The basics of electrics - AKA Electricity for Dummies

DebianDog · 03-27-2007, 01:12 PM

What the heck is a volt, amp, watt, ohm, mah, C, etc...

Well here it is... all laid out for us thicker headed folks. Plus, it is kind of a fun read.

Jermo · 03-27-2007, 06:00 PM

The description of Volts isn't exactly accurate but it's good enough for non-Electronics types. The way it's written follows the analogy of water in a pipe.
Jermo

celter · 06-13-2007, 01:30 AM

The Volt would be the height difference between the water level in the tank and the end of the hose. A bigger tank would not increase the pressure (Volt)

triplelindy · 08-06-2010, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by celter

The Volt would be the height difference between the water level in the tank and the end of the hose. A bigger tank would not increase the pressure (Volt)

Actually the higher you fill the tank with water the more pressure at the bottom of the tank. Think of it like the deep end of a pool. The farther down you swim the higher the pressure and therefore the more your ears start to ache. This is because of the weight of the water above you. It works the same in the tank. If you have 20 feet of water in the tank above the opening you will have more pressure at the bottom then if you only had 10 feet.

joecool73 · 08-09-2011, 05:39 PM

Great article. I also had electrical course work in HS, then 2 AAS degrees in computer sciences and a BS in computer science and some master degree course work as well. I am by no means an expert but that pdf is a very good easy to read document. Well done.

Fox222 · 07-27-2007, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jermo

The description of Volts isn't exactly accurate but it's good enough for non-Electronics types. The way it's written follows the analogy of water in a pipe.
Jermo

That is exactly how they teach it to 1st year electronics students. Or at least when I was in school a long, long time ago.
They don’t need atomic structure, just how it reacts.

Jermo · 07-28-2007, 07:14 AM

I went through 2 years of electronics in High School, another 2 years in the Navy, then another 2 years for my associates. I've never heard that presentation.

Maybe it was given in the electrical class?

Fox222 · 07-28-2007, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jermo

I went through 2 years of electronics in High School, another 2 years in the Navy, then another 2 years for my associates. I've never heard that presentation.

Maybe it was given in the electrical class?

The water analogy has been used for years in electronics. But that doesn't necessarily mean they teach it that way everywhere.
When I was in high school I took an electronics class and the water analogy was the first thing we covered. Then when I went to tech. (also elactronics) I got it again the first day.

6sic6 · 08-08-2007, 08:26 AM

For those who feel really bright:

http://amasci.com/ele-edu.html

Some outstanding reads in there.

DominicD · 08-08-2007, 09:42 AM

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Dog hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. The analog is fine but there are alittle bit of misunderstanding or misleading sentences, but it's fine for our purposes. One thing that is really wrong is your discription of a watts "...Watt is a unit of work done over time". Work over time is Energy and has units of joules (Integrals !!! Hurray for calculus). BTW If the water in the hose is suppose to be the electrons then technically the water should be flowing from the ground back through the hose and into the tank.

jance445 · 09-08-2007, 08:05 PM

What is the mechanical (using the water analogy) equivalent of a switching regulator vs a linear?

DominicD · 09-08-2007, 09:20 PM

A linear series regulator - A globe value that would let you control the volume of water (no this is not technically accurate but it works for the comparison to the others)

A linear shunt regulator - A little valve that drains the water from the main pipe so you can control the flow in the main pipe

A switching regulator - A ball valve that you open and close fast. The longer you leave it on compared to when its closed the more average water will flow.

While the flow of water is the analogy is current and regulator uses voltage just think of the current being converted to voltage by a resistor or something.

spork · 12-16-2007, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HFG

One thing that is really wrong is your discription of a watts "...Watt is a unit of work done over time". Work over time is Energy and has units of joules (Integrals !!! Hurray for calculus).

HFG,

I'm guessing there's a semantics issue here, because...

Watts is a measure of power, which is work (or energy) per time interval. Energy or work are measured in joules, and a watt is a joule per second.

Energy and work are synonymous (you say "work over time is energy").

As I said, I may just be misunderstanding you, because I suspect you know all this.

EDIT:

Looking back at this I think I see the problem. Is it possible you're confusing "work" and "power"? Work = Energy. Power = work/time (or energy/time same thing).

spork · 12-16-2007, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by celter

The Volt would be the height difference between the water level in the tank and the end of the hose. A bigger tank would not increase the pressure (Volt)

True enough, but I that's what was stated in the PDF file, right?

To the extent you can use the water analogy (which I think is a pretty fair analogy) the PDF file looks accurate to me.

Tom.C · 04-22-2009, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HFG

One thing that is really wrong is your discription of a watts "...Watt is a unit of work done over time".

''Watts'' just tells you how many amps and volts a particular device needs in order to function, i haven't heard anything about time when working with the term ''watts''.

''Watts'' is just the correlation between Amps and volts, VxA=watts

DominicD · 04-22-2009, 01:16 PM

I am somewhat familiar with electronic theory.

cvdiver · 07-08-2010, 06:42 PM

HI! I decided to delete my post. Have a great day.

spork · 07-08-2010, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cvdiver

HI! I decided to delete my post. Have a great day.

