Electrical Engineering Terms

Absolute Value -Value of an expression without regard to sign or phase

angle.
Absolute Zero -The temperature where thermal energy is at minimum.
-273.15 C or 0 Kelvin.
Accessory -A device, other than current using equipment, associated with
such equipment or with the wiring of an installation.
Acceleration -Rate of change of velocity. [Unit: m/s2]
Acceleration due to Gravity (g) -Acceleration of a body falling freely in a
vacuum as a result of the gravitational pull of the earth. g = 9.807 m/s 2
Accumulator -Storage battery or secondary cell for storing electricity.
Accuracy -Specifies the nearness of the measured value from the true value.
Acid -Containing an excess of hydrogen ions over hydroxyl ions.
Acoustics -Study of sound.
A.C. Potentiometer -An apparatus for the comparison of A.C. voltages.
Balance requires both the magnitude and the phase angle of the unknown
voltage to be balanced with the known voltage. This may be done either in
cartesian form or in polar form.
Acre -Unit of area in the Imperial system. 1 acre = 4047 m 2 = 0.4047
hectares
Active Element -An element capable of generating electrical energy.
Active Filter -Any filter using an op amp is called an active filter.
Actuator -Mechanical part of a limit switch that uses mechanical force to
actuate the switch contacts.
Acute Angle -An angle of less than 90o.
Address -The number that uniquely identifies the location of a word in
memory.
Adiabatic -process taking place without heat entering or leaving the system.
Admittance -Reciprocal of impedance. Ratio of the electric current to the
voltage. [Unit: Siemens or S]
Aerodynamics -Study of air moving around solid objects, or air flowing
around a stationary structure.
Air Conditioning -The control of temperature, humidity and the purity of the
air. In tropical countries like Sri Lanka, air conditioning only cools the air and
not heats it, but in cold countries both modes are available.
Algebraic Sum -Total of a number of quantities of the same kind, with due
regard to sign.
Algorithm -A systematic mathematical procedure which enables a problem
to be solved in a definite number of steps.
Alkaline -Containing an excess of hydroxyl ions over hydrogen ions.
Alloy -A composition of two or more metals.
Alphanumeric -The collection of numbers, alphabetic characters and
symbols.
Alternate Sweep -A vertical mode of operation for a dual-trace oscilloscope.
The signal from the second channel is displayed after the signal from the first
channel. Each trace has a complete trace, and the display continues to
alternate.
Alternating Current (A.C.) -A current whose instantaneous values reverses
in regularly recurring intervals of time and which has alternative positive and
negative values, the cycle being repeated continuously. The term is
commonly used to refer to sinusoidal waveforms.
Alternator -A machine (generator) for producing alternating currents or
voltages.
Ambient Temperature -The temperature of the surroundings in which the
equipment is used or operated.

Ammeter -An instrument for measuring electric current.

Ampacity -The current-carrying capacity of conductors or equipment,
expressed in ampere.
Ampere (A) -The ampere is the SI unit of current. It is a fundamental unit. It
is defined as that constant current which, if maintained in two straight
parallel conductors of infinite length, of negligible circular cross-section, and
placed 1 meter apart in vacuum, would produce between these conductors a
force equal to 2 x 10-7 Newton per meter of length [1948].
Ampere Hour Capacity -The quantity of electricity measured in amperehour which may be delivered by a cell or battery under specified conditions.
Ampere-Turn (AT) -Formerly used as the unit of magnetomotive force
(mmf). It is the product of the number of turns in a coil and the current in
amperes which flows through it. [Note: Since turns is not a unit, the SI Unit of
mmf is the ampere]
Amplification -Procedure of expanding the strength of a signal.
Amplifier -A device or circuit used to increase the power current, and
voltage level of a signal.
Amplitude -Maximum or peak value of a quantity or wave varying in an
oscillatory manner, measured with respect to the reference.
Amplitude Modulation (AM) -A process whereby the amplitude of the
carrier is controlled by the modulating signal.
Analog -The branch of electronics dealing with continuously varying
quantities.
Analog to Digital Converter, (A/D converter, A to D converter) -A
device or circuit used to convert an analog signal to a digital signal across a
pair of terminals.
Analogue Meter -Show a particular (continuous variable) deflection for a
given input quantity.
Analogy -A likeness in some ways between dissimilar things that are
otherwise unlike. Because of the similarity, many of the equations are
identical except for a change of variables or subscripts.
AND Gate -A digital logic circuit used to implement the AND operation. The
output of this circuit is 1 only when each one of its inputs is a 1.
Angstrom -A unit used to measure very small lengths, such as wave length.
Equal to 10-10 m
Angular Velocity () -Rate of rotation about an axis. It is the rate of change
of angle with time. It is measured either in revolutions per second, revolutions
per minute (r.p.m.) or radians per second (rad/s).
Annealing -Very slow regulated cooling, especially of metals, to relieve
strains set up during heating or other treatment.
Anode -positive electrode. The element of an electronic device that receives
the flow of electrons.
Antenna -A device consisting of spaced elements that are used to receive
broadcast signals.
Antenna A system of conductors that radiates and or receives
electromagnetic waves (radio waves).
Aperture -Opening. In optical instruments, it is the size of the opening
admitting light.
Apparent Power -The apparent power of an alternating current circuit is the
product of the rms values of the voltage and the current. [Unit: volt-ampere
or VA]
Appliance -An Item of current using equipment other than a luminaire or an
independent motor. These are generally not industrial and normally built in
standardized sizes or types, which are installed or connected as a unit to
perform one or more functions.
Arc -Highly luminous discharge at a very high temperature (around 3000 oC).
An electric arc is produced when an electric current flows between two
electrodes.

