You are here: Electrics jargon buster

Here’s a handy jargon buster for some common electrical terms.

Amp

Amp is a standard unit of measurement of electrical current. This is in effect the rate of flow of electrons. Amp was named after French physicist and mathematician André-Marie Ampère (1775-1836).

British Standard (BS) 7671

British Standard BS 7671 also known as the IEE (Institute of Electrical Engineering) wiring regulations. This sets out the UK requirements for electrical installations and is the standard against which all NICEIC contractors are assessed.

Electrics jargon buster
Electrics jargon buster

Capping

Metal or plastic tubing designed to protect cables which have been installed into the wall. However, they can still be damaged by nails or screws.

Certificate

Any electrician installing a new electrical installation, for example, or altering an existing circuit should provide the homeowner with an electrical installation certificate or minor installation works certificate to confirm it meets BS 7671

Chasing

This involves making a slot in a solid wall to safely install and contain wires and cables.

Circuit

This is the path or line in which electrons from a voltage or current source flow. A circuit diagram makes it easier to understand how the component parts are connected, including lights, switches, sockets and other electrical equipment.

Circuit breaker or Residual Current Devices (RCD)

An automatic safety switch wired into a circuit which turns off the electrical supply when there is a fault. This prevents serious damage to other component parts in an electrical circuit or a fire. Electrical circuits are always contained, so the electrical current that flows in on the live wire should always equal the electric current that flows back on the neutral wire. If the RCD detects any difference in this current, it will immediately turn the circuit off.

Class 1 Equipment

Electrical appliances with basic insulation and the provision of an earth connection or metal earth pin to protect the user. Examples include kettles, toasters, irons, fridges, freezers, microwaves, tumble dryers and irons.  See also Portable Appliance Testing (PAT testing)

Class 2 Equipment

Some appliances don’t have an earth wire. This is because they have plastic casings or have been designed so the live wire can’t touch the casing. These appliances are also known as ‘double insulated’ because they have double insulation. See also Portable Appliance Testing (PAT testing)

Competent person

Term used to describe a person who has the technical knowledge, skill and experience to carry out the work needed safely and effectively

Conductors

Some materials let electricity pass through them easily. These are known as electrical conductors. Many metals are good electrical conductors, for example copper, iron and steel. That’s why the part of an electrical object that needs electricity to pass through it is made of metal. For example, metal is used in plugs to allow electricity to transfer from the wall socket to a device, such as a kettle.

Conduit

An electrical conduit is a metal or plastic tube used to protect and route electrical wiring in a building.  Its use and form is often specified by wiring regulations.

Consumer unit

Often still referred to as a ‘fuse box’, the consumer unit is the main control centre for a home’s electricity supply. It contains three parts – the main switch, fuses and/or circuit breakers and Residual Current Devices (RCD).

Current

An electric current is the flow of electric charge. This is measured in Amps.

Distribution board

A panel carrying the fuses, switches, and other protective components for one or more electric circuits.

Earthing

Many electrical appliances have metal cases, for example refrigerators, cookers and kettles. The earth wire provides a safe route for a current to flow through if the live wire touches the casing and it becomes electrically charged. This means the cooker or kettle is now safe from causing an electric shock to anyone who touches it. A strong current through the earth wire will break the fuse and switch off the electric supply to the appliance. 

Electrical installation

This is the internal wiring and fixed electrical equipment within a building, including cables, consumer unit (fuse box), power circuits, switches and sockets.

Electrical installation certificate (EIC)

A certificate issued by an electrician when they complete any new electrical work or make changes to existing electrics. The certificate confirms the work has been done been done, inspected and tested to the UK national standard BS 7671.

Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)

This is a report on the condition of the electrical wiring at the time of inspection. It will include an overall assessment of its safety and suggest changes to correct any problems that may give rise to danger. Areas of concern should be ranked in importance. Faulty and old wiring is a major cause of house fires in the UK.

Extension lead

A length of electric cable which allows the use of one or more appliances at some distance from a fixed socket. The more wall sockets you have in a home, the less you will need an extension lead. Overuse of multi-way adapters increases the risk of fire.

