Electricity

This article provides an overview to electricity. Refrigeration operators/technicians not only have a deep understanding about the refrigeration cycle, but a big majority of problems are bound to be from electrical faults/errors. The #1 request from industrial refrigeration workers is to receive more training on electricity. And this article is the first step towards complex troubleshooting of electricity.

Electricity is an invisible form of energy that is transformed into other forms of energy like heat, light, and mechanical.

The short definition for “electricity”: The flow of electrons through a conductor.

Atoms - all matter is made up of atoms, and atoms are made up of smaller particles such as protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Electricity Atom

Common Electrical Currents consists of two main types: Alternating Current or Direct Current

The above current types have been around for over a century but back in the 1880s there was a huge battle between direct & alternating current (known as “war of the currents”). The standard back in the U.S. during that time was direct current and was developed by Thomas Edison. Direct current runs only in a single direction (hint the name “direct”). Direct current had one problem, it is not easily converted to higher or lower voltages. Nikola Tesla believes that his creation of alternating current is the solution to direct currents short comings. Alternating current reverses direction 60-times per second (hint the name “alternating”) in the U.S. and can be converted to different voltages using a transformer.

Current Flow is the measurement of electrons that flow through the circuit (amperage).

Resistance is the restriction on the movement of electrons (ohm’s).

Voltage is the electromotive force of electrons moving down a circuit (voltage).

Volt, Ohm, Amp

Conductors are made of substances that provide little resistance to the flow of electrical current (such as various metals and water).

Insulators are made of substances that provide high resistance to the flow of electrical current (such as clay, pottery, and dry wood).

Electrical Current holds a significant risk to humans, current around 10 mA (milliamp) is enough to cause pain and muscle tingling. 500 mA is enough to cause electrocution. For comparison, a 60W light bulb draws around 500 mA of current. 1 amp to milliamps = 1000 milliamps and 2 amps to milliamps = 2000 milliamps. Industrial equipment we work around everyday has hundreds of times more current draw than what is harmful to humans. ALWAYS RESPECT ELECTRICTY AND ITS DANGERS!

Electricity Effect on Human Body

Path of Current through the human body changes the severity of the electrical shock, depends on the following:

· The currents frequency,

· The currents path through the body,

· The length of time the body remains in the circuit, and

· The amount of current flowing through the body

If someone “freezes” to a live electrical circuit, you should:

1. De-energize the current immediately.

2. Protecting yourself from electrocution or shock is equally important.

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