Area 9 CTE Regional Planning Partnership

Introduction to Electricity

Lesson Description

What is electricity? Many people have difficulty answering this question. In fact, electricity is a diverse field – there are many disciplines within electricity that can involve the application of a very different body of knowledge and skills. The activities that will be used in this module will cover many things an electrician may do in day-to-day work. What we would like to give you is a foundation of materials that may help you to select an electrician as a potential career.

Standards Emphasized in this Unit:

Standard 13.1 Recognize safe working practices in the construction envirment

Standard 13.2 Explain the purpose of OSHA and how it promotes safety on the job.

Standard 14.2 Explain the grounding requirements of a residential electric service.

Standard 14.4 Select the proper wiring methods for various types of residences.

Standard 14.7 Explain the purpose of ground fault circuit interrupters and tell where they must be installed.

Standard 14.8 Size outlet boxes and select the proper type for different wiring methods.

Standard 14.12 Describe the installation and control of lighting fixtures.

Basics Power Point Presentation

Lesson Schedule

Day one: Talk and discuss how electricity is made, and demonstrate how it works.

Using a bucket of water, funnel, and piece of pipe, (can be a visual or actual)

- - gravity of water is the force - voltage.
  - water is the current
  - size of pipe will determine the resistance in the circuit.

Talk about Ohms Law

How all calculations are made using Amps/ Watts / Volts

- - I = Amps
  - P = Watts
  - E = Volts

Day two: Review Ohms Law

- Worksheet on using Ohms Law and calculations

Day three:

- Review Ohms Law calculations
- Selecting proper (Romex) wire size
- Material Identifications
  - one gang box
  - single pole switch
  - wire nuts
  - etc.

Days four - seven: Basic Wiring Activities

Activities: Videos showing the activities done hands-on

Day one:

Talk and discuss how electricity is made, and demonstrate how it works.

Using a bucket of water, funnel, and piece of pipe, (can be a visual or actual)

- - gravity of water is the force - voltage.
  - water is the current
  - amount of water used is the wattage

Day one:

- How all calculations are made using Amps/ Watts / Volts
  - I = Amps
  - P = Power rated in Watts
  - E = Volts

Day two:

- Worksheet on using Ohms Law and calculations

Day three: Sizing Wire

Selecting proper (Romex) wire size

- 2 and 3 wire
- 14/2 - white
- 14/3 - white
- 12/2 - yellow
- 12/3 - yellow
- 10/2 - orange
- 10/3 - orange

Day three: Material Identification

Handy box for surface mounting
one gang gang-able box with clamps and ears for mounting in a wall
one gang plastic nail/on for placement in stud wall
switches
keyless lamp holder

Handy box for surface mounting. This is metal box communally used in surface mounting a switch or receptacle.

One gang plastic nail/on for placement in stud wall

One gang gang-able box with clamps and ears for mounting in a wall or on a stud wall. This box can be ganged together with multiple boxes to make a 2 gang, 3 gang, 4 gang etc.