SLC21/WK2: Introduction to Basic Electrical Circuits & Cable Joint.

Hello Everyone,

It's @besticofinder here, and I'm taking part in this basic electrical cause organised by organised by @mahadisalim and @solaymann with great enthusiasm after following the first lesson last week. I'm really glad to see the selected topic this week , "Introduction to Basic Electrical Circuits & Cable Joint" which is one of the major aspect in the field of electrical engineering. Circuit theory, or the concepts associated with electrical circuits are very important on getting the quality of power output we need for the particular application. We can control the voltage, current and sometimes frequency and if we are dealing with alternating current we can change the phase of the voltage using inductive and capacitive components by changing the power factor angle. So if we are learning about circuits, it's really important to start learning from the basics.

Okay, let's start the homework of the lesson 02.

What is called an electrical circuit? Mention the importance of circuits in electrical engineering.

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Electrical circuits can be defined in anyways, simply it's a set of electric components such as resistors, inductors, capacitors, sources connected as a network through electrical conductors. These electric circuits can be found in different levels, from simple electric circuits ( circuit of a torch, iron etc ) to a complex electric circuit ( utility grid, micro grids, power systems etc. ) In most of the electrical systems we can find the following components.

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Basic components of an electrical circuit

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So these electrical circuit's are essential for three main components of electrical power , power generation, power transmission and power distribution and also at the user end, for every application we need electrical circuits to consume the electrical energy effectively and safely.

Why electrical circuits are important in Electrical Engineering ?

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1. Electrical circuits arrange electrical components in an organised manners where electrical engineers get the opportunity to design , control and analyse electrical current flow according to a particular application.

2. With the help of electrical circuit engineers have the ability to manage electrical energy more efficency which will increase the overall power efficency of the particular application.

3. Electrical circuits improve the safety and reliability of electrical systems. As the power is well managed following the safety standards, there is very less chances of hazard situations. Also electrical circuits have components for safety such as fuses, MCB, MCCB, RCB, RCD, RCCB, Surge arrestors etc.

4. Electrical circuits enable engineers to troubleshoot the problems in a simple manner. As the circuit is arranged following a particular design, engineers can find the fault very easily.

Mention at least two differences between series circuit and parallel circuit.
Note the above two circuits and mention their names, and calculate the total resistance of the two circuit. Assume any value of R1 and R2 but not the value specified in the course.

Differences between series circuit and parallel circuit ( considering resistor circuits )

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There are many advantages and disadvantages of series and parallel circuits. I have listed some of the below.

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Point	Series Circuit	Parallel Circuit
Voltage	Resistors keep voltages based on their resistance value	Every resistor receives the same voltage of the power source
Current	Same current flows through each resistor	Current flows trough the resistor depends on the resistance value
Total Resistance	Total resistance increase when more resistors added in series	Total resistance decrease when more resistors added to parallel branches
Reliability	If one resistor fails, total current flow of the circuit fails	If one resistor fails, current continue to flow through other branches.
Fault identification	Easy to find the faulty location	Difficulty to find the faulty location

I'm demonstrating the calculation of total resistance using a 20 Ohm and 5 Ohm resistor as below

Series Circuit

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Parallel Circuit

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Take two pieces of wire and connect them properly. Be sure to mention consistent images and clear descriptions.

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Step 01

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To practice the practical component of the lesson, I found a single core 1/1.13mm wire which is commonly used in Sri Lanka for domestic installations. I have my knife and my combination plier ready for the task.

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Step 02

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I started the work following the given instruction. First task is to remove the insulation of the cable. For that I used a knife as instructed and made angle between 30-60 degrees ( It was really easy that way , as insulation was sharply cut as I wanted ).

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Step 03

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Then I was able to disconnect the insulation like this and then I used my combination plier to drag this insulation part.

Step 04

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So my first part was successful. And I used the same procedure for the other cable. I was able to clear insulation of both cables nicely.

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Step 05

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Then I bent the conductor from 90 degrees and positioned one against other which made the contact very solid.

Step 06

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In the final step I followed the exact instruction given. I twisted the extended copper conductor paths for opposite directions.

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After completing this lesson write what you learn in your own words.

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I must admit that even while leaning circuit theory when I was an undergraduate, I didn't think this deeply about series and parallel circuits. And I was able understand many new things when I'm refereeing to literature to participate the contest regarding the circuit types. I also had the opportunity to learn about series-parallel ( combined) circuits.

The instructions provided to learn how to connect two cables were perfect. I was able to follow same steps using simple tools and I was able to get a very good results. I must admit, generally, the issue with connecting two cable is when the cable is under a tension, it sometimes breaks with the joint. But with this technique as two conductors are oppositely jointed there is very less chance of breaking the joint.

Also another issue in cable joints is high resistance, but as the external parts of the cables are twisted well around the other conductor, there is more contacted surface area, thus it will reduce the resistance.

Thank you for the all the knowledge shared and this lesson is very important for anyone. This is a skill everyone must develop. So thanks again. I'm waiting for the next lesson.

-Vimukthi Vithanage

I like to invite : @vishwara @virajherath and @nishadi89 to join the contest.

-Vimukthi Vithanage

About The Author :

_{Vimukkthi Vithanage (@besticofinder) is an Electrical Engineer and a Lecturer by profession , crypto enthusiast and a person who always values his freedom. He loves traveling , teaching and to spend time with his friends. A good reader and a good listener. He currently works in Faculty of Technology , University of Sabaragamuwa , Sri Lanka and also as a freelance SEO service provider. He writes on different topics related to his daily activities. If you like his writings , don't forget to show your love with an upvote and leave a feedback to show more love. And a resteem will be a great encouragement for his work. Feel free to contact him on discord anytime . He always love to make new friends.}

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