Whether you are a do-it-yourselfer who feels confident in most household chores, or you are clueless about most household tasks, it makes sense to learn the basics when it comes to electricity. While you will want to contact an electrician in Santa Monica (Click Here), such as one from The Electric Connection, for any direct electrical work, you can at least have a better idea about the basics and be able to have a conversation when the electrician Santa Monica comes out to take care of your electrical repairs or installation. Learning these basic electrican terms is a great way to broaden your understanding of electricity.

Alternating Current – Electric current that changes direction when a change in voltage occurs.
Ampere – A unit of electrical current.
Arcing – Current that passes through the air, using air like a wire.
Circuit Breaker – An automatic switch that safeguards the electrical circuit from damage.
Conductor – Anything that carries an electrical current.
Current – An electrical charge carried by flowing electrons over a conductor.
Direct Current – Electrical charge that flows in a constant direction.
Fuse – A protection devise that interrupts current to a circuit.
Ground – A safe way to run current between a device to the earth.
GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) – A device that detects excess current and stops the flow of electricity.
Insulation – A material that shields wires and cables due to the fact it is not good at conducting.
Junction Box – A plastic or metal container that houses electrical connections.
NEC (National Electric Code) – U.S. standard for installing wires and equipment in a safe manner.
Outlet – A point where an appliance gets its connection to the circuit.
Power – Electricity measured in watts or kilowatts.
Transformer – an electronic device that converts electric voltage to another voltage or current
UL (Underwriters Laboratories) – A non-profit organization that tests electronic devices for safety.
Voltage – A way of measuring how much energy is behind electricity.