Electrical

Question 1

What is electricity?

Answer 1

The flow of electrons in a conductor

Question 2

What is a circuit?

Answer 2

The path to and from its source that the electrons must have

Question 3

What is direct current?

Answer 3

Flows in only one direction (usually generated by battery-based electrical systems, internal combustion engines, or flashlight batteries)

Question 4

What is alternating current?

Answer 4

Reverses the direction of flow of current many times each second (AC is the type used in homes, factories, etc)

Question 5

The red and black wires carry how many volts into your house?

Answer 5

110 or 120 volts

Question 6

What is a service panel?

Answer 6

Houses the circuit breakers for the system and are used to distribute the power to individual circuits throughout the system. Follows the meter into the building

Question 7

What is an overcurrent?

Answer 7

Causes a circuit breaker to trip if a circuit uses too much electricity, shutting down the power to that circuit. The excessive heat caused by an overcurrent condition may burn or damage a conductor’s insulation and cause a fire.

Question 8

What are amperes?

Answer 8

Measures rate of flow

Question 9

What are volts?

Answer 9

Measures electrical pressure

Question 10

What are watts?

Answer 10

Measures the work that can be done

Question 11

What wire is “hot’’?

Answer 11

Carries in volts (black, red)

Question 12

What wire is “neutral”?

Answer 12

Provides the return path for electricity (white)

Question 13

What is a kilowatt?

Answer 13

Electric bills are charged by the kilowatts an hour

Question 14

What is a hertz?

Answer 14

The current alternates back and forth in what we call cycles per second
1 cycle/second

Question 15

What is the hertz rating in the United States?

Answer 15

North America = 60 Hz

Question 16

The most common circuit break in your service panel is…?

Answer 16

15 amps

Question 17

Why are 2 prong plugs safe to use?

Answer 17

The neutral and hot sides are polarized. 2 prong plugs are designed for appliances that don’t require grounding.

Question 18

What is the purpose of a circuit breaker?

Answer 18

Open the circuit when a current in a house wire exceeds the rated current for that circuit. It keeps us from being electrocuted or from fires.

Question 19

What is a GFCI?

Answer 19

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter

Question 20

What is the purpose of a GFCI?

Answer 20

Detects current differences in the neutral and hot wire. Should be the same at all times, if not breaker goes off immediately. Can reset. Use near water sources where safety is a concern: bathroom and outdoor outlets.

Question 21

We want to avoid these things in our house

Answer 21

Frayed electrical wires
Octopus outlets
Water and electrical wires
Plug receptacles to protect small children
Overloading electrical circuits.

Question 22

Name a few ways to save on your electrical bill.

Answer 22

Set the thermostat at 68-72 degrees when home and 62-68 when you are away or at night
Clean debris from the central air conditioning and clean the filter
Install the air conditioner in the shade
Operate stoves, ovens, dishwashers, and clothes dryers in the morning when it is cooler
Don’t cool unused areas. Close doors and registers to save energy cost
Avoid opening the refrigerator or freezer to browse.
Take advantage of natural sunlight
Paint walls bright colors
Use good Insulation
Check energy guides