Electrical principles - Components
Types
An electrical circuit is a continuous path through which current flows. Following are some common components of simple electrical circuits.
Source
A dry cell battery
A source supplies voltage to the circuit. A common direct current (d.c.) source is a battery.
Protection device
Single circuit breaker
All circuits require some sort of protection device to protect against electrical shock and high currents.
Common types of protection devices include fuses and circuit breakers.
Switch
Three position switch
A switch is used to open or close a circuit. This controls the flow of current through the circuit and therefore the circuit operation.
Load
A.C. motor
A load is something in a circuit that consumes energy. An example of a load is a globe or motor.
Conductor
Electrical cable
A conductor is material that allows current to flow easily. In a circuit, the conductor is a cable connecting all components together to form a continous path.
