Most of what electrical engineers do has some math involved, says Jim Clousten, the senior engineer for the Southern Interior region of B.C. Hydro.

"I use math for power calculations, figuring out the load on circuits, and determining several factors involved in a power system," he says. The simplest calculations may be completed with a calculator, while computer programs are used in more complex situations.

Clousten also uses math to calculate "fault levels." In a house, the fault level is the level at which a breaker "blows." (A breaker "blows" when it automatically turns off because of a circuit problem.)

Another item used to control the possible excessive flow of electricity is a fuse. A fuse is connected directly into an electrical circuit. If the current surges to a dangerous level, the thin metal wire in the fuse melts. This breaks the circuit, thereby preventing the wires from overheating, which may cause a fire. For safety reasons, a breaker or fuse of greater capacity than that specified for a particular circuit should never be used.

The prospect of electrical surges and fire must also be considered in commercial and industrial settings, especially when large amounts of electrical energy are being supplied to customers.

In pairs, list the electrical "plug-in" appliances and devices that are commonly found in a home. Note whether you think they would be heavy, medium or low-power devices. Next, compare your list with the attached results from a survey of home electrical equipment. Any particular observations?

• How do you check the power and current ratings of an electrical device?
• How many outlets and/or lights may be joined as part of one circuit?
• How are houses equipped to monitor the safety level of circuits?
• How much power is commonly available for basic home use?

Exchange your answers with another pair in the class. Any questions? You may like to invite an electrical engineer, or an electrical expert from the city hall inspection department, to visit your classroom.

Principles Section A:

In any electrical work, you must be concerned with the safety of the circuit. Therefore, the amount of power in the circuit has to be balanced with the current and other particulars of the wiring system.

Imagine that you're the person in charge of determining the amount of power required for a small housing development to be built in your area. The power will be supplied from a special source called a transformer. The transformer will be situated on a tall power pole, or in a well-protected box to be mounted on a ground-level concrete pad.

The subdivision has 13 lots. Ten properties are to receive 200 amp/120 volt service, and three will receive 400 amp/120 volt service. The latter properties require a different level of service because of equipment that's going to be used in those homes.

The transformer is a special piece of equipment that controls the ratio of current to voltage in an electrical system. Its size must be determined for the supply of electricity to the subdivision.

To calculate the amount of basic load that the transformer is required to provide for the small housing development, use the following formula:

watts = amps x volts
W = A x V

Therefore, if there are 10 properties with 200 amp/120 volt services, then the total power needed is:

200 x 120 x 10 = 240,000 watts

To convert large numbers of watts into more manageable terms, divide by 1,000. This creates a measure of kilowatts, with the symbol kW.

240,000 W / 1,000 = 240 kW

Now, calculate the amount of power needed to supply the three houses using 400 amp/120 volt service. Convert your answer to kilowatts.

What is the total power required for all 13 houses in the subdivision?

Check your answers against the solution for Principles Section A below.

Principles Section B:

While houses and small businesses normally utilize standard "single-phase" electricity, electrical power companies (or utility companies as they are often called), may supply power to transformers through what is called "three-phase" lines. (These different electrical systems can be studied in more depth during your science courses.)

The power in a three-phase system is measured in volt-amps. The formula used to evaluate such power is:

Volt-amps = Sq. root of 3 x voltage (volts) x current (amperes)

Any fuse that is put in the electrical system to prevent problems, even in a transformer, must be able to handle the amps flowing from the transformer at full load.

A large shopping mall is being built in your community. The developers have decided to install their own 1,000,000 volt-amp transformer to supply the mall's power. Your utility company will provide 25,000 volts from your service lines to the mall's transformer. You have a choice of using one of three fuses: 20, 23 or 25 amp. Which one should you use?

Check your answer against the solution for Principles Section B below.

Rob Maschek of West Kootenay Power says the company supplies electricity to the following businesses, each having its own transformer.

• 775,000 volt-amps -- for a wholesale warehouse distributor
• 2.5 million volt-amps -- for a super-sized shopping mall
• 4.0 million volt-amps -- for a truck manufacturing plant

If the power supplied from the service lines is rated at 12,470 volts, what size fuse should each business use to protect itself from receiving too much current? Use the power (volt-amp) formula to calculate the solutions.

Check your answers against the solution for Learn Section below.

