Servicing a motor effected/washed by

seawater:

1. Cut out power supply by circuit breaker & taking out

fuse. Mark & disconnect supply wire. Took Megger reading &
recorded.
2. Take out the motor, open up & dismantle. (Make sure
marking on both cover & body)
3. Clean and wash with warm fresh water.( About 180′ F)
4. Cover by canvas, dry with positive ventilation & 500 watt
lamp
5. Clean with Electro cleaner.
6. Baking by 500 Watt lamp for few hours.
7. Take Megger reading. (test stable or constant reading)
Apply insulation varnish to the winding while warm.
8. Baking & taking the Megger.
9. Reassemble & put back into service.
10. When test run check sound, ampere & temperature.

Safety device on alternator:

1. Heater
2. Cooling fan.
3. Reverse power trip.
4. Preferential trip.
5. Over current trip.
6. Under voltage trip.

Windlass safety device:

1. Slipping clutch.( Fitted between hydraulic motor and
gear)
2. Over load trip.

Winch safety device.

 1. Over load trip.
2. Centrifugal brake.
3. Magnetic brake.
4. Limit switch for runner, topping & slowing.
5. Hydraulic oil high temperature alarm & cut out.
6. Hydraulic oil over head tank low level alarm.

Megger:

A Megger is an ohmmeter to measure insulation resistance in

million of ohms. (Pole to pole, pole to earth). Good insulation has
high resistance; poor insulation, relatively low resistance. The
actual resistance values can be higher or lower, depending upon
such factors as the temperature or moisture content of the
insulation (resistance decreases in temperature or moisture).

Purpose of Megger Test:

1. To verify insulation resistance.

2. To detect any insulation fault.

Correct Procedure to Check Megger:

Switch off main switchboard by means of circuit breaker & taking

out fuse, put label of MEN AT WORK, disconnect the connection
from stator, teat with Megger Meter. Measure during hot condition
resistance for accurate reading.

The Megger insulation tester is essentially a high-range resistance

meter (ohmmeter) with a built-in direct-current generator. This
meter is of special construction with current and voltage coils,
enabling true ohms to be read directly, independent of the actual
voltage applied.
This method is non-destructive; that is, it does not cause
deterioration of the insulation.

Fig: Megger test instrument hook-up to measure insulation

resistance.

The generator can be hand-cranked or line-

operated to develop a high DC voltage which
causes a small current through and over
surfaces of the insulation being tested ( Fig).
This current (usually at an applied voltage of
500 volts or more) is measured by the
ohmmeter, which has an indicating scale.

Safety device on switch board:

1. Circuit breakers
2. Over current relay (OCR) for protection from high current
3. Reverse power trip
4. Preferential trip
5. Under voltage trip
6. Fuse
7. Earth lamp
 8. Synchroscope, synchronising lamp.
9. Meter (ampere, frequency, volt, watt)
10. Dead front panel safety device provided on the Main
switch board individual panels wherein you cannot open the
panel until the power of that panel is switched off.

Shore supply connections


 Where arrangements are made for the supply of electricity
from a source on shore or other location a suitable connection
box has to be installed in a position in the ship suitable for the
convenient reception of flexible cables, it should contain a
circuit breaker or isolating switch, fuses, and terminals of
adequate size to receive the cable ends.
 For three phase shore supplies with earthed neutral terminals
are to be provided for connecting hull to shore earth
 An indicator for shore side connection energised is to be
provided.
 A means for checking polarity or phase rotation is to be
provided
 At the connection box a notice indicating ships requirements
with respect to supply as well as connection procedure.
 Alternative arrangements may be submitted for consideration.

How will you know the shore power supply is

correct or not?
 Phase sequence indicator.(inside shore connection box, turn
clock wise direction)
 Operate E/R vent fan & check airflow direction.

When excitation loss:

 Tapping with hammer to field coil core of excitation motor.
 Energise with battery.
Preferential trip:

If a generator overload condition develops, its preference overload

trip will operate to energise the timing relay. The timing relay then
operates to disconnect non-essential services in a definite order
and at definite time intervals.

 None essential (without effecting the ship operation.) 5

sec:
 Essential (running the ship properly) 5
sec:
 Top polarity (propulsion, navigation) 15
sec:
Static electricity:
 Electricity produced on dissimilar materials through physical
contact & separation
 Outgoing material negative, remaining material positive.
Spontaneous combustion:

The ignition of material brought about by a heat producing

exothermic chemical acting within the material itself, without
exposure to an external source of ignition. (Wet oily rags, wet saw
dust)

Armature reaction.
– When a D.C generator or a motor is operating with load, sparking
between the carbon brushes and the commutator results due to
Armature Reaction. Armature reaction takes place when the
armature current flows in the armature.
– When current flows in armature, the armature core is magnetising
by this current. Magnetising effect of the armature current can be
divided into two effects: –

 Cross magnetising or distorting effect.

 Demagnetising or weakening effect.
To compensate the Armature reaction, modern Electrical Machines
are provided with

 Interpoles
 Carbon brush rocker.
 Neutralising Winding.

A.C motor starters:

A motor starter is an apparatus used for controlling the starting of
an electric motor.

1. Direct on line starter.(without current limiting element)

2. Resistor or rheostat starters.(with current limiting
device)
3. Star delta starter.
4. Auto Transformer starter.(reduced voltage starting 55%,
60%, 70%, full voltage running
5. Rotor resistance starter.(starting slip ring induction
motor)

Dash pot
Mechanical device to produce a time delay action. Operation of
switch gears, arc lamps, motor starters, Electromagnetic bake, etc.
Time delay is adjusted by oil viscosity used.

