RE 112 BASIC ELECTRICAL

ENGINEERING

Lecture 1
Course Description
This course aims to introduce student to the basic principles of
electrical engineering and electrical machines such as motors and
generators. The course therefore focuses on the basic circuit theory,
power circuit and electrical motor.
Objectives:
To introduce the students the basic principles of electrical engineering
To introduce the students the basic principles of electrical engineering
machines and electrical engineering industrial installations

Course Learning Outcomes:

After studying this unit, students should be able to:
State and familiarize in general the basic principles governing
electrical circuits
Show basic understanding of industrial power installations
Clearly demonstrate the understanding of electric motors
Course Contents:
Basic Circuit Theory: Resistance, Capacitance, Inductance, Power and
Energy. DC Circuit Theory - Kirchoff's Laws, Thevenin's Theorem,
Norton's Theorem, Superposition, AC Circuit Theory - Phasor Diagrams,
Resonance. Transients in DC circuits.

Power Circuits: Power Factor. Electricity Tariffs. Three Phase Circuits.

Transformers - equivalent circuit.
Installation: Industrial installations, switches, earthling, protection
devices.
Electric Motors: DC motors - equivalent circuit, series and shunt
connection, separately excited, torque-speed curves, starting. Induction
and synchronous motors equivalent circuit, torque-speed curves,
starting. Characteristics of a.c. motors.
 Basic Electric Circuit Concepts

What is electricity?

One might define electricity as the separation of positive and

negative electric charge.
When the charges are separated and stationary we call this
static electricity. The charging of a capacitor is an example.

The separation of charge between clouds and the earth before

a lighting discharge is a static electricity.

When the charges are in motion (changing with time relative

to one another) we have variable electricity.
 Charge and Current

The entity, charge, is expressed as Q or q. If the charge is constant

we use Q. If the charge is in motion we use q(t) or q.

According to fundamental laws, charge cannot be either created

or destroyed, only transferred from one point to another.
Electric Current
 Basic Quantities: Current

The unit of current is the ampere (A). We note that

1 ampere = 1 coulomb/second

We normally refer to current as being either direct (dc) or

alternating (ac).

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

i(t) i(t) 0

-0.2

-0.4

-0.6

t -0.8 t
-1 ac current
dc current 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5

ac current
 Basic Quantities: Current
In solving for current in a circuit, we must assume a direction, solve
for the current, then reconcile our answer. This is illustrated below.

I
=
4
A
1I
=
-
3
2A

C
i
r
c
u
i
t
1 C
i
r
c
u
i
t
2

(
a
)(
b
)

In the diagram above, current I1 is actually 4 A as assumed. The

actual positive direction of current I2 (equal to -3 A) in the opposite
direction of the arrow for I2.
 Electric Current

• The charge transferred between time t0 and t

t
q =  idt
to
Voltage
 Basic Quantities: Voltage

Voltage is also called an electromotive force (emf).

It is also called potential (coming from the expression, “potential
energy.” However, voltage is not energy.)

Suppose one coulomb of charge is located at point b and one joule

of energy is required to move the charge to point a. Then we say
that Vab = 1 volt = 1 joule/coulomb = 1 newton.meter/coulomb.

Vab = 1 volt states that the potential of point a (voltage at point a)

is l volt (positive) with respect to point b.

The sign associated with a voltage is also called its polarity.

 Basic Electric Circuit Concepts
Basic Quantities: Voltage

As in the case for current, we must assume a positive direction

(polarity) for the voltage. Consider the three diagrams below.

+ .
a

v=4v vab = 4 v v=4v

(a)
-

(b)
.
b

(c)

Each of the above gives the same information.

6
 Basic Quantities: Voltage

We need to keep in mind that we assume a polarity for the voltage.

When we solve the circuit for the voltage, we may find that the actual
polarity is not the polarity we assumed.

The negative sign for 6 v

+
indicates that if the red lead of a
voltmeter is placed on + terminal
v = -6 v and the black lead on the – terminal
the meter will read downscale or –6v.
-
A digital meter would read –6 v.
What would an analog meter do?

