Semiconductor — A solid substance that has a conductivity between that of an insulator and that of most metals, either due to the addition of an impurity or because of temperature effects. Electrical Engineering Tour — This website is a complete package of electrical engineering tours, wherein you will find tutorials and everything you want to know about the branch. Circuit Breaker — An automatic device for stopping the flow of current in an electric circuit. are essential to the proper application and understanding. The first time I heard someone …. Fuse — A circuit interrupting device consisting of a strip of wire that melts and breaks an electric circuit if the current exceeds a safe level. An ammeter is connected in series in the circuit (unless using a clamp meter)eval(ez_write_tag([[320,50],'electricianapprenticehq_com-leader-1','ezslot_8',115,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[320,50],'electricianapprenticehq_com-leader-1','ezslot_9',115,'0','1'])); AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter) – An arc fault circuit interrupter is a special type of receptacle or circuit breaker that opens the circuit when it detects a dangerous electrical arc. Voltage, measured in volts (V), is the measure of potential energy per unit of charge. Offset – A bend in conduit to clear an obstacle. Frequency — The number of cycles per second. Cycle — The change in an alternating electrical sine wave from zero to a positive peak to zero to a negative peak and back to zero. One volt is equal to the difference of potential that would drive one ampere of current against one ohm resistance. Measured in VARS. Reactive Power — Reactive power is the portion of electricity that establishes and sustains the electric and magnetic fields of AC equipment. A Glossary of Electrical Terms Become an Electrician Electricians are skilled tradespeople working in a variety of different residential and industrial settings. Measured in volts. Measured in Watts. Commonly used for filtering out voltage spikes. Basic Electrical Circuit Terms. - Unit of voltage is volt (v). These are the three basic building blocks required to manipulate and utilize electricity. Circuit Breaker — An automatic device for stopping the flow of current in an electric circuit. All of the current in the circuit must flow through all of the loads completing its path to the source of supply. The others in here are good to know. What is a Milliampere Equal To? Insulators protect equipment and life from electric shock. Kilowatt-hour Meter — A device used to measure electrical energy use. Open Circuit — An open or open circuit occurs when a circuit is broken, such as by a broken wire or open switch, interrupting the flow of current through the circuit. Farad — A unit of measure for capacitance. To restore service, the circuit breaker must be reset (closed) after correcting the cause of the overload or failure. For example your lighting is on one electrical circuit, and you air conditioning is on another. Conductive materials, such as metals, have relatively low resistance. Volt- the unit of electromotive force, the measure of electrical pressure, is abbreviated v or V, and voltage is represented by I. This site aims to provide all the i… Fortunately for you, I’ve grouped them together to help you become a better electrician. The inductance is directly proportional to the number of turns in the coil. Henry — A unit of measure for inductance. Conductive materials, such as metals, have a relatively low resistance. If the rate of change of current in a circuit is one ampere per second and the resulting electromotive force is one volt, then the inductance of the circuit is one henry. Basic Electrical. Current (I) — The flow of an electric charge through a conductor. Diode — A semiconductor device with two terminals, typically allowing the flow of current in one direction only. Basic Electrical Definitions. Volt (V) — A unit measure of voltage. Electrical energy is sold in units of kWh. Capacitor — A device used to store an electric charge, consisting of one or more pairs of conductors separated by an insulator. A knockout punch is an electrician’s favorite tool for making new holes in an electrical box or panel. Rotor — The rotating part of an electrical machine such as a generator, motor, or alternator. Measured in volts. DC current is an electric current that flows in only one direction. Conductor — Any material where electric current can flow freely. Admittance (Ω Ohms) — Admittance is essentially the opposite of resistance (and is given by 1 divided by the resistance). If a current completes one cycle per second, then the frequency is 1 Hz; 60 cycles per second equals 60 Hz. Four Bend Saddle – Four bends in a piece of conduit that clears and obstacle by saddling it. Impedance — The measure of the opposition that a circuit presents to a current when a voltage is applied. DMM (Digital Multimeter) –  A DMM or digital multimeter is an electronic measurement tool that can measure voltage, current, resistance, capacitance, temperature, frequency. Vars