Measurement

Current

  • Current I - Rate of charge flow.

V = Support for current

  • Potential difference V. Units: Volts
  • V = IR

Utility supply

India

  • 220V RMS AC, at 50Hz. Single phase.

USA

120 volts RMS ± 6% at 60Hz.

Opposition to current

Components

  • Impedence: Overall opposition to current.
    • \(Z = \sqrt{X^2 + R^2}\) as reactance X comes with a phase shift.
  • Resistence R. Independent of frequency.
    • It is usually reasonable to assume that an input impedance is just resistance if the input signal has a low frequency (less than 1kHz).
  • Reactance X dependent of frequency.
    • Capacitive Reactance - Decreases with frequency. \(X_C = \dfrac{1}{2 \pi f C} \). DC has infinite \(X_C\).
    • Inductive reactance \(X_L = 2 \pi fL\). Increases with frequency. DC has zero \(X_L\)
    • \(X = X_L - X_C\)

Power

  • \(P = VI = V^2/R = I^2R\).
  • This corresponds to the rate of heat generation + motion etc..
  • To reduce power consumption, V being constant, reduce I.
    • In a parallel circuit, can turn off branches (as \(I = I_1 + I_2\) ).
    • In a series circuit, increase the resistance in the regulator/ rheostat (as \(R = R_1 + R_2\) ).