GCSE Science/Safety in Mains circuits
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Mains electricity is potentially dangerous. There are, however, safety features included in plugs. This module looks at how to correctly wire a plug.
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[edit] The three pin plug
Nowadays most appliances are sold with moulded plugs already fitted. Nevertheless, it is still important to understand the correct wiring of a plug because enough of the old plugs still exist. It is also the case when you bring in equipments overseas. British Standard compliant adaptors are not always available for such non-UK plugs. You are very likely to need to change a plug at some time in your life. In the UK mains electricity is 230V. (In Hong Kong, it is 220V.) If you were to touch the live wire a current would flow through your body to the ground. This current may be enough to kill you.
The cable from the appliance usually consist of three wires. The wires are made of copper surrounded by a plastic sheath. The sheath is made of plastic and is coloured:
- The live wire is brown
- The neutral wire is blue
- The earth wire is green and yellow
The three wires are covered by an outer sheath made of plastic.
Q1) Use you knowledge of insulators and conductors to explain
- Why the wires are insulated.
- Why the sheaths are made of plastic.
The plug has the following features:
- A cable grip, to grip the outer sheath of cable and prevent it being pulled out of the plug
- Three pins made of brass, one of which is the earth pin.
- A fuse.
- A case made of plastic.
Q2) Why are the pins made of brass and why is the case plastic?
[edit] The purpose of the parts of a plug
[edit] The live and neutral wires
The live and neutral wires carry the current around the circuit. Mains current is A.C. (alternating current); this means that it is going backward and forwards in cycles (clockwise and anticlockwise around the circuit). The frequency of the cycle is 50 hertz (50 times per second). This cycling of current is achieved by varying the voltage on the live wire from about +325V to -325V and back again. The effective value of the voltage - also known the RMS value - is about 230V. The voltage on the neutral wire does not vary. It stays close to zero (hence the term neutral). In contrast the voltage of a battery does not cycle. It says constant. This is known as D.C. (Direct Current.)
[edit] The Earth Wire
This wire is there to protect you. Many appliances have metal cases e.g. kettles, toasters, dishwashers and washing machines. If the live wire were to become loose inside the appliance and touch the case the whole case would become live. If you were then to touch it a current would flow through you to the earth. The earth wire is just a wire connected to the case of the appliance. It goes down the flex into the socket. Inside the wiring of your house it travels down to the earth through the earthing system (not necessarily plumbing). If the live wire were to touch the case a huge current would flow through the earth wire. This would probably blow the fuse and break the circuit (see next section) but even if the fuse doesn't blow the current would still prefer to flow through a wire with low resistance than a high resistance human body.
The earth pin on a plug is longer than the live and neutral pins. This ensures that the earth pin always connects with the socket first.
[edit] The fuse
A fuse is simply a very thin wire. The wire has a quite low melting point. As current flows through the wire it heats up. If too large a current flows it melts, breaking the circuit. Fuses are used to protect appliances. If too large a current flows through an appliance it may damage it. Fuses are unlikely to act quickly enough to prevent human electrocution – their main purpose is to prevent fires due to large currents.
Fuses are rated according to how much current they can carry before melting. In plugs fuses are usually 3A (red), 5A (black), or 13A (brown). The correct fuse for an appliance is one that is just above the normal working current for that appliance.
All plug fuses must comply to British Standard BS1362. The rating and "BS1362" should be explicitly marked on such fuses.
Q4) A table lamp usually carries a current of 0.5A. What fuse should be put in the plug: 3A, 5A, or 13A?
Q5) An iron usually carries a current of 5.2A. What fuse should be put in the plug: 3A, 5A, or 13A?
Q6) A kettle is protected by an earth wire and a 13A fuse. The live wire comes loose and touches the side of the kettle. The fuse blows. Explain why.
Q7) Explain why the fuse is always located on the live wire and not the neutral wire?
Q8) Describe and Explain what happens in the following scenarios:
a) The earth and live wire switch terminals on the plug
b) The Live and neutral wire switch terminals on the plug
c) The neutral and earth wire switch terminals on the plug
d) When the earth wire is removed
| Summary |
| The live wire is brown, and has A.C. voltage of 230V The neutral wire is blue and has A.C. voltage of approximately zero. |
