power
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…
Read MoreElectrical 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…
Read MoreElectrical 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…
Read MoreResidential 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…
Read MoreLow 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…
Read MoreBasic 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…
Read MoreCircuit 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…
Read MoreSurge Protectors
Surge protectors are devised to protect electronic devices from voltage spikes. Surge protectors limit the voltage supplied to an electric device if a voltage spike occurs. If the voltage rises above a safe level, a surge protector helps to prevent that surge from damaging your electronics. Most power surges are so brief that they are…
Read MoreElectrical Safety Advice
Electrical safety begins with knowing some basic facts and good advice about electricity. Don’t leave plugged-in appliances where they may come into contact with water. Check the wattage of all bulbs in light fixtures to make sure they are the correct wattage for the size of the fixture. If an appliance repeatedly trips a breaker…
Read MoreEnergy Storage
Energy storage involves converting energy from forms that are difficult to store to more conveniently or economically storable forms. Some technologies provide short-term energy storage, while others can endure for much longer. A battery is a device consisting of one or more electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy. A flywheel works…
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