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Electrical Wiring
Ask questions here about proper wiring and electrical installation here.
4,935 Questions
What electric outlets does Canada use?
Homes in Canada use Type A and Type B socket outlets and plugs for general electrical appliances such as kettles, televisions, hair dryers, table lamps, etc.
For photos see the Related Links and also the answers to the Related Questions shown below.
Some further information
Homes in Canada use 240/120 volts at 60 cycles per second (60Hz) single phase. It is a split-phase system that delivers 240 volts to large domestic appliances (e.g. washing machines, dryers, air-conditioners, etc.) and 120 volts to lights and general socket outlets used for small appliances (coffee machines, electric shavers, televisions, etc.).
Is there an advantage of having a neutral wire in an unbalanced electrical system?
A neutral wire is essential in a three-phase star (or wye) connected system supplying an unbalanced three-phase load. Without a neutral, the voltage across each of the loads may become unbalanced, too.
Diagram of one light and three single switches?
I'm unable to provide visual content as a text-based assistant. However, you can imagine a diagram with a single light and three single switches arranged as follows: A single switch at the entrance, another single switch at the exit, and a third single switch at another location in the room. Each switch controls the same light fixture.
Will a 800 watt generator have enough power to operate a 90 amp welder?
No, unless you can set it low and can be assured that it wont use more than say 4000watts, the welder might momentarily use more power than what you set it to, it should not wreck the welder i would imagine unless it is a fancy mig welder or something, set the welder low you should be fine but for high end use she should be firing out 8 or 9kw so keep it low if you must.
Depending on the device you might be able to just get a socket converter plug, or you might need a voltage converter.
If you look on the device where the electric wire connects(or the power brick that plugs into the wall), there should be a label on it that says something along the lines of(I took this right off my laptops power brick):
Input: 100-240V ~ 1.7A 50-60Hz
Output: 18.5V - 3.5
For this case you can ignore the output listing, we are more interested in the fact that it says 100-240V input. This means that it will work with pretty much any wall outlet in the world as long as you get a socket converter to make it fit. These are pretty cheap, you can most likely get them online or at a Radioshack, hardware store, pharmacy, or somewhere with travel equipment.
If the label reads more like this you will need a voltage converter
Input: 220-240V ~ 1.7A 50-60Hz
Output: 18.5V - 3.5
Because this one says 220-240V it won't be able to suck enough voltage out of a regular socket here in the US without a voltage converter to make it possible. I don't know if you could get these at a Radioshack or a travel store, but you can definitely find them on the internet.
How to compute the size of wire with respect to the distance from circuit breaker to the load side?
Normally wire is sized by the amperage of the load. In this case the wire size is calculated by knowing the length of the run to the load and the amperage of the device to be connected. By knowing the length, the wire size has to be increased to allow for voltage drop over the distance from the supply to the load.
The answer to this question depends entirely on which electrical system you are asking about: if it is a vehicle, the voltage could be 6 volts, 12 volts, 24 volts or even higher, such as the 600 to 1200 volts systems used to power the motors of some electric trains.
For information about voltages used for household electrical services in different countries, please see the answer to the Related Question shown below.
What is the resistance of gold?
Resistance depends on the length and the thickness of the wire apart from the material with which it is made.
But specific resistance or resistivity depends only on the material. So the question is to corrected as, ' What is the resistivity of gold material?'
220 volts 60 hertz to 220 volts 50 hertz?
Original Answer:
If the power was being generated by a generator all that has to be done is slow the RPM of the generator down until the frequency meter reads 50 Hertz. On a hydro site it would be the same scenario by slowing the turbine down.
Improved Answer:
changing frequency is one of the more difficult things to do. Decreasing the speed of a generator is not a practical answer if the power comes from grid. You can use a variable frequency drive, or a motor generator set (Where the motor is rated for 60HZ, and the Generator is rated at 50 Hertz).
For practical purposes, just get rid of the 50 hertz device and buy a new one.
Voltage can be calculated using Ohm's Law, which states that voltage (V) equals current (I) multiplied by resistance (R): V = I * R. This formula helps determine the potential difference across a circuit when given the current flowing through it and the resistance present.
What is a high rupturing capacity or HRC fuse?
The main advantage offered by an HRC fuse is that, when a fault current condition occurs, a tremendous amount of heat is created within the fuse. That heat melts the silica sand filling of the fuse into glass. Glass, being an insulator, suppresses any arc-over and breaks the circuit instantaneously. This behavior minimizes the possibility of a continuing - and dangerous - "high arc current" situation from developing, which is what happens if a normal fuse fails to break a heavy fault current.
Compared to normal, "non-HRC" fuses, the main disadvantage of using an HRC fuse is that they cost a lot more to make - and to buy - because of the extra materials they contain. But choosing to use an HRC fuse instead of a normal fuse makes very good sense if the equipment that needs to be protected - or other equipment nearby - would be very expensive to replace if it all went up in smoke just because of a fuse which was not capable of stopping a high fault current flowing.
