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HAZARDS OF ELECTRICITY

The document outlines the hazards associated with electricity, including damaged insulation, overheating cables, damp conditions, and overloaded sockets. It also describes safe practices for using electricity, such as the use of fuses, circuit breakers, earth wires, and double insulation to prevent electric shocks. Additionally, it explains the wiring of a three-pin plug and emphasizes the importance of safety measures when dealing with electrical faults.

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2 views

HAZARDS OF ELECTRICITY

The document outlines the hazards associated with electricity, including damaged insulation, overheating cables, damp conditions, and overloaded sockets. It also describes safe practices for using electricity, such as the use of fuses, circuit breakers, earth wires, and double insulation to prevent electric shocks. Additionally, it explains the wiring of a three-pin plug and emphasizes the importance of safety measures when dealing with electrical faults.

Uploaded by

neomuundjua
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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HAZARDS OF ELECTRICITY

i) Damaged Insulation: This can result in a short circuit if wires come into contact or a person
can be shocked if he/she touches the bare wires.
ii) Overheating of Cables: The cables can catch fire.
iii) Damp Conditions: Water is a good conductor. It is dangerous to hold sockets with wet
hands.
iv) Overloading of Sockets: This result in the cables overheating because the current becomes
high.

SAFE USE OF ELECTRICITY

The Fuse

It is a short piece of thin wire which overheats and melts if too much current flows through it. Fuses
have different fuse ratings e.g. 3A, 5A, 10A, 13A and the value tells the current needed to blow the fuse.
The fuse value should always be indicated on the fuse.

A thin wire with a low melting point. Has to have a rated value of current. If the rate is passed, the fuse
will melt and cut the circuit

Purpose; protect the electrical appliances

Circuit breaker; does the same as the fuse, but simply just trips electricity, so it does not need to be
replaced

The Earth wire

It is a safety wire. It connects any metal part of an appliance. If a fault develops the metal case will
become live and can shock.

Does not carry current or voltage, it is always connected to the metal body of the appliance, so it can
carry electric charges when a fault arises, it protects one from electric charges, symbol is three bars

Double Insulation

Some appliances like vacuum cleaners and hair dryers have an insulating plastic casing covering metal
parts inside. As the cable is insulated, this is double insulation.

Double insulation symbol is a box with a square in it


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It was made to reduce the chances of electric shock when a fault arises

Its to protects one from an electric shock when an earth wire isn’t used

THE THREE PIN PLUG

When wiring a three pin plug, the wires should be connected to the correct terminals.

The live wire: It is brown/red. It is alternating (-) and (+) as current passes i.e. current changes direction
50 times in a second (50Hz).carries current to the appliances

Neutral wire: It is blue/black. It is earthed at the power station. Current passes through the wire but
voltage is zero. If you accidentally touch the neutral wire you should not get a shock. Carries current
back to the main

The Earth wire: It is yellow/green

Cord grip: to hold the wires in the right position


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Nb; the fuse and switches must be connected to the live wire

SWITCHES AND FUSES

These are always in the live wire. If they were in the neutral, light switches and power sockets would be
‘live’ when switches were ‘off’ or fuses ‘blown’. You could get a shock for example when you touch the
element of a heater when it was off.

SAFETY FIRST

If an electric fault happens to the appliance

i) First switch off at the socket


ii) Pull out the plug

CIRCUITS IN PARALLEL

Every circuit in the house is connected in parallel.

The advantages are:

 Each appliance gets the maximum full voltage from the supply/main.
 Each can be switched on and off independently.
 Each appliance is connected to a circuit with a recommended fuse e.g. 5A for lights, 15A for
immersion heater, 30A for ring main circuit and 30A for a cooker.

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