Electrical Circuit: Branch Circuits and Wiring System with Wiring Diagrams
65Basic Electrical Circuit
Electricity is basically flow of charge (basically
electrons). But charge cannot flow in a vacuum. It needs some medium or path to
flow from one point to another.
The word "circuit" refers to this
path used by “charge” or “electric current” to travel.
The electrical wiring of your home is basically a circuit
for electricity to flow from source to destination.
The branch circuit diagram below explains the distribution
of electricity from power source to the branch circuits of a house. Branch
circuits are like branches of a tree that supply power to switches, receptacles,
fixtures, and other home appliances. Branch circuits are protected by a fuse or
circuit breakers.
The following diagram explains a basic electrical circuit.
Basic Electric Circuits
Branch Wiring
A 120-volt branch wiring consists of a hot conductor
and a neutral conductor. The hot conductor originates at a fuse or breaker and
is connected to one of the hot bus bars. A 240-volt circuit requires both hot
bus conductors.
Neutral conductors of branch wiring originate at a neutral bus bar and are in
direct contact with the earth through the grounding electrode conductor at the
main service entrance panel.
Have a look at the diagram on the right for a typical branch wiring for homes.
Home Electrical Wiring Diagrams
Click thumbnail to view full-size
Home Improvements : Types of Electrical Wiring in Houses
Read More
→ Home Electrical Basics
→ Glossary of
Electrical Terms
→ How Home
Electrical System Works
→ Electrical
Wiring and Circuitry: Understanding the Basics
→ Main
Electrical Panel, Subpanels and Circuit Breakers
→ Electrical Grounding
→ Understanding
Electrical Meter
→ Electrical Tools
→ Mapping
and Wiring House Electrical Circuits
→ How
to Trace a Short Circuit or Overload
→ How to
Safely Test Electrical Circuit
→ Energy Star (Energy Efficiency and
Environmental Protection)
→ How
to slash and lower electric bills
→ How
Solar Panels Work to Generate Electricity
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