A Beginner’s Guide To Lv Electric System

By Author: Lakshita Namdev
Total Articles: 4
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Depending on their needs, commercial and industrial sites rely on either low or medium-voltage equipment to control or cut off the electrical supply of their buildings from a single point. Low voltage distribution equipment typically uses less than 600 volts, as opposed to medium voltage equipment that uses around 600 to 38,000 volts.

Electric power is generated through a technical process that begins with an energy-producing power plant and ends with the consumer’s electric meter. In between these two points, there are mile-long stretches of transmission lines and transformers that keep voltages safe and usable to end-users, like homes, offices, and buildings.

The main purpose of an electrical distribution system is to deliver safe and ready-to-use energy. They also ensure that electricity cost-effectively reaches consumers. While there are two types of distribution systems, most cities around the world use low voltage distribution systems for energy transmission.

What is a low voltage distribution system?

A low voltage distribution system is a network of equipment that ...
... ensures the safe delivery of electrical energy to homes and businesses. To make it usable for consumers, high voltage electricity undergoes a conversion process. This ensures that electrical devices receive sufficient amounts of electricity without overloading or any other issues.

A low voltage distribution system requires several electrical products that distribute the current, convert the voltages and protect the electrical circuits within the system. These operate at less than 600 volts:

• Circuit Breakers:

Also known as automatic switches, circuit breakers are used for irregular on-off control in a low voltage distribution system. They can break a faulty circuit in case of a short circuit, under-voltage fault, or electric overload. The most common types of circuit breakers are:

o Residual Current Circuit Breaker (RCCB)

o Residual Current Circuit Breaker with Over-current (RCBO)

o Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB)

o Molded Case Circuit Breaker (MCCB)

• Switch Fuse Unit (SFU): The purpose of a switch or a fuse unit is to break or connect an electric circuit, provided that they both be properly connected in the residence.

• Overload relay: Overload relays provide thermal protection to electric motors. The heat generated from the motor is detected by a heat-detecting device and it is protected from getting heated above a certain temperature.

• Contactors: A contactor is an electrically controlled switch used to switch electric power in a circuit.

• Changeover switches: These are transfer switches that are used to transfer electricity from the commercial power grid to the local generator of the house during a power outage.

• Isolators: Isolators are used to break a circuit under offload conditions. They disconnect the faulty sections of a healthy low voltage power system and isolate the system for maintenance or repair.

Advantages of Using Low Voltage (LV) Electric System

While high voltage is suitable for transmission lines and factories that use too much power, most electrical devices in homes and commercial spaces run on low voltage. The use of a low voltage electrical system has many advantages, the most important of them being increased safety and lower costs. It also increases energy efficiency. Many sources of renewable energy including hydro, solar, and wind all provide low direct current power.

LV electric systems are also increasing in demand as they produce less heat than high voltage electric systems. This heat reduction helps to save energy by reducing the need for cooling.

Another advantage of LV electric system is that installing low voltage wiring is less hectic and much safer than high voltage wiring.

Using LV Equipment Safely

Low voltage current can cause electric shock if not handled with care, this can result in injuries or even death. One can use low voltage equipment safely by:

• Assessing all the risks associated with the task at hand.

• Understanding the system properly.

• Minimizing exposure.

• Looking for exposed live metal and covering it.

• Reducing energy.

• Using one hand with the face and body to the side while performing the task.

Low voltage power is an efficient and cost-effective alternative to traditional high voltage systems. It is much safer in installing, maintaining, and using as compared to a high voltage system. One can find quality low voltage electrical products online in India to connect, protect, control, and measure a wide range of electrical installations, switchboards, enclosures, and electronic devices.

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I have been writing informative and high-quality article on Electrical Products. In the above articles have covered topics such as low voltage electrical products online in India