ARE -A metric unit of area, especially with land. Equal to 100 square meters.
Argand Diagram -A plot of the cartesian co-ordinates (real and imaginary
components) or the polar co-ordinates of a complex number on the x-y plane.
ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit) -A digital circuit used in computers to perform
arithmetic and logic operations.
Arithmetic Progression -A series of quantities in which each term differs
from the preceding term by a
constant difference.
Armature -The coil or coils of an electric motor or generator or of an electric
apparatus in which a voltage is induced by a magnetic field.
Armored Cable -Cable with a metal protective covering.
Arm's Reach -A zone of accessibility to touch, extending from any point on a
surface where persons usually stand or move about to the limits which a
person can reach with a hand in any direction without assistance.
Arrester -A device placed from phase to ground, or phase to phase, whose
nonlinear impedance characteristics provide a path for high-amplitude
transients.
Asymmetric -Not possessing symmetry. Unequal distribution about one or
more axes.
Asynchronous -Not synchronous. Especially used with electric machines to
denote that the magnetic field and the rotation are not exactly the same.
Atmosphere -Unit of pressure corresponding to standard atmospheric
pressure. It is taken as the pressure that will support a column of mercury
760 mm high. It is also equal to 1.013 * 105 pa
Atomic Mass Unit (amu) -Unit used for expressing masses of isotopes of
elements. 1 a.m.u. = 1.661 x 10-27 kg
Attenuation -Loss of signal power or amplitude suffered during its
transmission through a medium.
Attenuator -A passive device used to reduce signal strength.
Atto (a) -Decimal sub-multiple prefix corresponding to 10-18
Audio Amplifier -An amplifier designed to be used in the audio range of
frequencies.
Audio Frequency -A frequency corresponding to audible sound waves, and
thus corresponds to a frequency between 20 Hz and 20 kHz.
Automatic Transfer Switch -A switch that automatically transfers electrical
loads to alternate or emergency-standby power sources.
Automation -The application of mechanical or electronic techniques to
minimize the use of manpower in any process.
Autoreclose -A feature of certain circuit breakers where they close
automatically after a predetermined time after an automatic opening due to a
transient fault.
Autotransformer -A transformer in which both the primary and the
secondary windings share common turns. It provides no isolation.
Autotransformer Starter -A starter that includes an auto-transformer to
furnish reduced voltage for starting an alternating current motor.
Auxiliary Contacts -The contacts of a switching device, in addition to the
main current contacts, that operate with the movement of the latter. They
can be normally open (NO) or normally closed (NC) and change state when
operated.
Avalanche -A build up of particles caused by the collision of a high energy
particle with any other form of matter. [Note: The term is derived from the
avalanches occurring in a mountain]
Average Value -The average value of a periodic waveform is defined by
taking the mean value of the full-wave rectified waveform.
Avoided Capacity Cost -Avoided capacity cost of constructing new power
plants.
Avoided Cost -Cost that a utility avoids by purchasing power from an
independent power producer (IPP), rather than generating power themselves,
or constructing new power plants.

A Public Utility calculates avoided costs for each utility, which are the basis
upon which IPPs are paid for the electricity they produce. There are two parts
to an avoided cost calculation: the avoided capacity cost and the avoided
energy cost.
Avoided Energy Cost -Avoided energy cost of fuel and operating and
maintaining utility power plants.
American Wire Gage (AWG) -This term refers to the U.S. standard for wire
size.
Axis -Line about which a given body or system is considered to rotate.
Axis of Symmetry -Line about which a given figure is symmetrical.