I thought it was a perfectly good post that helped to clarify an issue that sometimes confuses folks. The stuff you're studying in dynamics now is exactly what lets us build a wind powered vehicle that goes directly downwind, faster than the wind (but I'd still give even odds that your dynamics professor would claim it's impossible).

supergenius · 12-16-2007, 05:08 PM

What does the C stand for on ly-po pacs? Also, the S?

wecoyote · 12-16-2007, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supergenius

What does the C stand for on ly-po pacs? Also, the S?

C = Capacity
S = Series
P = Parallel

03-27-2007, 06:00 PM	#2
Jermo Registered Users Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SC USA	The description of Volts isn't exactly accurate but it's good enough for non-Electronics types. The way it's written follows the analogy of water in a pipe. Jermo __________________ Jerry Moore, AMA #878954, IRCHA #2988 Pantera .61bbc - Takes a licking and keeps on kicking! , Trex 500CF, MCPX V2 Readyheli BL Ok, you can fly...but can you HOVER?? To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. KISS = Keep it simple stupid (to maximize fun and reduce costs!)

06-13-2007, 01:30 AM	#3
celter Registered Users Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Oslo, Norway	The Volt would be the height difference between the water level in the tank and the end of the hose. A bigger tank would not increase the pressure (Volt) __________________ Dragonus II Elite, Logictech 2100 with Futaba 9650 TT Mini Titan with Futaba 401 and 9650 Hurricane EP 550 with Futaba 401 and 9254 DX7 with AR 6100 and AR7000 Phoenix sim. "I am a hard core 1D pilot"

08-09-2011, 05:39 PM	#5
joecool73 Registered Users Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Maryland	Great article. I also had electrical course work in HS, then 2 AAS degrees in computer sciences and a BS in computer science and some master degree course work as well. I am by no means an expert but that pdf is a very good easy to read document. Well done. __________________ EXI 450 CP,Syma s107g CoAx,Eflite MSR FP,Esky Hunter CoAx, Eflite blade MCP X, Rustler VXL, soon to get Traxxas Erevo BL

07-28-2007, 07:14 AM	#7
Jermo Registered Users Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SC USA	I went through 2 years of electronics in High School, another 2 years in the Navy, then another 2 years for my associates. I've never heard that presentation. Maybe it was given in the electrical class? __________________ Jerry Moore, AMA #878954, IRCHA #2988 Pantera .61bbc - Takes a licking and keeps on kicking! , Trex 500CF, MCPX V2 Readyheli BL Ok, you can fly...but can you HOVER?? To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. KISS = Keep it simple stupid (to maximize fun and reduce costs!)

08-08-2007, 08:26 AM	#9
6sic6 Registered Users Join Date: May 2006 Location: AZ	For those who feel really bright: http://amasci.com/ele-edu.html Some outstanding reads in there. __________________ Username: I saw it on a license plate and giggled all the way home To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

08-08-2007, 09:42 AM	#10
DominicD The Capi - HF Support My HF Map location Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Toronto	Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Dog hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. The analog is fine but there are alittle bit of misunderstanding or misleading sentences, but it's fine for our purposes. One thing that is really wrong is your discription of a watts "...Watt is a unit of work done over time". Work over time is Energy and has units of joules (Integrals !!! Hurray for calculus). BTW If the water in the hose is suppose to be the electrons then technically the water should be flowing from the ground back through the hose and into the tank. __________________ SAB Heli Canada / RotorQuest/Compass Team KBDD Spreading capibara awareness since 2006 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

09-08-2007, 08:05 PM	#11
jance445 Registered Users Join Date: Aug 2007	using the water, pipes, etc analogy... What is the mechanical (using the water analogy) equivalent of a switching regulator vs a linear?

09-08-2007, 09:20 PM	#12
DominicD The Capi - HF Support My HF Map location Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Toronto	A linear series regulator - A globe value that would let you control the volume of water (no this is not technically accurate but it works for the comparison to the others) A linear shunt regulator - A little valve that drains the water from the main pipe so you can control the flow in the main pipe A switching regulator - A ball valve that you open and close fast. The longer you leave it on compared to when its closed the more average water will flow. While the flow of water is the analogy is current and regulator uses voltage just think of the current being converted to voltage by a resistor or something. __________________ SAB Heli Canada / RotorQuest/Compass Team KBDD Spreading capibara awareness since 2006 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

04-22-2009, 01:16 PM	#16
DominicD The Capi - HF Support My HF Map location Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Toronto	I am somewhat familiar with electronic theory. __________________ SAB Heli Canada / RotorQuest/Compass Team KBDD Spreading capibara awareness since 2006 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

07-08-2010, 06:42 PM	#17
cvdiver Registered Users My HF Map location Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Orlando	HI! I decided to delete my post. Have a great day. Last edited by cvdiver; 07-08-2010 at 06:45 PM.. Reason: has been previously posted

12-16-2007, 05:08 PM	#19
supergenius Registered Users Join Date: May 2007 Location: Scottsdale, AZ	What does the C stand for on ly-po pacs? Also, the S?

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