Electrical Terminology A-Z

If you’re planning on booking some electrical work, the chances are you’ll be hearing some words and terms that you may not be too familiar with… or that you haven’t heard since secondary school science class.

This electrical terminology guide will give you enough information for you to understand what your engineers are talking about. You may even find yourself brave enough to drop an acronym or two in conversation.

Electrical Acronyms and Terms A-Z

Alternating Current (AC)	An electrical current that alters its direction of flow many times per second.
Amp / Ampere (A)	The single unit of electrical current.
Bonding	Connections on exposed metal-work to stop electric shocks, by means of an earth connection.
BS 7671	The British Standard Requirements for Electrical Installations, previously known as IEE Wiring Regulations. This document informs of the requirements for electrical installations in the UK.
Circuit	The action of distributing electricity, consisting of cables and accessories.
Circuit Breaker (CB)	This device automatically breaks an electrical circuit when a fault is detected.
Circuit Tester	This device plugs into a standard outlet to check a circuit is properly grounded.
Conductors	Any material, substance or device that allows the flow of electricity.
Direct Current (DC)	An electrical current that flows in one direction, e.g. Battery.
Distribution Board (DB)	A piece of equipment that is used to connect circuits to an electricity supply.
Distribution Circuit	A circuit supplying electricity to a secondary distribution board.
Distribution Network Operator (DNO)	The company that distributes electricity to your home.
Electrical Installation Condition Report(EICR)	A report showing the condition of your property’s existing electrical installation.
Electrical Panel	An insulated panel that is used to connect electrical wires to circuit breakers.
Extractor Fan	An electrical ventilator for bathrooms and kitchens to prevent moisture from developing.
Extra Low Voltage	A low supply of electricity. 50V AC or less.
Fault Finding	The act of testing circuits to see if there is a fault within the chosen electrical system.
Floor Plan	A simple scaled drawing to portray rooms as seen from above
Flush	The way in which electrical accessories are sunk into the wall, so only the face place protrudes.
Fuse	A safety device that will melt the wire inside it if an excessive current flows through it.
Fuse Board	An enclosure that contains fuses for a property.
Fused Connection Unit (FCU)	An electrical accessory containing a cartridge fuse, used to connect and protect a piece of electrical equipment.
Hertz (Hz)	Unit of measure of electrical frequency.
Ingress Protection (IP)	A rating system that shows how protected an enclosure is against liquids and solids.
Insulation Resistance (IR)	The measurement of how an electrical circuit or piece of equipment is able to resist electricity leakage.
Light-Emitting Diode (LED)	An energy efficient device that produces light when supplied with electricity, developing rapidly into a viable light source in its own right.
Live	The collective name for the conductors that carry the normal operating current.
Live Conductors	Wires with electrical current actively running through them.
Neutral Conductor	A conductor that under normal conditions will carry no current.
Low Voltage	An electrical supply of between 50V AC and 1000V AC.
Luminaire	A light fitting.
Neon Voltage Tester	A tool used to detect if wires are live.
Neutral (N)	A term used to describe one of the cable cores in a normal mains supply.
Ohm	A unit of measure for electric resistance.
Ohm’s Law	V=IR where V is the voltage in volts, I is the current in amperes, and R is the resistance in ohms.
Over Current	A condition when the normal load current is exceeded in a circuit. This may result in an overload or a short circuit.
Overhead Wires	Wires that are above the ground.
Overload	An over current exceeding the normal full load current of a circuit.
Radial Circuit	A circuit set so that the cable runs from the consumer unit or fuse box to one or more accessories without returning to the source.
RCD (Residual Current Device	A current-activated circuit breaker used as a safety device for mains operated electrical tools and appliances that offers earth fault protection.
Recessed Lighting	A light fixture installed into a hollow opening. Also known as a down light.
Resistance	The property of an electrical circuit, measured in ohms, that restricts the flow of current.
Resistive Load	An electrical load with no considerable inrush current.
Semiconductor Fuse	A fuse that is used to protect solid-state devices.
Short Circuit	An overcurrent greater than the original full load current of a circuit.
Short Circuit Rating	The maximum short circuit current an electrical component can sustain without excessive damage.
Spur	A cable that supplies a socket or other accessories, which branches from a circuit.
Switch Leg	A wire connected to a power switch.
Volt (V)	A unit of electrical pressure.
Voltage Rating	The maximum open circuit voltage with which a fuse can be used.
Watts	The energy consumed by an appliance per second is expressed in watts.

