I was reading some threads on electrical stuff and wonder if a few simple down to earth "lessons" (for the want of a better word) would be appropriate? If this is NOT appropriate please let me know.
One important rider must go in here,
if you need electrical work done on your caravan or RV, get a qualified electrician or auto electrician to do it. Do not ever attempt it yourself, this stuff is dangerous and can kill you!
Lesson 1.
Electricity and electronics are simply the study of a wee small beasty called an electron, which are the particles that wizz around, like planets in an atom. They are charged bodies and hold a negative charge, electrons are free to move about either in orbit, or when attracted by a positive influence or repelled by a negative influence. Protons and neutrons (the bits in the middle) can not move about. An atom is said to be in balance if there are the same amount of electrons as protons, an atom in mis balance, eg more protons than electrons, it is said to be an ion and the atom becomes a charged body.
Current: is the movement of free electrons (as found in conductors.. most metals etc) in an orderly fashion, that is under the influence of a potential difference (eg + one end and - the other) NOTE conductors (wire etc) have free electrons, insulators (plastic etc) do not have free electrons.
Voltage is the electrical pressure that, when hooked up to a conductor causes the current to flow. Also called a potential difference.
Resistance is the opposition to that flow OR electrons banging into other particles NOTE the current does not slow down resistance only determines the amount of current for a given voltage. Electrons are said to travel at the speed of light.
Next time, and if this is deemed appropriate by all, I will talk about the relationship between these three things.
Please let me know if you want this to happen.
Cheers
-- Edited by Crockie on Tuesday 23rd of December 2014 12:16:00 PM
Good idea Crockie - you may need to add in the rider that it perfectly legal and safe to do 12Vdc or 24Vdc electrical work yourself, but not 240Vac.
Regards
Phil,
I believe you doing something good here, like the big caution, and also the nice basic approach to help people understand just how simple it really is.
As you know the hard thing is not working out what to do, but working out how to do it safely. But at least once people have the basics they can do and have a sensible discussion with a tradie, and understand enough to know if what he is offering is what they need.
I am looking forward to the rest of the series, once you starting convincing those little beasties to do something useful.
Just to show how old I am ... and adding no real value ... sorry.
When I first learned DC electrical theory (in 1957), halfway through the year they introduced "Electron Theory' & we had to change from current flow (+ to -) to Electron flow (- to + external to the battery) and of course, change all our right hand rules to left hand rules.
Very confusing for a rather disinterested 15 year old trainee.
Of course in Semiconductor theory it was even more confusing with holes moving.
Sorry about digressing .... I too will look forward to your series. I just hope that the purists & assorted experts don't pounce.
ps.. One of my most enjoyable roles was as a Technical Instructor teaching all the basics to Technicians' Assistants over a 6 month full time course. I had to re-learn all the stuff that I slept through as a Trainee myself.
-- Edited by Cupie on Tuesday 23rd of December 2014 06:04:37 PM
Thanks for the encouragement guys. Yeah I was bought up on electron flow and had to change when I was teaching electricians to conventional flow. The only way I could explain triacs etc was to change their thinking. Moving holes is way too nebulous.
Have a great xmas
BTW I'm not too concerned about those guys, this basic stuff should bore the bejebus out of them. Either that or they won't understand it
-- Edited by Crockie on Tuesday 23rd of December 2014 07:48:42 PM
Thanks for the encouragement guys. Yeah I was bought up on electron flow and had to change when I was teaching electricians to conventional flow. The only way I could explain triacs etc was to change their thinking. Moving holes is way too nebulous.
Have a great xmas
BTW I'm not too concerned about those guys, this basic stuff should bore the bejebus out of them. Either that or they won't understand it
-- Edited by Crockie on Tuesday 23rd of December 2014 07:48:42 PM
HI Phil
HMmm
IN my earlier years of apprenticeship, mid 1940s, we where taught that electon flow was Neg to Pos,[As inside batterries,thermionic valves, etc [The anode got very hot due to electron bombardment] But Current flow, in a circuit, was POS to NEG,[due to early misunderstanding perhaps Mr Ampere?]
Of course we were also taugth,in the early40s Physics, that the ATOM was the smallest indivisable particle of matter & all hell would break loose if one was split [chain reaction]
PeterQ
-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Tuesday 23rd of December 2014 11:51:07 PM
-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Wednesday 24th of December 2014 12:34:20 PM
Thanks PeterQ, yeah its a very confusing thing that in the early days of electrical understanding they guessed the wrong direction (conventional) then, as you know, some bright spark discovered sub atomic particles and bingo we had electron flow. Luckily I was bought up on that till I started training electricians, then I had to get my head around conventional flow.
However, for the purpose of a simple frill free look at electrical and electronics I think we leave these theories well alone, it will confuse people no end.
Have a great xmas Peter, we may have been protagonists in a past life but I respect what you have to offer. I humbly ask your forgiveness for past misdeeds, and look to 2015 where we can both be of benefit to this forum.
Thanks PeterQ, yeah its a very confusing thing that in the early days of electrical understanding they guessed the wrong direction (conventional) then, as you know, some bright spark discovered sub atomic particles and bingo we had electron flow. Luckily I was bought up on that till I started training electricians, then I had to get my head around conventional flow.
However, for the purpose of a simple frill free look at electrical and electronics I think we leave these theories well alone, it will confuse people no end.
Have a great xmas Peter, we may have been protagonists in a past life but I respect what you have to offer. I humbly ask your forgiveness for past misdeeds, and look to 2015 where we can both be of benefit to this forum.
Hi Phil
No hard feelings on my side
You have done nothing that I need to forgive.
I did not understand that you had a mental health problem, but having been there some years ago,I know understand how you fealt
I do hope & wish that we can work together for the benifit of all members
Naturally, just like Drs & many profesionals we may not always agree, but if we both look at the other's point of view, we should be able to have a sensible "discussion'
Thanks PeterQ, yeah its a very confusing thing that in the early days of electrical understanding they guessed the wrong direction (conventional) then, as you know, some bright spark discovered sub atomic particles and bingo we had electron flow. Luckily I was bought up on that till I started training electricians, then I had to get my head around conventional flow.
However, for the purpose of a simple frill free look at electrical and electronics I think we leave these theories well alone, it will confuse people no end.
Have a great xmas Peter, we may have been protagonists in a past life but I respect what you have to offer. I humbly ask your forgiveness for past misdeeds, and look to 2015 where we can both be of benefit to this forum.
Hi Phil
No hard feelings on my side
You have done nothing that I need to forgive.
I did not understand that you had a mental health problem, but having been there some years ago,I know understand how you fealt
I do hope & wish that we can work together for the benifit of all members
Naturally, just like Drs & many profesionals we may not always agree, but if we both look at the other's point of view, we should be able to have a sensible "discussion'
We both may have something to learn
Wishing you a very MERRY XMAS & a great 2015
Best regards
PeterQ
Thank you Peter, what you have said means a great deal to me.