7
 Basic Quantities: Voltage

In summary, we should remember that,

w
v= (2)
q
This can be expressed in differential form as,

dw
v= (3)
dq
w: energy in joules q: charge in coulombs
Power
 Basic Quantities: Power

Power is defined as the time rate of change of doing work. We

express this as,

dw
p= (3)
dt

We can write equation (3) as follows:

dw dq (4)
p= = vi
dq dt

Power has units of watts.

 Basic Quantities: Power

In any closed electric circuit, power is both supplied and absorbed.

The amount that is supplied must be equal to the amount that is
absorbed.

Stated another way, we can say that the law of conversation of

energy must hold. Therefore, in any electric circuit the algebraic
sum of the power must be zero.

 p=0 (5)

10
 Basic Quantities: Power and Energy
When we pay our electric bills we pay for (watt)(hours) but
because this is such as large number we usually think kWH.
Cost of 1 kWH is approx. 373 TShs.

profile of the power you use during a day may be as shown below.

The energy we pay for is the area under the power-time curve.
t t
w =  pdt = t vidt (6)
to o
 Basic Quantities: Power

We adopt a passive sign convention in order to define the sign of

supplied power and the sign of absorbed power. Consider the following.

+ +

source vs load
vL
_ _

Power supplied: If the assumed direction of the current leaves

the assumed positive polarity of the voltage, power is supplied.
Power absorbed: If the assumed direction of the current enters
the assumed positive polarity of the voltage, power is absorbe d.
 Basic Electric Circuit Concepts
Basic Quantities: Power
We consider the following examples:

I=4A I=4A I=4A I=4A

_ _
+ +

v=5v v=5v v=5v v=5v

+ - +

(a) P = 20W (b) P = 20W (c) P = -20W (d) P = -20W

absorbed absorbed absorbed absorbed

14
Energy
Passive Sign Convention
PSC: Example II
 Basic Electric Circuit Concepts
Circuit Elements:
We classify circuit elements as passive and active.

Passive elements cannot generate energy. Common examples of

passive elements are resistors, capacitors and inductors. We will
see later that capacitors and inductors can store energy but cannot
generate energy.

Active elements can generate energy. Common examples of active

elements are power supplies, batteries, operational amplifiers.
 The types of sources
Circuit Elements: Ideal independent voltage source
An ideal dependent voltage source is characterized as having a
constant voltage across its terminals, regardless of the load
connected to the terminals.

The ideal voltage source can supply any amount of current.

Furthermore, the ideal independent voltage source can supply any
amount of power. The standard symbols of the ideal independent
voltage source are shown below.

Most often
Sometimes
v(t) +
_ used E used

16
 Circuit Elements: Ideal independent current sources

An ideal independent current source is characterized as

providing a constant value of current, regardless of the load.

If the current source is truly ideal, it can provided any value

of voltage and any amount of power.

The standard symbol used for the ideal independent current

source is shown below.

i(t) 1 amp V 1 meg 

-

V=?

17
 Basic Electric Circuit Concepts
Circuit Elements: Dependent voltage source

A dependent voltage source is characterized by depending on

a voltage or current somewhere else in the circuit. The symbol
For the current source is shown below. Note the diamond shape.

A circuit containing a dependent voltage source is shown below.

10  20 

Iy
30 
A circuit with a current
+_ 1 0 Iy 12  controlled dependent
5 V
voltage source.
19
 Basic Electric Circuit Concepts
Circuit Elements: Dependent current source
A dependent current source is characterized by depending on
a voltage or current somewhere else in the circuit. The symbol
for a dependent current source is shown as follows:

A circuit containing a dependent current source is shown below.

10  20 

30 

+_
+ A circuit with a voltage
5 V 4vx vx 12 
_ controlled dependent
20 current source
 Basic Electric Circuit Concepts
Current, Charge Examples:
Background:

We have seen that,

dq
i (t ) = (7)
dt
It follows that,

t
q (t ) =  i (t )dt + q (0) (8)

21
 Basic Electric Circuit Concepts
Current, Charge Examples:
Find the current in a element if the charge flowing through
the element is q(t) = 3t3 + 6t2 +8t –4.

dq d (3t + 6t + 8t − 4)
3 2
i (t ) = =
dt dt
It follows that,

i (t ) = 9t + 12t + 8
2

22
 Basic Electric Circuit Concepts
Current, Charge Examples:
If the current in an electrical device is given by,

i(t) = 2t + 4
With q(0) = 1.5 C

Find the charge flowing through the device.

