Key Terms

Amperes: The volume or intensity of the current flow.

AWG: American wire gauge (AWG), which is one measurement standard used to size wire.
Circuit: Complete path of the current; including a voltage source, conductors, and the load (such as, a lamp, tool, or
heater).
Conductors: Materials that contain free electrons that allow current to flow through the material.
Current: Electron movement (measured in amperes).
Electric Shock: The effects of current flowing through the body.
GFCI: Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter.
Grounding: An intentional conductive connection to the earth that provides a path back to the source for any fault
current that may occur in a circuit.
Insulators: Materials with few free electrons. Current does not easily flow through insulators, if at all.
Resistance: Opposition to current flow.
Volts: The electrical pressure (measure of electrical force).
Watts: Measurement of electrical power.
Wire Gauge: System used to measure the physical size of wire.
LOW VOLTAGE DOES NOT MEAN LOW HAZARD!
*mA = milliampere =
1/1,000 of an ampere
Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)
Fuses
Circuit Breakers
If a GFCI keeps tripping while you are using a
power tool, there is a problem. Don’t keep
resetting the GFCI and continue work. You
must evaluate the “clue” and decide what
action should be taken to control the
hazard.