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Bolt Electric – The More You Know: Basic Electrical Terminology

Whether you’re trying to fix a minor electrical problem in your New York City property or assessing something more complex to call a pro, it helps to know basic electrical terminology. You can explain what you need at the hardware or electrical supply store and search online for information better when you have the right vocabulary. And if you need assistance from licensed electricians like Bolt Electric, we’ll have a good idea of what you need and how many people to send when you can describe the issue precisely using technical language. Here’s a list of basic terms and ideas you should know, whether you are a single-family homeowner or the property manager for a large apartment complex.

Power Supply

AC (Alternating Current)

Today, this is the type of current used in the power supply throughout the United States, including New York City.

Amps (Amperage)

An abbreviation for the unit ampere, which measures current. All appliances, electrical devices, and cables have an amperage rating that indicates how much current it can carry safely, typically 15 to 60 amps.

Current

This is the flow of electricity from one spot to another, such as through the wires of your property, measured in amperes or amps.

Direct Current

This is electricity that only flows in one direction. In the early days of electricity in New York City, direct current was initially used, but it was soon replaced by alternating current.

Meter

This can be a tool you use in one location to measure electricity emanating from a receptacle, or it can refer to the device that records electrical use for a property or apartment unit.

Service Panel

In the old days, this referred to a fuse box. But now it means your circuit panel that houses all the breakers for your property. It is the junction between municipal electrical supply from the street and the circuits that bring electricity to all the elements of the property.

Volts (Voltage)

Voltage is the force that causes the flow of electricity, measured in volts. It is sometimes referred to as the electromotive force (EMF). It is caused by a difference in potential between one end of a circuit and another. The electricity that comes from your receptacles (outlets) is measured in volts.

Watts (Wattage)

Electrical power is measured in watts, or the rate of energy consumed. All electrical devices, like heaters and hairdryers, have a wattage rating. Wattage is the product of amps times volts (amps x volts = watts).

Wiring

Arcing

Arcing is a hazardous situation that occurs when there is a gap in wiring through which electrical current passes. It can be a source of electrical fires.

Box

This is simply a housing where wires are connected. You find boxes at receptacles and switches.

Busbar

The busbar resides inside the service panel. It is a copper bar that completes the circuit, or path, of electrical current. You may see one busbar for both neutral and ground wires, or they may each have their own busbar.

Circuit

A circuit is a loop through which electrical current flows. The flow of electrons requires a conductor, such as copper wire, to facilitate the circuit. A circuit begins at the breaker’s hot wire and terminates at the busbar. Different circuits allow for more electrical use on the property by preventing only one circuit from being overloaded.

Circuit Breaker

A circuit breaker is one of multiple switches in an electrical panel. Each breaker is rated by the amount of current it can handle in amps. The job of the circuit breaker is to cut the flow of electricity if a circuit becomes overloaded or if a dangerous short circuit occurs. Higher breaker ratings are typically used for larger appliances that use more electrical power.

Conductor

Conductors are materials that allow electrical current to flow through them, such as metals like copper and silver.

Conduit

A conduit is a pipe or tube that houses electrical cable (a bundle of wires). It protects cabling from outside exposure that could damage it.

Gauge

The diameter of electrical wire is measured as its gauge. The finer the wire, the higher the gauge.

Grounding Wire

In case there is an accidental short, a grounding wire carries current to ground to prevent shock or fire.

Hot Wire

Also known as a live wire, a hot wire carries electrical current. These are usually black or red wires and coated with an insulator for safety.

Insulator

Any material that resists electrical flow, like vinyl, is an insulator. They work by inhibiting the flow of electrons between atoms. In practical applications, they contain electrical flow when there is danger of a short circuit.

Junction Box

A junction box houses cables or electrical wires that have been spliced together.

Non-Metallic (NM) Cable

You see NM cable frequently in residential wiring for safety. It is a group of electrical wires run together inside a plastic sheath.

Ohms

The ohm is the unit by which electrical resistance is measured in a circuit.

Resistance

Resistance is the opposition to current. Insulators have high resistance, but conductors provide little resistance to the flow of electricity. Resistance can be beneficial or harmful. In the former case, it’s used to create heat through friction to heat up small appliances like toaster ovens. But it’s undesirable in electrical cords, which is why they are always made as short as possible (to reduce friction and thereby resistance).

Short Circuit

A short circuit occurs when the flow of electricity moves from a circuit to a conducting material that is not part of the circuit. In a properly installed electrical system, a short circuit triggers the circuit breaker or GFI outlet to shut off and cut the flow of electricity as a safety feature.

Switches and Receptacles

Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI)

Ground fault interrupter outlets (also called GFCI or ground fault circuit interrupters) are safety receptacles that are required wherever water is common, such as in bathrooms and kitchens. They cut the flow of electricity to prevent shock if changes to the current are detected through exposure to liquids.

Receptacle

You probably know them as outlets, but receptacles are simply the places where you can plug in electrical devices to access electrical current. Don’t confuse receptacles with sockets, which are elements of a light fixture that hold bulbs or tubes.

Rheostat

This is another name for a dimmer switch. It alternates the voltage in the switch and can make lights brighter or darker accordingly.

Switch Loop

This is created when a cable goes between a wall switch and a light fixture.

Need more help understanding the electrical components of your property or why you have trouble with common problems like flickering lights or outlets that don’t work? Need your service panel upgraded or dimmer switches installed?

Bolt Electric is here to help. Call us at 212-434-0098 or use our easy online form to schedule a service call at your convenience.