Ring Main

• Ring main is a parallel circuit - Advantages:

  • Same voltage in parallel.
  • Independent switching.
• Electrical appliances, like lamps in houses are always connected in parallel, as…

  • lamps will be brighter as will have same voltage.
  • if one lamp breaks, others still work as each can be switched on independentl.
• Ring main is a parallel circuit - Advantages.

  • independent switching.
  • current can travel two ways so can make wires thinner and have lower current in each part.
  • can add more sockets anywhere on the ring and will have same voltage (230V).
• LIVE WIRE

  • Brown
  • Carries electricity to appliances at high voltage.
• EARTH WIRE

  • Green + yellow
  • Protects users from electrocutions, if live wire touches metal case of appliance.
• NEUTRAL WIRE

  • Blue
  • Completes circuit - carries electricity back to consumer unit at same current as live wire but lower voltage.
• Earth wite connected to casing of devices with a metal case so if live wire touches casing due to faults, current can safely travel to the earth through earth wire rather than electricution.
• Current in homes = AC 50 Hz