Back emf -The emf set up in the coil of an electric motor, opposing the
current flowing through the coil, when the armature rotates.
Back Flashover -Flash-over occurring from an object usually at earth
potential (such as a tower) to a line conductor due to the potential of the
earthed object rising due to lightning.
Balanced Three Phase -A three phase voltage or current is said to be
balanced when the magnitude of each phase is the same, and the phase
angles of the three phases differ from each other by 120 o. A star-connected
load or a delta-connected load is said to be balanced when the three arms of
the star or the delta have equal impedances in magnitude and phase.
Ballast -Ballast is an electrical device which is required for all discharge
lamps. It limits the current through the lamp, preventing damage to both the
lamp and the electrical supply.
Ballistic Galvanometer -Instrument for measuring the total quantity of
electricity passing through a circuit due to a momentary current. The period
of oscillation of the galvanometer must be long compared with the time
during which the current flows.
Ballistics -The study of the flight path of projectiles.
Bandpass Filter -A filter designed to pass all frequencies within a band of
frequencies.
Bandstop Filter -A filter designed to eliminate all frequencies within a band
of frequencies.
Bandwidth -Commonly defined as the difference between the upper and
lower frequencies of the half power points of the response relative to the
reference frequency.
Bandwidth -The difference between the two dominant critical frequencies of
an amplifier. It is also equal to the upper critical frequency when there is no
lower critical frequency.
Bandwidth -The data a cable can carry measured in bits per second (bps).
Bar -Unit of pressure equivalent to 105 pa.
Barometer -Instrument for measuring atmospheric pressure.
Barrier -A part providing a defined degree of protection against contact with
live parts from any usual direction of access.
Base -The part of a transistor which separates the emitter from the collector.
The middle part of the transistor. permits electrons from emitter to pass
through to the collector.
Base -The reference quantity in a per-unit or percentage calculation.
Baseline Forecast -A prediction of future energy needs which does not take
into account the likely effects of new conservation programs that have not
yet been started.
Base Load -The minimum load experienced by an electric utility system over
a given period of time, which must be supplied at all times.
Base Load Capacity -Capacity of generating equipment operated to serve
loads 24-hours per day.
Base Load Plant -A power plant built to operate around-the-clock. Such
plants tend to have low operating costs and high capital costs and are best

utilized by running continuously. Coal fired and nuclear fuelled plants are
typical base load plants.
Basic Insulation -Insulation applied to live parts to provide basic protection
against electric shock and other hazards, which do not necessarily include
insulation used exclusively for functional purposes.
Battery -A number of primary or secondary cells arranged in series or
parallel. A device for turning chemical energy into electrical energy.
Battery Backup -A battery or a set of batteries in a UPS system. Its purpose
is to provide an alternate source of power if the main source is interrupted.
Battery Charger -A device or a system which provides the electrical power
needed to keep the battery backup fully charged.
Binary coded decimal (BCD) -A digital code based on 0 and 1.
Beckmann Thermometer -Sensitive thermometer for measuring small
differences or changes in temperature.
bel -Ten decibels.
Bewley Lattice Diagram -This is a convenient diagram devised by Bewley,
which shows at a glance the position and direction of motion of every
incident, reflected, and transmitted surge on the system at every instant of
time. The diagram overcomes the difficulty of otherwise keeping track of the
multiplicity of successive reflections at the various junctions.
Brake Horse Power (BHP) -Horse power of an engine measured by the
degree of resistance offered by a brake. Represents the useful power that the
machine can develop.
Basic Insulation Level (BIL) -It defines the insulation level of power system
equipment. It is a statement of the impulse (lightning or switching as
appropriate) withstand voltage and the short duration power frequency
withstand voltage.
Bilateral Contract -A direct contract between the power producer and user
or broker outside of a centralized power pool.
Billion -A thousand million or 109 (US). Also a million million (British)
Bimetallic Strip -A strip composed of two different metals welded together
in such a way that a rise of temperature will cause it to deform as a result of
the unequal expansion. It is used in switches for control of temperature.
Binary Cell -An element in a computer which can store information by virtue
of its ability to remain stable in one of two possible states.
Binary Notation -A system of numbers which has only two different integer
values 0 and 1.
Biomass -Any plant-derived organic matter available on a renewable basis,
including dedicated energy crops and trees, agricultural food and feed crops,
agricultural crop wastes and residues, wood wastes and residues, aquatic
plants, animal wastes, municipal wastes, and other waste materials.
Bipolar Transistor -A transistor where both free electrons and holes are
necessary for normal operation.
Bisection -Division into two equal parts.
Bit -The unit of information in information theory. The amount of information
required to specify one of two alternatives 0 and 1.
Bitumen -A term covering numerous "tarry" mixtures of hydrocarbons.
Black Body -Thermal radiator that absorbs completely all incident radiation,
whatever the wavelength, the direction of incidence or the polarization.
Blackout -A total loss of the commercial electrical power lasting for more
than one cycle. Blackouts can result from any of a number of problems,
ranging from Acts of God (high winds, storms, lightning, falling trees, floods,
etc.) to situations such as cables being cut during excavation, equipment
failures at the utility, vandalism, corrosion, etc. Used synonymously with
Outage.
Blackout A power loss affecting many electricity consumers over a large
geographical area for a significant period of time.
Blanking -process of making the trace, or parts of a trace, invisible.

