NATIONAL CERTIFICATE

ELECTROTECHNICS N4
(8080074)

28 June 2022 (X-paper)

09:00–12:00
Drawing instruments and nonprogrammable calculators may be used.

This question paper consists of 6 pages and a formula sheet of 3 pages

020Q1A2228

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TIME: 3 HOURS
MARKS: 100

INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION

1. Answer all the questions.

2. Read all the questions carefully.

3. Number the answers according to the numbering system used in this

question paper.

4. Questions may be answered in any order but subsections of questions must

NOT be separated.

5. Start each question on a new page.

6. Only use a black or a blue pen.

7. Write neatly and legibly.

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QUESTION 1: PRINCIPLES OF ELECTRICITY

1.1 Define the following terms:

1.1.1 Electromotive force

1.1.2 Resistivity

1.1.3 Weber ▩
1.1.4 Permeability

1.1.5 Reluctance
(2 × 5) (10)

1.2 A copper conductor and an aluminium conductor are connected in parallel and
carry a combined current of 250 A. The diameter of the copper conductor is
20 mm and it carries 80 A. The length of each conductor is 2,5 km,
and the resistivity of copper and aluminium may be taken as 0,017 and
0,028 micro-ohm metres respectively.

Without calculation, make 'd' the subject of the of the formula.


HINT: R =
a ▩ (3)

1.3 A generator of 100 V and a battery of 75 V with internal resistances of 0,4 Ω

and 0,3 Ω respectively are connected in parallel to supply a load of 35 Ω.

1.3.1 Use Norton's theorem to draw the fully labelled circuit diagram. (4)

1.4
1.3.2 Calculate the voltage drop across the 35-ohm resistor.
▩
A straight conductor 50 cm long is moved at right angles to a magnetic field of
(9)

flux density 0,3 Wb/m² with a velocity of 8 m/s.

Calculate the following:

▩
1.4.1 The magnitude of the emf induced in the conductor (2)

1.4.2 The force required to produce this movement if the ends of this
conductor are connected to a circuit drawing 600 mA (2)
[30]

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QUESTION 2: DC MACHINES

2.1 What is the function of a pole core in a DC machine? ▩ (2)

2.2 What are the FOUR methods of improving commutation in a DC machine? (4)

2.3 By means of load characteristics, describe a compound DC generator. (6)

2.4 Calculate the resistance of a starting resistor required to start a 400-V DC shunt
motor, with an input of 15 KW. The maximum armature current is not to exceed
1,8 times the full-load armature current. The armature has a resistance of
0,62 Ω and the field resistance is 148 Ω. (8)
[20]

QUESTION 3: AC THEORY
▩
Refer to the FIGURE (below) and determine the magnitude of current flowing through
each branch of the circuit. Leave your answer in a polar form.
▩

FIGURE [20]

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QUESTION 4: TRANSFORMERS ▩
The following data about a single-phase transformer is known:

• Primary voltage = 250 V

• Supply frequency = 50 Hz
• Maximum flux density in core = 1,66 T
• Net core area = 0,035 m²
• Diameter of primary conductor = 2,5 mm
• Current density of conductor = 4 A/mm²

Calculate the following:

4.1 The number of primary turns (4)

4.2 The rating of the transformer ▩ (6)

[10]
▩
QUESTION 5: AC MACHINES

5.1 Briefly explain how energy is transferred from the stator to the rotor. (3)

5.2 What are the TWO connection configurations used in the stator of a three-
phase induction motor? (2)

5.3 Name THREE types of single-phase induction motor. ▩ (3)

5.4 Explain how to change the direction of rotation of a universal motor. (2)
[10]

▩
QUESTION 6: GENERATION AND SUPPLY OF AC POWER AND MEASURING
INSTRUMENTS

6.1 Give the name of each power station described below.

6.1.1 The largest coal-fired power station in South Africa

6.1.2 The only and largest nuclear power station in South Africa

6.1.3 The largest wind power station (wind farm) in South Africa
▩
6.1.4 The largest hydro-electric power station in South Africa

