Inst ToolsInst ToolsInst Tools
  • Courses
  • Automation
    • PLC
    • Control System
    • Safety System
    • Communication
    • Fire & Gas System
  • Instrumentation
    • Design
    • Pressure
    • Temperature
    • Flow
    • Level
    • Vibration
    • Analyzer
    • Control Valve
    • Switch
    • Calibration
    • Erection & Commissioning
  • Interview
    • Instrumentation
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Practical
  • Q&A
    • Instrumentation
    • Control System
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Analog Electronics
    • Digital Electronics
    • Power Electronics
    • Microprocessor
  • Request
Search
  • Books
  • Software
  • Projects
  • Process
  • Tools
  • Basics
  • Formula
  • Power Plant
  • Root Cause Analysis
  • Electrical Basics
  • Animation
  • Standards
  • 4-20 mA Course
  • Siemens PLC Course
Reading: Electrical Terminology
Share
Font ResizerAa
Inst ToolsInst Tools
Font ResizerAa
  • Courses
  • Design
  • PLC
  • Interview
  • Control System
Search
  • Courses
  • Automation
    • PLC
    • Control System
    • Safety System
    • Communication
    • Fire & Gas System
  • Instrumentation
    • Design
    • Pressure
    • Temperature
    • Flow
    • Level
    • Vibration
    • Analyzer
    • Control Valve
    • Switch
    • Calibration
    • Erection & Commissioning
  • Interview
    • Instrumentation
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Practical
  • Q&A
    • Instrumentation
    • Control System
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Analog Electronics
    • Digital Electronics
    • Power Electronics
    • Microprocessor
  • Request
Follow US
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.
Inst Tools > Blog > Electrical Basics > Electrical Terminology

Electrical Terminology

Last updated: December 22, 2018 1:25 am
Editorial Staff
Electrical Basics
No Comments
Share
6 Min Read
SHARE

The Basic Electrical Terminology Terms as follows:

Active Power (Watt): Sometime called Real Power, True Power or Effective power. It describes the actual amount of power present in a system in watts (W) and the symbol is P. In a simple resistive circuit, the voltage and current are in phase and the active power is equal to the apparent power.

Ambient Temperature: The temperature of the air, water, or surrounding earth.

Ampacity: The current-carrying capacity of conductors or equipment, expressed in amperes.

Ampere (A) or amp: The basic SI unit measuring the quantity of electricity. The unit for electric current or the flow of electrons. One amp is 1 coulomb passing in one second. One amp is produced by an electric force of 1 volt acting across a resistance of 1 ohm.

Ampere-hour (Ah): Quantity of electricity or measure of charge. (1 Ah = 3600 Coulomb)

Apparent power (VA): Used to describe the useful or working power in a system. It is measured in VA volt-amperes (not watts). The symbol is S. It is used to describe the resultant power due to the phase separation between the voltage and current. In an alternating current circuit, both the current and voltage are sinusoidal. The Apparent Power is the useful power in the system by taking into account the Power Factor.

Ground: A large conducting body (such as the earth) used as a common return for an electric circuit and as an arbitrary zero of potential.

Impedance: The total opposition that a circuit offers to the flow of alternating current or any other varying current at a particular frequency

Inductive reactance: Electrical current produces heat and/or a magnetic field (such as in the windings of a motor). The tendency for current flow and changes in flow to be influenced by magnetic fields is inductance. An AC circuit that contains only inductance, capacitance, or a combination of the two is defined by the total opposition to current flow expressed in reactance. Inductance only affects current flow when the current is changing. Inductance produces a self-induced voltage (called a counter EMF) that opposes changes in current. Obviously, the current changes constantly in an AC circuit. Inductance in an AC circuit, therefore causes a continual opposition to current flow is called inductive reactance.

Power Factor (PF): Power factor is the ratio of the Active Power to the Apparent Power factor. It is a number between 0 and 1 and is used to determine how efficient a power system is. It is determined by the type of loads connected to the power system. For a purely resistive load, the power factor will be 1, and only real power will flow. Inductive loads such as transformers and motors absorb reactive power. Capacitive loads such as capacitor banks or long cables generate reactive power.