Bleaching -Removing the color from colored materials by chemical

transformation.
Board of Trade Unit or (BOT unit) -Unit of electrical energy (British)
supplied to the consumer. Equal to 1 kWh. Energy obtained when a power of
1 kW of power is maintained for 1 hour.
Bode Plot -Semi-log plots of the magnitude (in decibel) and phase angle of a
transfer function (or performance) against frequency.
Boiling -The state of a liquid at its boiling point when the maximum vapor
pressure of the liquid is equal to the external pressure to which the liquid is
subject, and the liquid is freely converted into vapor.
Boiling Point -The temperature at which the maximum vapor pressure of
the liquid is equal to the external pressure. The temperature at which the
liquid boils freely under that pressure.
Boiling Water Reactor or (BWR) -A nuclear reactor in which water is used
as coolant and moderator. Steam is thus produced in the reactor under
pressure and can be used to drive a turbine.
Bonding -A complete and permanent electrical connection. The permanent
joining of metallic parts to form an electrically conductive path that ensures
electrical continuity and the capacity to conduct safely any current likely to
be imposed.
Bonding Conductor -A protective conductor providing equipotential
bonding.
Boolean Algebra -A branch of symbolic logic used in computers. Logical
operations are performed by operators such as "and", "or", in a way
analogous to mathematical signs.
Branch -An element in a circuit connecting two nodes.
Breakdown -The occurrence of a large current between electrodes separated
by a dielectric at a critical voltage.
Breaker -Short for circuit breaker.
Breeder Reactor -A nuclear reactor which produces the same kind of fissile
material as it burns. For example, a reactor using plutonium as a fuel can
produce more plutonium than it uses by conversion of Uranium-238.
Bridge Rectifier -A full-wave rectifier where the diodes are connected in a
bridge circuit (two of them are always conducting at any given time). This
allows the current to the load during both the positive and negative
alternation of the supply voltage. This is the most common type of rectifier
circuit to produce a unidirectional voltage for an alternating input.
Brightness -Brightness is the quotient of the luminous intensity of a small
element of the source and the area of the element projected on to a plane
perpendicular to the given direction. [Unit: candela per unit area or Cd/m 2]
British Thermal Unit (BTU) -Quantity of heat required to raise the
temperature of 1 pound of water through 1 oF. It is equal to 1054 joule or
251.98 calories.
Broadband Communications -The result of utilities forming partnerships to
offer consumers "one-stop-shopping for energy-related and high-tech
telecommunications services.
Broker -A retail agent who buys and sells power. The agent may also
aggregate consumers and arrange for transmission and other ancillary
services as needed.
Brownout -A long duration reduction in the voltage of the ac supply without
complete loss of power. Brownouts are usually caused by heavy usage during
peak hours and sometimes may even be planned as an energy conservation
strategy.
Brownout -A controlled power reduction in which the utility decreases the
voltage on the power lines, so consumers receive lower quality electricity.
Brownouts can be used if total power demand exceeds the maximum
available supply.
Buffer Register -The register that holds digital data temporarily.

Building Service Entry -The point where commercial power enters the
building.
Bulk Power Market -Wholesale purchases and sales of electricity.
Bulk Power Supply -Commonly used interchangeably with wholesale power
supply. In broader terms, it refers to the aggregate of electric generating
plants, transmission lines, and related equipment.
Burning or (Combustion) -A chemical reaction or complex chemical
reaction, in which a substance combines with oxygen producing heat, light
and flame.
Busbar -A rigid conductor used for connecting together distributors or
feeders.
Bushing -Bushings are insulators which are used to take high voltage
conductors through earthed barriers such as walls, floors, metal, and tanks.
Butterworth Filter -A filter designed to produce a flat response up to the
cut-off frequency.
Bypass Capacitor -A capacitor placed from a dc signal to ground to remove
any ac component of the signal by creating an ac short circuit to ground.
Byte -A group of 8 bits.

