Static Electricity

Static electricity is named in contrast with current electricity, which flows through wires or other conductors and transmits energy. Static electricity is an imbalance of electric charges within or on the surface of a material. The charge remains until it is able to move away by means of an electric current or electrical discharge. Static…

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Electrical Troubleshooting

commercial electrical boxes

Troubleshooting is a systematic search for the source of a problem in order to resolve it. Electrical Troubleshooting is problem solving used to repair failed electrical circuits on machinery or an electrical system. Depending on the type of equipment, troubleshooting can be a very challenging task. Troubleshooting includes identifying a probable cause for a problem,…

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Electrical Code Compliance

The National Electrical Code establishes requirements for electrical wiring and equipment. Electrical codes provide standards to ensure electrical wiring systems are safe. Electrical contractors use the NEC for estimating, designing and installing electrical systems. Professional, licensed electrical contractors stay current with the NEC requirements. Maintaining compliance with the requirements of the National Electrical Code provides…

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The Electrical Transformer

An electrical transformer is an electro-magnetic device that works by converting electrical energy from one value to another. A transformer has no moving parts and is a completely static solid state device. The primary winding of a transformer is connected to the input voltage supply and transforms the electrical power into a magnetic field. The…

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Electrical Short Circuit

A short circuit is any condition where the establish wiring circuit is interrupted by a flaw in the wiring or wiring connections. The term short circuit is used to refer to the situation in which a hot wire carrying current touches a neutral wire. When this happens, resistance lessens instantly and a large volume of…

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Electrical Wire Gauge

Wire gauge is a measurement of wire diameter. This determines the amount of electric current a wire can safely carry, as well as its electrical resistance and weight. Wire is sized by the American Wire Gauge (AWG) system. Wire gauge refers the physical size of the wire. Whenever a circuit is extended or rewired, or…

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Residential and Commercial Electrical Circuits

Electricity is a flow of electrons. A complete circuit is needed for electricity to flow. From the main electric service panel, electricity is divided into circuits throughout a building. The maximum amount of load that can be placed on any single circuit is controlled by a circuit breaker. Building circuits are parallel circuits. A parallel…

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Low Voltage Wiring

Low voltage wiring is the wiring for audio, video, telephones, alarm systems, HVAC, and generally any wiring for things using less than 24 volts. Low voltage is often used only with small electrical systems as it is not suitable for large-scale electrical projects. There are very real safety risks associated with low-voltage systems. Low-voltage can…

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Basic Units of Electricity

The three basic units of electricity are voltage, current and resistance. Voltage is measured in volts, current is measured in amps and resistance is measured in ohms. There is a basic equation in electrical engineering that states how the three terms relate. It says that the current is equal to the voltage divided by the…

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Circuit Breaker Failure

A circuit breaker’s job is to limit the amount of current flowing on a circuit so that it doesn’t exceed the rated level. The most common cause of circuit breaker failure is continually overloading it, causing it to trip out or open the circuit. Breakers are supposed to trip if too much current flows through…

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