Determine the current (amps) or watt values for each of the appliances listed in the survey of home electrical equipment. Take note of the electrical service provided for the house at the top of the page. Use the formula: watts = volts x amps.

How many of the appliances or devices have less than a 15 amp current rating? Which ones have a 30 amp, 40 amp, or even larger amperage rating? Is it possible to have several devices on the same circuit, as long as the 15 amp capacity of a breaker is not reached? What would happen if you did overstep a 15 amp level of current?

You have eight strings of Christmas lights, each with 25 bulbs of 7 watt rating. If you put them together on one circuit in your house, which has a 120 volt service, will you "blow" a 15 amp breaker when they are turned on?

If the same Christmas lights are left on for five hours each night for 20 days, at a cost of 5.97 cents per kilowatt/hour (kW-h), how much will your power bill increase in the month of December?

How much will it cost per year to operate an electric clock with a 6 watt rating, at a cost of 5.177 cents per kW-h?

Additional activities

• For a fun project, using square grid paper and an appropriate scale, try to design one of the following for homework!
  • a small subdivision
  • a small commercial center
  • a medium-sized industrial area
  • any other useful development for your community that would use electricity on a consistent basis

  After a visit by an electrical expert, a field trip to an appropriate electrical supply station, or maybe even a visit to the electrical center for your school, and after researching the three-phase voltage provided in your area; calculate the amount of power required to service your development.

  What size of fuses or breakers (relative to current), are required for your proposed design?

• Discuss: North Americans tend to use more energy per person than people in most other countries. How could we be more energy efficient, particularly in our homes?

• Discuss: Given the unfortunate electric power problems in parts of the North East in January 1998, discuss with your class some possible concerns power companies may have in terms of changing the way electricity is supplied to customers.

    Electrical Equipment in a Home
       200 amp/120 volt service


General Equipment          Watts.       Amps.
Refrigerator               _____         9.5
Washer                     _____         9.0
Dishwasher                 _____         9.5
Microwave oven             _____        12.0
Clothes dryer              _____        25.0
Hot Water tank             6,000        _____
Range/Oven                13,100        _____
Furnace                    _____        112.0

Garage
Soldering iron             _____         1.2
Hand drill                 _____         2.1
Small freezer              _____         2.6
Jig saw                    _____         3.0
Circular saw               _____        11.0
5 x 100 W bulbs            _____        _____

Kitchen
Can opener                 _____         1.5
Mixer                        400        _____
Toaster                      800        _____
Coffee maker                1200        _____
Popcorn maker               1240        _____

Bathrooms: (2 1/2)
8 x 60 W bulbs             _____        _____
6 x 60 W bulbs             _____        _____
3 fans at 1.2 amps          _____        _____
Hair dryer                  1400        _____

Lighting
Ceiling lights 18x75 W      _____        _____
Track lights 6x75 W         _____        _____
Fluorescent  3x93 W         _____        _____
Table lamps  4x150 W        _____        _____
Desk lamps   2x60 W         _____        _____
Pole lamps
2x60 W                      _____        _____
1x150 W                     _____        _____
Regular
5x100 W                     _____        _____
4x 60 W                     _____        _____
Driveway
4x 40 W                     _____        _____
2x 60 W                     _____        _____
Christmas lights
8 strings x 25 x 7 W       _____        _____

Other
Computer                   _____         2.5
Monitor                    _____         1.6
Scanner                    _____         1.5
Laser printer              _____         6.5
Clothes iron               1000         _____
Vacuum cleaner             _____         9.6
Amplifier                  _____         1.6
CD Player                    15         _____
Portable Stereo              16         _____
VCR                          17         _____
TV                          150         _____
Water sprinkler Units
2 x .25 amps                _____        _____
Electric clocks: 3x6 W      _____        _____


Number of appliances with less than 15 amp current rating: _____
Number of appliances with approx. 30 amp current rating: _____
Number of appliances with approx. 40 amp current rating: _____
Equipment with largest amperage rating: ______________________

Cost for the Christmas lights during December: $__________
Cost per year to run the electric clock: $__________
                        

Published in Partnership by the Center for Applied Academics, Bridges Transitions Inc., a Xap Corporation company and The B.C. Ministry of Education, Skills and Training. Copyright © 2002 Center for Applied Academics