Electricity is generated at power stations from sources like coal, oil, peat, and water. It is distributed to homes through cables and consumer units, then brought to appliances via wires in plugs and flexes. Most appliances have three wires - a live wire (brown) bringing electricity to the appliance, a neutral wire (blue) taking the return current, and an earth wire (green/yellow) that brings current safely to the earth if a fault occurs. Fuses and circuit breakers are safety devices that melt or disconnect electricity in the case of overloading or short circuits to prevent fires.

1. Electricity
© PDST Home Economics

2. TASK!!!!
Make a list of all
electrical appliances
you have in your home

3. Electricity Sources
• Electricity is generated at power stations from
1. Coal
2. Oil
3. Peat
4. Water

4. • Electric metre records the amount of electricity used
in units

5. • Second metre in some homes which use off peak
Nightsaver Electricity

6. Cables pass from consumer unit bringing power to each room
Consumer
Unit

7. • Flexes of appliances have at least 2 wires or cores
1. Live Wire : (Brown)
Bringing electricity TO the appliance
2. Neutral Wire: (Blue) Taking the return current

8. • Any appliance with only 2 wires must be doubly
insulated and carry the symbol shown
• Most appliances have 3rd Wire called Earth Wire
(Green/yellow) – brings current safely to the earth if
a fault occurs and not through the person using the
appliance

9. Lively Brown Bear
Jumped on earthy green grass
Under a neutral blue sky

10. Possible Faults
• Overloading a circuit by using too many
appliances/overloading adaptor
• Short Circuit – a live and neutral wire touching in
wiring/ incorrectly wired plug
• Overheating – due to faulty thermostat

11. Fuse
• Safety device
• Deliberate weak link in wiring system
• Melts when fault occurs
• Disconnects Electricity and so prevents a fire
• Found in 3 pin plug and fuse box
• Modern fuse boxes use circuit breakers

13. HOMEWORK
1. State the name, colour and function of the three
wires in a plug
2. What is the purpose of a fuse?
3. Compose five safety rules to follow when using
electricity in the home?