Wiring Techniques

SINGLE POLE SWITCH AND LIGHT BULB.

120 volt Circuit Types

Lighting

Receptacle

Small appliance

Individual branch circuits

(supplies one piece of
equipment)

Definitions

Electricity

Electricity can be simply

defined as the flow of
charged particles called
electrons from a source
through a conductor and to a
load.

It can occur naturally

(lightning) or be
produced/generated

Definitions

Circuit

A complete pathway for electricity to flow.

Beginning at a source, going through wiring to
a Load, and going back to the source.

Definitions

LOAD
A Load is anything that uses electricity. Lights,
motors and receptacles are examples of some
loads. Another word for a load is an OUTLET.
In a house you can have Receptacle Outlets
and Lighting Outlets.
NOTE:
Switches are not loads. Switches are DEVICES
A device carries electricity but does not use it.

120 V Circuits

120 V circuits have 3 conductors:

one

energized (hot) conductor

one

neutral conductor

one

ground conductor

Black
White

Bare or green

Definitions

Line/Hot

The Line/Hot is the wire that comes from the

breaker in the panel and is the wire that carries
power to the load or device.
The Hot wire must always be insulated (normally
black); or must be painted or taped with colored
tape. As required by the National Electrical Code
White, Gray, or Green may not be used to identify a
hot wire.

Definitions

Neutral
The Neutral is the white or gray wire that
comes from the Neutral Buss Bar in the
panel. This wire serves as the return path for
the electricity to flow back to the panel.
The Neutral wire must always be white or gray;
or must be painted or taped with white or gray.

Definitions

Ground

The term "ground" refers to a direct path for electricity to deenergize so it does not damage tools, equipment and most
importantly you! The ground wire is independent of the normal
current-carrying path in an electrical appliance.

Is the ground wire necessary? The appliance will operate

normally without the ground wire because it is not a part of the
conducting path which supplies electricity to the appliance. In
fact, if the ground wire is broken or removed, you will normally
not be able to tell the difference. But if high voltage has gotten in
contact with the case, there may be a shock hazard.

LINE DIAGRAM