Why your builder should be CHAS certified

CHAS - Contractors Health and safety Assessment Scheme - is designed to ensure that building contractors maintain high standards of health and safety; providing reassurance and consistency of quality building practice.

By using a CHAS certified contractor you provide yourself with the peace of mind that your home or project is in safe hands. The builders that you have paid for will exercise the highest standard of health and safety, a sure sign that you are dealing with professional tradesmen.

Using companies that aren’t approved by CHAS could lead to poor health and safety measures that may cause your project to fall behind schedule, add cost and potentially leave your home exposed to poor quality labour.  In the worst case you could be left liable for any financial costs due to damage caused.

The CHAS certification eliminates confusion by being the overall representative of all construction health and safety standards.  The standards are achieved through CHAS’s comprehensive assessment scheme. It’s a demanding process; during evaluation four out of five small and medium sized contractors fail their first assessment.

Affleck Property Services are CHAS approved and provide builders who meet the highest standards of health and safety.  For further information please contact us at 0208 971 7000 or visit our photo gallery of recent construction work.

The Bathroom / Plumbing Horror Gallery

Thinking about saving money with a cowboy plumber? Think again.

Planning a new bathroom? Why not go for a state of the art high-pressure shower fitting!

Innovative tap solutions?

Boiler-less water heating...

They say mud facials are good for the skin...

Save money on pipe-work?

Bad

Worse

Save money on plumbing fixings & fittings?

Is there a duct tape specialist in your home?

The good old milk carton, door knob, electrical wiring, plumbing solution.

... Or maybe you'll end up with getting more than you bargained for ...

... confused? So are we ...

Then there's the toilets ...

WARNING: those of you with a weak stomach may want to stop scrolling!

Want a cheap but funtional toilet?

Looking to save space?

... Or maybe you have too much space? ...

Swords anyone?

The king of awkward toilets

Recycling perhaps?

Or perhaps you have radioactive pee?

... just as well they didn't opt for the urinal catheter solution ...

The real nightmare scenario...

You wouldn’t want that…would you?

Make sure that the plumber you’ve hired is trained and qualified.

If the plumbing quote you receive seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Affleck's London Plumbers are a proud member of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering. Our most recent survey showed that 98% of customers were satisfied with the work we delivered for them and 19 out of 20 customers would recommend us to their family and friends.

Whether dealing with a burst pipe or a designer bathroom installation Affleck's qualified plumbers take pride in the highest level of workmanship. Call 0208 971 7000 for the right solution to your plumbing needs.

RCD: Do not let your next shock be your last

We’ve all received a little electric shock at some point in our lives, actually about 2.5 million of us a year. But according to the Electrical Safety Council up to 350,000 people a year end up with serious injuries from electric shocks; a frightening number.  Luckily there is a smart little device that is here to save us: the RCD, Residual Current Device.

What is an RCD?

A Residual Current Device (RCD) is one of the most important things a safe home can have.  If there is an irregular or dangerous flow of electricity to earth from an electric power outlet, an RCD would automatically turn off the electricity in .4 of a second, ensuring that any chances of an electrical fire or serious shock are eliminated.

An RCD should be considered as important as a smoke alarm. It can be difficult to tell when an abnormal flow of electricity is running through your plug sockets or light switches and it’s likely the only way you will find out about it is when you have received an electric shock or the fuse in your laptop charger has blown.

What does an RCD look like?

Why am I getting electric shocks?

1. No RCD in your home
2. Misuse of plug sockets
3. The wiring and outlets in your home aren’t earthed

If your home uses plug adapters that allow the use of multiple appliances at once through one socket, then an RCD is an essential bit of kit to protect you if the earth connection melted.  Adapters that create space for numerous appliances are convenient and although they can work effectively, they aren’t necessarily efficient. It’s suggested by the Electrical Safety Council that you should never use more than 13 amps or 3000 watts of energy through one power outlet and this amount can easily be accumulated through the use of these plug adapters. The best answer is to get more sockets installed or unplug some of the equipment you aren't using.

