Electrical Installation

Definitions unit 202

Lecturer: Mr. Keemal Ali
Handout #5

Automation Techology College Ltd

Wireman Licence Electrical Installation
Definitions and Electrical Terms
Prepared by Mr. Keemal Ali

1) Readily Accessible – capable of being reached quickly for operation, renewal, or

inspections, without requiring those to whom ready access is a requisite to climb over
or remove obstacles or to resort to portable ladders, etc.

2) Ambient Temperature – temperature, under normal conditions, of the medium

surrounding a location where cables are installed, or are to be installed, including the
effect of any artificial heating used in the building and any local source of heat, but
excluding the increase of temperature in the immediate vicinity of the cables due to
heat arising therefrom.

3) Appliance – device which utilizes electricity for a particular purpose, excluding a

luminaire or an independent motor.

4) Batten Holder - A batten holder is fixed directly to the ceiling and has an integral
lamp holder.

5) Bonded (as applied to items of metalwork) – connected electrically to ensure common

potential.

6) Bonding – connection to establish electrical continuity and conductivity.

7) Busbar – solid conductor forming a common junction between a number of circuits

8) Conductor – conducting medium, consisting of a single wire or a group of wires in

contact with each other. Methods of joining conductors are: crimping, clamps,
terminal blocks and soldering. Conductors when disposing of must be returned to the
local council for recycling.

9) Circuit breaker – device designed to open and close a circuit by non-automatic means
and to open the circuit automatically on a predetermined overcurrent without damage
to itself when properly applied with its rating.

10) Ceiling Rose - provides a connection between the fixed wiring and lamp holder flex.

11) Consumer’s terminals – end of the entrance cable belonging to the consumer at which
the supply of energy is deliverd.
Electrical Installation
Definitions unit 202
Lecturer: Mr. Keemal Ali
Handout #5

12) Device – component of an electrical system that carries or controls electrical energy
as its principle function.

13) Entrance cable – portion of the installation between the point of supply and the
service equipment

14) Final sub-circuit – outgoing circuit connected to a distribution board and intended to
supply electrical energy to current using apparatus, either directly or through
receptacle outlets.

15) Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) – device intended for the protection of
personnel that functions to de-energize a circuit or portion thereof within an
established period of time when a current to ground exceeds some predetermined
value that is less than that required to operate the overcurrent protective device of the
circuit.

16) Panel board – single panel or group of panel units designed for assembly in the form
of a single panel, including buses and automatic overcurrent devices, and equipment
with or without switches for the control of light, heat or power circuits designed to be
placed in a cabinet or cut out box placed in or against a wall, partition or other support
system and accessible only from the front.

17) Plug – device intended for the connection to a flexible cord or flexible cable which
can be engaged manually with a receptacle outlet, connector or adaptor and which has
current carrying contact pins which may be exposed when not engaged.

18) Point of entrance – point at which the supply authority connects to the entrance cable.

19) Receptacle outlet (socket outlet) – device with protected current carrying contacts
intended to be connected to the fixed wiring of the installation and intended to receive
a plug.

20) Switchgear (switch) – apparatus for controlling the distribution of electrical energy in
an installation.

21) Service line – any electrical conductor through which energy may be supplied or is
intended to be supplied by the commission to a consumer either from a distribution
main or directly from the premises of the commission.

22) Methods which may be used to check the positions of existing structure and fittings
are: visual, metal/cable detectors, sound.