ELECTRICAL

COULUMB (C)
- The SI unit of electric charge equal to the quantity of electricity transferred
along the conductor by a current of one ampere in one second

WATT (W)
- the SI unit equal to one joule per second or to the power represented by a
current of one ampere flowing across a potential difference of one volt
W= V x A

WATTAGE
- an amount of power especially the power required to operate an electrical
device or appliance, expressed in watts

KILOWATT (kW)
- a unit of power equal to 1,000 watts

KILOWATT-HOUR (kWh)
- a unit of energy transferred or expanded by one kilowatt in one hour a
common unit of electric power consumption

ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE (emf)

- the energy per unit charge available for conversion from a chemical,
mechanical or other form of energy into electrical energy or vice versa in a
conversion devise as a battery, generator or a motor

POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE
- the voltage difference between two points that represents the work
involved in the transfer of a unit charge from one point to the other

POTENTIAL
- the work required to move a unit charge from a reference point to a
designed point

VOLTAGE
- potential difference or electromotive force expressed in volts: analogous to
pressure in water flow

VOLT (V)
- the SI unit of potential difference and electromotive force, defined as the
difference of electric potential between two points of a conductor carrying a
constant current of one ampere, when the power dissipated between the points
is equal to one watt

CURRENT
- the rate of flow of electric charge in a circuit per unit time measured in
amperes
AMPERE (A)
- the basic SI unit of electric current, equivalent to a flow of one coulomb per
second or to the steady current produced by one volt applied to one
resistance of one ohm

AMPERAGE
- the strength of an electric current measured or expressed in amperes:
analogous to the rate of water flow

RESISTANCE (R)
- the opposition of a conductor to the flow of current, causing some of the electric
energy to be transformed into heat and usually measured in ohms

OHM
- the SI unit of electrical resistance, equal to the resistance of a conductor
in which a potential difference of one volt produces a current of one
ampere

OHM’S LAW
- that law that for any circuit the electric current is directly proportional to the
voltage and inversely proportional to the resistance
I= V/R

JOULE’S LAW
- the principle that the rate of production of heat by direct current is directly
proportional to the resistance of the circuit and to the square of the current

RESISTIVITY
- the resistance per unit length of a substance with a cross sectional area.
Also called specific resistance

CONDUCTIVITY
- a measure of the ability of a substance to conduct electric current, equal
to the reciprocal of the resistivity of the substance. Also called specific
conductance.

CIRCUIT
- the complete path of an electric current including the source of electric energy

SERIES
- an arrangement of components in an electric circuit in which the same current
flows through each component in turn without branching

PARALLEL
- the arrangement of components in an electric circuit in which all positive
terminals are connected to a second conductor, the same voltage being applied
to each component
BATTERY
- a group of two or more cells connected together to produce electric current

CELL
- a device for converting chemical into electric energy usually consisting of
a receptacle with electrodes in an electrolyte. Also called electric cell

ELECTROLYTE
- a non metallic conducting medium in which current is carried by the
movement of ions

ELECTRODE
- a conductor through which a current enters or leaves a non metallic
medium

ANODE
- the negative terminal of a primary cell or storage battery

CATHODE
- the positive terminal of a primary cell or storage battery

GENERATOR
- a machine that converts mechanical energy into electric energy

ALTERNATOR
- a generator fro producing alternating current

ELECTRIC MOTOR
- a machine that converts electric power into mechanical energy

ARMATURE
-the main current- carrying winding of a motor or generator in which
electromotive force is induced

DIRECT CURRENT (DC)

- an electric current in one direction only having a magnitude that does not
vary or varies only slightly

ALTERNATING CURRENT (AC)

- an electric current that reverses direction at regularly recurring intervals, having
a magnitude that varies in a sinusoidal manner

VOLT AMPERE (VA)

- a unit of electric measurement equal to the product of one volt and one
ampere, equivalent to one watt for direct current system and a unit of
apparent power for alternating current systems
TRANSFORMER
- an electric device consisting of two or more winding wound on the same core,
which employs the principle of mutual induction to convert variations of
alternating current in a primary circuit into variations of voltage and current
in a secondary circuit

STEP-UP TRANSFORMER
- a transformer having fewer turns in the primary winding than in the
secondary, serving to transform low voltage to high voltage

STEP-DOWN TRANSFORMER
- a transfer having a greater number of turns in the primary winding than in
the secondary, serving to transform high voltage to low voltage

LINE VOLTAGE
- the voltage supplied by a power line, measured at the point of use

SERVICE CONDUCTOR
- any of several conductors extending from a main power line or transformer to
the service equipment of a building

SERVICE
- the supply of utilities, as water, gas and electricity, required or demanded
by the public

HIGH VOLATGE
- operated on power by or transmitting high voltage

SUBSTATION
- an auxiliary power station where electrical current is converted, as from DC to
AC or where voltage is stepped up or down

SERVICE DROP
- the overhead portion of service conductors extending from the nearest utility
pole to a building

SERVICE LATERAL
- the underground portion of service conductors extending from a main power
line or transformer to a building

LINE DROP
- the decrease in voltage between two points on a power line, usually caused
by resistance or leakage along the line

SERVICE ENTRANCE CONDUCTOR

- the portion of a service conductor extending from a service drop or service
lateral to the service equipment of a building
WATT- HOUR METER
- a meter for measuring and recording the quality of electric power
consumed with respect to time

