Electricity

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Electricity

• Basic Terms 1
• John Jones

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• Ampere rate of electrical flow (volume of
  electricity flowing)
• Sometimes referred to as amps

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• Voltage or electromagnetic force
• a measure of electrical pressure
• Also abbreviated EMF or E

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Resistance

• The opposition to the flow of electrons through a
  conductor measured in Ohms

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Watt

• Refers to the amount of power derived from a
  device or the rate of doing work
• Example 100 watt light bulb
• 1500 watt blow dryer
• Kilowatt 1000 watts

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Kilo-watt hour

• Electricity is sold by the kilowatt hour
• (gasoline is sold by the gallon)
• Using 1000 (kilo) watts for one hour is a KWH

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Watts and Horsepower

• 746 watts one horsepower

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Watts Volts x Amps

• Sometime referred to as the West Virginia
  Formula.
• The amount of work that can be done in a circuit
  is equal to the voltage in the circuit times the
  amps

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WVA Analagy

• You can wash your car (do work) faster is you
  have a large hose with lots of pressure.
• A large hose will allow for greater flow of water
  (flow amps)
• Pressure would be voltage (force)

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Circuit

• A controlled path for electricity to flow
  beginning at the source (usually a breaker),
  traveling to the consumer (ex. light) and back to
  the source.
• The colored wire goes to the consumer and the
  white wire comes back to complete the circuit
• Unless a complete circuit is made the devices
  will not work
• Breakers and switches are usually used to control
  the flow

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National Electrical Code

• Set of guidelines for use when designing and
  installing electrical service and devices

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Conductor

• Substance that will allow for the flow of
  electricity
• Most common copper, aluminum
• Best Conductor Gold

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Insulator

• Substance that does not allow for the flow of
  electricity
• Plastic, rubber

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Parallel Circuit

• A circuit that has more than one way that
  electricity can flow.
• Most common type of circuit

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Series Circuit

• Has only one pathway for electricity to follow.
  If there are more than one device in the circuit,
  the electricity must flow through one device and
  continue on to the next device. Not normally
  used in houses.
• Christmas lights are sometimes wired in series.
  That is why if one bulb goes out the whole line
  goes out

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W VA

• A device (such as a light) hooked to a 120 volt
  circuit that is pulling 5 amps would be using how
  many watts?
• W 1205
• W 600

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W V A

• Also means that
• V W / A (watts divided by amps)
• A W / V (watts divided by volts)

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Calculating Amps

• Calculate the amperage of a 600 watt light bulb
  that is running on a 120 volt circuit.
• A 600/120 or 5 amps

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Calculate Voltage

• What is the voltage on a circuit that has a 600
  watt bulb that is pulling 5 amps.
• V W / A
• Voltage 600/5 120 volts

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