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Common electrical terminology

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=== appliance ===A non-lighting item that, by its resistance, consumes electricity rather than just passing it on.=== arc fault circuit breakers ===Electrical fires happen every day in the United States because of electrical shorts that produce intensely hot arcs. An arc fault circuit interrupter senses these arcs and stops them, making them smarter than traditional circuit breakers.  Also known as a arc-fault interrupter, it will trip for line-to-neutral arcing whereas a standard circuit breaker will not.=== breaker ===An automatic switching device that disconnects power to a circuit when current or heat exceeds a certain level for a duration of time. It clips on to one or two live busbars in a panel box and passes electrical current through itself to the circuit wire attached to it.  The three positions of a common breaker are: on, tripped (the middle position), and off.=== breaker box ===Also known as a panel, panel box, entrance box, and fuse box (legacy).  It is a metal box in a building containing breakers for each electrical circuit.  The "main" panel or "service" panel would be the central source for the home and would be receiving its power from the power company. The standard U.S. household wiring design has two 120 volt "hot" wires and a neutral which is at ground potential. The two 120 volt wires are obtained by grounding the centertap of the transformer supplying the house so that when one hot wire is swinging positive with respect to ground, the other is swinging negative. This versatile design allows the use of either hot wire to supply the standard 120 volt household circuits. For higher power applications like clothes dryers, electric ranges, air conditioners, etc. , both hot wires can be used to produce a 240 volt circuit.A piece of rigid metal within a panel or fusebox which distributes electricity to the various circuits.  They're made up of thick strips of copper or aluminium that conduct electricity within a breaker box.=== BX cable ===An armored cable historically known as BX and more correctly as Type AC is a fabricated assembly of insulated wires in flexible metallic armor, formed by wrapping an interlocking metal strip around the conductors.  Typically this is a hot, neutral, and ground set of copper wires with colored plastic insulation ran though a flexible metal conduit.  The "BX" name is actually an old GE trademark, but is now loosely applied to any flexible metal armored wiring like those with individual wires running through a flexible metal conduit.  These flexible armored cables usually consist of a helically wound steel strip.  BX cable is typically used in a commercial setting where as Romex is used in a residential setting.=== common ===The terminal of a three-way switch (or the wire attached to it) which connects internally to either one or the other of the traveler terminals, depending on the position the switch is moved to.=== fuse ===A legacy device that interrupts current to its circuit by melting apart. When tripped, the fuse is destroyed, opening the circuit.  A tripped fuse must be replaced with a new one after the electrical fault or overload is located.=== fuse box ===Predecessor to the modern breaker box.=== gang ===Describes an accommodation of receptacles or switches in an electrical box.=== GFI ===Ground fault interrupters are designed to protect from electrical shock by interrupting a household circuit when there is a difference in the currents in the "hot" and neutral wires. Such a difference indicates that an abnormal diversion of current from the "hot" wire is occurring. Such a current might be flowing in the ground wire of a device or it may be occurring because a person has come into contact with the "hot" wire and is being shocked.GFI's are required by the electrical code for receptacles in bathrooms, some kitchen receptacles, some outside receptacles, and receptacles near swimming pools.  The GFI has a "Test" button which causes a small difference between "hot" and neutral currents to test the device.  A GFI does not require an earth ground to work (protect people from currents >10mA). A surge suppressor requires an earth ground to function properly (protect equipment from high voltages).=== ground ===In residential wiring, the 3 wires are hot, neutral, and ground.  Either not insulated or green insulated wire.  The ground is the connection to the earth at the location of the electrical system.  The ground wire is not connected so as to be part of the normal path of the circuit, as a neutral is.  The earth ground only carries a current in a fault or short circuit condition and is a safety precaution.  === ground fault ====== harmonic ===A multiple of the fundamental electrical frequency. Harmonics are present whenever the electrical power waveforms (voltage and current) are not pure sine waves.=== high voltage ===Voltage greater than 100,000 volts.=== hot ===In residential wiring, the 3 wires are hot, neutral, and ground.  The black wire.  The hot wire has voltage present and may be used to complete a circuit via the neutral, ground, or a human body standing on the ground.=== IEC ===International Electrotechnical Commission.=== IEEE ===Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.=== junction box ===a box used only for making connections such as splicing into an electrical circuit.=== megohmmeter ===An instrument for measuring insulation resistance.=== NEC ===National Electrical Code.=== NEMA ===National Electrical Manufacturers Association.The junction point of the legs in a Wye circuit.In residential wiring, the 3 wires are hot, neutral, and ground.  Neutral is the white wire. The junction point of the legs in a Wye circuit.=== panel ===Otherwise known as a panel box or breaker box.=== pigtail ===Modern Romex is a term describing plastic-coated wiring (typically 10-, 12-, or 14-gauge copper) wrapped in another plastic moisture resistant sheathing.  Romex is technically a brand name but the name is commonly applied to all flexible outer plastic sheathed cable consisting of a pair of inner plastic insulated wire, one black for hot and one white for neutral, and an uninsulated bare copper wire for the earth ground, along with a strip of paper to prevent stretching of the copper during wire pulling.  Romex does not protect the inner wires against punctures, perforations, lacerations which is why code requires the use of protective conduit or BX cable be used.  Romex should not be exposed to direct sunlight, excessive moisture, or conditions that could otherwise damage the plastic sheathing.  === Scotchlok ===Insulation displacement connectors also known as a wire nut.=== submain breaker ===One of up to six (double) circuit breakers allowed till 1985 to be the means for disconnecting all power to a home's circuits. Since then a single "main breaker" has been the required means.The main breaker box or panel in a building is the  central source for receiving power from the utility provider.  A subpanel is another breaker box fed from the main breaker box panel.  === travelers ===The pair of wires in a three-way switch system that are run (within the same cable) between one switch and the next.
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