuits (ICs), capacitors, and resistors.

   Energy Flow:

 Typically involves direct current (DC) and deals with controlling electrical signals rather than large-scale power.



In summary, electrical engineering deals with the generation and distribution of power, while electronics focuses on manipulating and processing information through electrical signals.

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