Cable -Conducting wire or wires separated and surrounded by a dielectric

substance or insulation.
Cable Channel -An enclosure situated above or in the ground, ventilated or
closed, and having dimensions which do not permit the access of persons but
allow access to the conduits and/or cables throughout their length during and
after installation. A cable channel may or may not form part of the building
construction.
Cable Coupler -A means of enabling the connection or disconnection, at will,
of two flexible cables. It consists of a connector and a plug.
Cable Ducting -An enclosure of metal or insulating material, other than
conduit or cable trunking, intended for the protection of cables which are
drawn in after erection of the ducting.
Cable Ladder -A cable support consisting of a series of transverse
supporting elements rigidly fixed to main longitudinal supporting members.
Cable Tray -A rigid structure use to support cables. A raceway consisting of a
continuous base with raised edges and no covering. A cable tray may or may
not be perforated.
Cable Trunking -A closed enclosure normally of rectangular cross section, of
which one side is removable or hinged, used for the protection of cables and
for the accommodation of other electrical equipment.
Cable Tunnel -A corridor containing supporting structures for cables and
joints and/or other elements of wiring systems and whose dimensions allow
persons to pass freely throughout the entire length.
Calibration -The graduation or confirmation of the graduation of an
instrument to enable measurements in definite units to be made with it. Thus
for example the deflection of a meter can be calibrated to read the current
causing the deflection.
Calorie (cal) -Unit of quantity of heat. The amount of heat required to raise
the temperature of 1 gram of water through 1o C. 1 calorie = 4.184 joule.
Calorific Value -The calorific value of a fuel is the quantity of heat produced
by a given weight of the fuel on complete combustion.
Candela (cd) -The candela is the SI unit of luminous intensity. It is defined as
the luminous intensity, in a given direction, of a source that emits
monochromatic radiation of frequency 540 x 1012 hertz and that has a
radiant intensity in that direction of 1/683 watt per steradian [1979]
Candle Power -The candle power of a light source, in a given direction, is
the luminous intensity of the source in that direction expressed in terms of
the candela.

Capability -Maximum load that a generating unit can carry without

exceeding ratings.
Capacitance -The ability of a system of electrical conductors and insulators
to store electric charge when a potential difference exists between the
conductors. It is expressed as a ratio of the electrical charge stored to the
voltage across the conductors. [Unit: farad or F]
Capacitor -A device consisting of two conducting surfaces separated by a
layer of insulating material (dielectric) and having the ability of storing
electric energy. Also called a condenser, the principal characteristic of which
is the capacitance.
Capacity -The maximum load a generating unit, generating station, or other
electrical apparatus is rated to carry by the manufacturer or can actually
carry under existing service conditions.
Capacity Charge -A charge or assessment based on the amount of capacity
being purchased.
Capacity Factor -The ratio of the electric energy produced by a generating
unit to the electrical energy that could have been produced at continuous
full-power operations.
Captive Consumer -A consumer who does not have realistic alternatives to
buying power from the local utility, even if that consumer had the legal right
to buy from competitors.
Captive Generation -Generating plant available at CEB customer facilities,
but not connected in parallel with the CEB network.
Captive Load -Load which may be supplied by an Embedded Generator, in
addition to the generator auxiliaries, which is within the Generating Company
premises.
Carnot's Cycle -An ideal reversible four step cycle of operations for the
working substance of a heat engine.
Carrier -In a semiconductor, the mobile electrons or holes which carry
charges are called carriers.
Carrier Wave -A continuous electromagnetic radiation, of constant
amplitude and frequency, emitted by a transmitter. By modulation of the
carrier wave, oscillations caused at the transmitting end are conveyed to the
receiving end.
Cartesian co-ordinates -The (x,y) co-ordinates of a point in the plane.
Cartridge Fuse -It is a fuse inside a cartridge. The fuse wire is usually
enclosed in an evacuated glass tube with metal end caps.
Cartridge Fuse Link -A device comprising a fuse element or several fuse
elements connected in parallel enclosed in a cartridge usually filled with arc
extinguishing medium and connected to terminations (see fuse link).
Cascade Connection -An arrangement of two or more components or
circuits such that the output of one is the input to the next.
Catenary -Curve formed by a chain or string hanging from two fixed points.
Cathode -Negative electrode. The element of an electronic device that
provides the flow of electrons.
Cathode Ray Oscilloscope (CRO) -An instrument based upon the cathode
ray tube, which provides a visible image of one or more rapidly varying
electrical quantities.
Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) -An electron-beam tube in which the beam can be
focused to a small cross-section on a luminescent screen and varied in both
position and intensity to produce a visible pattern. Electric potentials applied
to the deflection plates are used to control the position of the beam, and its
movement across the screen, in a desired manner.
Celsius (oC) -Degrees Celsius is an international thermometric scale on
which the interval between the triple point of water and the boiling point of
water is divided into 99.99 degrees with 0.01C representing the triple point
and 100C the boiling point. Celsius degrees are the same size as Kelvin but
the zero point is shifted to the triple point of water, minus 0.01 K. (0 C =

