Electricity

© PDST Home Economics

TASK!!!!

Make a list of all electrical appliances

you have in your home

Electricity Sources

• Electricity is generated at power stations from

1. Coal

2. Oil

3. Peat

4. Water

• Electric metre records the amount of electricity used in units

• Second metre in some homes which use off peak Nightsaver Electricity

Cables pass from consumer unit bringing power to each room

Consumer Unit

• Flexes of appliances have at least 2 wires or cores

1. Live Wire : (Brown) Bringing electricity TO the appliance2. Neutral Wire: (Blue) Taking the return current

• Any appliance with only 2 wires must be doubly insulated and carry the symbol shown

• Most appliances have 3rd Wire called Earth Wire (Green/yellow) – brings current safely to the earth if a fault occurs and not through the person using the appliance

Lively Brown Bear

Jumped on earthy green grass

Under a neutral blue sky

Possible Faults

• Overloading a circuit by using too many appliances/overloading adaptor

• Short Circuit – a live and neutral wire touching in wiring/ incorrectly wired plug

• Overheating – due to faulty thermostat

Fuse

• Safety device

• Deliberate weak link in wiring system

• Melts when fault occurs

• Disconnects Electricity and so prevents a fire

• Found in 3 pin plug and fuse box

• Modern fuse boxes use circuit breakers

HOMEWORK

1. State the name, colour and function of the three wires in a plug

2. What is the purpose of a fuse?

3. Compose five safety rules to follow when using

electricity in the home?