may be considered as either the imaginary part of apparent power, or the power flowing into a reactive load, where voltage and current are specified in volts and amperes. Measured in farads as the ratio of the electric charge of the object (Q, measured in coulombs) to the voltage across the object (V, measured in volts). SCR (Solid State Relay) – An electronic switching device that switches on or off when a small external voltage is applied across its control terminals. Fundamentals. Demand — The average value of power or related quantity over a specified period of time. Fuse — A circuit interrupting device consisting of a strip of wire that melts and breaks an electric circuit if the current exceeds a safe level. Henry — A unit of measure for inductance. One cannot … Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI) — A device intended for the protection of personnel that functions to de-energize a circuit or portion thereof within an established period of time when a current to ground exceeds some predetermined value that is less than that required to operate the overcurrent protective device of the supply circuit. Short Circuit — When one part of an electric circuit comes in contact with another part of the same circuit, diverting the flow of current from its desired path. Insulators protect equipment and life from electric shock. Inductance (H) — The property of a conductor by which a change in current flowing through it induces (creates) a voltage (electromotive force) in both the conductor itself (self-inductance) and in any nearby conductors (mutual inductance). The voltage (of a circuit) is the effective (greatest root-mean-square) difference of potential Build an intuitive understanding of current and voltage, and power. V is the voltage measured in volts (V) For example, if a 100W light bulb is used for 4 hours, 0.4 kWhs of energy will be used (100W x 1kW / 1000 Watts x 4 hours). Test Equipment 101: The Basics of Electrical Testing, Circuit Breaker Control Schematic Explained, Protective Relay Protection Element Tests, Capacitive Reactance - How to Solve Series and Parallel Capacitors, Infrared Thermography for Electrical Distribution Systems, Electrical Drawings and Schematics Overview, Ground Fault Protection Systems: Performance Testing Basics, Protective Relay Testing and Maintenance Overview, Transformer Winding Resistance Testing Explained, Zone Selective Interlocking (ZSI) Basic Principles, 4 Critical Tests for Evaluating HV Circuit Breaker Performance, Surge Arresters: Selection, Application and Testing Overview, Electrical Shock and Arc Flash PPE Overview, Network Protector Basics: Applications, Operation, and Testing, Power Cable Testing and Diagnostics Overview. Solenoid — A spiral of conducting wire, would so that when an electric current passes through it, its turns are nearly equivalent to a succession of parallel circuits, and it acquires magnetic properties similar to those of a bar magnet. The “Ampere”, usually abbreviated as “Amp” in spoken language, is the SI unit of electrical current and has the written symbol A. Ground Fault – A ground fault is an unintentional, electrically conductive connection between an ungrounded conductor of an electrical circuit and the normally non–current-carrying conductors, metallic enclosures, metallic raceways, metallic equipment, or earth. Service — The conductors and equipment used to deliver energy from the electrical supply system to the system being served. Series Circuit — A circuit in which there is only one path for electricity to flow. Batteryis a container consistin… An electric current can be compared to the flow of water in a pipe. Typically only two bends. In a direct current (DC) circuit, or in an alternating current (AC) circuit whose impedance is a pure resistance, the voltage and current are in phase. This article seeks to clarify some elementary electrical terms and concepts that are sometimes confused. Insulator — Any material where an electric current does not flow freely. Ohmmeter — An instrument for measuring the resistance in ohms of an electrical circuit. Generator –  A device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy for use in an external circuit. Dielectric strength — The maximum electric field that a pure material can withstand under ideal conditions without breaking down (i.e., without experiencing failure of its insulating properties). August 19, 2020 October 11, 2020. Piezoelectricity — Electric polarization in a substance (especially certain crystals) resulting from the application of mechanical stress (pressure). Electron theory — The theory which explains the nature of electricity and the exchange of "free" electrons between atoms of a conductor. The source of mechanical energy may vary widely from a hand crank to an internal combustion engine. Electronic components usually use currents that are less … Polarity — A collective term applied to the positive (+) and negative ( - ) ends of a magnet or electrical mechanism such as a coil