273.15 K). Note: The thermodynamic temperature of the triple point of water
is 273.16 K
Centi (c) -Decimal sub-multiple prefix corresponding to one-hundredth or 10 2
. This is not a preferred suffix.
Centigrade -Older name for Celsius. (see Celsius)
Central Processing Unit (CPU) -An acronym used for the central
processing unit of a computer.
Centre of Gravity -The centre of gravity of a body is the fixed point through
which the resultant force due to the Earth's Attraction upon it always passes,
irrespective of the position of the body.
Centrifugal Force -The outward force acting on a body rotating in a circle
round a central point.
Centripetal Force -The radial force imposed by the restraining system,
necessary to keep the body moving in a circular path. [Note: the centrifugal
force and the centripetal force are equal and opposite].
Ceramic -pertaining to products involving the use of clay or other silicates.
Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) -A body corporate duly constituted by Act
No. 17 of 1969 of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
cgs system, (centimeter-gram-second system) -A decimal system which
is an earlier form of the metric system.
Chain Reaction -Any self-sustaining molecular or nuclear reaction, the
products of which contribute to the propagation of the reaction.
Channel -In television, a portion of the RF spectrum 6 MHz wide which
carries the audio and video carriers of the television signal.
Charge (see electric charge)
Chemical Reaction -The interaction of two or more substances resulting in
chemical changes in them.
Chip -The finished IC (integrated circuit) is commonly known as a chip.
Choke -A coil of low resistance and high inductance used in electrical circuits
to pass low frequency or direct components while suppressing (or choking)
the higher frequency undesirable alternating currents.
Chopped Waveform -The standard surge waveform applied is suddenly
made zero (chopped) at a predefined time to simulate the surge waveform
with flashover.
Chop Mode -A vertical mode of operation for dual-trace oscilloscopes in
which the display is switched between the two channels at some fixed rate
much less than the sweep time.
Circuit -An electrical circuit is the complete path traversed by an electric
current.
Circuit -An assembly of electrical equipment supplied from the same origin
and protected against overcurrent by the same protective device(s).
Circuit Breaker -A mechanical switching device capable of making, carrying,
and breaking currents under normal conditions. Also making, carrying for a
specific time, and automatically breaking currents under specified abnormal
circuit conditions, such as those of short circuit. It is usually required to
operate infrequently although some types are suitable for frequent operation.
Circuit Protective Conductor (cpc) -A protective conductor connecting
exposed conductive parts of equipment to the main earthing terminal.
Circular Mil -A unit of area used in measuring the cross section of fine wire.
1 circular mil corresponds to the area of a circle whose diameter is equal to
one-thousandth of an inch. 1 circular mil = 0.5067*10 -9 m2
Circularly Polarized Light -Light which can be resolved into two vibrations
lying in planes at right angles, of equal amplitude and frequency and differing
in phase by 90o.
Clamping Level -The voltage point at which a surge protector begins to limit
surges.
Class I Equipment -Equipment in which protection against electric shock
does not rely on basic insulation only, but which includes an additional safety

precaution in that means are provided for the connection of the equipment to
the protective earth conductor in the fixed wiring of the installation in such a
way that accessible metal parts cannot become live in the event of a failure
of basic insulation.
Class II Equipment -Equipment in which protection against electric shock
does not rely on basic insulation only, but which additional safety precautions
such as double insulation or reinforced insulation are provided, there being no
provision for protective earthing or reliance upon installation conditions.
Class III Equipment -Equipment in which protection against electric shock
relies on supply at SELV and in which voltages higher than those of SELV are
not generated.
Clean Power -Electrical power which has been conditioned and/or regulated
to remove electrical noise from the output power.
Clock -The basic timing signal in a digital system.
CMOS (Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) -A circuit with
complementary MOS transistors.
Coal -A material occurring in large underground deposits consisting of carbon
and various carbon compounds. Formed by the decomposition of vegetable
matter over many millions of years.
Coaxial Cable -A popular transmission medium usually consisting of one
central wire surrounded by an insulator and encased in either a wire mesh or
an extruded metal sheathing.
Coefficient -A number or other known factor or multiplier which measures
some specified property of a given substance or algebraic expression.
Coercive Force -The strength of the magnetic field to which a ferromagnetic
material undergoing a hysteresis cycle must be subjected in order to
demagnetize the material completely.
Coercivity -The coercive force when the material is magnetized to saturation
during the cycle.
Cogeneration -The production of electricity and the utilization of waste heat,
which could be used to produce steam for additional power generation (as in
a combined cycle facility).
Coincidence Factor -The ratio of the coincident maximum demand of two or
more loads to the sum of their non-coincident maximum demands for a given
period.
The coincidence factor is the reciprocal of the diversity factor and is always
less than or equal to one.
Coincidental Demand -Two or more demands that occur at the same time.
Coincidental Peak Load -Two or more peak loads that occur at the same
time.
Collector -The electrode in a transistor through which a primary flow of
carriers leaves the inter-electrode region. It is called a collected because it
collects or gathers the carriers sent into the base by the emitter.
Color -The sensation of color is the result of the interpretation by the human
central nervous system of the effect produced upon the eye by
electromagnetic radiation of a particular wave length.
Color Rendering -General expression for the effect of an illuminant on the
color appearance of objects in conscious or subconscious comparison with
their color appearance under a reference illuminant.
Color Temperature -The temperature of a full radiator (radiation of all
frequencies) which would emit visible radiation of the same spectral
distribution as the radiation from the light source under consideration. [Unit
Kelvin, K]
Combined Cycle -Combines the gas turbine cycle together with a heat
recovery steam cycle that extracts heat from the gas turbine exhaust flow to
produce steam.
Combined Cycle Unit -An electricity generating unit consisting of one or
more gas (combustion) turbines combined with a steam turbine. The steam

