Electricity, friend or foe? For many its just a mystery. Electricity gives us so many luxuries we take for granted. Several days ago a series of storms blew through the Midwest. Power was out for days. Heat and darkness make all of us miss our electrical devices, fans, air conditioners and the like.
Here is a simple look at what makes it all work. We will start from where the power is made and work our way into our homes. Remember that if you are in need of electrical advise, there are many electricians out there that work online at Q&A sites all over the world. Remember too, there is no such thing as a dumb question, so don't be embarrassed, just ask.
Initial electrical production involves the use of an electrical generation device like a generator or alternator. These devices require outside source power to spin the units windings which in turn make electricity. Producing electrical power involves an initial source of natural or man-made power. The source can be water pressure, which we harness with Dams, heat production such as nuclear reactors or incinerator plants which in turn produce steam that turn turbines. Wind power and sunlight also provide various amounts of initial power. Gas, oil and other fuels can also create the initial power we need for creating electricity. One natural source of electricity is lightning. However harnessing this power is still in the works.
So what we need to produce electricity is a source of initial energy that will allow us to spin a turbine. Essentially we need to create the action known as electromagnetic induction. Electricity is produced by spinning a set of windings or wires through a magnetic field. We do this by way of a generator.In order to produce an electrical current in a wire. Here we have to cut through lines of magnetic force produced by magnets. This is how we induce an electrical current into a wire. When a single wire cuts through the lines magnetic force the atoms inside the wire began to move, actually the electrons began to jump or bounce from one atom to another. This is electricity or the electric current that flows through a wire. In a generator or alternator, imagine many wires cutting through the magnetic field simultaneously, this is how we increase the output of electrical current. Also it should be noted that our country uses what is called a 60 hertz cycle, this means that for every minute of production, electric windings cross the lines of magnetic force 60 times a minute, conversely, internationally they rely on 50 hertz systems.
Once we produce the current in the wire or windings we can harness this current through various devices which eventually leads the electricity into our homes. The current leaves the initial generation station through wires. Based on the system the initial line voltage is very high. This higher voltage allows us to carry more power for longer distances. This power is then reduced at your home, or rather, outside your home through a transformer. This device reduces the voltage or amount of push of electrons enters your home or premises. From there your home takes the production electricity and distributes it throughout your home. Many appliances and lighting devices take the available current and use it up. Leaving only a fraction of electrical power to return back to the source production device. This is why electrical power is similar to fuels that we use. Once electrical energy is used up, its gone forever so we need to keep replenishing it everyday.
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