Unit 6.3 Flashcards
Circuit breaker
A switch that turns off a circuit if too much current flows through it
Earth wire
A wire through which currently only flows when there is a leak of current in an appliance; it is coated in yellow and green plastic
Fuse
A wire of high resistance; it will melt if too much current flows in the circuit
Neutral wire
A wire that carries current away from the component; it is coated in blue plastic
Parallel circuit
A circuit that has a number of branches, each with its own components
Safety switch
A device that turns all household circuits off if it detects a leak in current; it is also known as a residual current device (RCD)
Series circuit
A circuit with all its components arranged in a line, formed a single loop
Surge protector
A device that turns off power to appliances if it detects a massive and damaging increase in current
Active wire
A wire that carries current to a component; it is coated in brown plastic
