Theory and troubleshooting using short modules packed with images to make learning quick and easy.
Fuses A fuse is designed to break current flow in the circuit when there's excessive current flowing through a circuit. A fuse contains a strip of metal, which when exposed to higher current than designed for will melt/break before any damage can be done to the wires in the circuit. Example: A circuit with #14…
Circuit breakers and fuses will protect against both overloaded circuits as well as overcurrent in a circuit. It's important to know the difference between both. Overload An overload in a circuit is when there's an increase of current (amperage) above the rating for the circuit. If the circuit is allowed to draw the excess current,…
So let’s quickly recap the representations for voltage, resistance, and amperage in the Ohm’s Law triangle: E = Voltage (electromagnetic force) I = Current (amps) R = Resistance For a given resistance, the current is directly proportional to voltage. That said, if you increase the voltage in a circuit with a fixed resistance, the current…
A parallel circuit allows for more than one path for current to flow. We have the same two loads from the series circuit below, but we have two paths now for electrons to flow. Each pathway for current to flow is called a branch. 2 loads in series Vs. 2 loads in a parallel circuit…
series noun a number of things, events, or people of a similar kind or related coming one after another. So given the above definition, a series circuit is when there’s only a single path for current to flow. Any break in the wiring or a faulty load will stop current throughout the entire series circuit.…
To quickly sum up voltage, current, and resistance. Voltage is the driving pressure which is the high and low potential in the water tower below. Current (amperes or amps) is the resulting flow which is the water flowing through the pipe in the water tower below. Resistance completes useful work. The wheel spinning in the…
Almost all material has some form of resistance to electrical flow. Without resistance, you’d have no way for a circuit to do useful work. Like stated earlier, conductors are materials that allow current to flow, and insulators don’t. Conductors have little resistance. Resistance in a circuit is measured in Ohms or the Greek letter “Ω.”…
Sticking with the water analogies, amperes, or amps for short, is the amount of water flowing through the hose. The higher the pressure (voltage), the more water flows (amps) out of the hose. In Ohm's Law, amperage is represented by “I.”
Earlier we covered electrons moving from atom to atom. Metallic bonding forms copper. The bond is made when many metal atoms share their collected valence electrons. The valence electrons are not attached to any specific atom, so they move around freely. Now to get these electrons moving in one direction and being of more use,…
A most basic electrical circuit will have three components A source of energy. It could be a battery or an electrical outlet in the wallA load. A load does useful work. A load could be a light bulb or a motorConductors. A conductor would be your wires to transfer the electrical energy to your load…