Earth detecting lamps

 The earth fault detector consists of three incandescent lamps

which are connected in star. These three lamps are supplied
 from the secondaries of three single phase step down
transformers. The primaries of three transformers are connected
in star. The star point of the primaries is connected the frame of
the ship. The primaries of these transformers are fed from the
red phase, yellow phase and blue phase of the ship supply.
 Giving visual signals and buzzer will sound when there is an
Earth fault in the system on board.
 Three incandescent lamps which are connected in star. These
three lamps are supplied from the secondaries of three single-
phase steps down transformers.
 The primaries of these three transformers are connected in
star. The star point of the primaries is connected the Frame of
the ship. The primaries of these transformers are fed from the
Red phase, Yellow Phase and Blue Phase of the ship supply
main.
 No Earth Fault in the system, Lamps will glow with equal
brightness.
 When earth fault occurs one of the phases, the lamp on that
phase will become dark and other two lamps will burn with extra
brightness.
 Earth fault can be traced by switching off the branch circuit
breaker one by one. When the branch circuit with the fault is
switched off, the earth lamp will return to its normal glow.

Emergency power supply:

1. Emergency lights.
2. Navigation lights.
3. International communication equipment.
4. Day light signalling lamp.
5. Ship’s whistle.
6. Fire detecting and alarming installation.
7. Manual fire alarm.
8. Other internal emergency signal.
9. Emergency fire pump.
10. Steering gear.
 11. Navigation aid and other equipment.

Single phasing:
 Single phasing is the term used to denote the condition arising
in a three-phase circuit when one phase becomes open
circuited.
 The open circuit in a phase, often from a blown fuse, faulty
contact or broken wire, will prevent a motor from starting but
running motor may continue to operate with a fault.
1. Excessive current in the remaining supply cable.
2. Unequal distribution of current in motor winding.
 Can be detected by overload device in the supply line or
through the overheating.
 Overheating in a stalled or running motor will cause burn out
of the overloaded coil.
 In a lightly loaded motor to remain undetected by
electromagnetic trips on the supply line which monitor only
current. Improve protection is given by thermisters placed in the
winding to measure thermal effects.

Insulated neutral system

Advantages

 This system avoids the risk of loss of essential services e.g.

steering gear
 If the neutral was earthed and a short circuit on one phase
causes the fuse in that phase to blow the system would now be
singled phasing and may burn out motors
 In an insulated neutral, one earth fault does not interrupt the
supply but an earth leakage detection system will give warning.
 A low earth fault current in insulated systems gives a much
less fire risk.

Disadvantages
  On the insulated system the voltage to earth is 1.73 Vph e.g.
440v vs. 250v
 Tracing an earth fault is more difficult because although
selective tripping may trace the earthed circuit, the actual
position on the circuits may still be difficult to locate. Resonant
or intermittent faults in say a contactor solenoid or a
transformer with an insulated neutral can cause voltages to be
magnified to say 4 times the normal voltage to earth (250v x 4 =
1000v)
Note: electrical shock is not reduced by using a non-earthed neutral
as large voltages are involved. Both systems are equally dangerous

Earthed neutral system

When an earthed neutral system of generation is used earthing is to

be through a resistor. The resistor is to be such that it limits the
earth fault current to a value not greater than the full load current of
the largest generator on the switchboard section and not less than
three times the minimum current required to operate any device
against

Back E.M.F
 When a current flows through the conductors of an armature
of a motor, a force will be exerted on the conductors. This force
produces a torque, which will cause the armature of the motor
to rotate.
 When the armature conductors are moving across the
magnetic field, these conductors will cut the magnetic lines of
force and therefore generate an E.M.F. The direction of this
generated E.M.F is opposite to the applied voltage of the motor.
Since the generated E.M.F in the motor is opposite to the applied
voltage to the motor, this E.M.F is called Back E.M.F.
Applied Voltage = Voltage drop to armature resistance + Back E.M.F

V = Ir+ Eb
Automatic voltage regulator (AVR):
Sudden load current surges (sudden great increase) (e.g. due to
motor starting) on a generator cause a corresponding change in its
output voltage. This is due to an internal voltage drop in the
generator ac windings and the effect is usually called ‘voltage dip’.
Similarly, load shedding (to get rid of it) will produce an over voltage
at the bus-bars. An unregulated or non-compounded generator
excitation system would not be realistic on board ship due to the
varying voltage caused by the fluctuating load demand. Automatic
voltage regulation (AVR) equipment is necessary to rapidly correct
such voltage change.

1. Carbon pile regulator.

2. Vibration contact regulator.
The alternator output is transformed, rectified and output effect
through magnetic coil against spring which is voltage reference and
apply to dc exciter shunt field and rotor of alternator.

3. Static automatic voltage regulator.

The direct current derived from the alternator output through
transformer & rectifier, is applied to a bridge which has fixed
resistances on two arms and variable resistances (zener diode
voltage references) on the other two. When change in applied
voltage, by Whetstone bridge produce an error signal. The error
signal can be amplified and used to control alternator excitation in
different ways. (Thyristors, Transistors in series)

Diode
 An electronic device that allows electrons to flow in one
direction but in highly resistant to current flow in the opposite
direction. (Similarly check in the piping system.)
 The purpose of the diode is to function as a rectifier of higher
frequency and low frequency oscillation. It is used as detector in
a receiver circuit.
1. Thermionic diode consists of a heater, a cathode and an
anode, in an indirectly heated valve.
 2. Semi conductor diode is constructed with Mono
crystalline germanium or silicon wafers with two layers
differently doped; ‘pn’ junction acting as rectifier junction.

Transistor
 Three layer device, either NPN or PNP
 It has emitter, collector & base
 Used small signal power from a side circuit controlling the
larger power in other circuit. (Power gain or amplification)

Thyristors
 Power control element. Multi -layer device of alternate P and N
junction.
 E.g. Silicon controlled rectifiers (SCRs) ~ Four layer
device.

Triacs ~ Greater number.

