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Residential Electrical Terms

Terms in this set (15)

Ampere (amp)
Unit of current used to measure the amount of electricity flowing through a conductor per unit of time.
Circuit (parallel or series)
A path through which electricity flows from a source to one or more outlets then returns to the source.
Circuit Breaker
A device designed to open and close a circuit manually and to open the circuit automatically on a predetermined overload of current. Breakers come in various levels of Amp capacity ranging from 15-100+)
Conductor
A material that permits the flow of electricity (usually refers to a copper wire).
Convenience Outlet/Receptacle
A device attached to a circuit to allow electricity to be drawn off for appliances or lighting.
Fuse
A safety device that breaks the circuit when it is overloaded by melting a fusible link.
Lighting Outlet
An outlet intended for the use of a lighting fixture.
Ohm
The standard unit of electrical resistance between two points of a conductor.
Service Drop
The overhead service conductors between the last pole and the first point of attachment to the house.
Service Entrance
The fittings and conductors that bring electricity into the building.
Service/Distribution Panel
The main distribution box that receives the electricity and distributes it to the various points in the house through branch circuits. Contains the main disconnect switch fuse or breaker that supplies the total electrical system of the house.
Voltage
Pressure that forces current through a wire. One volt is the force that causes one ampere of current to flow through a wire with one ohm resistance.
Watt
One ampere under one volt of pressure. Amp x Volts = Watts (Most Appliances are rated in Watts)
Branch Circuit
One of several individual circuits from the distribution panel. Distributed from an individual breaker inside of a panel.
Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)
A safety device that continually monitors the flow of current in a circuit.
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