Glossary of Electrical Term

Ampere (or amp): Refers to the rate at which electrical power flows to a light, tool, or appliance.

armored cable: Two or more .wires that are grouped together and protected by a flexible metal covering.

box: A device used to contain wiring connections.

BX: See armored cable.

cable: Two or more wires that are grouped together and protected by a covering or sheath.

circuit: A continuous loop of electrical current flowing along wires or cables.

circuit breaker: A safety device that interrupts an electrical circuit in the event of an overload or short circuit.

conductor: Any material that allows e electrical current to flow through it. Copper wire is an especially good inductor.

conduit: A metal or plastic tube .used to protect wires.

continuity: An uninterrupted elec­trical pathway through a circuit or electrical fixture.

current: The movement of electricians along a conductor.

duplex receptacle: A receptacle that provides connections for two

two outlets

feed wire: A conductor that carries 120-volt current uninterrupted from the service panel.

fuse: A safety device, usually found in older homes, that interrupts electrical circuits during an ad or short circuit.

Greenfield: See armored cable, grounded wire: See neutral wire.

grounding wire: A wire used in an electrical circuit to conduct current to the earth in the event of a short circuit. The grounding wire often is a bare copper wire.

hot wire: Any wire that carries voltage. In an electrical circuit, the hot wire usually is covered with black or red insulation.

insulator: Any material, such as plastic or rubber, that resists the flow of electrical current. Insulating materials protect wires and cables.

junction box: See box.

meter: A device used to measure the amount of electrical power being used.

neutral wire: A wire that returns current at zero voltage to the source of electrical power. Usually covered with white or light gray insulation. Also called the grounded wire.

outlet: See receptacle.

overload: A demand for more current than the circuit wires or electrical device-was designed to carry. Usually causes a fuse to blow or a circuit breaker to trip.

pigtail: A short wire used to con­nect two or more circuit wires to a single screw terminal.

polarized receptacle: A recepta­cle designed to keep hot current flowing along black or red wires, and neutral current flowing along white or gray wires.

power: The result of hot current flowing for a period of time. Use of power makes heat, motion, or light.

receptacle: A device that provides plug-in access to electrical power.

Romex: A brand name of plastic-sheathed electrical cable that is commonly used for indoor wiring.

screw terminal: A place where a, wire connects to a receptacle, switch, or fixture.

service panel: A metal box usually near the site where electrical power enters the house. In the service panel, electrical current is split into individual circuits. The service panel has circuit breakers or fuses to protect each circuit.

short circuit: An accidental and improper contact between two current-carrying wires, or between, a current-carrying wire and a grounding conductor.

switch: A device that controls electrical current passing through I hot circuit wires. Used to turn lights and appliances on and off.

UL: An abbreviation for Under­writers Laboratories, an organiza­tion that tests electrical devices and manufactured products for safety.

voltage (or volts): A measurement of electricity in terms of pressure.

wattage (or watt): A measurement of electrical power in terms of total energy consumed. Watts can be calculated by multiplying the volt­age times the amps.

wire connector: A device used to connect two or more wires together. Also called a wire nut.