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Voltage Electrical pressure that pushes current; measured in volts tp-trades-electrical
Current Flow of electric charge; measured in amperes tp-trades-electrical
Resistance Opposition to current; measured in ohms tp-trades-electrical
Power Rate of using energy; measured in watts tp-trades-electrical
Ohm's law Volts = amps x ohms tp-trades-electrical
Watt's law Watts = volts x amps tp-trades-electrical
Conductor Material that carries current easily, like copper tp-trades-electrical
Insulator Material that resists current, like rubber tp-trades-electrical
Circuit A complete path for current tp-trades-electrical
Open circuit A broken path; no current flows tp-trades-electrical
Short circuit An unintended low-resistance path causing very high current tp-trades-electrical
Series circuit Components in one path tp-trades-electrical
Parallel circuit Components on separate branches tp-trades-electrical
AC Alternating current, which changes direction tp-trades-electrical
DC Direct current, which flows one way tp-trades-electrical
Hot wire Carries current from the source; usually black or red tp-trades-electrical
Neutral wire Returns current to the source; usually white tp-trades-electrical
Ground wire Safety path to earth; bare copper or green tp-trades-electrical
Circuit breaker Switch that opens automatically when current is too high tp-trades-electrical
Fuse A safety device with a link that melts on overcurrent tp-trades-electrical
GFCI Ground fault circuit interrupter, which cuts power when current leaks tp-trades-electrical
AFCI Arc fault circuit interrupter, which guards against arcing tp-trades-electrical
Panel (breaker box) Enclosure holding circuit breakers tp-trades-electrical
Service entrance Where utility power enters a building tp-trades-electrical
Meter Device measuring electricity use tp-trades-electrical
Receptacle Outlet where plugs connect tp-trades-electrical
Switch Device that opens and closes a circuit tp-trades-electrical
Three-way switch Allows control of a light from two places tp-trades-electrical
Junction box Enclosure for wire connections tp-trades-electrical
Conduit Protective tube for wiring tp-trades-electrical
EMT conduit Electrical metallic tubing, a thin-walled metal conduit tp-trades-electrical
Romex Common brand name for non-metallic sheathed cable tp-trades-electrical
Wire gauge (AWG) Size of wire; a smaller number means thicker wire tp-trades-electrical
14 AWG wire Commonly used on 15-amp circuits tp-trades-electrical
12 AWG wire Commonly used on 20-amp circuits tp-trades-electrical
Ampacity Maximum current a conductor can carry safely tp-trades-electrical
Voltage drop Loss of voltage along a wire tp-trades-electrical
Wire nut Cap used to join wires tp-trades-electrical
Lug A connector point for a wire tp-trades-electrical
Terminal A screw or clamp point where wire attaches tp-trades-electrical
Strip Remove insulation from a wire end tp-trades-electrical
Pigtail A short wire used to connect multiple wires to one terminal tp-trades-electrical
Load A device that uses electrical power tp-trades-electrical
Line side The side of a device connected to the power source tp-trades-electrical
Load side The side leading to the devices tp-trades-electrical
Multimeter Tool measuring voltage, current and resistance tp-trades-electrical
Voltage tester Tool that detects live circuits tp-trades-electrical
Lockout/tagout Safety procedure keeping a circuit off while working on it tp-trades-electrical
NEC National Electrical Code, setting US wiring standards tp-trades-electrical
Permit Official permission to do regulated electrical work tp-trades-electrical
Inspection Official check that work meets code tp-trades-electrical
Journeyman electrician A licensed electrician who has completed an apprenticeship tp-trades-electrical
Master electrician A highly experienced, licensed electrician tp-trades-electrical
Apprentice A trainee learning the trade on the job tp-trades-electrical
Transformer Device that changes voltage levels tp-trades-electrical
Step-down transformer Reduces voltage tp-trades-electrical
Motor Device converting electrical energy to motion tp-trades-electrical
Capacitor Component that stores charge tp-trades-electrical
Relay A switch operated by an electromagnet tp-trades-electrical
Contactor A heavy-duty relay for high-current loads tp-trades-electrical
Phase One of the alternating currents in a power system tp-trades-electrical
Single-phase Power common in homes tp-trades-electrical
Three-phase Power common in industry tp-trades-electrical
120 volts Standard household outlet voltage in the US tp-trades-electrical
240 volts Higher household voltage for appliances like dryers tp-trades-electrical
Frequency Cycles per second; 60 Hz in the US tp-trades-electrical
Kilowatt-hour A unit of energy used on electric bills tp-trades-electrical
Load calculation Figuring the total power demand of a building tp-trades-electrical
Overcurrent More current than a circuit is designed to carry tp-trades-electrical
Arc flash A dangerous explosion of energy from an electrical fault tp-trades-electrical
Electrical shock Current passing through the body; potentially deadly tp-trades-electrical
PPE Personal protective equipment, such as insulated gloves tp-trades-electrical
Bonding Connecting metal parts to make them electrically continuous tp-trades-electrical
Grounding electrode A rod or pipe that connects the system to the earth tp-trades-electrical
Dimmer A switch that varies light brightness tp-trades-electrical
Smart switch A switch controlled by an app or voice tp-trades-electrical
Solar panel Device turning sunlight into DC electricity tp-trades-electrical
Inverter Converts DC power to AC tp-trades-electrical
Surge protector Device limiting voltage spikes tp-trades-electrical
Extension cord rating Must match or exceed the load's amperage tp-trades-electrical
Knockout A removable circle in a box for cable entry tp-trades-electrical
Fish tape A tool for pulling wire through walls and conduit tp-trades-electrical
Lineman's pliers Heavy pliers for cutting and twisting wire tp-trades-electrical