Electrical 101

There are a lot of terms to know in the electrical business. To help you become a better-informed customer, we supply some terms and definitions for you to consider.

Alternating currents

The term alternating current refers to a current that reverses at
regular recurring intervals of time and that has alternately positive
and negative values.

Alternating current (advantages)

As compared with DC, the advantage of AC is the reduced cost of transmission by use of high voltage transformers.

Alternating currents (disadvantages)

As compared with DC, the disadvantages of AC are: The high voltage
which renders it dangerous and requires more efficient insulation;
alternating current cannot be used for such purposes as electroplating,
charging storage batteries, etc.

Alternating current (effects)

There are several effects of the AC to consider in determining the
size of wires. Accordingly, allowance must be made for: Self induction,
mutual induction, power factor, skin effect, eddy currents, frequency,
resistance, electric hysteresis, etc…

Ammeter

Measures the current flow in amperes in a circuit. An ammeter is connected in series in the circuit.

Ampere

The practical unit of electric current flow. If a one-ohm
resistance is connected to a one-volt source, one ampere will flow.

Anode

The positive pole of a battery, or preferably the path by which the
current passes out and enters the electrolyte on its way to the other
pole; opposed to the cathode.

Branch Circuit

The circuit conductors between the final over current device protecting the circuit and the outlet(s).

Calorie

The French heat unit.

Capacitance

Measure, in farads, or the opposition to voltage changes in an AC
circuit, causing voltage to lag behind current; exhibited by condensers,
two conductors separated by a nonconductor.

Capacitive Reactance

The effect of capacitance in opposing the flow of alternating or pulsating current.

Capacitor

A device used to boost the voltage to a motor. Running capacitors
are used in starting winding to increase the running torque of the motor.

Circuit

A complete path over which an electric current can flow.

Circuit Breaker

A device designed to open and close a circuit by non automatic means
and to open the circuit automatically on a predetermined over current
without injury to itself when properly applied within its rating.
Circuit breakers can be reset.

Circuit (Series)

A circuit supplying energy to a number of devices connected in
series. The same current passes through each device in completing its
path to the source of supply.

Close Circuit

A circuit permitting a continuous current.

Coil

An assemblage of successive convolutions of a conductor. A unit of a
winding consisting of one or more insulated conductors connected in
series and surrounded by common insulation, and arranged to link or
produce magnetic flux.

Conductance

The measure of ease with which a substance conducts electricity,
measured in ohms. It is the opposite of resistance and is expressed in
mhos.

Conductor

An electrical path, which offers comparatively little resistance. A
wire or combination of wires not insulated from one another, suitable
for carrying a single electric current. Bus bars are also conductors.
Conductors may be classed with respect to their conducting power as;
(a) good; silver, copper, aluminum, zinc, brass, platinum, iron, nickel,
tin, lead; (b) fair; charcoal and coke, carbon, plumb ago, acid
solutions, sea water, saline solutions, metallic ores, living vegetable
substances, moist earth; (c) partial; water, the body, flame, linen,
cotton, mahogany, pine, rosewood, lignum vitae, teak, and marble.

Coulomb

A unit of electrical charge; the quantity of electricity passing in
one second through a circuit in which the rate of flow is one ampere.

Cross

Any accidental contact between electric wires or conductors.

Current

The movement of electrons through a conductor; measured in amperes, milliamperes, and microamperes.

Cycle

A complete reversal of alternating current, passing through a
complete set of changes or motions in opposite directions, from a rise
to maximum, return to zero, rise to maximum in the other direction, and
another return to zero. One complete positive and one complete negative
alternation of current or voltage.

Dead

Free from any electric connection to a source of potential
difference and from electric charge. The term is used only with
reference to current carrying parts that are sometimes alive.

Deci

A Latin prefix often used with a physical unit to designate a quantity one-tenth of that unit.

Decibel

Technically a measure of relative power levels. (b) A measure of
the loudness of a bell, siren, horn, or other noise. (c) The strength
of an audio signal.

Deflection

The distance or angle by which one line departs from another.

Diagram

A skeleton geometrical drawing, illustrating the principles of application of a mechanism.

Dimmer

A device for varying the brightness of an electric light.

Diode

A two-electrode electron tube containing an anode and a cathode. Diodes are used as rectifiers and detectors.

Direct Current

A unidirectional current. It may be constant or periodically fluctuating, as rectified alternating current.

Dissipation

Loss of electric energy as heat.

Drop

The voltage drop developed across a resistor due to current flowing through it.

E

Symbol for voltage.

Earth

The ground considered as a medium for completing an electric circuit.

Electrical Horsepower

746 watts.

Electrical Units

In the practical system, electrical units comprise the volt,
the ampere, the ohm, the watt, the watt-hour, the coulomb, the henry,
the mho, the joule, and the farad.

Electric Circuit

The path (whether metallic or nonmetallic) of an electric current.

