as always, this is a work in progress
What are you dealing with?
Plumbing Terms
Electrical Terms
AMP - abreviation for ampere which is the measure of electrical flow - an SI thing
armored cable (BX) - metal sheathed flexible cable
arrestor (surge) - stops or prevents a surge of electricity (such as from lightening) from harming delicate equipment - see also suppressor
ballast - device which initiates the surge to start flourescent tubes
branch circuit - a circuit supplying many outlets BX - see armored cable
circuit - the pathway an electrical current travels to and from the main source
circuit breaker - a device/switch which regulates the circuit's amp capacity - if the predetermined amperage is exceeded, this opens the circuit (remember, the circuit is a closed "loop")
CODE - see National Electric Code (NEC)
conductor - material through which electricity flows (eg. wire); for the most part, this is wire, since you'll probably deal with this as your most common conductor
conduit - tube, pipe, or passageway that is used to house/enclose electrical wires
continuity - uninterrupted electical path, the complete flow along a circuit (power source to fixture and back)
current - electrical flow through wires(conductors) measred in AMPs
cycle - sequence of complete alternation (negative and postive) of a current
direct current (DC) - electrical current that flows in only one way
fish - marine animal or a device used to pull wires/cables through conduits or walls (lengthwise); usually a coiled flat steel thing you buy, or wire/string you have around the house
fuse - device with a band of easily "meltable" metal which melts when a circuit current exceeds its capacity
gauge - thickness of wire; also applies to other things like sheet metal, bands, etc.; we (US) uses AWG (American Wire Gauge)
ground - an electrical conductor connected to the ground/earth
ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) - safety device (usually wall plug) which breaks a circuit to prevent shock; usually found in bathrooms, kitchens, around pools, etc.
hot - "live" wire that always carry a current (unless interrupted) as opposed to the neutral or ground
junction box - a box in which wires are joined together as a plint of origin, split, redirection, etc. (the cool fixit guys call them a J-box)
knockout - something usually found on an outlet box, switch box, J-box, that needs to be knpcked out to accomodate wires
meter - a device which measures electricity used; usually that glass dome thing on the side of your house which has a spinning disk in it
National Electric Code (NEC) - called "code" - rules sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association, under the American National Standards Intsitute (ANSI), to determine electrical safety measures (f in other words why we have to install this, and can't install that)
neutral - paired with the hot wires returns the current back to origin to complete circuit
open circuit - circuit with a physical interruption like a switch, disconnection, burnt fuse, etc.
polarized plug - the odd prong on a plug we like to shave down or clip off, right? - not supposed to! - it's supposed to only go into a receptacle in only one way
raceway - electrical wires and/or cables in a specified space
receptacle - electrical plug (just one); most wall installs have two receptacles
service panel - the primary panel which houses all the electrical components where electricity is brought in an distrubuted via circuits
short circuit - bad connection between wires; can be a number reasons
splice - making a connection by joining two or more wires
split receptacle - receptacle where each of the two plugs are on different circuits
stranded wire - conductor/wire made of a bunch of thinner strands twisted and braided together
switch - device used to continue, disrupt, or redirect a circuit
terminal - screw type where the wire is screwed to the device; puch-in type where a stripped wire can be pushed into the acceptor
transformer - a device that converts voltages
UL - Underwriter's Laboratories tested an approved device; basically, having passed specific test, standards, and safety measures; look for the UL label
volt - electrical pressure unit; don't ask, I guess another SI thing
voltage - sufficient pressure to cause electrical current to flow
watt - a measure of electrical power
wire nut - twist on device use to connect wires
