Basic Electrical Wiring And Electric Current Flow
Electric current flow can be defined as the flow of electrons through a conductor (wire) or circuit. This passage of electrons is often described as being analogous to the flow of water in a pipe or hose. For example, water flows through a pipe or hose because it is under pressure. Similarly, electric current surges through a wire because it is under pressure. Earlier, voltage was defined as the pressure, or moving (electromotive) force, that causes current (electrons) to flow in an electrical circuit. Furthermore with basic electrical wiring, just as the size of a hose or pipe can affect the degree of water pressure, the size of an electrical wire can affect the flow of current passing through it. The maximum current-carrying capacity of a particular-size wire is called its ampacity.
As electric current passes through your electrical system, it reaches your receptacles and switches where it becomes available for use when you flip the switch on your will or appliance. And like the water, once the electric current is used, it exits the system. The current exits by means of grounded conductor.
The passage of electric current through a wire is not only restricted by the size of the wire and the amount of voltage pressure but also by the material of which it is made. Imagine water trying to flow along an incline; if the incline is downward, the flow will be unrestricted; if the incline is upward, the flow will be resisted. The steepness of the incline affects the speed of the flow. Obstacles in the incline, like rocks in a stream, also slow the flow. The chemical composition of a material determines its resistance to the flow of electricity. Basic electrical wiring materials that allow electric current to pass through them fairly easily are electrical conductors, while materials that prevent the passage of electric current are insulators. Common conductors include copper and aluminum, which are used in the manufacture of electrical wiring. Most metals are good electrical conductors, yet even these offer some resistance to the flow of electric current. This property can be measured in units of resistance called ohms. Materials commonly used as insulators include glass, various plastics, and rubber. Leave The Basic Electrical Wiring Page To Go To The Home Page |