TRANSFORMER VAULT
- a fire- rated room housing a transformer and auxiliary equipment for a large
building, usually located on grade or below ground and ventilated directly to the
outside air

SWITCHGEAR ROOM
- a room containing the service equipment for a large building

SERVICE EQUIPMENT
- the equipment necessary for controlling, metering, and protecting the electric
power supply to a building, located near the entrance of the service
conductors and usually consisting of a main disconnect switch and
secondary switch, fuses and circuit breakers

STANDBY GENERATOR
- a generator for providing emergency power during a power outage. Also
called emergency generator

UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SUPPLY

- an emergency system designed to provide power automatically and
instantaneously upon failure of the normal power supply

SWITCHBOARD
- one or a group of panels on which are mounted switches, over current
devices, metering instruments, and buses for controlling and protecting a
number of electric circuits called switchgear

UNIT SUBSTATION
- a free standing enclosure housing a disconnect switch, a step- down
transformer and switchgear for a number of electric circuit

FEEDER
- any of the conductors extending from the service equipment to various
distribution points in a building

WIRE
- a pliable metallic strand or twisted or woven assembly of such strands often
insulated with a dielectric material and used as a conductor of electricity

CONDUCTOR
- a substance, body or devise that conducts heat, sound or electricity

INSULATOR
- a material that is poor conductor of electricity used in operating or
supporting conductors to prevent the undesired flow of current
CABLE
- a single insulated conductor or a bound or sheathed combination of
conductors insulated from one another

ARMORED CABLE
- electric cable consisting of two or more insulated conductors protected by
flexible, helically wound metal wrapping. Also called BX

MINERAL ISULATED CABLE

- electric cable consisting of a tubular copper sheath containing one or more
conductors embedded in a highly compressed, insulating refractory
mineral

NON- METALLIC SHEATED CABLE

- electric cable consisting of two or more insulated conductors enclosed in
a non- metallic, moisture resistant, flame retardant sheath. Also called
ROMEX

COAXIAL CABLE
- a cable for transmitting high frequency telephone, digital or television signals
consisting of an insulated conducting core

SHIELDED CABLE
- an electric cable enclosed within a metallic sheath in order to reduce the
effects of external electric or magnetic fields

CONDUIT
- a tube, pipe or duct for enclosing and protecting electric wires or cable

RIGID METAL CONDUIT

- heavy- walled, tubular steel conduits joined by screwing directly into a
threaded hub with locknuts and bushings

ELECTRICAL METAL TUBING (EMT)

- thin- walled, tubular steel conduit joined by compression or setscrew
couplings

FLEXIBLE METAL CONDUIT

- flexible, helically wound metal conduit, used for connections to motors or
other vibrating equipment. Also called Greenfield conduit

RACEWAY
- a channel expressly designed to hold and protect electric wires and cables

SURFACE RACEWAY
- a raceway designed to exposed installation in dry, non- hazardous,
corrosive locations

MULTI- OUTLET ASSEMBLY

- a surface mounted raceway designed to house the electrical wires for a circuit
and a series of receptacles
DUCT
- an enclosed runway for housing conductors or cables

BUS DUCT
- a rigid metal housing for a group of buses insulted from each other and the
enclosure. Also called busway

CABLE TRAY
- an open metal framework for supporting insulated electrical conductors

BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE
- the minimum applied voltage at which a given insulator breaks down and
permits current to pass

DIELECTRIC STRENGTH
- the maximum voltage that can be applied to a given material without
causing it to breakdown, usually expressed in volts or kilovolts per unit of
thickness

DIELECTRIC
- a non-conducting substance

JUNCTION BOX
- an enclosure for housing and protecting electric wires or cables that are joined
together in connecting or branching electric circuits

KNOCKOUT
- a panel in a casing or box that can readily be removed, as by punching,
hammering or cutting to provide an opening into the interior

GROMMET
- a rubber or plastic washer inserted in a hole in a metal part to prevent
grounding of a wire passing through the hole

BUSHING
- an insulating and protective lining for one or more conductors passing
through a hole

UTILITY BOX - for lighting outlet and convenience outlet

PULL BOX - to facilitate pulling

OUTLET BOX - where cable ends

CUT OUT BOX - metal box with hinge & enclosure. House or fuse box

INSULATOR - used as supports and for additional protection for wires

GENERAL WIRING

RHW Moisture and heat resistance rubber Dry and wet locations
T Thermoplastic Dry locations
TW Moisture resistant thermoplastic Dry and wet locations
THHN Heat resistant thermoplastic Dry locations
THW Moisture & heat resistant thermoplastic Dry and wet locations
THWN Moisture & heat resistant thermoplastic Dry and wet locations
XHHW Moisture & heat resistant cross linked Dry and wet locations
SA Silicone asbestos Dry locations
AVA Asbestos and varnished cambric Dry locations only

CONDUIT FITTINGS:

1. elbow (long sweep)

2. tee
a. LB Condulets (angle & bended)
b. LR (angle to the right)
c. TF (tee front)

CONDUITS:

1. RIGID CONDUITS- cannot be bended

metal- RSC/ EMT
non-metal- PVC

2. FLEXIBLE
metal- BX