 Thyristors are solid state switches, which are turned on by

application of a low-level signal voltage through a trigger
connection known as a gate electrode
 No moving parts to wear, or contacts which can be damaged
by arcing.
 Ideal for remote operation. Small size ~ convenient component
of control circuit. Can control current greater than 1000 amps
and voltage in excess of 1000 volts. Replace large conventional
switches.
 Operate faster rate (25,000 times per second).

Exciter:
 It is a small D.C generator. It supplies the exciting current to
the rotor of the A.C generator.
 Exciting current is current required to create any magnetic
field.
Equaliser
An equaliser is a connection between the generators of different
capacities running in parallel so that the running load is divided
proportionately between the two.

D.C loads on A.C ship service system:

1. General alarm system.
2. Emergency lighting.
3. Emergency radio power.
4. Rectifying for battery charging.

Maintenance of motors:
1. Keep air passage clean.
2. Remove deposits of dust, oil and grease.
3. Take insulation resistance reading.
4. Prevent sparking at brushes and commutator.
5. Mechanical check at bearings, holding bolts couplings.
6. Regular check on motor starters and controllers,
maintenance of contacts, resistance and connection.

Galvanometer:
It is an instrument for measuring the small electric current with its
magnitude and direction.

Resistor:
It is a device, which conducts electricity but converts part of the
electrical energy into heat.

Resistivity:
It is a resistance of a material and expressed in ohms/unit length.

Rheostat
It is a resistor, which is provided with means for readily adjusting its
resistance.
Fire fighting at switchboard
1. First of all the circuit breaker to be break out. Then
extinguished with the fire with CO2 portable extinguisher.
2. After fire is stop, the switch board is cool down
3. All wire system must be traced and continuity test.
4. After tracing and renewing all fittings, the switchboard
can be put back into service.
Fire Prevention:
1. Use correct fuse.
2. All contacts of circuit breakers and switches are well
contact.
3. All wire connections are well lapped.

Causes of Fire:
1. Loose contact.
2. Incorrect fuse.
3. Insulation break down

Residual magnetism:
When starting up a generator, the necessary magnetism is provided
by the iron cores of the field poles. This magnetism is known as
residual magnetism.

Battery installation and safety measures:

1. Require good ventilation for H2 involving. Require
suitable paint to outlet vent ducts. Ventilation inlet should be
below battery level.
2. Naked light and smoking are prohibited in battery room.
Lap wound. Multi parallel circuit in armature.

Wave wound two parallel circuits in armature.

Failure to excite:
1. Loss of residual magnetism.
2. Too high resistance in the field circuit.

Universal motor:
1. Series wound.
2. Single phase.
3. Either A.C or D.C can be used.
4. Fractional (very small) power. (Less than 1 HP.)
Used on sewing machine, portable drill, etc.

(When the motor is attached to D.C line, the current is in the same
direction all the time. In an A.C line the current is reversing itself
every cycle.)

What are the likely consequences of attempting to close the

incomer’s Air Circuit breaker (ACB) when the generators are not in
synchronism?

At the instant of closing the breaker, the voltage phase difference

causes a large circulating current between the machines which
produces a large magnetic force to ‘pull’ the generators into
synchronism. This means rapid acceleration of one rotor and
deceleration of the other. The large forces may physically damage
the generators and their prime movers and the large circulating
current may trip each generator breaker. Result? Blackout, danger
and embarrassment!

Synchronising:
1. Synchroscope
2. Synchronising lamp:
 ‘Dark’ lamp method. (2 lamps)
 ‘Bright’ lamp method. (2 lamps)
 ‘Sequence’ method.(3 lamps)
 How could you monitor the correct instant for synchronising without
the aid of a Synchroscope or synchronising lamps?

Connect pair of 500 V voltmeter probes across one phase of the

incoming machine circuit breaker. Adjust the generator speed until
the voltmeter slowly fluctuates from zero to maximum. Close the
breaker when the voltmeter passes through zero.

What does different position of the synchroscope needle mean; what is

the difference between 6 o clock and 12 clocks?
6 o’clock means that out of synchronisation. We cannot parallel the
incoming generator. 12 o’clock means the perfect synchronised
condition (voltage, frequency and phase sequence match).

Q1. Why do we close the switch at 11 o'clock and not at 12 o' clock?

When the synchroscope is approaching 12 o'clock the "slip"

(differential) between the sine waves is approaching minimum (slip
is zero when the synchroscope is at 12 o'clock) and the voltage
differential between the phases is minimal (it's zero when the
synchroscope is at 12 o'clock). Due to time taken to close the
synchronoscope switch, it is generally done at 11 o’clock. Due to
the small delay to close, by doing at 11 o’clock, we are achieving
closing close to 12 o’clock.

Q2. Why is a Megger used for insulation test and not a multi meter?

With a megger, a voltage of not less than 500 volts DC is used for
testing the insulation resistance of windings. With a multi-meter, the
voltage used is not more than 3-volts DC. Megger uses high
impedance testing and is therefore more accurate than a multi-
meter

Q3. What are the safeties on MSB?

Circuit breakers, fuses and over current relays are used. The panels
are dead front panel, that is, we cannot open the panel for
maintenance until we switch off the power to the panel by circuit
breaker.

Q4. When does reverse power flow?

 Situation of a generator is feeding a system through switch gear
having several generators connected in parallel with this generator.
The flow of current, when the system is running normally, is from
the generators to the switch gear. If one generator experiences
problems and its terminal voltage falls below the system voltage,
the generator will act as a motor, just as a motor can act as a
generator, and current will flow from the switch gear to the
generator. This is reverse power. The effects can range from minor
to extreme in the event of a complete mechanical failure of the
generator which fails.

Q5. What is the harm if reverse power flows?

Assume that the generator normally produces an amount of power

equal to P, and that when operating as a motor, it will absorb a
similar amount, P. Therefore, the net effect on the grid will be the
same as if it experienced a step increase in load equal to 2P.
Depending on the size of the grid and the strength of the remaining
generation, a step increase of 2P could result in a significant
frequency change on the grid.
There could be prime mover damage in some instances (especially
steam turbines).

