Electrical System

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
• Electrical systems and equipment include the alarm system,

aids to navigation, communication system, area
classification, power generation, emergency generator,
electrical switchgear/MCC, lighting systems and fire
detection.
• An electric system consists of all of the elements needed to
distribute electrical power, including overhead and
underground lines, poles, transformers, and other
equipment.
DEFINTION OF TERMS
Ammeter — An instrument for measuring the flow of electrical current in amperes.
Ammeters are always connected in series with the circuit to be tested.
Capacitor — A device used to store an electric charge, consisting of one or more pairs of
conductors separated by an insulator. Commonly used for filtering out voltage spikes.
Circuit — A closed path in which electrons from a voltage or current source flow. Circuits
can be in series, parallel, or in any combination of the two.
Circuit Breaker — An automatic device for stopping the flow of current in an electric
circuit. To restore service, the circuit breaker must be reset (closed) after correcting the
cause of the overload or failure. Circuit breakers are used in conjunction with protective
relays to protect circuits from faults.
Conductor — Any material where electric current can flow freely. Conductive materials,
such as metals, have a relatively low resistance. Copper and aluminum wire are the most
common conductors.
Fuse — A circuit interrupting device consisting of a strip of wire that melts and breaks an
electric circuit if the current exceeds a safe level. To restore service, the fuse must be
replaced using a similar fuse with the same size and rating after correcting the cause of
failure.
Generator — A device which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.
Inductor — A coil of wire wrapped around an iron core. The inductance is directly
proportional to the number of turns in the coil.
Inverter — An apparatus that converts direct current into alternating current.
Open Circuit — An open or open circuit occurs when a circuit is broken, such as by a
broken wire or open switch, interrupting the flow of current through the circuit. It is
analogous to a closed valve in a water system.
Parallel Circuit — A circuit in which there are multiple paths for electricity to flow. Each
load connected in a separate path receives the full circuit voltage, and the total circuit
current is equal to the sum of the individual branch currents.
Power — The rate at which electrical energy is transferred by an electric circuit.
Measured in Watts.
Series-Parallel Circuit — A circuit in which some of the circuit components are

connected in series and others are connected in parallel.
Series Circuit — A circuit in which there is only one path for electricity to flow. All of the
current in the circuit must flow through all of the loads.
Short Circuit — When one part of an electric circuit comes in contact with another part
of the same circuit, diverting the flow of current from its desired path.
Transistor — A semiconductor device with three connections, capable of amplification

in addition to rectification.
Voltmeter — An instrument for measuring the force in volts of an electrical current. This
is the difference of potential (voltage) between different points in an electrical circuit.
Voltmeters have a high internal resistance are connected across (parallel to) the points
where voltage is to be measured.
https://testguy.net/content/200-Basic-Electrical-Terms-and-Definitions#Ammeter
BASIC ELECTRICAL SYMBOLS
• Ground or Earth
A ground symbol (IEC symbol 5017) identifies a ground terminal. It can
be used for a zero potential reference point from where current is measured.
It is also for electrical shock protection. There are a few different ground
symbols. The one we're showing here is "Earth", but there's also a Chassis
and Digital/Common ground with slight variations to this symbol.
• Resistor
A resistor reduces current flow. In a schematic, this is represented with a
few zig zag squiggles. We're showing the US/Japan version of this symbol
(IEEE). The UK uses a simple box over a straight line (IEC). There are also
symbols for variable and adjustable resistors as well as thermal and preset
resistors.
• Switch
Disconnects the current when open. We're showing a simple SPST
(single-pole single-throw) toggle switch, but there are variations for SPDT,
pushbutton, dip, relay, and more. For a complete list of switch symbols, check
out SmartDraw's electrical symbol library.
https://www.smartdraw.com/circuit-diagram/electrical-symbols.htm
• Capacitor
A capacitor symbol shows two terminals running into plates. The curved
plate indicates that the capacitor is polarized. The curved side has lower
voltage. A small plus sign can be added to the straight side indicated the
positive pin.
• Fuse
A fuse protects electrical circuits by stopping the flow of current when the
intensity of current exceed a set value. It does this by melting a special wire.
• Antenna
Marks a device, rod, or wire designed to capture radio and
electromagnetic waves into electrical signals and vice versa.
• Inductor
An inductor is also called a coil or reactor. The coils store energy in a
magnetic field or flux. An inductor symbol looks like a series of looped coils.
• Transformer
A transformer is two or more coils coupled by magnetic induction. It helps
keep the frequency and reduce tension in an AC circuit.
• Motor
A motor is a device that can transform electric energy into mechanical
energy.
• Source
Represents the power source for your electronics. This symbol represent
a direct current (DC). To represent AC current, you'd replace the plus and
minus sign with a wave.
LIGHTING SYMBOLS
https://www.houseplanshelper.com/lighting-symbols.html
SWITCHES SYMBOLS
https://www.houseplanshelper.com/lighting-symbols.html
SYMBOLS OF ELECTRIC LIGHTING
https://www.electrical-symbols.com/electric-electronic-symbols/electric-lighting-symbols.htm
• Small commercial or residential buildings have a very simple power
distribution system. The utility will own the transformer, which will sit on a pad
outside the building or will be attached to a utility pole. The transformer
reduces the voltage from 13.8kV down to 120/240 or 120/208 volts and
then passes the electricity to a meter, which is owned by the utility and keeps
a record of power consumption.
https://www.archtoolbox.com/materials-systems/electrical/electrical-power-systems.html
• Large buildings have a much higher electrical load than small buildings;
therefore, the electrical equipment must be larger and more robust. Large
building owners will also purchase electricity at high voltages because it comes
at a cheaper rate. In this case, the owner will provide and maintain their own
step-down transformer, which lowers the voltage to a more usable level (in the
US, 480/277 volts).
https://www.archtoolbox.com/materials-systems/electrical/electrical-power-systems.html

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ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

• Electrical systems and equipment include the alarm system,

Generator — A device which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.

Inverter — An apparatus that converts direct current into alternating current.

Series-Parallel Circuit — A circuit in which some of the circuit components are

Transistor — A semiconductor device with three connections, capable of amplification

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