Reactive Power (VAR): Reactive power is described as the amount of power required to overcome the phase shift between the current and voltage due to inductive and capacitive effects. It is measured in reactive volt-ampere’s (VAr) and the symbol is Q. It is desirable to keep Reactive Power to a minimum.

Kilowatt-hour (kWh): One thousand watts acting over a period of 1 hour. The kWh is a unit of energy. 1 kWh=3600 kJ.

Ohm: The derived SI unit for electrical resistance or impedance; one ohm equals one volt per ampere.

Total harmonic distortion (THD): The measure of closeness in shape between a waveform and its fundamental component.

Volt (V): A unit of measure of the force given the electrons in an electric circuit. One volt produces one ampere of current when acting on a resistance of one ohm.

Voltage Drop: The loss of voltage between the input to a device and the output from a device due to the internal impedance or resistance of the device. In all electrical systems, the conductors should be sized so that the voltage drop never exceeds 3% for power, heating, and lighting loads or combinations of these. Furthermore, the maximum total voltage drop for conductors for feeders and branch circuits combined should never exceed 5%.

Watt (W): The unit of electric power, or amount of work (J), done in a unit of time. One ampere of current flowing at a potential of one volt produces one watt of power

Watt-hour (Wh): One watt acting over a period of 1 hour. The Wh is a unit of energy. 1 Wh=3.600 kJ.

Also Read: Star-Delta Starter Principle

Don't Miss Our Updates
Be the first to get exclusive content straight to your email.
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Invalid email address
You've successfully subscribed !

Continue Reading

What is a Relay? Types of Industrial Relays
What is an Instrument Transformer? – Types, Principle, Advantages
What is Vacuum Circuit Breaker?
Electrical Engineering Documents – Engineers Questions
Circuit Breaker Making Capacity
Difference Between Short Circuit and Ground Fault
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Copy Link
Share
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Connected

128.3kFollowersLike
69.1kFollowersFollow
210kSubscribersSubscribe
38kFollowersFollow

Categories

Explore More

Circuit Breaker Testing – Routine Tests of Circuit Breakers
Difference Between Core and Shell Transformers
What is ELCB? Principle, Advantages, Disadvantages, Applications
Types of Stepper Motors
How Motor Star Delta Starter Works ?
Dahlander Motor Control Circuit and Power Circuit
What are Analog and Digital Signals? Differences, Examples
Assembling an Electrical Conduit Seal

Keep Learning

Switched Mode Power Supply (SMPS)

How does SMPS Works? – Switched Mode Power Supply

Electrical Link Box

What is a Link Box?

Worldwide Voltage & Frequency Values

Worldwide Voltage & Frequency Values

Time Delay Fuse

What is a Time Delay Fuse? – Principles and Advantages

What is Air Circuit Breaker

What is an Air Circuit Breaker? Working Principle & Applications

How to Test a Motor using Megger

How to Test a Motor using Megger?

Difference Between Regenerative and Dynamic Braking

Difference Between Regenerative and Dynamic Braking

ACSR (All Aluminium Conductor Steel Reinforced)

What is an Overhead Cable? Types of Overhead Conductors

Learn More

What is a Process Alarm

What is a Process Alarm? Types of Alarms

How to Test a Thermocouple with a Multimeter

Testing a Thermocouple With a Multimeter

What is an RTD

Components of RTD

AB PLC Temperature Switch

Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) Questions and Answers – 17

RF Level Sensors Principle

RF Level Switches Working Principle

Differential Pressure Sensor Calibration

Differential Pressure Sensors Calibration Procedure

transformers-questions-answers-part-1

Transformers Questions & Answers Part-1

PLC Programming Basics for a Packing Machine Control System

PLC Packing Machine Control System Program in XG5000

Menu

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright

Quick Links

  • Learn PLC
  • Helping Hand
  • Part Time Job

YouTube Subscribe

Follow US
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?