class 10-physics-Power-distribution2
class 10-physics-Power-distribution2
In a house, the wiring is commonly done by the ring system. In Ring system we have a
separate ring for each portion of the house. In a portion, the wires starting from the
distribution box run around all the rooms of that portion and then come back to the
distribution box, thus forming a ring.
The distribution box contains a MCB of rating about 30 A. Fig. 9.4 shows a ring system of
wiring connecting a lamp, socket with switch and fan with regulator.
A separate connection is taken for each appliance from the live wire of the ring. One
terminal of the appliance is connected to the live wire through a separate fuse and a separate
switch, while the other terminal of the appliance is directly connected to the neutral wire.
The earth terminal or metal covering of the appliance is connected to the earth wire. For
each appliance, the wires used for connection should be of proper current carrying capacity.
• The main fuse has a current rating of 30 A or more. The wiring in the ring is also of
appropriate thickness, so that it can bear a load of 30 A, without appreciable rise in
temperature. All electric appliances are connected directly to the ring as shown in the
diagram.
• The appliances which can easily get short-circuited, such as table fan, heater, oven,
washing machine, television set, electric motor, electric mixer, etc., are provided with
individual fuses of appropriate current rating.
• In case of short circuit, the fuse of that particular appliance will melt and put it out of
the electric circuit, but rest of the circuits will continue functioning normally
• The thickness of the electric wires used for individual appliances can also be increased
or decreased depending upon the load of the appliance. For greater load, a thicker
copper wire is used, whereas for lesser load, a thinner copper wire is used.
Advantages of the ring system:
1. As every appliance has its own fuse, therefore, in case of short circuit, only one
particular appliance is disconnected from the electric circuit, without affecting the other
circuits.
2. Each appliance has a separate fuse. Therefore if due to some fault, the fuse of one
appliance burns, it does not affect the operation of other appliances.
3. As a single ring feeds the whole house, therefore, length of wiring used is considerably
small.
4. As we can increase or decrease the thickness of copper wires, connecting appliances,
we can save a lot on the installation charges.
5. It is far easier to install and maintain.
• In the ring system, the current from mains can reach to an individual appliance through
two separate paths. Thus each appliance gets connected to the mains effectively
through a thick wire. Therefore, the wire required for main ring is of a lower current
carrying capacity than that which would be required for a direct connection to the
mains. This considerably reduces the cost of wiring.
• In this system, all the plugs and sockets used can be of same size, but each socket
should have its own fuse of rating suitable for the appliances to be connected with it.
• While installing a new appliance in a room, a new line up to the distribution box is not
required, but it can be directly connected to the ring circuit in that room. The care is
taken that the total current drawn from the mains in the ring circuit does not exceed
the rating of the main fuse (viz. 30 A).
Connection of all appliances (bulb, fan, socket, etc.) with the mains
We note that all the electrical appliances (say, bulbs, fans, sockets, etc.) are connected in
parallel with the mains. In the live wire before each appliance there is a separate switch and
a separate fuse connected in series.
Advantages of connecting the appliances in parallel
It has the following two main advantages:
• Each appliance gets connected to 220 V supply (its voltage rating) for its normal
working.
• Each appliance operates independently without being affected whether the other
appliances are operated or not.