or battery. To restore service, the circuit breaker must be reset (closed) after correcting the cause of the overload or failure. In an electrical circuit, the electrical voltage V in volts (V) is equal to the energy consumption E in joules (J) divided by the electric charge Q in coulombs (C). Lenz’s law states that the direction of the current induced in a conductor by a changing magnetic field (as per Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction) is such that the magnetic field created by the induced current opposes the initial changing magnetic field which produced it. To restore service, the fuse must be replaced using a similar fuse with the same size and rating after correcting the cause of failure. Farad - The standard unit of measure for capacitance. Waveform — A graphical representation ofelectrical cycles which shows the amount of variation in amplitude over some period of time. April 18, 2020 December 29, 2018 by Electrical4U. Electrical resistance can be compared to the friction experienced by water when flowing through a pipe. Let’s start with three very basic concepts of electricity: namely, electric charge, electric current, and electric circuit. Volt-Ampere (VA) — A unit of measure of apparent power. Impedance extends the concept of resistance to AC circuits, and possesses both magnitude and phase, unlike resistance, which has only magnitude. Ferroresonance — (nonlinear resonance) a type of resonance in electric circuits which occurs when a circuit containing a nonlinear inductance is fed from a source that has series capacitance, and the circuit is subjected to a disturbance such as opening of a switch. Dielectric constant — A quantity measuring the ability of a substance to store electrical energy in an electric field. Electronic sensors convert some other form of energy (light, heat, sound pressure, etc.) In this review of terms from the Lake Technical College Apprentice program we review open and short circuits – Make and Break – Normally Open and Closed – Switches – Loads – Power Supplies and Conductors and More. Basic Electrical Concepts & Terms Basic electrical concepts and terms - current, voltage, resistance, power, charge, efficiency. Copper and aluminum wire are the most common conductors used in the electrical trade. Commonly used for filtering out voltage spikes. Ground — The reference point in an electrical circuit from which voltages are measured, a common return path for electric current, or a direct physical connection to the Earth. Basic Electronics: Getting started with basic electronics is easier than you might think. Ohm — (Ω) A unit of measure of resistance. Gain –  The difference between the sum of the straight distances and the actual length of the conduit (how much the conduit will grow after being bent). Series Parallel Circuit — An electric current containing groups of parallel-connected receptive devices, the groups being arranged in the circuit in series; a series multiple circuit. Inductor - A basic passive electrical component that resists changes in electric … Used to measure energy levels for Arc Flash boundaries and proper PPE when working on energized electrical equipment. Apparent power is the product of the rms voltage and the rms current. Ampere-Hour (Ah) — A unit of measure for battery capacity. The terms you are required to know for the Electricity Merit Badge are: Volt, ampere (amp), watt, ohm, resistance, potential difference, rectifier, rheostat, conductor, ground, circuit, and short circuit. GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) — A GFCI outlet is a device intended for the protection of personnel that functions to de-energize a circuit or portion thereof within an established period of time when a current to ground exceeds some predetermined value that is less than that required to operate the overcurrent protective device of the supply circuit. Switchgear – The combination of electrical disconnect switches, fuses or circuit breakers used to control, protect, and isolate electrical equipment. True Power — Measured in Watts. Generator — A device which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. The three key concepts you need to know before working with electronic circuits are current, voltage, and power. One ohm is equivalent to the resistance in a circuit transmitting a current of one ampere when subjected to a potential difference of one volt. Wattmeter — The wattmeter is an instrument for measuring the electric power (or the supply rate of electrical energy) in watts of any given circuit. Calorie — The French heat unit. References: Wikipedia, EPQ #138 - Basic Electrical Terms and Definitions, NFPA-70, IEEE, minimum number of cables required to safely ground transformer, Open delta high leg identification requirement. Resistance (Ω Ohms) — The opposition to the passage of an electric current. Measured in farads as the ratio of the electric charge of the object (Q, measured in coulombs) to the voltage across the object (V, measured in volts). Each load connected in a separate