Links and Electrical Definitions

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Links

Electrical
Electrical Contracting Magazine
Industry specific magazine with articles on latest electrical contracting technologies
Electrical Safety Information
Information on a wide variety ofelectrical safety subjects
Find an ElectricalContractor
Locate an electrical contractor by area code, zip code or city
Questions to ask an Electrical Contractor
Fivequestions to ask an electrical contractor before deciding on the one to choose
Construction Industry Directory
Directory of construction industry - all trades
ConstructionTrends.com - Keeping up with the future of construction!
Articles and online forums related to construction trends including new building code changes, products and materials.
EasyPower
Esa provides innovative and integrated power system solutions that enhance safety and improve the reliability, performance and efficiency of electric power systems
Top Power Transformer
Top power transformer is the definitive source for power transformer news and information!
Electricians Staffing
The "Electrical Staffing Experts"
Find Electrical Services in Colorado at Findoha.com
New V3 Electrical Troubleshooting Training Software - Download Free Demo!
New V3 Electrical Troubleshooting Software gives you years of experience in just a few days.
Download your free demo today!
ElectriciansParadise.com
A new site dedicated to the spread of electrical knowledge and expertise

General Industry Links
Safetec: Msds Management- Chemical Management- Safety, Process
Safetec is an emerging, high-tech firm dedicated to providing world-class msds and chemical management solutions and services to medium and large-sized organizations.

Agencies
Southern Colorado Better Business Bureau
Southern Colorado's BBB
Pikes Peak Regional Building Department
Helpful information for home and business owners on what projects require permits. Basement finish guide that includesplumbing, electrical and mechanical dimensions and requirements.

Real Estate 
Colorado Springs Real Estate
Search Colorado Springs real estate and Colorado Springs agents profiles. Print MLS listings, local Springs info. Wishlist/property watch free for users. Rich media w/ video narrator.
New Homes Connection
All about Colorado Springs Real Estate
Colorado Springs New Homes | Real Estate Agents
Colorado Springs Real Estate Brokers specializing in selling new and existing homes to military relocation candidates

Resources
All Star Jobs
Find jobs in all the major cities of the US
Yellow Pages on-line
Yellow pages on-line. Find businesses in your local area fast.
Money 4Investors-National Real Estate Networking Database
The Power of Networking-You wil find hard money lenders and over 1.2 million properties here.
usaPrimeLoans - Home Loan - We are in the business of simplifying the loan application process. By bringing hundreds of buyers and lenders together, we can find the best loan rate for you. Hassle free and fast pre-approvals
Instek
Global Test Supply is a distributor of new and refurbished test equipment.

Hot Tub Cover Lifters Enjoy your hot tub without having to lift a heavy cover with one of our cover lifters.

Oregon Coast Fishing - Oregon Coast Fishing Information on Oregon Coast Fishing Trips, Salmon, Ocean Charter, River Guides, Bottom Fishing, Surf Fishing.

 

Local Directory

Colorado Springs Electrician
Monument Electrician
Fountain, CO Electrician
Peyton, CO Electrician
Falcon Electrician

Home Related
Home Bar Plans Online
Classic bar designs for your home or business. All plans are designed with a wet bar sink and keg box for draft beer. Our plans are easy to build, using basic tools. Downloadable plans for instant access available.
Home 'n Gifts
Home 'n gifts is a one-stop shop for all your household and gift giving needs. They carry a large selection of housewares, giftwares, home furnishings, home decor, collectibles, garden, jewelry, toys and tools.
Garden Fountains, Garden Gnomes and More!
Huge selection of garden decor - fountains, gnomes, wood barrels, wood planters, copper accessories and brass decorative items.
Wall and Water Fountains
A great selection of all things related to fountains
Metal Roof Specialties
We design, supply & install all types of metal roofing & siding products in Washington area including Bellevue, Everett, Olympia & Tacoma
For Electric Fans and more, Electric-Fan.com - For the best in quality home products such as Ceiling Fans, Exhaust Fans, Portable Electric Fans, Evaporative Coolers, Industrial Fans, and Portable Air Conditioners, please visit www.Electric-Fan.com

Electrical Definitions

Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI)
AFCIs are electrical devices designed to protect against fires caused by arcing faults in residential electrical wiring. The AFCI resembles a normal breaker that is placed in the electrical panel except it contains a reset button in the event a trip occurs and the arc problem is fixed.

