{"id":13659,"date":"2025-01-23T19:36:45","date_gmt":"2025-01-24T02:36:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cmolnar.com\/?page_id=13659"},"modified":"2026-03-05T16:44:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T23:44:31","slug":"basic-concepts-of-electricity-for-hvac-r","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cmolnar.com\/?page_id=13659","title":{"rendered":"Basic Concepts of Electricity for HVAC\/R"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Basic Concepts of Electricity \u2013 KNOW THESE CONCEPTS<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Voltage, current, and resistance are linked in an electrical circuit. When resistance goes up, current goes down. When resistance drops, current goes up.<ul><li>Voltage is a measurement of a difference of potential.<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Current is the speed of the electrons<\/li><\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Resistance is the backpressure or force opposing the movement of electrons.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>All electrical circuits have the following components:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Source \u2013 where the electrical current comes from<ul><li>Path \u2013 the wire or path the electricity travels<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Switch \u2013 a device to control the electricity<\/li><\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Load \u2013 a device that uses the electric current to do work.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>An open switch has infinite resistance and thus does not allow current to pass.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A closed switch has little resistance and allows current to pass.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In any switching device the greater the resistance, the greater the heat generated. We want as little resistance as possible.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Voltage is a measurable difference in potential.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Voltage across a closed switch is 0 volts.<ul><li>Voltage across an open switch is source.<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Voltage across a working load is source or a portion of source.<\/li><\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Voltage across a non-working (or open) load is the same as an open switch, it is source.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A short circuit is a path (may have a switch) that does not have a load. The current will move to fast, go way up, and cause the circuit breaker or fuse to open.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A closed circuit is a complete path for electricity to flow.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ohms Law is the basis behind all electric theory. Ohms law is:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>E = I * R<ul><li>I = E\/R<\/li><\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>R = E\/I<ul><li>Where E is Voltage<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>R is resistance<\/li><\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>I is current<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A Series circuit has a single path for current to flow.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A Parallel circuit has multiple paths for current to flow.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ohms law works for both series and parallel circuits.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>However, resistance ADDS up to total in a series circuit<ul><li>Current is constant in a Series circuit.<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Current ADDS up to a total in a parallel circuit.<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Resistance uses 1\/Rt = 1\/R1 + 1\/R2 + 1\/R3\u2026. in a parallel circuit.<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Voltage is split across all loads in a series circuit based on the resistance of that load.<\/li><\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Voltage is source for all BRANCHES in a parallel circuit.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>When voltage is applied to a coil of wire, it creates a magnetic field.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The picture of alternating current is the sign wave. A magnet spinning in a coil of wires creates alternating current. Alternating current is what is used in houses and businesses. With Alternating current the voltage (or potential) shifts from positive to negative.<ul><li>The measurement of this frequency of change is Hertz.<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>In the United States, the frequency is 60Hz or 60 times per second.<\/li><\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In Europe, this change occurs 50 times per second or 50 Hz.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A picture of a circuit is called a schematic diagram.<ul><li>A schematic diagram is made up of schematic symbols.<\/li><\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A schematic diagram can be used to trace or understand a circuit in the field.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Basic Concepts of Electricity \u2013 KNOW THESE CONCEPTS<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ocean_post_layout":"","ocean_both_sidebars_style":"","ocean_both_sidebars_content_width":0,"ocean_both_sidebars_sidebars_width":0,"ocean_sidebar":"","ocean_second_sidebar":"","ocean_disable_margins":"enable","ocean_add_body_class":"","ocean_shortcode_before_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_after_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_before_header":"","ocean_shortcode_after_header":"","ocean_has_shortcode":"","ocean_shortcode_after_title":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_bottom":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_bottom":"","ocean_display_top_bar":"default","ocean_display_header":"default","ocean_header_style":"","ocean_center_header_left_menu":"","ocean_custom_header_template":"","ocean_custom_logo":0,"ocean_custom_retina_logo":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_height":0,"ocean_header_custom_menu":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_family":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_subset":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_size":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_unit":"px","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_line_height":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_unit":"","ocean_menu_typo_spacing":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_unit":"","ocean_menu_link_color":"","ocean_menu_link_color_hover":"","ocean_menu_link_color_active":"","ocean_menu_link_background":"","ocean_menu_link_hover_background":"","ocean_menu_link_active_background":"","ocean_menu_social_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_links_color":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_color":"","ocean_disable_title":"default","ocean_disable_heading":"default","ocean_post_title":"","ocean_post_subheading":"","ocean_post_title_style":"","ocean_post_title_background_color":"","ocean_post_title_background":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_image_position":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_attachment":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_repeat":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_size":"","ocean_post_title_height":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay":0.5,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay_color":"","ocean_disable_breadcrumbs":"default","ocean_breadcrumbs_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_separator_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_hover_color":"","ocean_display_footer_widgets":"default","ocean_display_footer_bottom":"default","ocean_custom_footer_template":"","ofc_meta_disable_footer_callout":"","ofc_meta_callout_button_url":"","ofc_meta_callout_button_txt":"","ofc_meta_callout_text":"","ofc_enable_fullscreen":"disable","ofc_fullscreen_speed":0,"ofc_fullscreen_nav":"enable","ofc_fullscreen_nav_pos":"right","ofc_fullscreen_nav_color":"","ofc_fullscreen_nav_tooltip_color":"","ofc_fullscreen_responsive":0,"osp_disable_panel":"default","osh_disable_topbar_sticky":"default","osh_disable_header_sticky":"default","osh_sticky_header_style":"default","osh_sticky_header_effect":"","osh_custom_sticky_logo":0,"osh_custom_retina_sticky_logo":0,"osh_custom_sticky_logo_height":0,"osh_background_color":"","osh_links_color":"","osh_links_hover_color":"","osh_links_active_color":"","osh_links_bg_color":"","osh_links_hover_bg_color":"","osh_links_active_bg_color":"","osh_menu_social_links_color":"","osh_menu_social_hover_links_color":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-13659","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cmolnar.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13659","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cmolnar.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cmolnar.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cmolnar.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cmolnar.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13659"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/cmolnar.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13659\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16683,"href":"https:\/\/cmolnar.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13659\/revisions\/16683"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cmolnar.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13659"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}