path receives the full circuit voltage, and the total circuit current is equal to the sum of the individual branch currents. More specifically, Ohm's law states that the R in this relation is constant, independe… eval(ez_write_tag([[320,50],'electricianapprenticehq_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_3',114,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[320,50],'electricianapprenticehq_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_4',114,'0','1']));Rectifier — An electrical device that converts an alternating current into a direct one by allowing a current to flow through it in one direction only. Why should you understand electricity Current and amperes Potential difference and volts Relationship between potential difference and current Sources of potential difference Concept of resistance Ohms Law DC and AC current But it’s essentially just a rule that tells you which way the current will flow when you stick a conductor (like a metal coil) inside a magnetic field. Replacing the earlier term of cycle per second (cps). The sulfuric acid - water solution in a storage battery is an electrolyte. Alternating Current (AC) — An electric current that reverses its direction many times a second at regular intervals. ELECTROCHEMICAL - The relationship of electricity to chemical changes and with the conversions of chemical and electrical energy. Volt (V) — A unit measure of voltage. Apparent Power — Measured in volt-ampers (VA). A third service cable, the neutral, connects to the neutral bus bar inside the panel. Power — The rate at which electrical energy is transferred by an electric circuit. Measured in Hertz. Inverter — An apparatus that converts direct current into alternating current. So what is electricity and where does it come from? Kilowatt-hour Meter — A device used to measure electrical energy use. Switch — A switch is a device for making, breaking, or changing the connections in an electric current. HAnd benders come in sizes: 1/2″, 3/4″, 1″, and 1-1/4″. Ground or Earth — The reference point in an electrical circuit from which voltages are measured, a common return path for electric current, or a direct physical connection to the Earth. November 23, 2020 Danielle Wexler No Comments. Nominal Voltage: What is it? Amp (Ampere): The unit of intensity of electrical current, otherwise known as the measure of electrical flow. Each load connected in a separate path receives the full circuit voltage, and the total circuit current is equal to the sum of the individual branch currents. Earth electrodeis a metal plate or other conducting elements of electricity partially buried in the earth to constitute and provide a reliable conductive path for the fault current to the ground. Ground Fault – An unintentional, electrically conductive connection between an ungrounded conductor of an electrical circuit and the normally non–current-carrying conductors, metallic enclosures, metallic raceways, metallic equipment, or earth. Voltmeters have a high internal resistance are connected across (parallel to) the points where voltage is to be measured. The third piece of the puzzle is called power (abbreviated P in equations). Apparent Power — Measured in volt-ampers (VA). Using a “water-in-pipes” analogy, voltage in the electrical system is similar to water pressure in a … Ampere is the basic unit for measuring electrical current. Series-Parallel Circuit — A circuit in which some of the circuit components are connected in series and others are connected in parallel. Equal to 1000 Watt-hours. This Instructable will hopefully demystify the basics of electronics so that … Below you’ll find over XX definitions of electrical terms. Electric current the electrical term Electric current is one of the basic electrical terms described as when electrons flow from one place to another, they make a current. (vs. Operating & Rated … Written by Willy McAllister. There are both half wave rectifiers and full wave rectifiers. Measured in VARS. Volt-Ampere (VA) — A unit of measure of apparent power. Conductor — Any material where electric current can flow freely. All of the current in the circuit must flow through all of the loads. It is made up of conductors which rotate through a magnetic field to provide voltage or force by electromagnetic induction. Self Induction — Voltage which occurs in a coil when there is a change of current. Measured in ohms. For example, a battery which provides 5 amperes for 20 hours is said to deliver 100 ampere - hours. VARS — A unit of measure of reactive power. Measured in Watts. Circuit — A closed path in which electrons from a voltage or current source flow. φ 1 is the electric potential at point #1 in volts (V). True Power — Measured in Watts. Feeder pillars act as a central circuit that controls and distributes electricity to outgoing circuits downstream to the feeder pillar. Vars may be considered as either the imaginary part of apparent power or the power flowing into a reactive load, where voltage and current are specified in volts and amperes.