Terms and Circuitry
Glossary of Terms
Alternating Current (AC) – Alternating electric current that reverses direction, usually many times per second. Most electrical generators produce alternating current.
Ampere (amp) - A measure of how much electricity is moving through a conductor.
Battery - A direct current (DC) voltage source containing cells that convert chemical energy to electrical energy.
Blackout - A total power failure over a large area; usually caused by the failure of major generating equipment or transmission facilities.
Capacitor - A device that stores electrical charges and can be used to maintain voltage levels in power lines and improve electrical-system efficiency.
Circuit - Path that electricity follows.
Circuit Breaker - A switch that opens an electric circuit when a short occurs.
Conductor - A material that allows an electric current to pass through it. Also, the wire that carries electricity in an electric distribution or transmission system.
Direct Current (DC) - Electricity that flows through a conductor in a single direction.
Distribution System - The poles, wire and transformers used to deliver electric energy from a bulk power-supplier to the consumer.
Electric Current - A flow of electrons through a wire or other electrical conductor. Electrons are negatively charged particles of matter.
Electricity - Electric current or power that results from the movement of electrons in a conductor from a negatively charged point to a positively charged point.
Fuse - A protective device for electric circuits containing a wire designed to melt and open the circuit under abnormally high electric loads.
Generator - A machine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. Electricity is produced from magnets whirling inside coils of wire in the generator core.
Ground – An intentional or accidential conducting path between an electrical system or circuit and the earth or some conducting body acting in place of the earth. A ground is often used as the common wiring point or reference in a circuit.
Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) - A saftey device that instantly breaks the circuit when a short develops. Required for outlets that are used in bathrooms, kitchens, outdoors or wherever electrical equipment might come into contact with water.
High Voltage - Voltage in a power line higher than 600 volts.
Horsepower (HP) - A measure of power equal to about 746 watts.
Impedance - Measured in Ohms, it is the total opposition of current flow in an alternating current circuit.
Insulator (Non-Conductor) - Material that does not conduct electricity, such as glass, ceramics or rubber. It prevents the passage of electricity. All transmission and distribution wires are protected by insulators.
Kilowatt-hour (kWh) - A unit of energy of work equal to 1,000 watt-hours. The basic measure of electric energy generation or use. A 100-watt light bulb burning for 10 hours uses one kilowatt-hour.
Load - The amount of electric power drawn at a specific time from an electric system, or the total power drawn from the system. Peak load is the amount of power drawn at the time of highest demand.
Meter - A device used to measure and record the amount of electricity used by a consumer.
Ohm - The amount of resistance overcome by one volt in causing one ampere to flow. The ohm measures resistance to current flow in electrical circuits.
Outage - Interruption of service to an electric consumer because a power plant, transmission line or other facility is not operating.
Power - The term used for the product of voltage and current. It is measured in watts.
Single-Phase Power - An electric circuit that consists of one alternating current.
Substation - A place that contains transformers which lower electricity's voltage so that it can be used in our homes.
Surge Suppressor - An electronic device that protects electric equipment from short-term, high-voltage flows of electricity such as lightning strikes by routing the excess voltage to ground.
Three-Phase Power - An electric circuit that consists of three separate currents delivered at one-third cycle intervals by means of a three-wire circuit; typically used to power large industrial motors that operate at 200 volts or higher.
Transformer - A device used to raise or lower voltage in electric distribution or transmission lines. A step-up transformer raises voltage and a step-down transformer lowers voltage.
Transmission - The transfer of electric current from a power plant to a destination that could be hundreds of miles away.
Volt – Unit of potential difference or electromotive force. One volt is the potential difference needed to produce one amp of current though a resistance of one ohm.
Voltage - The force which pushes electricity through a wire.
Watt - A unit of electrical power.
Circuitry
Now that you have had an opportunity to spend some time reviewing basic electrical terminology, we can use those phrases to better understand how to remain safe. First, let’s look at two basic circuits, on the left is a Direct Current (DC) circuit and on the right is an Alternating Current (AC) circuit.
As you can see, the electricity travels through the circuit (usually wires) from one point to the other, or back and forth. The most important thing for you to remember is to not become part of the electrical path (circuit). Electricity will travel through your nervous, circulatory, muscular, dermal or skeletal system to the ground or another part of the electrical circuit if you place your body in its path.
It’s very simple, if you don’t go near energized lines, they can’t hurt you!
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