BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS AMPERAGE — the volume of current passing through a conductor at a given time.

ARC OR ARCING — the passing of electric current without a conductor. ie: when a wire with current is near a metal object, the electricity might pass between the two.

CIRCUIT — the path through which electricity flows.

CONDUCTOR — any substance that carries electrical current. CURRENT — the rate of flow of electricity between two points. CYCLE — a complete turn of alternating current from negative to positive and back.

GAUGE — the size of an electrical wire. Heavier loads are carried on heavier gauge wire. Note: the numbering system of wires is reversed such that an 8-gauge wire is thicker than a 10-gauge wire.

LINE — a wire that conducts electricity.

LOAD — an appliance that uses electricity.

VOLT — a basic unit of electrical measurement that expresses the potential or pressure of the current. Volts = watts / amps. WATT — a measure of power consumption of an appliance.

Watt = amps x volts.