Step-by-Step Guide

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Eight hands-on walkthroughs — from a single switched bulb to a full consumer unit. Every circuit is built and tested live in ElectraSim, right in your browser.

01

Single-Lamp Switched Circuit

Beginner The most fundamental circuit in household wiring. A switch in series controls one bulb. This is the exact wiring behind every ceiling light.

Components Needed

Live (L)Neutral (N)MCBSingle-way SwitchBulb (E27)

Circuit Diagram

Live → MCB → Switch → Bulb → Neutral

Steps

  1. 1 Place a Live (L) terminal and a Neutral (N) terminal on the canvas.
  2. 2 Place an MCB to the right of the Live terminal.
  3. 3 Place a Single-way Switch to the right of the MCB.
  4. 4 Place a Bulb (E27) to the right of the Switch.
  5. 5 Wire: Live → MCB → Switch → Bulb → Neutral.
  6. 6 Press Run. Toggle the Switch to turn the bulb on and off.
💡 Key insight

The MCB is always wired in series — it protects the entire circuit. The switch interrupts only the Live wire, keeping Neutral permanently connected back to supply.

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02

Two-Bulb Parallel Circuit

Beginner Wire two bulbs in parallel so each receives full voltage independently. This is how all household lighting and sockets are wired — one bulb failing or being removed has no effect on the other.

Components Needed

Live (L)Neutral (N)MCBSingle-way SwitchBulb × 2Junction Box

Circuit Diagram

Live → MCB → Switch → Junction Box → Bulb A
                                        → Bulb B → Neutral

Steps

  1. 1 Build the single-lamp circuit from Circuit 1.
  2. 2 Add a Junction Box after the Switch.
  3. 3 Place a second Bulb below the first.
  4. 4 Wire the Junction Box output to both bulbs.
  5. 5 Connect both Bulb Neutral ports back to the Neutral terminal.
  6. 6 Press Run — both bulbs light at full brightness.
  7. 7 Disconnect one bulb wire — the other stays on. That's parallel wiring.
💡 Key insight

In a parallel circuit, every branch receives the full supply voltage. Adding more branches increases total current drawn — the MCB protects against overload if too many loads are connected.

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03

Two-Way Switching (Staircase Circuit)

Intermediate Control one light from two separate locations — the classic staircase or hallway circuit. Switch the light on upstairs, switch it off downstairs, and vice versa.

Components Needed

Live (L)Neutral (N)MCBTwo-way Switch × 2Bulb (E27)

Circuit Diagram

Live → MCB → SW1 COM
SW1 L1 ——→ SW2 L1 (strapping)
SW1 L2 ——→ SW2 L2 (strapping)
SW2 COM → Bulb → Neutral

Steps

  1. 1 Place Live, Neutral, MCB, and a Bulb.
  2. 2 Place two Two-way Switches between the MCB and the Bulb.
  3. 3 Wire MCB → Switch 1 COM port.
  4. 4 Wire Switch 1 L1 → Switch 2 L1 (first strapping wire).
  5. 5 Wire Switch 1 L2 → Switch 2 L2 (second strapping wire).
  6. 6 Wire Switch 2 COM → Bulb.
  7. 7 Wire Bulb Neutral → Neutral terminal.
  8. 8 Press Run. Toggle either switch — the bulb responds from both locations.
💡 Key insight

Two-way switching works because the two strapping wires always form exactly one complete path — toggling either switch swaps which wire is connected, turning the circuit on or off.

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04

RCD-Protected Socket Circuit

Intermediate Add earth fault protection to a socket outlet using an RCD. This is mandatory in bathrooms, kitchens, and outdoor circuits in modern installations.

Components Needed

Live (L)Neutral (N)Earth (E)MCBRCD3-Pin Socket

Circuit Diagram

Live → MCB → RCD (L-in→L-out) → Socket (L)
Neutral → RCD (N-in→N-out) → Socket (N)
Earth → Socket (E)

Steps

  1. 1 Place Live, Neutral, and Earth terminals.
  2. 2 Place an MCB and wire Live → MCB.
  3. 3 Place an RCD. Wire MCB output → RCD L-in. Wire Neutral → RCD N-in.
  4. 4 Place a 3-Pin Socket.
  5. 5 Wire RCD L-out → Socket L.
  6. 6 Wire RCD N-out → Socket N.
  7. 7 Wire Earth terminal → Socket E.
  8. 8 Press Run — the socket is live and protected by both the MCB and RCD.
💡 Key insight

The RCD monitors the difference between Live and Neutral current. Any leakage (e.g. through a person to earth) causes an imbalance and trips the RCD in under 40ms — far faster than an MCB and before lethal harm can occur.

