a flow of electricity which reaches maximum in one direction, decreases to zero, then reverses itself and reaches maximum in the opposite direction. The cycle is repeated continuously. The number of cycles per second is equal to the frequency.
Alternator
a generator that produces alternating electric current.
Ammeter
an instrument that measures electric current.
Ampere
or amp; A unit that measures the strength/rate of flow of electrical current.
Ampere Hour (Ah)
is the amount of energy charge in a battery that will allow one ampere of current to flow for one hour.
a device used to provide the starting voltage or to stabilize the current in a circuit. Commonly used for florescent and CFL type bulbs.
Battery
a device that produces electric current as a result of chemical reaction.
Buss Bar (also Bus Bar)
separate, metallic strips that extend through the service panel. Breakers slide onto the “hot” busses. Neutral and ground wires screw down in their respective busses.
a device consisting of two conducting surfaces separated by an insulator and having the ability of storing electric energy.
Circuit Breaker
the most common type of “over current protection.” A breaker trips when a circuit becomes overloaded or shorts out.
Color Rendering Index (CRI)
an international system used to rate a lamp’s ability to render object colors. The higher the CRI (based upon a 0-100 scale) the richer colors generally appear.
Conductor
is a substance or material that allows electricity to flow through it.
Corona Discharge
a luminous discharge which occurs when the applied voltage is high enough (5000 volts or more) to cause partial ionization of the surrounding gas
an engine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy by electromagnetic induction
Ground
A conducting connection between an electrical circuit, or equipment, and the earth, or to some conducting body that serves in place of the earth.
Ground Fault
current misdirected from the hot (or neutral) lead to a ground wire, or any other conducting material.
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI or GFI)
measures the current flowing through the live wire and the neutral wire. If they differ by more than a few milliamps, the GFI trips, breaking the circuit. Also called RCD or ELCD. Called a “Mimsar P’hat” in Hebrew.
an elementary particle composing light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation, sometimes called light quantum.
Phase
a factional part of the period of a sinusoidal wave, usually expressed in electrical degrees.
Photoelectric Cell
a cell whose electrical properties change when light falls on it. Such cells are used in camera light meters, television camera tubes, and automatic detection devices.
Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Energy
The word photovoltaic comes from the words photo, meaning light, and voltaic, meaning electricity. Photovoltaic solar energy uses the optical light emitted by the sun to produce electricity.
Power Factor
the ratio of true power (watts) to apparent power (volt amps). When these two are identical (seldom found in an AC circuit) the power factor is 1.0. The power factor is expressed in decimal or percentage.
A uniform wave that is generated by a single frequency.
Single-Phase
an alternating-current circuit consisting of two intentionally interrelated input terminals, if it’s a load, or two output terminals, if it’s a source.
Solar Cell
a cell that converts the energy in sunlight into electricity.
Spike
Same as a surge but for a very short period of time (millisecond), but can measure in the thousands of volts
SSL
Solid State Lighting
Star Connection
see Wye Connection
Static Electricity
the electricity associated with electric charges, which tends to stay “static” rather than flowing away
Surge (electrical)
surges are an increase in “normal” electrical line voltage. Usually not more than 500-600 volts.
Surge Protector
a device that shields computer and other electronic devices from surges in electrical power
a device which maintains a continuous supply of electric power to connected equipment by supplying power from a separate source when utility power is not available.
a measurement of electrical power in an electrical circuit. In DC current, 1VA is equivalent of one 1W (watt). When used with AC current this equation is less precise, because it represents apparent power, which often differs from true power.
Voltage Regulator
An electrical device that keeps voltage at a constant level regardless of load fluctuations
a unit that measures the amount of electrical power
Wye Connection
A three-phase winding connection, formed by joining together similar ends of each phase winding. This point forms the electrical neutral. Also known as “star connection”.
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