Q6. How is the protection against reverse power given?

Reverse power protection is used for anti-motoring. This function is

used for protection of prime mover not generator. It can cut-off the
fuel supply and stop the prime mover.

Q7. How do you test reverse power trip?

When two generators are running in parallel and one generator can
carry the load, reverse power trip can be tested by load shifting
using governor control. When the load has shifted sufficiently and
the off loaded generator is carrying a small percentage of load, its
breaker trips and fuel supply to its prime mover cuts off. This means
reverse power relay has operated. The relay can be tested by
simulation (using the test push button on the relay) to see if it
initiates a trip signal.
Q8. What is the full form of ACB?

Air circuit breaker. It is normally used at 400V and higher current

applications (generator breakers).

Q9. If you press the ACB Close button on an idle generator what will
happen?
Normally, the breaker won’t close until you synchronise, so even if
you press the breaker close, it will not close. The breaker has
under-voltage protection which will not let you close it.

Q10. What is Under-voltage protection?

It prevents closure of the breaker by mistake, or the generator that

is coming on load during parallel operation. It also provides
protection against loss of voltage while machinery is connected
to the switchboard.

Q11. What is the meaning of preferential trip? Why is it provided?

Preferential trip is a kind of electrical arrangement on ship which is

designed to disconnect the non-essential circuit i.e. non-essential
load from the main bus bar in case of partial failure or overload of
the main supply. It lets the critical loads run (like steering gear) and
trips the non essential loads (like AC and galley) and is a safety
feature.

Q12. What is the purpose of the earth fault indication on the switch
board?

It detects and indicates phase to earth fault on a circuit.

Q13. If you get an earth fault alarm what will you do?

The fault can be investigated by first identifying areas of ship that

have a high chance of earth fault (example deck lighting or pantry
equipment) and then switching off their supplies one at a time to
see if the alarm is gone. When a particular load clears the alarm, we
know that that circuit is having earth fault and we can go and repair
it.
Q14. What is Direct Current?

Uni-directional flow of current.

Q15. What is alternating current?

Bi-directional flow of current in a sinusoidal form with a positive and
negative peak.

Q16. What is meant by phase in AC?

Two or more AC voltages or currents that are out of step with each
other. Their peaks and zero points do not match up at the same
points in time. This is meant by phase.

Q17. Is there phase in DC?

No

Q18. Why is DC not much in use now?

AC generators are a better technology and voltage transformation

(by transformers) is easy is possible in AC and not DC.

Q19. Where are you likely to see it used?

Battery powered DC is generally used in navigation, control and

safety systems mainly in navigation, radar, safety systems, antenna
and communication systems and emergency lighting.

Q20. What does three-phase current mean?

Three current sinusoidal waveform equal in magnitude but with a

phase shift of 120 degrees.
Q21. What is rms value?

Root mean square value is the peak value divided by square root of
2.

Q22. What is the meaning of power factor?

Power factor is the cosine of the angle between voltage and current
waveform.
Q23. What is the usual value you see onboard?

Usually 0.8.

Q24. What is the best value possible?

1 is the best value possible. That is possible with a purely resistive

load.

Q25. What is the benefit of improving power factor?

Power factor close to 1 means for the same real power in kW, the
load current is less and hence the I 2R losses are less. The system
efficiency is higher as the losses are lower. Improved voltage
regulation is achieved.

Q26. How can it be improved?

Power factor improvement capacitor banks are used if the loads are
mainly resistive.

Q27. What is the meaning of saying I and V are in phase?

The angle between the I and V waveform is zero which means the
load is purely resistive.

Q28. Why are motor ratings given in KW and that of alternator and
transformer given in KVA?

KW is the output mechanical power of a motor and is expressed in

kW.
KVA is the net (apparent) power input to the transformer. This input
power is the output + losses.
KW = kVA x system power factor

Q29. Where does reactive power go?

 Reactive power is not 'lost'. It is delivered to the motor where it
sustains the electric field that enables the motor to convert the real
power (electrical) into mechanical torque.

Q30. What is a semi conductor?

Substance as germanium or silicon whose electrical conductivity is

intermediate between that of a metal and an insulator; its
conductivity increases with temperature and in the presence of
impurities

Q31. What is doping?

Doping intentionally introduces impurities into an extremely pure

(also referred to as intrinsic) semiconductor for the purpose of
modulating its electrical properties. The impurities are dependent
upon the type of semiconductor. Lightly and moderately doped
semiconductors are referred to as extrinsic. A semiconductor doped
to such high levels that it acts more like a conductor than a
semiconductor is referred to as degenerate.

Q32. What happens to insulation when temperature rises?

For insulators, an increase in temperature will cause their

resistance to decrease -which is why excessive temperature is
often the main reason why insulation fails

Q33. What happens to resistance of conductors when temperature

rises?

For conductors an increase in temperature will cause their

resistance to increase.

Q34. What is an induction motor?

An induction motor is an alternating current motor in which the

primary winding on one member (usually the stator) is connected to
the power source and a secondary winding or a squirrel-cage
secondary winding on the other member (usually the rotor) carries
the induced current.

Q35. What is "slip"?

 An AC (Amplitude Current) induction motor consists of two
assemblies - a stator and a rotor. The interaction of currents flowing
in the rotor bars and the stators' rotating magnetic field generate a
torque. In an actual operation, the rotor speed always lags the
magnetic field's speed, allowing the rotor bars to cut magnetic lines
of force and produce useful torque. This speed difference is called
the slip.

Q36. What is a synchronous motor?

A constant-speed motor, the speed being dependent on the

frequency of the ac supply and the number of poles for which it is
designed.

Q37. Where is it used?

Synchronous motors find applications in all industrial applications

where constant speed is necessary. Improving the power factor as
Synchronous condensers. Electrical power plants almost always use
synchronous generators because it is important to keep the
frequency constant at which the generator is connected. Low power
applications include positioning machines, where high precision is
required, and robot actuators.