From Eq. (8) we have,

t t
q (t ) =  i (t )dt + q (0) =  (2t + 4)dt +1.5
0 0

q(t ) = t 2 + 4t + 1.5
23
 Basic Electric Circuit Concepts
Power Balance Examples:
You are given the circuit shown below.
8V _
20 V _
+ +

2A

_
+_ 0.5Ix 4V
24 V _ +

Ix = 4 A

(a) Calculate the power supplied by each device.

(b) Show that the  p = 0

(c) Verify that Psup = Pabs = 104 W

 Basic Electric Circuit Concepts
Power Balance Examples:

Psup24 = 24 x 4 = 96w; Psup8v = − 4 x8 = − 32 w

Psup0.5 I = − 2 w; Psup20 v = − 40 w
x

Psup4 v = 8 w

 Psup = 0
Basic Laws

Resistance
Resistance
Resistors & Passive Sign Convention
Other Eq. derived from Ohm’s Law
Example: Ohm’s Law
Short Circuit as Zero Resistance
Short Circuit as Voltage Source (0V)
Open Circuit
Open Circuit as Current Source (0 A)
Conductance
 Resistors on PCB

Resistors
(axial components
with color bands
 Resistor with Different Power Ratings

Examples:

2 Watts

1 Watt

1 Watt

0.5 Watt

0.25 Watt

0.25 Watt
The size indicates the power rating, NOT the resistance value
Resistor Symbol
Circuit Building Blocks
Branches
Nodes
Loops
 Resistors in Series
• A single loop circuit is one which has only a
single loop.
• The same current flows through each element
of the circuit - the elements are in series.
 Resistors in Series
Two elements are in series if the current that
flows through one must also flow through the
other.

Series
R1 R2
 Resistors in Series
Consider two resistors in series with a voltage
v(t) across them:
Voltage division:
i(t)
R1
+ +
v1 (t ) = v(t )
R1 v1(t) R1 + R2
- R2
v(t) + v2 (t ) = v(t )
R2 R1 + R2
𝑅2
- - 𝑣2 (𝑡) = 𝑣(𝑡)
𝑅1 + 𝑅2
 Resistors in Series
• If we wish to replace the two series resistors
with a single equivalent resistor whose voltage-
current relationship is the same, the equivalent
resistor has a value given by

𝑅𝑒𝑞 = 𝑅1 + 𝑅2
Req = R1 + R2
 Resistors in Series
• For N resistors in series, the equivalent resistor
has a value given by

R1
R2 Req
R3

𝑅𝑒𝑞 = 𝑅1 + 𝑅2 + 𝑅3 + ⋯ + 𝑅𝑁
Req = R1 + R2 + R3 +  + RN
 Resistors in Parallel
• When the terminals of two or more circuit
elements are connected to the same two
nodes, the circuit elements are said to be in
parallel.
 Resistors in Parallel
Consider two resistors in parallel with a voltage
v(t) across them:
Current division:
i(t) 𝑅2
𝑖1 (𝑡) = 𝑖(𝑡)
R2
𝑅1 + 𝑅2
+
i1(t) i2(t) i1 (t ) = i (t )
R1 + R2
𝑅1
v(t) R1 R2 𝑖2(𝑡) = 𝑖(𝑡)
𝑅1 + 𝑅2

-
 Resistors in Parallel
• If we wish to replace the two parallel resistors
with a single equivalent resistor whose voltage-
current relationship is the same, the equivalent
resistor has a value given by

𝑅1 𝑅2
𝑅𝑒𝑞 =
𝑅1 + 𝑅2
 Resistors in Parallel
• For N resistors in parallel, the equivalent
resistor has a value given by

R1 R2 R3 Req

1
𝑅𝑒𝑞 =
1 1 1 1
+ + +⋯+
𝑅1 𝑅2 𝑅3 𝑅𝑁
Resistors in Series