Electricians glossary

Short, plain-English definitions of the terms you'll meet when choosing a electrician provider in Sanford, Fl.

What is a circuit breaker?: A circuit breaker is an automatic switch in an electrical panel that interrupts power flow when current exceeds safe levels, protecting wiring and devices from overheating and fire.
What is a dedicated circuit?: A dedicated circuit is an independent electrical line from the main panel that serves only one appliance or device, never shared with other loads.
What is a GFCI outlet?: A ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet is an electrical receptacle that detects ground faults and shuts off power within milliseconds to protect against electrical shock.
What is a journeyman electrician?: A journeyman electrician is a licensed professional who has completed 8,000 or more hours of paid apprenticeship training and passed a state exam, and can perform electrical work independently under Florida law.
What is a licensed electrical contractor?: A licensed electrical contractor is a professional certified or registered by Florida's Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) to perform electrical work under the Florida Electrical Code.
What is a master electrician?: A master electrician is the highest-level electrical license in Florida, awarded after passing a comprehensive exam and meeting apprenticeship and work experience requirements, authorizing independent contracting and design of electrical systems.
What is a subpanel?: A subpanel is a secondary electrical distribution box wired from the main service panel to supply circuits in a specific area of a property, such as a garage, workshop, or room addition.
What is a transfer switch?: A transfer switch is an electrical device that safely redirects power between the utility grid and a backup generator, preventing dangerous backfeed into power lines when both sources are active.
What is a whole-house surge protector?: A whole-house surge protector is a device installed at the main electrical panel that intercepts and clamps voltage spikes from lightning, power grid fluctuations, and similar transient events before they reach household circuits and appliances.
What is aluminum wiring?: Aluminum wiring is electrical branch circuit wiring made from aluminum conductors instead of copper, commonly installed in homes built between the 1960s and 1970s as a cost-effective alternative.
What is ampacity?: Ampacity is the maximum electric current a conductor or wire can safely carry without overheating or failing.
What is amperage?: Amperage (or amps) is the measure of electrical current flow in a circuit, typically expressed in units of amperes and determined by a home's electrical service panel rating.
What is an AFCI breaker?: An arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) is a specialized electrical breaker that detects dangerous electrical arcs and automatically cuts power to prevent fires caused by arcing faults in wiring.
What is an electrical panel?: An electrical panel is the main distribution box mounted on a wall (often near the meter) that receives incoming power and splits it into individual circuits protected by breakers.
What is an electrical permit?: An electrical permit is official authorization from Seminole County or the City of Sanford required before performing most electrical installations, repairs, or upgrades to ensure compliance with the Florida Building Code and local safety standards.
What is electrical conduit?: Electrical conduit is a tube or pipe system that encloses and protects wiring from damage, moisture, and physical contact in residential and commercial buildings.
What is electrical load calculation?: Electrical load calculation is the process of determining the total electrical demand a building or circuit will require, used to size panels, breakers, and wiring to safely and legally handle that load.
What is grounding and bonding?: Grounding and bonding are interconnected safety systems in electrical installations that direct fault current safely to earth and ensure metal components are at the same electrical potential.
What is knob and tube wiring?: Knob and tube wiring is an early electrical system that ran individual wires through ceramic knobs and tubes, used in homes built before the 1950s and now considered a fire and safety hazard.
What is Romex?: Romex is the brand name for non-metallic (NM) sheathed cable, a flexible bundle of individual insulated conductors wrapped in a plastic outer sheath, commonly used in residential electrical wiring.
What is the difference between kilowatt and kilovolt-amp?: A kilowatt (kW) is the actual power consumed by electrical equipment, while a kilovolt-amp (kVA) is the total power a generator or circuit must supply, accounting for both real and reactive power.
What is the National Electrical Code (NEC)?: The National Electrical Code is a set of safety standards that governs the installation of electrical wiring and equipment in the United States, adopted and enforced through state and local building codes.
What is voltage drop?: Voltage drop is the reduction in electrical voltage as current travels through a wire, caused by the wire's resistance to current flow.
What is wire gauge (AWG)?: American Wire Gauge (AWG) is the standardized system used in the United States to classify electrical wire by diameter and amperage capacity. Lower gauge numbers indicate thicker wires that can safely carry more current, while higher numbers represent thinner wires suited to lower-amperage applications.