Q38. How do you use a multi-meter?

Q39. What is an AVO meter?

The Avometer was a British brand of multimeter, latterly owned

by Megger. It is often called simply an AVO and derives its name
from the first letter of the words amperes, volts, ohms

Q40. How do you check continuity?

Set the multi-meter in resistance mode and then check with probes
the resistance between the points or circuit under check. If the
resistance is low or zero, it means continuity. If it is high or infinite,
it means open circuit.

Q41. What limits the electrical load?

 The available power is fixed and the voltage is fixed, so the setting
of the breaker or fuse is the normal current of the load. If the load
exceeds the rated current, then the breaker or fuse will operate and
limit the load.

Q42. What is the voltage used in a meggar?

500V DC.

Q43. How does current flow during welding?

The current flows through the electrode and to the clamp. That's
how it flows in MIG, stick, flux cored. On Tig, the electricity flows
through the electrode also except that now that's the only function
of it, the rod is held in your hand and electrode in the other.

Q44. What do we use for welding on ships?

AC or DC?

Q45. What is the voltage?

Q47. What is the voltage used for ignition in boilers/incinerators etc.?

Normally 10,000V (10kV).

Q48. Why is it different from that for welding?

It is higher as the ignition requires break down of air gap for park to
occur. The air breaks down at this high voltage of 10kV. Therefore,
it is higher than normal welding voltage.

Q49. Does current flow through hull during welding?

Yes I think.

Q50. If so why don't you get a shock?

 . Because the whole hull is at the same potential, so there is no
potential difference to get a shock.

Q51. What is safe voltage to prevent shock?

Normally 50V. It depends on the body resistance and how

conducting the path is (example use of insulating boots or mat may
allow slightly higher voltage to be safe)

Q52. What is the meaning of earthing in a ship?

Q53. What is the meaning of ACB, MCCB, NFB?

Air circuit breaker for 400V higher current ratings.

Moulded case circuit breaker for 400V medium current ratings.
No Fuse Breaker – 75 A capacity

Q54. What is a magnetic contractor? Where is it used?

A contractor is an electrically controlled switch used for switching

a power circuit, similar to a relay except with higher current ratings.
Contractors are used to control electric
motors, lighting, heating, capacitor banks, and other electrical
loads.

Q54. What is a relay? How is it different from a magnetic contractor?

Contractor is a heavy duty switch whereas the relay is light duty

switch. Relays can be as simple as 12 V DC solenoids with 12 V, 0.5
A rated contacts. They are used to detect faults on the power
system and signal a local or remote switching device (breaker) to
trip the circuit.

Q55. What is the meaning of overload?

An overload is a current over and above the normal load current

(over the load).
 In other words greater than the original design current. This can be
a momentary overload such as the starting current for a motor
which is usually ignored or it can be a sustained overload such as
plugging in too many appliances at once or a motor that has faulty
bearings or gets jammed

Q56. What is meaning of short circuit?

A short circuit occurs when conductors are connected (shorted)

together by a fault. This is normally phase to phase fault due to
failure of insulation by something cutting the wires, fires, etc.

Q57. How is protection provided for OL and SC?

Damage from short circuits and overloads can be reduced or

prevented by employing fuses, circuit breakers, or other overload
protection, which disconnect the power in reaction to excessive
current. The tripping time is much less (in milli seconds) for short
circuit due to very high currents but can higher (a few seconds) due
to currents say 1.1 to 1.5 times the normal current.

Q58. What is the function of a fuse?

Fuse places a limit on the amount of current that can be drawn by

an electric circuit by opening (blowing or melting) when the current
exceeds a preset limit. This protects the circuit and the
surroundings from fire or damage in the case of an overload or short
circuit.

Q59. What is the normal setting of overload relays?

Normally 90-100% of rated normal current. Sometimes can be set to

105% of rated current.

Q60. How does a thermal overload relay work?

The bi-metallic strip in the relay heats up by the over load current
and the movement in the bi-metallic strip causes the breaker to trip.
The breaker has to be reset (turn off) before turning on again.
 Sometimes it takes a time delay for the bi-metallic strip to cool
down after which the breaker can be reset and switched on.

Q61. What is single phasing?

Single phasing is a condition in three phase motors and

transformers wherein the supply to one of the phases is cut off.

Q62. How can it happen?

Single phasing is caused by the use of single-phase protection

devices such as fuses. Three phase loads should be protected by
devices which cause the interruption of power to all three phases
simultaneously when a fault occurs. Defective contacts or loose
connections in three phase breakers can also cause single phasing.

Q63. What is the harm caused by this?

Single phasing causes higher than rated currents in the healthy

phases of loads such as motors causing over heating of the motor
and consequently motor failure.
Single phasing can sometimes cause excessive noise and vibration
in motors.
Q64. What protection is provided against this?

Single phasing can be identified by special protective relays which

can identify and isolate the connected loads. Smaller motors rely on
over current and negative phase sequence relays. Motor protection
relays for larger motors come readily fitted with protection against
single phasing.

Q65. Why is it necessary that incoming alternator frequency is more

than bus bar?

Prior to paralleling alternators together, the frequency of the

incoming alternator is made slightly higher. This is to ensure that
the incoming generator will take some of the bus load. If the
incoming generator is slow it will become motorized and will add
load onto the bus. If this happens it is possible to cause other
generators to trip off line.
Q66. What is dark lamp and bright lamp method for synchronizing? How
is the connection made?

Formerly, three light bulbs were connected between the generator

terminals and the system terminals. As the generator speed
changes, the lights will rise and fall in intensity at a rate
proportional to the difference between generator frequency and
system frequency. When the voltage at the generator is opposite to
the system voltage (either ahead or behind in phase), the lamps will
be bright. When the voltage at the generator matches the system
voltage, the lights will be dark. At that instant, the circuit
breaker connecting the generator to the system may be closed and
the generator will then stay in synchronism with the system.

