Electrician Glossary

  • AC (Alternating Current): Electric current that reverses direction periodically.
  • DC (Direct Current): Electric current that flows in only one direction.
  • Voltage: Electrical potential difference or electromotive force.
  • Current: Flow of electric charge carriers (electrons or ions) per unit time.
  • Resistance: Property that opposes the flow of electrical current.
  • Ohm’s Law: Relationship between voltage, current, and resistance (V = IR).
  • Circuit: Complete path through which electric current can flow.
  • Conductor: Material that allows electrical current to pass through easily.
  • Insulator: Material that resists the flow of electric current.
  • Ground: Reference point in an electrical circuit.
  • Fuse: Safety device consisting of a strip of wire that melts and breaks an electric circuit if the current exceeds a safe level.
  • Circuit Breaker: Device designed to interrupt electrical current flow in case of overload or short circuit.
  • Transformer: Device that changes the voltage of an alternating current.
  • Resistor: Component that introduces resistance into an electrical circuit.
  • Capacitor: Component used to store electrical energy temporarily.
  • Diode: Electronic component that allows current to flow in one direction only.
  • Transistor: Semiconductor device used to amplify or switch electronic signals.
  • Inductor: Coil of wire that resists changes in current flow.
  • Junction Box: Enclosure housing electrical connections.
  • Ground Fault: Occurs when an unintended electrical path exists between a power source and a grounded surface.
  • Arc Fault: Electrical discharge between conductors.
  • Amperage: Measure of electrical current flow.
  • Wattage: Measure of electrical power.
  • Voltmeter: Instrument used to measure voltage.
  • Ammeter: Instrument used to measure current flow.
  • Ohmmeter: Instrument used to measure resistance.
  • Multimeter: Combined instrument used to measure voltage, current, and resistance.
  • Short Circuit: Connection that allows current to flow through an unintended path.
  • Neutral: Return path for current in an AC circuit.
  • Phase: Conductor used to carry alternating current in a multi-phase system.
  • Single Phase: Electrical system with one voltage phase.
  • Three Phase: Electrical system with three voltage phases.
  • Grounding Rod: Metal rod buried in the ground to provide a safe path for electrical discharge.
  • Conduit: Tubing or pipe used to protect and route electrical wiring.
  • Knob and Tube Wiring: Older electrical wiring system using porcelain knobs and tubes.
  • Electrical Panel: Distribution board for electrical circuits.
  • GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter): Device that quickly breaks an electrical circuit to prevent serious harm from an ongoing electric shock.
  • Circuit Load: Total power consumed by all devices connected to a circuit.
  • Overload: Condition where too much current flows through a circuit.
  • Short Circuit: Low-resistance connection between two conductors.
  • Busbar: Metal strip or bar used to conduct electricity within a switchboard, distribution board, substation, or other electrical apparatus.
  • Busway: Prefabricated electrical distribution system consisting of bus bars in a protective enclosure.
  • Electrical Junction: Point in an electrical system where two or more conductors meet.
  • Fuse Box: Old term for an electrical panel or fuseboard.
  • Electrical Grid: Interconnected network for delivering electricity from suppliers to consumers.
  • Earthing: Connecting metal parts of an electrical installation to the earth.
  • Electrical Isolation: Process of ensuring no electricity can flow to a piece of equipment or machinery.
  • Electrical Shock: Physical effects caused by electric current passing through the body.
  • Electromagnetic Interference (EMI): Disturbance generated by an external source that affects an electrical circuit.
  • Electrical Noise: Interference that degrades the quality of signals and data in electrical circuits.
  • Electrical Safety: Practices and precautions taken to avoid electrical hazards.
  • Electrician’s Pliers: Hand tool used by electricians for gripping, cutting, and stripping electrical wires.
  • Crimping Tool: Tool used to conjoin two pieces of metal by deforming one or both of them.
  • Wire Stripper: Hand tool used to strip insulation from electrical wires.
  • Cable Tie: Fastener used to hold electrical cables or wires together.
  • Heat Shrink Tubing: Tubing that shrinks in diameter when heated, used for insulation, abrasion resistance, and environmental protection for stranded and solid wire conductors, connections, joints, and terminals.
  • Conductor Size: Diameter of the metal part of the wire, cable, or other conductor, measured in circular mils (CM) or square millimeters (mm2), also called wire gauge.
  • Load Center: Electrical service panel (or breaker box) that distributes electrical circuits within a building or other structure.
  • Service Entrance: Point where electrical power from a utility company is delivered to the consumer’s electrical wiring system.
  • Service Drop: Overhead electrical line running from a utility pole to a building.
  • Service Lateral: Underground electrical line running from a utility transformer to a building.
  • Electrical Code: Set of regulations governing electrical installations to ensure safety.
  • Ohm: Unit of electrical resistance.
  • Farad: Unit of electrical capacitance.
  • Hertz: Unit of frequency in cycles per second.
  • Watt: Unit of electrical power.
  • Joule: Unit of energy.
  • Kirchhoff’s Laws: Principles governing the behavior of electric circuits.
  • NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association): Organization that sets standards for electrical products.
  • IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers): Professional association for electronic engineering and electrical engineering.
  • PPE (Personal Protective Equipment): Safety gear worn to minimize exposure to hazards.
  • Electric Shock Hazard: Risk of injury or death due to electric shock.
  • Electrical Grounding: Connecting electrical systems to the Earth to prevent electric shock and protect equipment.
  • Hot Wire: Conductor carrying electrical current.
  • Cold Wire: Inactive or neutral conductor.
  • Wire Nut: Twist-on connector used to join electrical wires.
  • Conduit Bender: Tool used to bend electrical conduit pipes.
  • Electrical Tape: Insulating tape used to wrap electrical wires.
  • Arc Flash: Dangerous release of energy caused by an electric arc.
  • Infrared Thermography: Technique for detecting heat patterns in electrical systems.
  • Electrical Load Calculation: Determining the total power required for a circuit or system.
  • Electrical Distribution: Process of distributing electrical power to different circuits.
  • Surge Protector: Device protecting electrical appliances from voltage spikes.
  • Electrical Interlock: Mechanism preventing unsafe equipment operation.
  • Power Factor: Measure of electrical efficiency in AC circuits.
  • Ground Fault Protection: System preventing ground faults.
  • Electric Motor: Device converting electrical energy into mechanical energy.
  • Conduit Fittings: Connectors used to secure and protect conduit.
  • Cable Tray: Structural system used to support cables.
  • Switchgear: Electrical equipment for switching, controlling, and protecting electrical circuits.
  • Electrical Contracting: Business providing electrical services.
  • Electrical Maintenance: Scheduled service to ensure electrical systems function properly.
  • Electrical Permit: Authorization for electrical work from local authorities.
  • Electrical Diagram: Visual representation of electrical circuits.
  • Electrical Fire: Fire caused by electrical faults.
  • Electrical Insulation: Material preventing the flow of electric current.
  • Electrical Conductor: Material conducting electric current.
  • Electrical Engineer: Professional designing electrical systems.
  • Electrical Technician: Skilled worker performing electrical installations and repairs.
  • Electrical Troubleshooting: Process of identifying and resolving electrical problems.