5 AMP CIRCUIT
A low power circuit for lighting, most commonly used for task and
table lamps and now largely discontinued.
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BONDING
All metal pipes in buildings must be earthed electrically by linking
them all together with wires, which are then connected to earth. This
is done to prevent severe electrical shock to persons should the pipes
become live through a fault.
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CIRCUIT
BREAKER
A switch that replaces a fuse to protect from electrical overload.
If the circuit breaker is activated, pushing in the button can reset
it but the reason for activation should always be investigated, especially
if there is a repeat.
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CONSUMER
UNIT
The panel beside the meter on the consumer side of the meter, which
contains fuses or circuit breakers.
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EARTH
LEAKAGE
This has the same function as RCD in cutting the power if minute currents
are detected.
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FLEX
Cable where the electrical conductor core is made up of many fine
strands instead of the single wire as in twin and earth.
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FUSE
The thin wire in a carrier which protects an electrical circuit. Fuses
occur as a cartridge or loose wire.
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MEGGER
A testing meter used to check the resistance of electrical circuits,
particularly earths, through a small power source which sends several
thousand volts at very low power through the circuit.
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RCD
Residual current device or breaker on the board beside the main fuses
or circuit breakers. This can also be a local device switch as a socket
or plug-in. The device monitors the earth and if it finds any current
which has crossed from the live side, it switches off the power in
a split second, thereby protecting persons from electrical shock.
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RING
The power circuit to sockets is found in the form of a wire looped
from socket to socket and back to the circuit breaker to save on wire.
This is known as a ring.
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RADIAL
Similar to a ring but fed from one end only.
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TWIN AND
EARTH
Standard power cable supplying sockets.
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TWO
WAY
The arrangement of two switches, which are linked so that either can
switch a light on or off.
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