Q67. Apart from renewing bearings is there any reason for opening up
motors for maintenance?

Insulation checks and renewal (example using insulation spray on

stator winding insulation).

Q68. Why is this reverse power used instead of reverse current in

alternators?

It is extremely difficult to detect reverse current with an alternating

current system, reverse power can be detected and protection can
be provided by reverse power relay.

Q69. What is the meaning of excitation in an alternator?

An electric generator or electric motor consists of a rotor spinning

in a magnetic field. The magnetic field may be produced
by permanent magnets or by field coils. In the case of a machine
with field coils, a current must flow in the coils to generate the
field, otherwise no power is transferred to or from the rotor. The
process of generating a magnetic field by means of an electric
current is called excitation.
Q70. Is the field current in an alternator AC or DC?

DC.

Q71. Is the field rotating or stationary?

 Rotating.

Q72. How is it supplied?

The rotor's magnetic field is supplied by a rotor winding energized

with direct current through slip rings and brushes.

Q73. What is a brush less alternator?

A brushless alternator is composed of two sections: main alternator

and the smaller exciter. The exciter has stationary field coils and a
rotating armature (power coils). The main alternator uses the
opposite configuration with a rotating field and stationary armature.
A bridge rectifier, called the rotating rectifier assembly, is mounted
on a plate attached to the rotor. Neither brushes nor slip rings are
used, which reduces the number of wearing parts. The main
alternator has a rotating field as described above and a stationary
armature (power generation windings).

Q74. How is the excitation achieved in this?

Varying the amount of current through the stationary exciter field

coils varies the 3-phase output from the exciter. This output is
rectified by a rotating rectifier assembly, mounted on the rotor, and
the resultant DC supplies the rotating field of the main alternator
and hence alternator output. The result of all this is that a small DC
exciter current indirectly controls the output of the main alternator.

Q75. What is the meaning of residual magnetism?

Residual magnetism is a property in which certain amount of

excitation remains back in the conductor even after the removal of
the magnets.

Q76. Why is an air compressor started unloaded?

The air pressure inside the compressor cylinder offers resistance to

the movement of the piston. Hence started unloaded. Ask 4/E or 2/E
in ship.
Q77. How is the speed of a 3-phase induction motor varied?

The speed of a normal 3-phase induction motor is a function of the

frequency of the supply voltage. Changing the speed of such a motor
hence requires building a 3-phase power frequency convertor. This
can be realised by using power MOSFETs (or IGBTs) capable of
handling high voltages and fast switching speeds.

Q78. How is the direction of rotation varied?

By changing the phase sequence (from say R-Y-B to R-B-Y)

Q79. How does this cause a rotation to change?

Due to the change in phase sequence, the rotating magnetic field

changes direction and the rotor rotates in the opposite direction.

Q80. How is the speed of a DC motor varied?

To vary the speed of a DC motor we need a constant voltage power

supply with a series POT resistor of higher watt rating. A Pulse
Width Modulator (PWM) can be used.

Q81. How is the direction varied?

A general purpose DC motor can be reversed by changing the

polarity of either the armature or the field but not both.

Q82 .What is a diode?

In electronics, a diode is a two-terminal electronic component with

asymmetric transfer characteristic, with low (ideally
zero) resistance to current flow in one direction, and high
(ideally infinite) resistance in the other. A semiconductor diode, the
most common type today, is acrystalline piece
of semiconductor material with a p-n junction connected to two
electrical terminals

Q83. What is a Zener diode?

A Zener diode is a special kind of diode which allows current to flow

in the forward direction in the same manner as an ideal diode, but
will also permit it to flow in the reverse direction when the voltage
 is above a certain value known as the breakdown voltage, "Zener
knee voltage" or "Zener voltage."
Q84. What is a thyristor? What is an SCR?

A thyristors is a solid-state semiconductor device with four layers of

alternating N and P-type material. They act as bistable switches,
conducting when their gate receives a current trigger, and continue
to conduct while they are forward biased (that is, while the voltage
across the device is not reversed).
A silicon-controlled rectifier (or semiconductor-controlled rectifier)
is a four-layer solid state device that controls current. It is a type
of thyristors.

Q85. How does an inverter work?

An inverter converts DC supply into AC by use of electronic devices

such as diodes and thyristors.

Q86. How does a tube light work?

When voltage is applied to the fluorescent lamp, here's what

happens:
The starter (which is simply a timed switch) allows current to flow
through the filaments at the ends of the tube.
The current causes the starter's contacts to heat up and open, thus
interrupting the flow of current. The tube lights.
Since the lighted fluorescent tube has a low resistance, the ballast
now serves as a current limiter.
When you turn on a fluorescent tube, the starter is a closed switch.
The filaments at the ends of the tube are heated by electricity, and
they create a cloud of electrons inside the tube. The fluorescent
starter is a time-delay switch that opens after a second or two.
When it opens, the voltage across the tube allows a stream of
electrons to flow across the tube and ionize the mercury vapor.

Without the starter, a steady stream of electrons is never created

between the two filaments, and the lamp flickers. Without the
ballast, the arc is a short circuit between the filaments, and this
short circuit contains a lot of current. The current either vaporizes
the filaments or causes the bulb to explode.
Q87. What is the function of the choke?

The choke has two main functions. In conjunction with the starter it
causes the tube to ignite by using the back emf to create a plasma
in the tube and it controls the current through the tube when it is
ignited.

Q88. Where is a slip ring used and where is a commutator used?

Slip rings are commonly found in slip ring motors, electrical

generators for alternating current systems and alternators. They
can be used on any rotating object to transfer power.
A commutator is a common feature of direct current rotating
machines. By reversing the current direction in the moving coil of a
motor's armature, a steady rotating force (torque) is produced.

