Member-Designed Schools Activity
An Introduction to AC Current
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Member-Designed Schools Activity
An Introduction to Semiconductors
This tutorial introduces the trainee to AC Curent
You will learn about:
- AC Current We suggest you study the DC
- Safety Current tutorial first in order to
- Oscilloscope understand the construction of
- Rectifiers circuits.
Professional Home For Life ® For Engineers and Technicians
Member-Designed Schools Activity
An Introduction to Semiconductors
You will need the following:
Battery Holder and two 4 LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) 12V AC Motor
1.5volt AA Batteries
9V DC Motor
5 Leads with Crocodile Clips 3 Multimeters
Motor Mounts
Transformer
7 Crocodile Clips 240VAC to 12VAC
to assemble to the Multimeter and Transformer
Leads
2 Gear Wheels
Assorted Resistors
Mains Plug
to connect the transformer
with 1 Amp Fuse
Components to
2 x 1 Amp Fuses
mount the motors
Oscilloscope
(About £22)
Fuseholder Nuts and Bolts
Available from shops such as Maplin or
on-line from such as Amazon, RS Components, Farnell. Professional Home For Life ® For Engineers and Technicians
Cost £130-£150.
Member-Designed Schools Activity
An Introduction to AC Current
Safety
Wiring a UK Plug
Only use plugs with insulation on the pins so that if it is
pulled out of the socket there is no risk of electric shock
The BROWN lead must be connected to the live
terminal with a short lead so that if the lead is pulled
out it disconnects before the other leads.
The BLUE lead must be connected to the Neutral
No terminal.
Insulation
Do Not Use The GREEN and YELLOW lead must be connected to the
Earth Terminal with a long lead so that it is the last to
be pulled out.
Professional Home For Life ® For Engineers and Technicians
Member-Designed Schools Activity
An Introduction to AC Current
Safety
The right fuse
Look at the wattage on the label on the appliance
Just because it is a 13 Amp Plug
Light Bulb under 200W – use 1 Amp Fuse
does not mean you use a 13 Amp fuse.
CD Player, etc, over 200W under 700W use 3 Amp Fuse
Use only the correct fuse!
Toaster, Iron, Vacuum Cleaner, etc, over 700W under 1200W
use 5e.g.
Amp A Fuse
CD Player should have had a 3Amp fuse
but it was fitted with a 13 Amp fuse
Iron, Vacuum
andCleaner,
caught Tumble Dryer,
fire before theetc, overblew.
fuse 1200W under
2000W use 10 Amp Fuse = electric fire!
13Amps
Not much left of the house!
Fire, Washing Machine, Dishwasher, Tumble Dryer over 2000W
use 13 Amp Fuse
Professional Home For Life ® For Engineers and Technicians
Member-Designed Schools Activity
An Introduction to AC Current
Safety
The right fuse
Look at the wattage on the label on the appliance
Light Bulb under 200W – use 1 Amp Fuse
CD Player, etc, over 200W under 700W use 3 Amp Fuse
Toaster, Iron, Vacuum Cleaner, etc, over 700W under 1200W
use 5 Amp Fuse
Iron, Vacuum Cleaner, Tumble Dryer, etc, over 1200W under
2000W use 10 Amp Fuse
Fire, Washing Machine, Dishwasher, Tumble Dryer over 2000W
use 13 Amp Fuse
Professional Home For Life ® For Engineers and Technicians
Member-Designed Schools Activity
An Introduction to AC Current
Professional Home For Life ® For Engineers and Technicians
Member-Designed Schools Activity
An Introduction to AC Current
AC Current is generated by a rotating coil in a
magnetic field.
So one half of the coil (red) is passing the North
Pole and then passes the south pole of the
magnetic field, and vice versa for the other half
(blue) of the coil.
This circular motion creates a sine wave which
is first positive, then negative, then positive
again, etc.
Professional Home For Life ® For Engineers and Technicians
Member-Designed Schools Activity
An Introduction to AC Current
Diodes This circuit converts AC to DC
Diodes only conduct current in one direction.
1000
+12V +12V
Connect the Oscilloscope to view the wave form
-12V
Professional Home For Life ® For Engineers and Technicians
Member-Designed Schools Activity
An Introduction to AC Current
Construct the DC and AC Motors with the Gear Wheels
so the DC Motor drives the AC Motor
Professional Home For Life ® For Engineers and Technicians
Member-Designed Schools Activity
An Introduction to AC Current
Use the DC Motors to drive the AC Motor
The AC Motor will act as a Generator of AC Current
9 V Battery
Measure the AC Voltage from the AC Motor
Professional Home For Life ® For Engineers and Technicians
Member-Designed Schools Activity
An Introduction to AC Current
9 V Battery
Measure the AC Waveform from the AC Motor
Professional Home For Life ® For Engineers and Technicians
Member-Designed Schools Activity
An Introduction to AC Current
9 V Battery
Measure the AC Waveform from the AC Motor
Professional Home For Life ® For Engineers and Technicians
Member-Designed Schools Activity
An Introduction to AC Current
9 V Battery
Measure the AC Waveform from the AC Motor
Professional Home For Life ® For Engineers and Technicians
Member-Designed Schools Activity
An Introduction to AC Current
Coal Fired Power Station
Professional Home For Life ® For Engineers and Technicians
Member-Designed Schools Activity
An Introduction to AC Current
Nuclear Power Station
Professional Home For Life ® For Engineers and Technicians
Member-Designed Schools Activity
An Introduction to AC Current
Hydroelectric Power Station
Professional Home For Life ® For Engineers and Technicians
Member-Designed Schools Activity
An Introduction to AC Current
Wind Turbines
Professional Home For Life ® For Engineers and Technicians
Member-Designed Schools Activity
An Introduction to AC Current
Wave Turbine
Professional Home For Life ® For Engineers and Technicians
Member-Designed Schools Activity
An Introduction to AC Current
Well Done
Professional Home For Life ® For Engineers and Technicians
Member-Designed Schools Activity
An Introduction to AC Current
Thank You
Institution of Engineering & Technology
160,000 Engineers World-Wide
Professional Home For Life ® For Engineers and Technicians