So, if some expensive electrical equipment was supplied with one or more HRC fuses installed to protect it, you would be very foolish indeed to replace them with normal "non-HRC" fuses.
Are AAA batteries stronger or D batteries stronger?
With the same load current the AA will last longer that the AAA. This is due to the physical size of the cells. A C cell will last longer that a AA and a D cell will last longer that a C cell. In dry cells as the cells get larger the amp/hours increase.
What happens when the person's work and heat output is greater than the energy consumed?
When a person's work and heat output exceeds the energy consumed, it implies that they have generated surplus energy. This surplus energy can either be stored for future use or dissipated as waste heat, depending on the system's design and constraints. Overall, it indicates a case of energy efficiency and potentially increased productivity.
Is a neutral wire in a 4 wire service?
Yes, in a 4-wire electrical service, the neutral wire is included along with the hot wires and ground wire. The neutral wire is used to complete the circuit and provides a return path for the current to flow back to the source.
How many sockets can be connected into an electric circuit?
As posted, the question doesn't make much sense - do you mean spur sockets, rather than plugs? Either way, it will depend on local regulations. In the UK, you can fit one socket on a spur from a socket on a ring main.
Why do i have 180 volts on a phase in house?
Having 180 volts on a phase in a house could indicate an issue with the electrical system, such as a loose connection, faulty wiring, or a problem with the transformer. It is important to have a licensed electrician inspect and resolve the problem to prevent any safety hazards or damage to appliances.
Will it hurt 230 volt single phase motor plugged into 277 V single phase?
Yes, plugging a 230V single phase motor into a 277V single phase power supply can potentially damage the motor due to the higher voltage. It is recommended to match the voltage ratings of the motor and power supply to prevent any issues.
Why are the third prong and ground wire necessary for electrical appliances?
The third prong (grounding prong) and ground wire are necessary for safety reasons. They provide a path for excess electric current to safely discharge into the ground, reducing the risk of electrical shock or fire in case of a fault. It helps protect both the appliance user and the appliance itself.
Effect of unbalanced load in three phase system?
Unbalance. Large amounts of unbalanced current can cause negative sequence and ground relays to operate. There are many problems that result from "too much" unbalance. Understand that no system is perfectly balanced, though.
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If the load is balanced there will be no current flowing in the neutral. For that reason a neutral wire is sometimes not connected to a balanced three phase load. An unbalanced load will cause neutral current to flow, if a neutral is connected.
due to unbalanced load ,some current will flow through the neutral wire.hence due to I^2R losses voltage drop will occur in neutral.so the voltage regulation will decrease.
A short straight to ground. Unplug and disconnect everything from the circuit and then reconnect things one at a time until the breaker trips. That is your problem. (Also could be a bad breaker)
You will need to replace the 3-prong outlet with a 4-prong outlet to match your dryer cord. Alternatively, you can replace the cord on your dryer with a 3-prong cord that matches the existing outlet. Make sure to consult a professional if you are not comfortable with electrical work.
How does a three phase separator work?
A three-phase separator works by using gravity to separate oil, water, and gas that have been produced from a well. The separator utilizes different compartments and internal components such as baffles or weirs to slow down the flow and allow for the separation of the three phases based on their density. Each phase then exits the separator through separate outlets.
4160 VAC three phase three-wire delta 50/60HZ electrical power
The formula you are looking for is W = I x E. Watts = Amps x Volts. W = 18 x 240 = 4320. Your dryer is rated at 4320 watts.
However, just because your 240 volt outlet is rated at 18 amps does not mean that is what your appliance will draw.
If the appliance is listed (by the manufacturer) as 1500 watts, then 1500 / 240 = 6.25, would mean that it will draw 6.25 amps at 240 volts.
Note:
Within the United States, most regular size electric dryers require a 240 volt, 30 amp power source. In addition to the electric heating element, there is the drum electric motor that must be factored in determining the wattage rating. That is the reason that it is best to use the manufacturer's nameplate rating for the answer to this question.
What is the wiring diagram for a light switch in Australia or New Zealand?
In Australia we use 1.5mm2 TPS cable for lighting circuits. The colours for fixed wiring are red - active, black- neutral and green/yellow for earth, also white is used for switch wires. All luminaires and lighting points must have an earth at their location. The process for a simple lighting circuit for looping at the switch method (feed starts at the switch) - one switch and one light point is:
The feed (active) goes to the common point on the rocker switch and the neutral goes to the loop terminal on the rocker switch. The earth is connected to a two screw connector separate from the switch. A switch wire is then connected from terminal 1 of the rocker switch to one of the main terminals (these are the terminals across which the lamp terminals are connected) on the batten holder ( this is the fitting which holds the lamp). The other main terminal on the batten holder is connected to the loop terminal on the rocker switch with the neutral. The earth conductor is connected from the two screw terminal at the switch position to the earth terminal in the batten holder.
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As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.
Before you do any work yourself,
on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,
always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.
IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB
SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY
REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.
