We all have a hankering to do a bit of DIY work around the house on weekends. Generally, this is pretty safe. Working with electricity, however, can be dangerous, so understanding the terminology in instructions is critical.

Ambient Temperature - The temperature of the air, water, or surrounding earth. Conductor ampacity is corrected for changes in ambient temperature including temperatures below 86F. The cooling effect can increase the current carrying capacity of the conductor.

Alternating Current (AC) - Electric current which changes direction with a regular frequency.

Branch Circuit - The circuit conductors between the final overcurrent device protecting the circuit and the outlet(s).

Baseload - The minimum amount of electric power delivered or required over a given period of time at a steady rate.

Continuous Load - A load where the maximum current is expected to continue for 3 hours or more.

Grid - In an electrical system, a term used to refer to the electrical utility distribution network.

Direct Current - Circuit in which the flow of electrons is in one direction only, from anode to cathode.

Feeder - A circuit, such as conductors in conduit or a busway run, which carries a large block of power from the service equipment to a sub-feeder panel or a branch circuit panel or to some point at which the block power is broken into smaller circuits.

Ground - A large conducting body (as the earth) used as a common return for an electric circuit and as an arbitrary zero of potential.

Insulator - Any material which does not allow electrons to flow through it.

Overload - Load greater than the load for which the system or mechanism was intended. A fault, such as a short circuit or ground fault, is not an overload.

Load Center - Source for all power to the home. All circuits originate from the "Load Center" or "Service Panel." Circuit breakers are located within this panel.

Frequency - In alternating current, the rate at which the current changes direction. One complete cycle is a unit of 1 Hertz. The standard frequency in the US is 60 Hz.

Watt - A unit of power equal to the rate of work represented by a current of one ampere under a pressure of one volt. Named after the Scottish engineer James Watt, 1819.

Transient - A high amplitude, short duration pulse superimposed on the normal voltage.

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Aazdak Alisimo writes for ElectricianCompanies.com, your online resource for electricians across the country and in your area.