Amp (Ampere)
Unit that measures the strength or rate of the flow of an electrical current. An ampere is the unit of measurement of electric current produced in a circuit by 1 volt acting through a resistance of 1 ohm.

AWG
American Wire Gauge, typical house lighting and receptacle circuits are either 14 AWG or 12 AWG. The smaller the AWG number, the larger diameter the wire will be.

Ballast
A transformer that increases the voltage for a florescent lamp.

Branch Circuit (See "Circuit")

Breaker
See Circuit Breaker- Safety devices used to protect life and property from electrical short circuits. If the “live wire” (black or red) comes in contact with anything connected to the “neutral wire” (white) or “ground” (bare copper or green) the breaker cuts power to that circuit.

Breaker Panel
An electrical box that houses breakers and connects branch circuits to the rest of the house. A typical residential breaker panel is 100 to 150 Amps, 120/240 Volts.

Conductor
Any material (wire, water, etc.) that allows electrons to be transferred. Local and NEC codes require the use of copper conductors for all new electrical circuit installations, the use of aluminum wiring for the main service conductor is permitted.

Conduit
A protective metal or PVC tube that electrical wires run in and through.

Connector
A small insulating plastic or metal piece that attaches to an electrical box that holds the wire entering it securely.

Circuit
The path of electrical flow from a power source through an outlet and back to ground. All the wiring controlled by a breaker is considered a circuit.

Circuit Breaker
See Breaker - A device that looks like a switch and is usually found inside the breaker panel. It is designed to shut of the power to portions or the entire house and limits the amount of power allowed to flow through a circuit as measured in amperes.

Dedicated circuit

An electrical circuit that serves only one appliance, such as a stove, drier, hot water tank, or dishwasher. "Clean power" is served to sensitive equipment like computers and home theater systems using dedicated circuits.

Dehumidistat
A control mechanism used in a home, to operate an exhaust fan based upon the relative humidity.

Disconnect
A large electrical ON/OFF switch. Typically 20 to 100+ Amps. Normally found on main electrical panel, in sub-panels and inside air conditioning/hot tub breaker panel boxes.

Duplex Receptacle
A normal electrical outlet, called "duplex" because it has two plug-ins.

Electrical permit

A building permit required for electrical work, can be issued to home/ property owners and licensed electrical contractors for residential applications. Can only be issued to licensed electrical contractors for commercial and industrial projects.

Electric Meter

Device that measures the amount of electricity that flows through it (or how much electricity a customer uses).

Electrical Finish
The final work performed by an electrician when the electrical project is nearing completion. The electrician installs all plugs, GFCI outlets, switches, light fixtures, switch and outlet covers, smoke detectors, bathroom ventilation fans, electric furnace hook-up, electric baseboard heaters, ceiling fans, track lights, recessed light trim, hot tub and/or air conditioning wiring and all associated wires in the main electrical panel with all the regular and AFCI breakers. The electrician finishes all work necessary to complete the work for the customer and if necessary, pass the final PPRBD electrical inspection.

Electrical Metal Tubing (or EMT)
Metal tubing that electrical wires are routed in and through to protect the wire from exposure to the elements of weather, inadvertent damage and other exposures that could render the circuit unsafe.

Electrical Rough-In
Electrical work done by an electrician to prepare for the open walls to be insulated and covered. Usually all electrical wires and/or circuits are installed along with all the electrical boxes for all the lights, switches and outlets. The electrical rough- in concerning the main electrical service usually includes the mast (for above ground power), weather head, meter base (glass meter plug in is normally supplied by the local power/ utility company and main electrical panel without breakers installed.

Fish tape

A long strip of thin spring steel or composite material used for fishing cables behind existing walls and for pulling wires through conduit.

Fixture

All permanently connected lights, fans or other electrical devices that consume electrical power.

Fluorescent lighting

A fluorescent lamp is a gas filled tube with a chemical coating on the inside. Gas inside the glass tube is ionized by electricity which causes the chemical coating to light up.