Electrician

A person who is versed in the knowledge of electricity.

Electricity

The name is given to an invisible agent known only by its effects
and manifestations, as shown in electrical phenomena. Electricity, no
matter how produced is believed to be one and the same thing.

Electrocution

The destruction of life by means of electric current.

Electromagnet

A magnet produced by passing an electric current through and
insulated wire conductor coiled around a core of soft iron, as in the
fields of a dynamo or motor.

Electromotive Force (EMF)

An energy-charge relation that results in electric pressure (voltage), which produces or tends to produce charge flow.

Electron

The smallest charge of negative electricity known.

Energy Efficiency

The efficiency of an electric machine measured in watt-hours or kilowatt-hours; the watt-hour efficiency.

Farad

Practical unit of electrostatic capacity in the electromagnetic
system. A condenser is said to have a capacity of one farad if it will
absorb one coulomb ( that is, one ampere per second), of electricity
when subjected to a pressure of one volt. The unit of capacitance.

Faraday Effect

A discovery made by Faraday that a wave of light polarized in a
certain plane can be turned about by the influence of a magnet so that
the vibrations occur in a different plane.

Fathom

A measure of length equal to six feet, used chiefly in taking soundings, measuring cordage, etc.

Fiber Optics

Piping light is the science that deals with the transmission of
light through extremely thin fibers of glass, plastic, or other
transparent material.

Fluorescence

That property by virtue of which certain solids and fluids become luminous under the influence of radiant energy.

Force

An elementary physical cause capable of modifying the motion of a mass.

Formula

A prescribed form, principle, or rule expressed in mathematical terms, chemical symbols, etc.

Formulae

A rule or principle expressed in algebraic language.

Frequency

The number of periods occurring in the unit of time periodic
process, such as in the flow of electric charge. The number of complete
cycles per second existing in any form of wave motion; such as the
number of cycles per second of an alternating current.

Fuse

A strip of wire or metal inserted in series with a circuit which,
when it carries an excess of current over its rated capacity, will burn
out. Also called a cutout.

Galvanometer

A current indicator. It consists of a magnetic needle suspended
within a coil of wire and free to swing over the face of a graduated
dial. The movement of the needle shows the direction of the current and
indicates whether it is a strong or weak one. There are numerous types
of galvanometers such as; a static, tangent, sine, differential,
ballistic, and D’Arsonval.

Generator

A general name given to a machine for transforming mechanical energy into electrical energy.

Ground

A conducting connection, whether intentional or accidental, between
an electrical circuit or equipment and the earth, or to some conducting
body that serves in place of the earth.

Grounded

Connected to earth or to some conducting body that serves in place of the earth.

Heat (electric)

The heat produced in a conductor by the passage of an electric current through it.

Horsepower (hp)

Unit used to express rate of work, or power. One horsepower=746
watts. Work done at the rate of 33,000 foot pounds per minute or 550
foot pounds per second.

I

Symbol for electric current.

Impedance

The total opposition that a circuit offers the flow of alternating
current at a given frequency; combination of resistance and reactance,
measured in ohms.

Induction

The process by which an electrical conductor becomes electrified when near a charged body and becomes magnetized.

Input

The intake or energy absorbed by a machine during its operation,
as distinguished from the output of useful energy delivered by it.

Insulator

A device for fastening and supporting a conductor. Glass and
porcelain are employed almost universally for supporting overhead
wires.

Ion

An electrically charged atom or radical.

Jacobi’s Law

A law of electric motors which states that the maximum work of a
motor is performed when its counter electromotive force is equal to one
half the electromotive force expended on the motor.

Joint

The tying together of two single wire conductors so that the union will be good, both mechanically and electrically.

Joule’s Law

The law first stated by Joule, that the quantity of heat developed
in a conductor by the passage of an electric current is proportional to
the resistance of the conductor, to the square of the strength of the
current, and to the duration of the flow.

Kilovolt (kv)

A unit of pressure equal to one thousands volts.

Kilowatt

A unit of electrical power, equal to one thousands watts. Electric
power is usually expressed in kilowatts. As the watt is equal to 1/746
horsepower, the kilowatt or 1,000 watts = 1.34 hp. Careful distinction
should be made between kilowatts and kilovolt amperes.

L

The symbol for inductance.

Leakage

The escape of electric current through defects in insulation or other causes.

LED

A semiconductor diode that converts applied voltage to light and is used in lamps and digital displays.

Loss

Power expended without accomplishing useful work.

Made Circuit

A closed or completed circuit.

Mega-Volt

A unit of pressure equal to one million volts.

Meter

An electric indicating instrument as a voltmeter, ammeter, etc.

Negative

The opposite of positive. A potential less than that of another
potential or of the earth. In electrical apparatus, the pole or
direction toward which the current is suppose to flow.

Network

An electric circuit in which the parts are connected in some special
manner and cannot be classed as in series, in parallel, or in
series-parallel.

