Electric Power: DefinitionThe rate at which work is done in an electric circuit is known as electric power. In other words, the energy used per unit time in an electric circuit is called as electric power.Electric Power: FormulaAs, the electric power is the rate of doing work in an electric circuit, thus, $$\mathrm{Electric\:power, P=\frac{Work\:done\:in\:elecric\:circuit(W)}{Time(t)}}$$Consider an electric circuit shown below. An electric current flows in the circuit, when a voltage is applied to it. So, work is being done in moving the charge (electrons) in the circuit. This work done in moving the charge per unit time is known as electric ... Read More

A voltmeter is a measuring instrument which is used to measure voltage across the two terminals in an electrical circuit.A voltmeter has a very high resistance and it is design in such a way that when connected in parallel to circuit for measuring voltage it does not take appreciable current, so that power consumed is small.Voltmeter – Working PrincipleWhen a voltmeter is connected in parallel to a circuit element (load), across which the voltage is being measured. Since the voltmeter has a very high resistance, therefore the combination will have almost same impedance that of the load. As we known, ... Read More

Star (Wye) Connected SystemLet VR, VY and VB represents the three phase voltages while VRY, VYB and VBR represents the line voltages. Assume that the system is balanced, so$$\mathrm{\lvert\:V_{R}\rvert=\lvert\:V_{Y}\rvert=\lvert\:V_{B}\rvert=\lvert\:V_{ph}\rvert}$$From the circuit and phasor diagram of star connected load, it can be observed that the line voltage VRY is a vector difference of VR and VY or the vector sum of VR and –VY, i.e.$$\mathrm{V_{RY}=V_{R}+(-V_{Y})=V_{R}-V_{Y}}$$Applying parallelogram law to obtain the magnitude of this, we get, $$\mathrm{V_{RY}=\sqrt{V_R^2+V_Y^2+2V_RV_{Y}\cos\:60^{\circ}}}$$$$\mathrm{\Rightarrow\:V_{RY}=\sqrt{V_{ph}^2+V_{ph}^2+2V_{ph}^2\cos\:60^{\circ}}=\sqrt{3}V_{ph}}$$Similarly, $$\mathrm{V_{YB}=V_{Y}-V_{B}=\sqrt{3}V_{ph}}$$$$\mathrm{V_{BR}=V_{B}-V_{R}=\sqrt{3}V_{ph}}$$$$\mathrm{\because\:V_{RY}=V_{YB}=V_{BR}=V_{L}=Line\:Voltage}$$$$\mathrm{\therefore\:V_{L}=\sqrt{3}V_{ph}}$$Therefore, in a star connected system, Line Voltage = √3 × Phase VoltageAgain, refer the circuit of star connected system, it can be seen that ... Read More

Depending on the applications and switching methods, the solid state relays (SSRs) are of following types −Instant ON Solid State RelayZero Switching Solid State RelayPeak Switching Solid State RelayAnalog Switching Solid State RelayInstant ON SSRsThe instant ON SSR instantly switches on the load circuit when a sufficient input voltage is applied. It turns off when the input voltage is removed and the load current crosses the next zero. The instant ON SSRs are designed to control the inductive loads. The practical applications are in switching of contactors, magnetic valves, starters etc.Zero Switching SSRsA zero switching SSR switches on when an ... Read More

The magnetic reluctance (S) is defined as the opposition offered by the magnetic circuit to the magnetic flux (ΦMagnetic Reluctance FormulaCase 1 – When physical dimensions of the magnetic circuit are knownThe reluctance of a magnetic circuit depends upon its length (l), cross-sectional area (a) and permeability (μ) of the material. Thus, for a magnetic circuit (as shown in the figure), The reluctance is directly proportional to the mean length of the magnetic circuit, i.e.$$\mathrm{Magnetic\:reluctance, S\varpropto\:l\:\:\:\:....(1)}$$The reluctance is inversely proportional to the cross-sectional area of the mag. circuit.$$\mathrm{Magnetic\:reluctance, S\varpropto\:\frac{1}{a}\:\:\:\:....(2)}$$The reluctance also depends upon the nature of material that makes up ... Read More

Electric PowerElectric power is defined as the rate of doing work in an electric circuit. In other words, the electrical power is the energy expanded per unit time in an electric circuit, i.e.Electric Power, $$\mathrm{p=\frac{Work\:Done}{Time}\:\:\:\:...(1)}$$The electrical power is measured in watts (W).Three Phase Electric PowerAs the single phase instantaneous power (for lagging load) is given by, $$\mathrm{p=\frac{V_{m}I_{m}}{2}\cos\varphi-\frac{V_{m}I_{m}}{2}\cos(2\omega\:t-\varphi)}$$If the RMS values of voltage and currents are V and I respectively, then$$\mathrm{p=VI\cos\varphi-VI\cos(2\omega\:t-\varphi)\:\:\:\:...(2)}$$Now, consider a balanced three phase system, then the above expression can be applied for each phase of the three phases of the three-phase system. Therefore, the instantaneous power in three phases ... Read More

A solid state relay circuit has following main components −Input Circuit ComponentsControl Circuit ComponentsOutput Circuit ComponentsInput Circuit ComponentsThe input circuit of solid state relay (SSR) is part to which the control circuit is connected and the control voltage is applied to this circuit. The input circuit of SSR performs the same function as the coil of an electromechanical relay. The input control voltage of a solid state relay is controlled by means of mechanical switches, transistors, logic gates, low-voltage signals etc. The input circuit is activated by applying an input control voltage to the SSR that being higher than the ... Read More

A relay is nothing but an electrically operated switch. To switch power on and off, a relay requires a low power electrical signal. Therefore, a relay is an automatically operated switch that uses low power electrical signal to control a high power electrical signal.Electromechanical Relay (EMR)As the name implies, an electromechanical relay is one that uses physically moving contact to control the flow of power in the output circuit. The movement of moving contact is generated using electromagnetic forces created by a low power input signal to the relay, which allowing the completion of the circuit that contains high power ... Read More

The resistances that range from about 1Ω to about 100 kΩ are classified as medium resistances. The resistances of most of electrical apparatus are the examples of medium resistances.Measurement of Medium ResistancesTo measure the medium resistances following methods are used −Ammeter-Voltmeter MethodSubstitution MethodWheatstone BridgeCarey-Foster Slide-Wire Bridge Method.Ammeter-Voltmeter MethodIn this method, current through the unknown resistor (Rx) and the potential drop across it are simultaneously measured. The readings are obtained by ammeter and voltmeters respectively. There are two ways in ammeter and voltmeters may be connected for measurement as, Case 1 – When voltmeter is directly connected across the resistor, then the ammeter ... Read More

The resistances of the values of less than or equal to 1 Ω are classified as low resistances. For example, the resistances of armatures and series windings of large machines, ammeter shunts, contacts, etc.Measurement of Low ResistancesFor the measurement of low resistances, the following methods are used −Ammeter-Voltmeter MethodPotentiometer MethodKelvin Double Bridge MethodAmmeter – Voltmeter MethodIn this method, current through the unknown resistor (Rx) and the potential drop across it are simultaneously measured. The readings are obtained by ammeter and voltmeters respectively. There are two ways in ammeter and voltmeters may be connected for measurement as, Case 1 – When voltmeter ... Read More