Fuses

In the past, an electrical fuse had a thin piece of wire inside it making it the weakest link in a circuit. If there was fault resulting in too much current flowing through the fuse wire, it would overheat and melt. This melted fuse the broke circuit and disconnected the appliances from the electricity source, keeping people safe. Today technology has moved on and most fuses now operate without melting any wire. Instead a lever trips and it can easily be reset once the problem has been investigated.

However melting fuses are still inside modern plugs. They are disposable items to be thrown away when blown.

Fuse box

See consumer unit

IEE wiring regulations

See BS British Standard (BS) 7671

Insulators

These are materials that don’t allow electricity to pass through them. Electrical insulators are usually plastic. The plastic covering that surrounds a wire is an electrical insulator and prevents electric shock.

Fused connection unit

A fused connection unit known as an FCU is an outlet from the mains containing the fuse where the appliance is hard wired rather than using a plug or socket. Also known as fused spurs.

Mains electricity 

Electricity is usually made at power stations and travels down large cables to people’s houses. This electricity is known as mains power. The main switch allows you to turn off the electricity in your home

Main bonding

Bonding is used to reduce the risk of electric shocks to anyone who may touch two separate metal parts when there is a fault somewhere in the electrical installation. The types of bonding often used are main bonding and supplementary bonding.

Minor (Electrical Installation) Works Certificate (MWC)

A safety certificate (see also Electrical Installation Certificate) for minor electrical works, such as additions and alterations. It’s a fundamental principle of BS 671 that every electrical installation must be provided with appropriate documentation. The standards for safety aren’t reduced for minor works.

NICEIC

NICEIC is an abbreviation of National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting – one of the industry’s voluntary regulatory bodies for electrical safety. It provides assessment, training and certifications for contractors working across the building sectors. The other regulatory bodies are BRE Certification Ltd, British Standards Institution, ELECSA Ltd, NAPIT Registration Ltd, SELECT (Scotland) and STROMA.

Part P

The specific part of the Building Regulations for England and Wales which relates to electrical installations in domestic properties. Any electrical work must follow the rules in Part P Building Regulations. 

PAT (Portable Appliance Testing)

Inspection and testing of electrical appliances, including portable appliances, to ensure they are safe. Landlords are responsible for ensuring any appliance for use by a tenant, such as a cooker or kettle, should be tested by an electrician with PAT equipment.  Both Class 1 and Class 2 equipment are required to have PAT testing although it’s important to distinguish the two as they are tested differently.

Residual current device (RCD)

This is a sensitive switching device that trips a circuit when an earth fault is detected. RCD protection is especially important for socket circuits that may be used to supply outdoor portable equipment. See Circuit Breaker.

Rewire – full rewire

Rewiring a home is a major job and expense. But because of the safety hazards of damaged or deteriorated wiring, it may be necessary. A qualified electrician will say if your home needs full or partial rewiring. See Electrical Condition Report.

Spur

An additional electrical connection often taken from a point on the existing electrical circuit, such as a socket. It may provide a supply to a new socket, for example.

Supplementary bonding

These connections are made to prevent dangerous voltage between two metal parts.  You may need supplementary bonding for rooms containing a bath or shower except where all circuits are RCD protected and the main bonding is up to the required standard. Ask a qualified electrician.

Switched fuse spur

A fused connection unit with a switch on it

Transformer

A transformer is a static electrical device that transfers electrical energy between two or more circuits.

Trust Mark

Trust Mark is a Government supported scheme to help you find a reliable trades person.

U/S Unserviceable

U/S unserviceable means that the item is damaged or broken and is not in working order, unfit for use.

Voltage

Electrical power is a combination of voltage and current. Voltage is the pressure from an electrical circuit’s power source that pushes the flow of charged electrons (current) through a conducting loop. Increasing current or voltage will result in more power.

Voltage is measured in volts (V). The term recognises Allessandro Volta (1745-1827), inventor of the voltaic pile – forerunner of today’s household battery.

Watts

Watts (W) are a measure of the rate at which electricity flows. It is a combination of current (amps) and voltage.  Watts are sometimes described as the miles-per-hour measurement of the electricity world.

The term Watt recognises Scottish inventor and mechanical engineer James Watt (1736-1819) who developed the concept of horsepower and the S1 unit of power.

 

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