Neutron

A proton and an electron in very close union existing in the
nucleus. A particle having the weight of a proton but carrying no
electric charge. It is located in the nucleus of an atom.

Ohm

The unit of electrical resistance. Resistance is one ohm when a DC
voltage of one volt will send a current of one ampere through.

Open Circuit

A circuit, the electrical continuity of which has been interrupted, as by opening a switch.

Output

The current, voltage, power, or driving force delivered by a circuit or device.

P

Abbreviation for power.

Peak

The maximum instantaneous value of a varying voltage or current.

Peak Current

The maximum value of an alternating current.

Period

The time required for a complete cycle of alternating current or
voltage; for 60 cycles per second, a period would be 1/60 second.

Photoelectric

Descriptive of the effect which light has on electric circuits, through a device controlled by light.

Photovoltaic System (PV System)

A
photovoltaic system is a system which uses solar cells to convert light
into electricity. A photovoltaic system consists of multiple
components, including cells, mechanical and electrical connections and
mountings and means of regulating and/or modifying the electrical
output.

Positive

The term used to describe a terminal with fewer electrons than
normal so that it attracts electrons. Electrons flow into the positive
terminals of a voltage source.

Power

The rate at which work is done; it is usually expressed as the
number of foot pounds in one minute, that is, if you lift 33,000 foot
pounds in one minute, you have done 1 horsepower of work.

Proton

The smallest quantity of electricity that can exist in the free
state. A positive charged particle in the nucleus of an atom.

Quick-Break

A switch or circuit breaker that has a high contact opening speed.

R

Symbol for resistance.

Reactance

Opposition offered to the flow of AC by the inductance or capacity of a part; measured in ohms.

Recovery Voltage

The voltage impressed upon the fuse after a circuit is cleared.

Relay

An electromagnetic device, which permits control of current in one circuit by a much smaller current in another circuit.

Resistance

The opposition offered by a substance or body to the passage through
it of an electric current which converts electric energy into heat.

Resistance Drop

The voltage drop in place with the current.

Resistor

An aggregation of one or more units possessing the property of
electrical resistance. Resistors are used in electric circuits for the
purpose of operation, protection, or control.

Semiconductor

A name given to substances having only moderate power of
transmitting electricity, and which may be said in that respect to,
stand midway between conductors and insulators.

Series Circuit

A circuit supplying energy to a number of loads connected in series,
that is, the same current passes through each load in completing
its path to the source of supply.

Series Parallel Circuit

An electric current containing groups of parallel connected
receptive devices, the groups being arranged in the circuit in series;
series multiple circuit.

Short Circuit

A fault in an electric circuit or apparatus due usually to imperfect
insulation, such that the current follows a by-path and inflicts damage
or is wasted.

Solenoid

A spiral of conducting wire, would cylindrically 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.

Spark

A discharge of electricity across a gap between two electrodes. The
discharge is accompanied by heat and incandescence. Distinguish
between spark and arc.

Steady Current

An electric current of constant amperage.

Surge Protector

A portable device containing electrical outlets that protects equipment plugged into it from a surge in current.

Switch

A device for making, breaking, or changing the connections in an electric current.

Tesla Coil

A form of induction coil designed by Tesla for obtaining high
voltages and frequencies; it consists of a primary of a few turns of
coarse wire and a secondary of fine wire, both immersed in oil
insulation; a Tesla transformer.

Transformer

An apparatus used for changing the voltage and current of
an alternating circuit. A transformer consists of primary winding,
secondary winding, and an iron core. In principle, if a current is
passed through a coil of wire encircling a bar of soft iron, the iron
will become a magnet; when the current is continued the bar loses its
magnetization.

Transient Voltage

A short-lived oscillation in a system caused by a sudden change of voltage or current or load.

Transistor

An active semiconductor device with three or more terminals.
Transistors turn on instantly. They don’t require a warm-up time like a
tube does.

Unit of Current

The practical unit of current is the ampere, which is the current
produced by a pressure of one volt in a circuit having a resistance of
one ohm.

Unit of Electric Work

The joule.

Unit of Pressure

The volt, or pressure, which will produce a current of one ampere against a resistance of one ohm.

Unit of Resistance

The ohm, which is the resistance that permits a flow of one ampere when the impressed pressure is one volt.

V

Symbol for volt.

Volt

The practical unit of electric pressure. The pressure that will
produce a current of one ampere against a resistance of one ohm.

Voltage Drop

The drop of pressure in an electric circuit due to the resistance of the conductor.

V-O-M meter

Volt-ohm-millimeter, the troubleshooters” basic testing instrument.

W

Symbol for wattage.

Watt

The practical unit of power, being the amount of energy expended per
second by an unvarying current of one ampere under the pressure of one
volt.

X

Symbol for reactance.

Y connection

This method of transformer connection consists in connecting both the primaries and secondaries in star grouping.

Z

Symbol for impedance.