Forced air heating

A common form of heating using natural gas, propane, oil or electricity as a fuel source. Air is heated in the furnace and blown via an electrical motor through metal ducting to various areas of the home.

Fuse

A device often found in older electrical panels. Fuses are designed to prevent electrical overloads. Fuses can still be found in some electrical appliances, like ranges. However breakers have now replaced fuses in the electrical panels that distribute the branch circuits throughout the house.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)

An ultra sensitive outlet or breaker designed to shut off all electric current. Typically used in bathrooms, exterior outlets, and wet areas like hot tubs, saunas and whirlpool tubs. GFCI breaker outlets have a small reset and test button on the plug or breaker. Testing a GFCI outlet monthly is recommended to ensure its proper operation.

Ground

Refers to electricity's habit of seeking the shortest route to earth. A ground plate or two ground rods typically ground a home ’s electrical system.

Hot wire (or "Live wire")

Typically a black or red wire that carries electricity to a receptacle or device.

Incandescent lamp

A lamp using an electrically charged metal filament that lights up. A typical light bulb is considered an Incandescent lamp.

Junction Box (or "J-box")
A plastic, composite or metal box that attaches to framing and contains the wires that are connected to light fixtures, switches, receptacles and devices. A junction box is sometimes installed with the electrical wires capped and the box covered for future use. In remodeling and finishing the wires are capped and left in the open box until all other wall work and painting is complete.

Keyless Lamp Holder

A plastic or porcelain light fixture that may operate with a pull string. Typicaly found in unfinished basements, crawl spaces, utility rooms and attic areas.

Knockout

A removable piece of an electrical box or panel that's "knocked out" to allow a wire to enter the box through a connector.

Lumen

The unit of measure for total light output. A standard 100 watt incandescent light bulb emits approximately 1700 lumens when powered by 110 volts.

NEC (National Electrical Code)

The set of rules issued by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) governing safe electrical wiring practices.

Neutral wire

Typically a white wire that carries electricity from an outlet back to the main electrical service panel.

Outlet

(See Duplex Receptacle) – also called a receptacle, or plug.

Pigtail

An added piece of wire connected by a wire connector. Normally used to extend or connect wires in an electrical box.

Radiant heating

A type of heating that consists of a hot water system with pipes installed in the floor, wall, or ceiling. You can also use electrically heated panels or mats that are installed under tile. The electrically heated panels are normally used for a small floor area like bathrooms but are also designed for snow melting systems on roofing eaves and under driveways.

Receptacle (See also Outlet and Duplex Receptacle)

An electrical outlet. A typical household will have many 120 volt receptacles for plugging in lamps and appliances and 240 volt receptacles for the range, and laundry dryer.

Romex

Trade name of sheathed electrical cable.

Service equipment
Main control gear at the service entrance, such as circuit breakers, switches, and the service panel box itself.

Switch

A device that connects or disconnects an electrical circuit. Also called a single pole switch.

3 way switch

Switch used when a light is controlled from two different places, like outside and inside a room, both ends of a hallway, the top and bottom of stairs.

4 way switch

A special switch used when more than two switch locations is desired.

Thermostat
A device which relegates the temperature of a room or building by switching heating or cooling equipment on or off as the temperature rises and lowers.

Travelers
Wires that carry current between threeway and/or fourway switches.

UL (Underwriter’s Laboratories)

An independent testing agency that checks electrical devices and other components for possible safety hazards. UL is not a government agency.

Volt

Unit that measures the degree of electrical pressure.

Voltage
A measure of electrical potential. Most homes are wired with 120 and 240 volt lines. The 120 volt power is used for lighting and most of the other circuits. The 240 volt power is usually used for the kitchen stove, hot water tank, drier, and electric baseboard heating.

Watt

The unit of measure for the amount of electrical power.

Wire nut

A wire connector used to fasten bare wires together. "Wire-Nut" is a trade name for a wire connector.

Colorado Springs Licensed Electrical Contractor Your Safe, Reliable and Honest Electrician! Free Estimates Always – Call 719-219-0960 Today 

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