Sometimes it feels like electrical contractors speak a language all their own. From amps and volts to ohms and watts—if you don’t know what all these terms mean, it can be a challenge communicating with contractors or knowing how to get the right electrical products and supplies for your project.
To make your life easier, we’ve put together a glossary of all the essential electric terms you need to know.
Units of Measurement for Electric Energy
Ampere
Also known as an amp, this is the unit of measurement electricians use to express the intensity of an electric current moving through a circuit. The current refers to the electrons flowing through the circuit.
Just to get an idea of how much electron activity is going on, with each amp, 6.24 x 1018 electrons are flowing through a specific point per second. With two amps, you’ll have twice the amount of electrons. More amps mean there are more electrons flowing.
It's helpful to think of water moving through a pipe to understand amps and current—the current of electrons moves through a circuit in the same way.
Volt
Where a current is a flow of electric energy, the voltage is the tension of electric energy. It is defined as the difference in electrical potential between two points.
In action, voltage is the force that pushes electrons around a circuit. Without voltage, the electrons would just randomly move around. They wouldn’t flow together in the same direction and create electricity.
In the same way that a lot of water pressure would give you a more powerful rush of water when you turn on your water source, with a lot of electric pressure, or voltage, you’ll have more electrical energy. Voltage is measured in volts. The higher the number of volts, the more electricity the source will produce.
Ohms
Where amps measure electric current and volts measure voltage, ohms measure the resistance of an electrical current. In the water-moving-through-a-pipe analogy, where the current is the flow of water, and the voltage is the water pressure directing the flow, the resistance is the width of the pipes. Larger pipes mean less resistance and a greater flow of water.
It’s important to understand how these values relate. Ohm’s law states that current (I) is equal to voltage (V) divided by resistance (R). So, with more voltage, you have a stronger current. With more resistance, you’d have a weaker current.
Watts
Watts is the unit of measurement for electrical power. Electric power (P) is equivalent to voltage multiplied times the current. This implies that you can increase electrical power in two different ways. You can increase the pressure, or voltage, or you can increase the flow rate, or current.
Other Essential Electric Terms to Know
Ampacity
Think of ampacity as the maximum capacity a conductor or other device can handle. Once the electric current goes beyond the ampacity, it can start to damage the conductor. For example, if you used a wire or cable with an ampacity of 13 amps to transfer a 15-amp electric current, the cable would start to become hot.
Circuit
Whenever you have a closed path where electrons flow from a voltage source, you have a circuit. Circuits can include any number of components, such as resistors, capacitors, and inductors. When you add a switch to a circuit, you can turn on and off the flow of the electric current manually.
Conductor
A material that lets an electric current flow through it with little resistance is a conductor. Metals make excellent conductors, especially copper and aluminum, which is why they are used so frequently in electric devices.
Insulator
With an insulator, an electric current won’t flow freely. Instead of allowing the electrons to flow easily as a conductor will, the insulator will slow them down or stop them. Rubber, air, plastics, and glass are all insulators. These materials can be used to protect equipment—or people—from an electric shock.
Generator
A generator converts mechanical energy into electricity. They are often used as a back-up source of energy because they are stand-alone electricity-producing units.
Load
Something that consumes electrical energy is known as a load. So, in a simple circuit with wires, a switch, a resister, a voltage source, and a lightbulb, the lightbulb is the load. Heaters, electric motors, and transformers are also types of loads.
Capacitor
When you have a circuit, you can use a capacitor to store an electric charge. Capacitors are used to filter out spikes in voltage. A capacitor generally consists of a pair of conductors separated by an insulator.
Do you need help deciphering the different features and specs of electrical supplies? Get in touch with the team at Zoro. We’re always happy to help!
Product Compliance and Suitability
The product statements contained in this guide are intended for general informational purposes only. Such product statements do not constitute a product recommendation or representation as to the appropriateness, accuracy, completeness, correctness or currentness of the information provided. Information provided in this guide does not replace the use by you of any manufacturer instructions, technical product manual, or other professional resource or adviser available to you. Always read, understand and follow all manufacturer instructions.