House Wiring Terms

2 or more insulated conductors that have an outer sheathing that holds P, N, & E together.

• Cable
• outlet
• fuse
• fitting

A device designed to open and close a circuit in the event of an overcurrent or short circuit.  This device can be reset after it turns off.

• wirenut
• outlet
• circuit breaker
• junction box

An overcurrent device that opens a circuit when a fusible link is melted away by the extreme heat caused by an overcurrent.

• fuse
• circuit breaker
• switch
• receptacle

An accidental connection of a "hot" electrical conductor and a grounded piece of electrical equipment.

• ground fault
• overload
• open circuit
• fuse

A point on the wiring system at which current is taken to supply a piece of electrical equipment such as a lamp or appliance.

• outlet  (receptacle)
• switch
• wire nut
• romex

Any current in excess of the rated current of the equipment or the ampacity of a conductor.  It may occur from an overload, a short circuit, or a ground fault.

• Voltage 
• ganging
• device
• overcurrent

A low resistance path that results in a high value of current that flows around rather than through a circuit.

• overload
• short circuit
• ampacity
• circuit breaker

A piece of electrical equipment used to mechanically connect two or more conductors together.

• switch
• outlet
• wire nut
• plug

Bare copper wire is considered to be ...

• Neutral

• Hot

• Ground

• Positive

A tube of metal or plastic which protects wire

• Service Panel

• Transformer

• Conduit

• Romex