Ready to try it? Open ElectraSim and follow the steps above. Build this circuit →
05

Timed Outdoor Lighting

Intermediate Automate an outdoor light to turn on and off at set times using a Timer Switch — no manual intervention required once programmed.

Components Needed

Live (L)Neutral (N)MCBTimer SwitchBulb (E27)

Circuit Diagram

Live → MCB → Timer Switch → Bulb → Neutral

Steps

  1. 1 Place Live, Neutral, MCB, a Timer Switch, and a Bulb.
  2. 2 Wire: Live → MCB → Timer Switch (L-in) → Timer Switch (L-out) → Bulb → Neutral.
  3. 3 Press Run. The circuit is live.
  4. 4 Click the Timer Switch to simulate it reaching its ON trigger time — the bulb activates.
  5. 5 Click again to simulate the OFF time — the bulb goes dark.
💡 Key insight

A Timer Switch is just a switch with an internal clock mechanism. In ElectraSim you toggle it manually to represent time events. In a real installation, the timer's ON/OFF schedule is programmed with physical pegs or a digital interface.

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06

Dimmable Lighting Circuit

Intermediate Add a Dimmer Switch to a lighting circuit for variable brightness control. Use this for living rooms, dining rooms, and any space where ambience matters.

Components Needed

Live (L)Neutral (N)MCBDimmer SwitchBulb (E27)

Circuit Diagram

Live → MCB → Dimmer Switch → Bulb → Neutral

Steps

  1. 1 Place Live, Neutral, MCB, a Dimmer Switch, and a Bulb.
  2. 2 Wire: Live → MCB → Dimmer (L-in) → Dimmer (L-out) → Bulb → Neutral.
  3. 3 Press Run — the bulb is powered through the dimmer.
  4. 4 Toggle the Dimmer to see the controlled state.
💡 Key insight

In real installations, a dimmer switch must be matched to the bulb type — trailing-edge for LED, leading-edge for incandescent/halogen. Never connect a Dimmer Switch to a motor or fan (use a Fan Dimmer instead).

Ready to try it? Open ElectraSim and follow the steps above. Build this circuit →
07

Doorbell Circuit

Beginner Build the classic doorbell: a Push Button (momentary switch) in series with a Bell/Buzzer. The bell sounds only while the button is held — exactly like a real doorbell.

Components Needed

Live (L)Neutral (N)MCBPush ButtonBell / Buzzer

Circuit Diagram

Live → MCB → Push Button → Bell → Neutral

Steps

  1. 1 Place Live, Neutral, MCB, a Push Button, and a Bell/Buzzer.
  2. 2 Wire: Live → MCB → Push Button (L-in → L-out) → Bell (L) → Neutral (N).
  3. 3 Press Run.
  4. 4 Click and hold the Push Button — the Bell activates.
  5. 5 Release the button — the Bell stops. That's a momentary circuit.
💡 Key insight

Push Buttons are momentary — they close the circuit only while physically held. A standard switch latches open or closed. This distinction is critical: a latching switch would leave the bell ringing continuously.

Ready to try it? Open ElectraSim and follow the steps above. Build this circuit →
08

Full Consumer Unit (3-Circuit Panel)

Advanced Build a complete home breaker panel using a Distribution Board. Three independent circuits — lighting, sockets, and a motor — each protected by their own MCB.

Components Needed

Live (L)Neutral (N)Distribution BoardMCB × 3SwitchBulb3-Pin SocketElectric Motor

Circuit Diagram

Live → DB (L-in) → L1 → MCB1 → Switch → Bulb
                    → L2 → MCB2 → 3-Pin Socket
                    → L3 → MCB3 → Motor
Neutral → DB (N-in) → N1/N2 → (all returns)

Steps

  1. 1 Place a Live terminal, Neutral terminal, and a Distribution Board.
  2. 2 Wire: Live → DB L-in. Wire: Neutral → DB N-in.
  3. 3 Circuit 1 (Lighting): DB L1 → MCB1 → Switch → Bulb → DB N1.
  4. 4 Circuit 2 (Sockets): DB L2 → MCB2 → 3-Pin Socket (L) → DB N1.
  5. 5 Circuit 3 (Motor): DB L3 → MCB3 → Motor (L) → DB N2.
  6. 6 Press Run — all three circuits operate independently.
  7. 7 Trip MCB2 — only the socket goes dead. Lighting and motor stay running.
💡 Key insight

The key principle of a consumer unit is circuit isolation: a fault on one circuit trips only that MCB, leaving all other circuits unaffected. This is why each circuit has its own dedicated breaker.

Ready to try it? Open ElectraSim and follow the steps above. Build this circuit →

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