Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS DESIGN
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ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS DESIGN
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Subject: Applied Technology
Class: SHS 3
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 11
Grade code: 2.4.1.LI.9
Strand code: 4
Sub-strand code: 1
Content standard code: 2.4.1.CS.1
Indicator code: 2.4.1.LI.9
Theme: ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY
Subtheme: ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS DESIGN
This page supports the lesson note with a companion video and a short classroom-ready summary.
For class groups and homework, share this lesson page so learners also get the summary, objectives, and full lesson context.
In every Ghanaian home, from Accra to Bolgatanga, we use electrical appliances daily—pressing irons, fans, blenders, refrigerators, and TVs. These devices make our lives easier, but they all work differently and can develop faults. Understanding how they consume electricity and what can go wrong is crucial for safety, effective use, and basic troubleshooting. This lesson will empower you to identify different types of appliances (loads) in your home and recognize common electrical faults. This knowledge helps prevent accidents, save money on electricity bills from the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), and can help you diagnose simple problems before calling a technician.
This section breaks down the core content for the lesson. Part 1: Understanding Electrical Loads
An electrical load is any component or device in a circuit that consumes electrical energy and converts it into another form of energy like heat, light, or motion. Think of it as the "destination" for the electricity coming from the socket.
In our homes, we can group these loads into two main categories: Resistive Loads and Inductive Loads.
A. Resistive Loads Definition: A resistive load is an electrical load that converts electrical energy directly into heat (and sometimes light) through the principle of resistance. How it Works: These appliances contain a component called a heating element, often made of a special wire like nichrome. This material has high resistance, meaning it strongly opposes the flow of electric current. As the current struggles to pass through, the electrical energy is converted into thermal energy (heat), causing the element to glow red-hot. Key Characteristic: In a purely resistive load, the current and voltage are "in phase." This means they rise and fall at the same time. They work together perfectly to produce heat. Common Ghanaian Examples: Pressing Iron: The flat soleplate gets hot to press clothes. Electric Kettle: The coil at the bottom heats water for tea or koko. Water Heater (Geyser): Heats water for bathing. Electric Cooker / Hot Plate: Used for cooking food. Incandescent Light Bulb: The old type with a glowing filament (produces light and a lot of heat). Toaster: Heats bread.