Basic Electrical Theory

Basic Electricity

- Its invisible
- It can hurt you
- We can control it
- We can predict it

Until recently nobody agreed which way it flowed (+ to -) or (- to +) and did it even flow at all?
Current flow theories

There are two theories on how current flows in a circuit.

-Electron Theory (- to +)

-Conventional theory (+ to -)
Conductors

- A conductor supports the flow of electricity through it

- Examples of good conductors:

Gold

Copper

Aluminum
Steel
Insulators

-An insulator is not capable of supporting the flow of electricity

-Examples of good insulators:

-Rubber

-Wood

-Ceramics

-Most plastics
Semiconductors

-A semiconductor is neither a good conductor nor a good insulator

-Examples of semiconductors:

Silicon

Germanium

Carbon

Semiconductor won’t protect you

Terms you need to know

-Voltage

Pressure in a hose

-Current

Flow of water in that hose

Resistance

Kink in the hose restricting water

Voltage

The higher the voltage, the more current flow it can create

To keep current flowing, it is necessary to maintain electrical pressure. (Voltage)

Current

Electrical Current is the movement (intensity) of electrons through a conductor, such as a wire.

Electrical current may be compared to water current flowing through a pipe

The amount of current flow is measured in amperes

Resistance

- Resistance to current flow

The kink in the water hose

It is a resistance to load

Load is anything that can do work for you

Resistance is measured in ohms

The Five basic Characteristics That Determine
resistance
1. The material
2. The length of the conductor
3. The diameter of the conductor
4. Temperature
5. The physical condition of the conductor
AC

Alternating current

60 Hz (Hertz) in the US

Has polarity
DC

Direct Current

Flows in one direction (- to +)

Closed circuit = on

Open circuit= off

Resistors

Resistors add resistance to the circuit and reduces the flow of electrical current.
Capacitor

It's a component that stores electricity to the socket when there's a drop in electricity

Long side is positive, short side is negative

Diodes

Diodes are polarize components.

They only allow electrical current to pass through them in one direction.
LED(Light Emitting Diode)
Fuse
Transistors
Integrated circuits
potentiometer

VARIABLE RESISTER
Switches

Mechanical device that creates a break in the circuit

Series Circuit and Parallel circuit
Soldering bridge