Take a Load Off
The "L" in PSLC stands for this when describing the anatomy of an electrical circuit...
What is Load?
Remember: PSLC is the anatomy of a circuit.
"S" in the PSLC anatomy of circuit stands for this component.
What is "Switch"?
The "C" in the PSLC stands for this.
What is "Common".
This source of power does not alternate back and forth but goes in one direction.
What is direct current?
9v, AA, AAA, D batteries, etc and all DC Power Sources.
A series of closed switches will convey power to this at the speed of light.
What is a load?
These are the two major "loads" found in the condensing (outside) unit of split HVAC system.
What is the Compressor and the Outdoor Fan Motor (OFM)?
This is the other name we can use for "switch" in the PSLC anatomy of an electrical circuit.
What is "control".
Switch is the name and activity of the circuit. Control is how we as humans use it. We "control" the working of the circuit usually through the thermostat.
Common are both grounded and ungrounded. True or False.
What is False?
Commons are always grounded.
The battery in our vehicles are alternating or direct current?
What is 12v direct current batteries.
The compressor contactor and the indoor fan relay are wired this way.
What is wired in parallel?
If conductors "convey" power through the circuit, the load does this through the circuit.
What is "consume"?
Remember, we have components that convey power through the circuit (wiring) and components that consume the power (loads).
Name 3 controls used in HVAC systems.
What is contactor, relay, thermostat, sequencer, etc.
These are the two other names for "Common" in the PSLC circuit.
What is Neutral and Return.
Common usually refers to low voltage
Neutral to 120v. The white wire
Return to 208v/230v/240v/480v
In North America, we use 60hz alternating current. This is what 60hz VAC means
What is alternating current moving at 60 times back and forth in one second.
When the compressor contactor closes we can say the contactor is wired in series and the compressor and the outdoor fan is wired like this.
What is wired in parallel?
This is a series-parallel circuit.
When a component like a load consumes power we say that component is providing this...
What is "work"?
Loads do the work. Conductors supply, or convey, the electrical current, by means of voltage and resistance.
This switch acts as the main relay for power entering into the compressor and outdoor fan motor.
What is the compressor?
All power must return to this.
What is its source?
Without a common, neutral, or return, there is no circuit.
Most residential outlets provide this amount of voltage.
What is 120v?
When a series circuit component NO is faulty, we can do this to get the system running temporarily until we can come back with a new switch.
What is "bypass" the switch.
This load in the HVAC system consumes the most power and is the major cause of high electric bills in the summer.
What is the Compressor?
From 12% - 19% if all other factors of "MEGA" are working optimally.
Remember "MEGA"?
An Open switch will read this when measuring voltage from one side to the other.
What is incoming line voltage? Either 24v or 120/208/240/480.
I.e., low or high voltage
The standard wire color used for low voltage common.
What is "blue"?
Don't get stuck on colors, but usually blue is the color we use for "common" on low voltage circuits.
White for neutral.
Most residential compressors require this amount of voltage.
What is 240v?
If we have a series circuit NO that is open, our thermostats will read this.
What is blank?