Electrical Basics

Electrical Basics

1. Voltage

   • Measured in volts (V)
   • Measured with a multimeter
   • Requires a designated reference point
     • Similar to how we discuss altitude with respect to sea level
     • Often connected to the physical earth
   • Symbol = V

2. Current

   • Measured in amperes (A)
   • Symbol = I

3. AC/DC

   • AC voltage
     • AC voltage varies sinusoidally
     • Mains sockets carry AC because it's easier to transmit over long distances
   • DC voltage
     • Always stays static at the given value
     • Mains powered equipment typically require DC - supplied by rectifying AC toDC

4. Resistance

   • Measured in Ohm (Ω)
     • Ohm's law states that voltage is the product of current and resistance
       • V = R . I
   • Symbol = R

5. Power

   • Measured in Watts (W)
   • Symbol = P
   • The rate at which energy is converted from one form to another
     • Typically electrical energy to heat
   • Power is the product of voltage and current
     • P = V x I