Q89. What is capacitance?

Capacitance is the ability of a body to store an electrical charge.

Anybody or structure that is capable of being charged, either with
static electricity or by an electric current exhibits capacitance. C =
Q/V where Q is the charge and V is the voltage

Q90.. Does current flow though a capacitor?

No. Current (or more specifically, charge) flows into one plate, and
an opposing current (charge) flows out of the other plate, but the
current (except for leakage current) does not flow across the
dielectric. The result is that there is a charge differential between
the plates.

Q91. What is the unit for capacitance?

Farad

Q92. What is a neutral?

 In multiphase circuits, the conductor used to carry unbalanced
current. In single-phase systems, the conductor used for a return
current path.

Q93. What is the difference between neutral and earth?

The ground or "earth" wire is a circuit's safety protective wire that

Normally carries no current.

Q93. What is a synchronous condenser?

A synchronous condenser is a device identical to a synchronous

motor, whose shaft is not connected to anything but spins freely.
Its purpose is not to convert electric power to mechanical power or
vice versa, but to adjust conditions on the electric power
transmission grid. Its field is controlled by a voltage regulator to
either generate or absorb reactive power as needed to adjust the
grid's voltage, or to improve power factor.

Q94. Where and why is it used?

Used for power factor correction as a synchronous capacitor.

If a motor is wound star and you want to change to delta what
should you do?
Open the terminal connection box. Remove the shorting link
connecting the common connection (star) point of A2, B2 and C2.
With the 3 phase windings marked A1A2, B1B2, C1C2, connect A2 to
B1, B2 to C1 and C2 to A1.

If the AVR, is defective, when additional loads come on will the

generator be able to take it?
No. and refer to Dennis T Hall.

Q95. How do you test reverse power trip, high current trip, and
preferential trip?
 Reverse power trip – refer answer for question 11..
High current (over load trip) – Set your overload relay high current
trip setting to say 75% of the rated current. Run the motor. The
relay will trip the breaker. Another way of testing it is pushing the
trip button on the relay which trips the breaker.
Preferential trip – With one generator running, try to switch on
additional loads to overload the generator. Preferential trip will trip
all the non-critical loads..

Q96. What is residual magnetism? Where is it important?

Residual magnetism is a property in which certain amount of

excitation remains back in the conductor even after the removal of
the magnets.
It is required as we need some magnetism to start off the
generation before the field winding has power to produce the full
field.

Q97. Sometimes, when you change the running direction of an E/R

Blower (from supply to exhaust) it trips. Why?
If the flaps of the blower are not set or opened properly or the filters
are clogged, the air supply is affected and the blower may be
overloaded causing it to trip. Ask E/O for more information.

Q98. What is the function of the friction clutch mechanism used in

purifiers?

It is a mechanical question.

Q99. What is the regular maintenance done on batteries?

Every week the cell voltage is checked. The specific gravity is

monitored using the battery hydrometer. The terminals are
lubricated to prevent corrosion. Sometimes load tests are done on
the batteries.
Q100. What safety precautions need to be taken during maintenance
on batteries?

The room needs to be ventilated to prevent explosions due to gases

generate by the battery. Protective clothing, gloves and eye
protection should be used to prevent acid splash over. No flames or
 ignition sources should be brought near batteries. Never short both
positive and negative terminals as this will cause short circuit and
high energy flashover. When disconnecting batteries, always
Disconnect negative terminals first and vice versa when
Reconnecting.

Q101. Why is special lighting used in battery rooms?

Spark proof lighting is used as explosive gases may be generated

during battery charging and so there should be no sparks in the
room.

Q102. What is the voltage available from each cell in a lead acid
battery?

2 V DC.

Q103. What is the full battery voltage ?

24V DC.

Q104. How is this voltage achieved?

By connecting 12 cells in series. 12 x 2 V = 24 V is total battery

bank voltage.

Q105. What is the meaning of a normally open contact?

The contact is open in the normal (de-energised condition).

Q106. How does a Salinometer function?

It detects the salinity in parts per million (ppm) and provides a alarm
signal and also initiates a command to the bypass valve of a fresh
water generator. Ask E/O and look in your ship Fresh water
generator manual for more details.

Q107. How does the air compressor start and stop automatically?

The air reservoir has pressure switch which is set for cut-off and
cut-in depending on the pressure desired. When the pressure drops
 below the cut-in setting, the switch energises the contactor coil and
the compressor starts. When the pressure reaches the cut-off
setting, the switch opens its closed contact in series with the
power circuit to contactor and cuts supply to the contactor.

Q108. How is the cold room temperature maintained?

The cold room has temperature switch (thermostat) which has a

cut-in and cut-off temperature setting. Depending on the setting, the
compressor cuts when the temperature rises and cuts-off when the
temperature cools down to the set value.

Q109. What is a self-monitoring alarm circuit?

It self monitors the health of the alarm circuit. That is, it senses
whether the power supply to the alarm circuit is healthy and all the
relays and contacts are functioning normally. Check with E/O for
more details.

Q110. Out at sea, if there is a black out during your watch, what action
will you take?

After a black out the emergency generator comes on; on restoring

the main supply we are closing the circuit breaker of the main
generator without bothering about synchronizing. How is this
possible?
There is a power link connection breaker between the main
generator and the emergency generator. During black out, this
breaker trips. The emergency generator starts and its breaker
closes and feeds only the emergency loads. During restoration, the
main generator is started again and its breaker is closed. As the link
breaker is still open, there is no paralleling between main and
emergency generator.
Q111. How does the emergency generator start automatically?

It is activated by a under voltage relay. When there is blackout, the

under voltage relay senses loss of voltage and starts up the
emergency generator. Similarly when the power is restored, the
relay stops the emergency generator.
Q112. If all your air bottles are at low pressure and there is a blackout
how do you start the generators?