Signs you need an RCD

1. You’ve received an electric shock
2. Fuses are blowing in electrical appliances
3. Wiring is getting old abd the connections have deteriorated

The majority of houses that were built between 1950 – 1980 have copper wiring that can get very hot if connections are not checked. This coupled with the misuse of appliances through adaptors and extensions leads can result in serious accidents.

The main cause of electrical fires in the home can be accredited to the misuse of equipment and appliances. 49% of homes in the UK do not have RCDs that are fully operational.

What’s to do if you don’t have an RCD?

If your home doesn’t currently have an RCD you can simply send Affleck a picture of your fuse board via email and our head electrician Andy Symes will contact you with an instalment quote over the phone.

If you are worried about your electrical safety, this February we are offering a free electrical survey for more information call 0207 971 7000 to arrange an appointment.  

Your Boiler – React Before Its Too Late

With the worst of the cold weather about to arrive, boilers will be working their hardest to keep your home warm.  If you’ve been avoiding a boiler service and relying on a creaky boiler you must get it checked. Old boilers cost hundreds more a year to keep your home warm and far worse, can be prone to carbon monoxide leaks which can be lethal.  Be one of the lucky 20 who benefit from our Valentines boiler offer to save money, get warm and rest easy.

Signs your boiler needs servicing/replacing

It’s fairly easy to detect when a boiler isn’t operating correctly. Some of the most common signs are:

• Leaking and dripping
• Lack of hot water and heating
• Whistling and banging noises
• Switching itself off

It’s important that you never attempt to fix a boiler yourself. Attempting to fix a broken boiler is extremely dangerous and so you should always use a Gas Safe registered engineer.

At Affleck we advise the best defence against carbon monoxide emissions as well as to keep your boiler running efficiently (saving you money) is to make sure that it is serviced annually.

In short don’t wait for your old boiler to ‘die’.  Old boilers cost hundreds more a year to keep your home warm and can be highly dangerous. 

The Killer in the Cupboard: Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is also known as the ‘silent killer’ due to it being colourless, tasteless and odourless.  The NHS report that approximately 50 people die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning and an additional 200 people are treated for serious injuries relating to CO poisioning.   The most likely cause of these cases are old or poorly fitted boilers.

Protect Yourself: Sniffing out Carbon Monoxide

The best way to detect a possible leak is to fit a carbon monoxide alarm that operates much like a smoke alarm. Carbon Monoxide alarms can be bought online for around £14.99, and are also sold in hardware stores.

Carbon Monoxide patches are available for £5 but won’t sound an alarm in the event of a serious leak, so we don’t recommend them that highly.  However they do act as a visual alert which is preferable to no alert at all.

Unbeatable Valentines Boiler Promotion

Affleck are offering a brand new combi boiler, installed by an Affleck Gas Safe engineer, with a seven year warrantee and the second year gas safety check for free.   If you’ve been putting off buying a new boiler now is the time.

Here are the top Five Reasons you should replace your boiler.

• Latest Combi Boiler: Valient or Worsceter
  • A rated Energy Efficiency
  • Worsceter: Which? Best Buy
• Professionally installed by Affleck Engineer
  • Gas Safe registered
• 7 year warrantee
• 2 Years Gas Safety Check Free

All this for only £1600+VAT. Probably the best deal you will ever find in the UK on an A energy rated boiler and installation.

Call Affleck on 0208 971 7000 to arrange our Gas Safe registered Boiler Engineers to visit at a time to suit you. Quote 'Valentines Boiler Promotion' at time of booking.

Offer open to first 10 clients for works booked in February 2014 only. Price subject to survey.

Why your windows are making you cold and broke

Affleck are extending an outstanding winter warmer windows offer – but why should you upgrade your windows?  The principal benefit is that double or triple glazed windows save you money – as much as £400 a year on your energy bills!  But there are more benefits that greatly improve quality of life as well.

Cost Benefit of Double/Triple Glazing

Poor window energy rating = waste of heat energy = high energy bills

If your windows are old, single glazed or in bad condition it will contribute hundreds to your energy bills through heat loss.  Homeowners continually spend more than they should in attempts to keep their houses heated throughout the winter and autumn months.

