If you work with electricity for a living or you paid attention during that high school science unit that covered ohms, currents, and connectivity, you will likely know most of the terms listed below.
But for most of us, it’s a confusing business.
Here are some common electrical terms and their basic definitions:
Path to ground: Electricity likes to take the easiest path. If electricity’s usual path is interrupted, the current will take the new path. If that path is a person, electrical current will shock or kill as it runs through the body, since the body has become part of the electric circuit or pathway.
Ground literally means the earth or ground in the term “path to ground” because electrical circuits can be connected to the ground. A ground wire is a wire that has been intentionally connected to the earth but does not typically carry electricity, although it can if the system detects a problem.
Ground fault: This is when an electrical circuit malfunctions and finds a path to ground outside the established path. When there is a ground fault, a human in contact with the wiring may suddenly become part of the pathway to ground.
Voltage: Voltage, which is measured in volts, is what makes electric charges move. Industry professionals often liken electricity to an invisible fluid that moves through some materials better than others while doing its job. To expand on this analogy, voltage would be the pressure needed to move the fluid along. No voltage (pressure), no movement of electricity (fluid).
Current: Measured in amperes (amps), current is the amount of electricity that is moving through the path as pushed by voltage (pressure). Continuing with the fluid analogy, current can be thought of as flow.
Circuit: This is an electrical pathway in which electricity enters and exits. Your home’s electrical system/wiring has different circuits. Several devices that don’t draw much power (a lamp or clock, for instance) can be plugged into the same circuit, while large appliances that draw a lot of power are usually placed on their own circuit.
Ohm: This is a unit used to measure electrical resistance. Resistance measures how much an object (like a wire) resists the current moving through it. Other ways to think of it (fluid analogy again): a water pipe with a lot of buildup would have higher resistance than a clean pipe; a small pipe would have higher resistance than a large pipe.
GFCI: This stands for ground fault circuit interrupters, and they help protect against electrical shock and electrocution as long as they are working properly. GFCIs detect whether electricity is staying inside the circuit or leaking out somewhere else (like through you). It’s a good idea to test them monthly.
Arc: An arc is a discharge between two electrodes that can cause intense heat or light. Lightning is a big arc.
AFCI: This acronym stands for arc fault circuit interrupters, and they break the circuit when they sense a dangerous electrical arc. AFCIs are more sensitive to arc faults than regular circuit breakers.
Step potential: As its name implies, it is the potential for a person to step from one voltage to another, which can cause electrocution. When there is stray electrical current running through the ground from a downed power line or other electrical source, it often spreads like ripples on a pond, and each ripple represents a different voltage. This happens because the electricity going into the ground in not limited to just where the wire touches. The ground resists the flow, which can cause a “pool” of electricity to form. When you step in it, you give it another path to take.
Watt: Simply put, a watt is a unit of power, named after James Watt, who invented the steam engine.
Joule: Simply put, a joule is a unit of work or energy.
Conductor: This is anything electricity can go through.
Non-conductor: this is anything that is really bad at conducting electricity, like most plastics and rubber (although everyday rubber-soled shoes may not protect you). Non-conductors are also called insulators.
One last definition: electrical safety. At Loup Power District, safety is our TOP priority — your safety and the safety of our employees. Since electricity is invisible, people often forget to respect its potential for danger.
Please respect electricity. Always be aware of power line locations when working or playing outside, and always assume a downed power line is live and NEVER go near one. If you are in a car accident involving a downed line, stay in your car (unless it’s on fire) and call 9-1-1 to report the accident and the downed lines. Along with first responders, our crew will be dispatched to deenergize the lines.