If main air bottles are empty, the emergency air bottle can be used
to start the main generator. If even the emergency air bottle is
empty, then it can be filled by running emergency air compressor
(powered by emergency generator). Once the emergency air bottle
is filled, this air can be used to start the main generator.

Q113. What is a shaft generator?

A shaft generator is coupled to the main engine. It uses the main

engine as its prime mover and has a frequency converter (thyristor
controlled) that converts the variable engine speed to near constant
speed and produces electrical power. It can only be employed at
sea speed (full speed) and not at manoeuvring speed.

Q114. Even though the main engine runs at varying speeds, how does
The alternator maintains constant frequency?

By use of thyristor controlled frequency (rpm) converters.

Is the alternator connected star or delta

Look up in Dennis T Hall. Normally star.

Q115. Why is 440 V used for motors and 110/220 V used for lighting?

Motor load currents are large. Motors are 3-phase loads. A higher
440V voltage means lesser current for the same power and hence
losses and size of cable wires is lower. Lighting is single phase
loads and its load currents are small, hence lower voltage means
less insulation in the cable wires.

Q116. For a given line voltage, four heating coils will produce
Maximum heat when connected in-Parallel

Q117. The unit of absolute permittivity of a medium is-

Farad/ metre

Q118. The unit of electric intensity is-

 Volt/ metre
Q119. In practice, earth is chosen as a place of zero electric
potential because it-

Has almost constant potential

Q120. Current carried by each of the two long parallel conductors is
doubled. If their separation is also doubled , force between them is

Increase two fold

Q121. The direction of induced EMF can be found with the help of -

Lenz’s Law

Q122. Permanent magnets are generally made of-

Alnico alloys

Q123. The rate of rise of current through an inductive coil is

maximum-

At the start of the current flow

Q124. What is power factor? What are the ways to improve it?*

Ration of true power and apparent power. Using capacitors and

synchronous motors.

Q125. What is star / delta?*

In star VL = Ö3 VF
In delta VL = VF

Q126. Why is a capacitor used in single phase motors, fluorescent

tube lights and electronic circuits.*

To provide a 900 phase shift to the incoming supply necessary for

starting the motor.
To provide boost voltage for starting, power factor correction and to minimize
Radio interference. For stabilizing voltage, filtration and coupling.

Q127. What is a solenoid?*

 Single layered coil.

Q128. What is a photo cell?*

A cell whose resistance varies with intensity of light.

Q129. What is a magnetic pick-up?*

An electromagnet used as a speed or position sensor.

Q130. What is an electric tachometer?*

A generator producing voltage proportional to speed.

Q131. What is an overload relay?*

A safety trip for electrical equipment which carries over-rated

Current.

Q132. What is colour code of resistors, Please explain ?

Colours to denote value. In four band colour coding, the first band
indicates the first digit, the second band: the second digit and the
third band: the number of zeroes.
The values are as given below:
Black : 0, Brown : 1, Red : 2, Orange : 3, Yellow : 4, Blue : 5,
Green : 6, Violet : 7, Grey : 8, White : 9.

Q133. What is residual magnetism?*

Magnetic property remaining in a Ferro magnetic material after the

Removal of magnetizing force.

Q134. Explain what happens if a DC motor is fed with AC supply?

Motor will run at low speed, sparking at brushes, heat due to eddy
current will finally burn the motor.
Q135. What are the basic parts of a DC motor?*
 Rotor and stator, field poles, commutator, brushes, fan impeller,
bearing & housing, end covers and name plate.

Q136. What is the excitation methods used in an alternator?*

Rotary: Using rotating diode rectifiers, primary exciter and main

exciter.
Static: Excitation given by brushes and slip rings.

Q137. What are the parts of a brushless AC generator?

Yoke, armature, stator, rotor, primary exciter, main exciter, rotary

Diode rectifier assembly, impeller, bearing & housing, end cover,
Terminal block, AVR.

Q138. How can the direction of rotation of an AC motor be

Reversed?*

By interchanging any two supply lines.

Q139. What can be possible reasons for a motor failing to start?

No power , Fuse blown , Overload trip, contactor coil burnt ,

Contactors contacts bad, control circuit relay faulty, stop switch
open circuit and start switch does not operate, hold on contact
does not make and motor burnt.

Q140. What is meant by ‘Single Phasing’?*

When one supply is open circuit in a three phase motor.

Q141. Where a rotor is wound AC motor used?

For starting heavy torques, mostly used on portable machines and

Small winches.

Q142. What are the differences between synchronous and induction

motor?*
 Synchronous motor: Constant speed on all loads can be operated on
a wide range of power factors, not self starting, requires dc
excitation.
Induction Motor: Speed varies with load, operates on lagging power
factor, self starting, and no dc excitation required.

Q142. What is the specific gravity of electrolyte used in lead acid

battery?

1280 at full charge and 1180 at discharge.

Q143. Compare between lead acid and nickel-cadmium batteries?

Lead acid: Dilute H2SO4, spongy and PbSO2, low efficiency, 2 volt per
cell, less strong, requires more maintenance, less efficient wrt
temperature, discharges fast, low cost, problem of sulfation.
NiCad: KOH, Ni & Cd, high efficiency, 1.2V per cell, robust, less
maintenance, more efficient wrt temp difference, retains charge for
longer periods, expensive, no sulfation.

Q144. What is a current transformer and voltage transformer?*

Current transformers used for sensing load currents and as inputs to

indicating instruments.
Voltage transformers used for step-up / step-down voltages.

Q145. What are the safety precautions when working on electrical

equipments?

Switch off power, wear proper protective clothing, safety shoes,

Notice board : Do not switch on – Men at work, stand on rubber mat,
remove metal rings, watch bracelets, use proper insulated tools,
check power supply with voltmeter and double check the voltmeter
with known power supply, keep one person stand-by with proper
safety gears, inform authority and get proper work permit. In case of
electrical shock, give proper first aid, check heart beat and pulse.