turbine utilises the waste exhaust heat from the combustion turbines. This
process increases the efficiency of the electric generating unit.
Combined Heat and Power (CHP) -A plant that generates electricity and
supplies thermal energy, typically steam, to an industrial or other heating
requirement.
Combustion or (Burning) -A chemical reaction or complex chemical
reaction, in which a substance combines with oxygen producing heat, light
and flame.
Combustion Turbine -A type of generating unit normally fired by oil or
natural gas. The combustion of the fuel produces expanding gases, which are
forced through a turbine, thereby generating electricity.
Commercial Operation -Commercial operation occurs when control of the
generator is turned over to the system dispatcher.
Common Mode Noise -Electrical noise or interference between each of the
conductors and ground
Common Mode Signal -A signal that is applied with equal strength to both
inputs of a differential amplifier or an operational amplifier.
Common Mode Tripping -Automatic removal of two or more generating
plant from the system owing to a cause that is common to both or all the
generators.
Commutation Angle, (overlap angle) -The commutation period between
two thyristors on the same side of the bridge is the angle by which one
thyristor commutates to the next.
Commutator -Device for altering the direction of an electric current.
Compact Fluorescent Lamp, (CFL) -A fluorescent lamp in compact form
that may be conveniently used, in normal holders, in place of the lesser
efficient incandescent lamps. The lamp life is significantly longer than
incandescent lamps.
Compass -The magnetic compass is used to obtain the direction of the
earth's magnetic field at a point. In its simplest form consists of a magnetized
needle pivoted at its centre so that it is free to move in a horizontal plane.
Competitive Bidding -This is a procedure that utilities use to select
suppliers of new electric capacity and energy. Under competitive bidding, an
electric utility solicits bids from prospective power generators to meet current
or future power demands. Competitive bidding systems to select more fairly
among numerous supply alternatives.
Complex Number -Consists of two parts, real and imaginary. They obey the
ordinary laws of algebra except that their real and imaginary parts must be
equated separately.
Complementary MOS, (CMOS) -A method of reducing the current drain of
a digital circuit by combining n-channel and p-channel MOSFETs.
Compound Motor -A d.c. motor with both a series connected winding as
well as a shunt connected winding. Depending on whether the fields of the
series winding and the shunt winding aid each other or oppose each other,
they are called cumulative compound or differential compound.
Concentric -Circles having the same centre.
Condenser (see capacitor)
Conductance -The conductance is the reciprocal of the resistance in a
resistive circuit, or the real part of the admittance in a complex circuit. It is
also the ability of an element to conduct electric current [Unit: Siemens or S]
Conductivity -Electrical conductivity is the reciprocal of electrical resistivity.
Conductor -A wire, cable, rod, tube or bus bar designed for the passage of
electrical current.
Conductor An object or substance which conducts electric current.
Conductor Loss -Loss occurring in a conductor due to the flow of current.
Also known as the I2 R loss and copper loss.
Conduit -A tubular raceway for power or data cables. Both metallic conduit
and non-metallic forms may be used.