6.1.5 The first and largest gas-fired power station in South Africa
(5 × 1) (5)

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 6.2 The resistance of resistor Rx needs to be measured by means of a Wheatstone
bridge. Resistors R1 and R2 are connected to the positive terminals of the
battery. Variable resistor R3 and a resistor of unknown value R4 are connected
▩ to the negative terminal of the battery. With the galvanometer reading zero,
R1 = 80 Ω, R2 = 800 Ω and R3 = 500 Ω.
▩
Use the information given above to draw the circuit diagram and determine the
value of an unknown resistor R4. (5)

▩ [10]

TOTAL: 100

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ELECTROTECHNICS N4

FORMULA SHEET

Any applicable formula may also be used.

1. PRINCIPLES OF ELECTRICITY

1. E =V + I r 2. V = IR

3. RT = Rse = R1 + R2 + R3 + ...Rn 4. 1 1 1 1 1 1
= = + + + ...
RT R p R1 R2 R3 Rn

5. V2 6. P0
P = V I = I 2R = =  100
R Pin

7.
R=
l 8. d2
A=
A 4
.
9. R1 1 +  0T1 10. Rt = R [1 +  (t −  )]
=
R2 1 +  0T2

11. 𝑅2 𝑥 𝑅3 12. 𝑅2
𝑅𝑇 = 𝑅1 + 𝐼𝑆𝐶 = 𝐼𝑁 = [ ]𝐼
𝑅2 + 𝑅3 𝑅2 + 𝑅3 𝑇

13. 𝑅1 𝑥 𝑅2 14. 𝑅𝑁
𝑅𝑆𝐶 = 𝑅𝑁 = 𝑅3 + 𝐼𝐿 = [ ]𝐼
𝑅1 + 𝑅2 𝑅𝑁 + 𝑅2 𝑁

15. mmf IN 16. IN

= = H=
S S l

17. F = BlI 18. E = Blv

19.  20. 
B= E= .N
a t

21. L I 22. 
E= L= .N
t l

23. Q = VC 24. Q
V=
C

25. Qse = Q1 = Q2 = Q3 ... = Qn 26. Q p = Q1 + Q2 + ...Qn

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27. 1 28. C p = C1 + C2 + ...Cn

Cse =
1 1 1
+ + ...
C1 C2 Cn

2. DIRECT CURRENT MACHINES

29. 2ZNp 30. E = kN

E=
60c

31. c = 2a 32. I
E = I sh Rsh + L
t

33. (V − E ) 34. V
Rstart = − Ra I astart =
Ia Ra + Rstart

35. Egen = V + I a Ra 36. Emot = V − I a Ra

3. ALTERNATING CURRENT THEORY

37. Em = 2 BANn 38. e = Em sin(2 f .t.57,3)0

39. Erms orI rms = 0,707 EmorI m 40. EaveorI ave = 0,637 I morI m

41. 1 42. Np
T= f =
f 60

43.  = 2 f 44. Z = R2 + X 2

45. R 46. X
cos  = tan  =
Z R

47. Z L = R + j L 48. 1
ZC = R − j
C

49. P = V I Cos = I 2 R 50. R

pf = Cos =
Z

51. S =V I 52. Q = V I Sin

4. TRANSFORMERS

53. E = 4, 44 f m N 54. N1 V1 E1 I 2
kt = = = =
N 2 V2 E2 I1

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5. ALTERNATING CURRENT MACHINES

55. 𝑓 56. 𝑁𝑠 − 𝑁𝑟
Ns = 𝑠=
𝑝 𝑁𝑠

7. MEASURING INSTRUMENTS

57. I m Rm 58. V
Rsh = Rx = − Ra
I sh I

59. Vt 60. V
Rse = − Rm Rx =
It I − Iv

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