It is reported by Energy Double Glazing that highly rated triple glazed windows, can go as far as to save over £400 a year on your annual energy bill,  or according to the British Fenestration Rating Council, the average, semi-detached house can reduce 18% of energy usage by investing in double glazed windows.

But it’s not all about the money.  There are more benefits of double & triple glazing that have a real impact on your quality of life.

Benefits of Double/Triple Glazing

• Saving hundreds of pounds on annual energy bills
• Adding thousands to the value of your property – also making it easier to sell
• Beautiful makeover – improving the aesthetic of  the inside & outside of your home
• Elimination of drafts – keeping your home cosy for less
• Reducing damp – keeping condensation outside the home
• Sound proofing – reducing noise pollution
• Improved home security – as well as being very difficult to smash, most double-glazing comes with safe locks which don’t allow windows to be opened fully
• Environmentally friendly – the reduction in the energy needed to keep your home warm can lower your carbon footprint – 300kgs per year for the average, semi-detached house

With the cold and noise outside, the warmth in, feeling secure we can almost guarantee you’ll sleep better at night with our latest offer.

Winter Warmer Windows Offer

This winter Affleck is providing customers with the chance to create elegant energy efficient housing through the installation of hardwood box sash windows.

Professional craftsmen at Affleck have been fully trained to install the superior hardwood timber frame box sash windows. The stylish windows not only provide great insulation and will add a clean finish and modern look to your home.

The offer ends in March 2014 and is available to the first 50 customers only.

Windows are also available individually. For further information please contact us at 0208 971 7000 – quote the ‘Winter Warmer Windows Offer’.

4 Easy Steps to Protect Yourself & Your Home from the Winter

While it’s easy for you to wrap up warm or stay inside, your home isn’t as lucky and will face the worst of what the British weather has to offer. In preparation for the rain, snow, strong winds and whatever else may be looming; Affleck has compiled some simple tips in order to help you take care of your home this winter.

1. Roofing Damage: Inspect now

For those of you who were confident enough to brave the cold and lace your homes with outdoor Christmas lights and decorations, you might know the condition of your roof.  For those without the Christmas bling look out for:

• Any visibly loose or broken tiles
• Signs of moss build up/blocked gutters:
  • Overflowing gutters
  • Warped or sagging gutters
  • Visible wet patches on the walls
  • Discoloured paint/walls
  • Wet external walls/penetrating damp
  • Damp basement
• Check your attic for any wet spots or beams of light from the ceiling as this would suggest that there are holes in the roof

If you see any of these it’s a strong indication that repair work is in order.   A small tweak now might save you from serious damage when the weather turns nasty.  We’ve had tens of customers in the last week who left it too late and now having to do major repairs.

If you need any help with your roof call Wayne - Affleck's Head of Roofing - on 0208 971 7000 or follow our Guide on How to Clean Your Gutters.

2. Prevent Burst Pipes: Drain the System

Burst pipes are a common problem during the winter months.  The burst is usually caused when the water in pipes expands when it freezes and cracks the pipe. We suggest that if you’re going to be away from your home for a while, it's worth turning the flow of water off from the stopcock and letting the remaining water in the pipes out through the taps – ensuring that there is no water in the pipes to freeze.  Pipe insulators can be used to avoid frozen pipes, particularly in exposed areas.  In general your central heating is enough to keep your pipes safe.

3. Avoid a Slippery Path or Drive:

After it has snowed your local council will usually place salt and grit down on main roads and popular pedestrian paths in order remove the danger of falling over. If you are unfortunate the snow can cause extremely slippery surfaces on the paths leading to and from your home. If the council doesn’t place salt and grit down in these areas you can use cat litter or sand instead.  You can pick up a bag of sand for around £5 from hardware stores or even order from Amazon; a good thing to have by the front door.  You can even keep the spirit of Christmas going by helping an elderly neighbour with a bag too.

4. Avoid Electrical Heating Fires

Portable electric heaters become very popular during the winter months especially when the entire family is situated in one room. According to Fire Brigade, electrical heaters cause more than one fire a day.  It is very important that you remember not to place them so that they’re facing furniture and not to keep any wires underneath rugs as this may cause them to overheat and in turn cause a fire.

These simple pieces of advice should be easy enough to undertake yourself but if you would feel more comfortable having assistance from professionals feel free to call us on 0800 316 9595 | 0208 971 7000