Synergy Electrical - Electrician and Electrical Contractor - Wolverhampton and Surrounding Areas

Electrician Speak!

We make every effort not to confuse or bamboozle our clients with long explanations and words you may not have heard of before instead we decide to explain the best we can so that you are clear and understand fully the need of what we are trying to achieve

We have composed a list of 'Jargon' and Electrician 'speak' for our customers

Electrician Terminology:

Alternating current (AC): An electrical current that changes its direction of flow many times per second, used in mains electricity supplies.

Amp or Ampere (A): The single unit of electrical current.

Bonding: Connections on exposed wires to prevent electric shock.

BS 7671: The British Standard Requirements for Electrical Installations, formerly known as the IEE Wiring Regulations. This document details the requirements for electrical installations in the UK.

Cartridge fuse: A fuse, typically found in a ceramic tube topped and tailed with a metal contact cap, and available in a range of sizes and current ratings.

Circuit: The means of distributing electricity, consisting of cable and accessories.

Circuit protective conductor (CPC): Used to prevent metal components becoming ‘live’; otherwise referred to as the earth wire in a cable.

Circuit tester (Voltage Stick): A device that plugs into a conventional outlet to check the circuit is properly grounded.

Conductors: Material used for the flow of electricity.

Conduit: Tubing – rigid or flex metal or plastic – to enclose cables for protection

Consumer Unit (CU): Distribution (Fuse Board) - Main Isolation and Control of circuits from point of supply to final circuits.

Continuity tester: Complete Circuits from A-B

Cooker connection unit: A switch used to isolate a cooker, oven or hob.

De-energized circuit: A circuit with no power.

Direct current (DC): An electrical current which flows in one direction, such as from a battery.

Distribution circuit: A circuit supplying electricity to a secondary distribution board.

Distribution network operator (DNO): The company which distributes electricity to your home. Your electricity supplier pays your DNO for carrying the electricity.

Double pole (DP): A switch with isolation processes - Both Live and Neutral of Circuit

Edison screw (ES): a type of lamp base developed by Thomas Edison which literally screws into a lamp holder.

Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR): A report detailing the condition of a property’s existing electrical installation.

Electrical Load: The part of an electrical system which actually uses energy or does the work needed.

Extra low voltage: A low supply of electricity, of 50V AC or less. mainly used in bathrooms

Final circuit: An electrical circuit which directly supplies socket outlets, lighting and appliances.

Fuse: A safety device which melts the wire inside it when an excessive current flows.

Fused connection unit (FCU): An electrical accessory containing a cartridge fuse, used to connect and protect an item of equipment.

Hertz (Hz): Unit of measure of frequency - 50Hz in UK isolating

Ingress protection (IP): A rating system to show how protected an enclosure is against solids and liquids. Max Level 8

Insulation resistance (IR): The measurement of how an electrical circuit or equipment is able to resist the leakage of electricity.

Line (L): Formerly known as ‘live’ or ‘phase’, this is one of the cable cores in a typical mains supply.

Live: The collective name for the conductors which carry the normal operating current.

Local authority building control (LABC): The department which controls building standards, including electrical installation.

Low voltage: An electrical supply of between 50V AC and 1000V AC.

Luminaries: A light fitting.

Miniature circuit breaker (MCB): A small circuit breaker.

Neutral (N): A term to describe one of the cable cores in a normal mains supply. This will usually be at the same voltage as ‘earth’.

Ohm: The unit of measure for electric resistance.

Over current: A condition when the normal load current is exceeded in a circuit. This may result in an overload or a short circuit.

Overload: An over current exceeding the normal full load current of a circuit.

Passive infra red (PIR): A sensor, often used in alarm systems, used to detect movement of objects at a different temperature to their surroundings (usually people or animals).

Pendant: A light hanging from the ceiling.

Radial circuit: A circuit arranged so that the cable runs from the consumer unit or fuse box to one or more accessories or loads without returning to the origin.

Recessed lighting: A light fixture installed into a hollow opening, also known as ‘pot lights’.

Residual current circuit breaker (RCCB): See residual current device (RCD).

Residual current circuit breaker with overcurrent protection (RCBO): A device designed to protect a circuit, combining features of a circuit breaker and an RCD.

Residual current device (RCD):  A circuit protection device which detects the difference in current between the live conductors  and disconnects it if the differential current exceeds a specific value.

Resistance: The property of an electrical circuit, measured in ohms, that restricts the flow of current.

Retro-fit: A customised or serviced piece of old technology.

Ring final circuit:  A final circuit that leaves Consumer Unit, serves multiple points and returns to Consume Unit to complete a 'ring'

Short Circuit: An overcurrent greater than the normal full load current of a circuit.

Short Circuit Rating: The maximum short circuit current an electrical component can sustain without excessive damage.

Spur: A cable supplying a socket or other accessory, which branches off a circuit typically

Steel wire armoured (SWA): A cable, suitable for use outdoors and underground, with a layer of steel wire strands around the central conductors.

Trunking: A long, usually rectangular metal or plastic container with removable lid for keeping cables.

Two Gang: A type of electrical box which holds either two switches and two receptacles, or one switch and one receptacle.

UK Power Networks (UKPN): A local DNO covering the south east of England, responsible for distributing electricity to homes in the area.

Underground cables: Buried wires under the ground.

Volt (V): A unit of electromagnetic force

Watts: The energy consumed by a light bulb or appliance per second is expressed in watts

Based in Penn, Wolverhampton WV4 5QE
Electrician, Electrician Contractor, Electrician in Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton Electrician, Penn Electrician, West Midlands Electrician - Call us today for a free no obligation quotation for any domestic or commercial electrician work.  Link us as your electrician on facebook, twitter and google+ your local electrician serving wolverhampton and surounding areas

Synergy Electrical is based at 14 Swan Bank, Penn, Wolverhampton, WV4 5QE

Electrician in Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton Electrician, Penn Electrician, West Midlands Electrician - Call us today on 01902 544323 for a free no obligation quotation for any domestic or commercial electrician work.  Link us as your electrician on facebook, twitter and google+.  Open 24 Hours a day, 7 days per week.