Connector -The part of a cable coupler or of an appliance coupler which is

provided with female contacts and is intended to be attached to the end of
the flexible cable remote from the supply.
Conservation -Reducing energy consumption and energy waste using a
strategy to attain higher efficiency in energy production and utilization, to
accommodate behavior to maximize personal welfare in response to
changing prices, and shifting from scarce to more plentiful energy resources.
Conservation of Energy -The law of conservation of energy states that in
any system energy cannot be created or destroyed.
Conservation of Mass -The law of conservation of mass states that in any
system matter cannot be created or destroyed.
Conservation of Mass and Energy -A principle resulting from Einstein's
special theory of relativity, which combines the separate laws of conservation
of mass and energy. It states that in any system the sum of the mass and
energy remains constant.
Conservation of Momentum -The law of conservation of momentum states
that for a perfectly elastic collision, the total momentum of two bodies before
impact is equal to their total momentum of two bodies before impact is equal
to their total momentum after impact.
Consumer -A person or organization that purchases a product, usually
electricity.
Consumer Education -Efforts to provide consumers with skills and
knowledge to use their resources wisely in the marketplace.
Consumer Service Charge -Portion of the consumer's bill which remains
the same from month to month. The charge is determined separately from
the amount of energy used based on the costs associated with connecting a
consumer to the utility's distribution system, including the service connection
and metering equipment. This charge also recovers expenses such as meter
reading, billing costs, consumer accounting expenses records and collections,
and a portion of general plant items such as office space for consumer
service personnel.
Consumer Unit (may also be known as a consumer control unit or
electricity control unit) -A particular type of distribution board comprising
a co-ordinated assembly for the control and distribution of electrical energy,
principally in domestic premises, incorporating manual means of double pole
isolation on the incoming circuit(s) and an assembly of one or more fuses,
circuit breakers, residual current operated devices or signalling and other
devices purposely manufactured for such use.
Contactor -An electro-mechanical device that is operated by an electric coil
and allows automatic or remote operation to repeatedly establish or interrupt
an electrical power circuit. A contactor provides no overload protection as
required for motor loads.
Continuity -Continuous, without a break.
Contract Price -Price marketed on a contract basis for one or more years.
Convection -Transference of heat through a liquid or gas by the actual
movement of the fluid.
Converter -A device which changes electrical energy from one form to
another, such as from alternating current to direct current.
Convolution -The convolution of two signals consists of time-reversing one
of the signals, shifting it, and multiplying it point by point with the second
signal,and integrating the product. It is used to characterize physical
systems.
Copper Loss -Same as conductor loss. Conductors were traditionally made
of copper, hence the name.
Co-ordinated -Usually refers to characteristics which are co-ordinated to
give optimum performance.
Cooperative Electric Utility -A utility established to be owned by and
operated for the benefit of those using its services.

Core Loss -The Loss occurring in a magnetic core due to alternating

magnetisation. It is the sum of the hysteresis loss and the eddy current loss.
Corona Discharge -Bluish white luminous discharge which appears
surrounding a conductor surface at a field exceeding corona inception, but
not being sufficient to cause sparking or flash over.
Corona Inception -Inception of the ionization of the air on the surface of a
conductor, caused by the voltage gradient exceeding a critical value, but not
being sufficient to cause sparking or flash over.
Corona Loss -power loss due to corona.
Corrosion -Surface chemical action, especially on metals, by the action of
moisture, air or chemicals.
Co-tree of Network -Complement of the tree of the network.
Coulomb (C) -SI unit of electric charge. One coulomb is equal to the amount
of charge accumulated in one second by a current of one ampere.
Coulomb's Law -The force of attraction or repulsion between two point
charges is proportional to the magnitude of the charges and inversely
proportional to the square of the distance between them.
Coupling Coefficient -The coupling coefficient of a pair of coils is a measure
of the magnetic coupling between two coils.
Coupling Capacitor -A capacitor used to transmit an ac signal from one
node to another.
Creepage Distance -Shortest path along the surface of insulating material
between two conductive parts.
Crest Factor -The ratio of the peak or maximum value of a wave, to the
r.m.s. value.
Cross-Subsidization -The transfer of assets or services from the regulated
portion of an electric utility to its unregulated affiliates to produce an unfair
competitive advantage.
Cross-subsidy can refer to one rate class (such as industrial consumers)
subsidizing the rates of another class (such as residential consumers).
Critical Damping -Critical damping of a measuring instrument causes the
equilibrium deflection to be reached in the shortest possible time, with the
oscillations of the needle being quickly damped out. [Note: Under damped
instruments have their needles oscillating for some time; while over damped
instruments take a long time to reach the final equilibrium deflection]
Critical Mass -The minimum amount of fissile material required in a nuclear
reactor to sustain a chain reaction.
Cross-Bonding -A method of connecting the sheaths of single core cables in
a three phase system in order to reduce the circulating currents flowing in the
sheaths.
Cumulo-nimbus Cloud -Thunder cloud from which lightning strikes
originate.
Curie -Measure of the activity of a radioactive substance. It is defined in
terms of the rate of decay of a quantity of a radioactive isotope.
Current [see electric current]
Current Carrying Capacity of a Conductor -The maximum current which
can be carried by a conductor under specified conditions without its steady
state temperature exceeding a specified value.
Current Balance -Instrument for the determination of an electric current in
absolute electromagnetic units.
Current Rating -This is the maximum current, which the fuse will carry for
an indefinite period without undue deterioration of the fuse element.
Current Source -A source which essentially maintains the source current at
a predefined value almost independent of the load conditions.
Current Transformer -An instrument transformer specifically designed to
give an accurate current ratio for measurement and/or control purposes. They
are always connected in series with the circuit (like an ammeter) and hence

should never be allowed to have their secondary to be on open circuit to

avoid saturation
Cycle -One complete set of values through which an alternating voltage or
current passes successively.