Electrical theory

W

whatever

Member
Location
Florida
Occupation
Switchgear technician
I was wondering what all the laws behind electricity where you can kind of have a intuitive understanding of what will happen in a circuit. For example, electricity takes all paths, more current will take the least path of resistance. Voltage and current are proportional. Current and resistance are inversely proportional. Having a complete loop to function. Voltage potential from high to low. Kirchoff laws. Current creates a magnetic feild. I know its kind of a broad question but what helped you have a better grasp what will happen in a circuit based on theory or in general.
 
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We provide and control the path... it doesnt take all paths.
The better grasp came from books...
And only the designers and engineers really use it.
What is your goal? Are you a student?
 
rambojoe said:
We provide and control the path... it doesnt take all paths.
The better grasp came from books...
And only the designers and engineers really use it.
What is your goal? Are you a student?
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Im not a student im not an electrician. Im a switchgear technician. Im trying gain a better understanding and cliffnotes to remember the basics.
 
What helped me is that I happened to be studying hydraulics the same time as studying electronics. In both disciplines, you can analyze a circuit by looking at the resulting flow when a pressure is applied to a resistance, or the resulting pressure when a flow is applied to a resistance, or the resulting resistance when a flow results in a pressure.

In the bread and butter world of electricians, it is assumed that the AC voltage will always be there, or not there, with a specified resistance either there or not there, and a resulting current either there or not there. In reality, especially with motor controls, it ain't that simple.

It can be very well argued that the analogy of hydraulic to AC electricity fails because hydraulics do not create magnetism. and yet there are analogies for AC reactance: Hydraulics can have accumulators analogous to capacitors, and laminar flow analogous to inductors.
 
rambojoe said:
Yeah... lets start him on that.. thx.
Lets not worry about how the clock works, and just watch the time...
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Current flows on all available paths is how the clock works. The fact that it predominantly flows on the paths of lower resistance, like conductors, is the simplified 'just tell the time' view.

But, the OP wanted to know what was more important for an electrician; electrical theory or practical knowledge.

IMHO, installers and designers need to know the basic theory and practical experience while troubleshooters need more advanced theory and experience.
 
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ptonsparky said:
It does take all paths. Intentional or not. You screw up the path(s), it takes all of them.
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Well anyway, dont screw up.
jim dungar said:
Current flows on all available paths is how the clock works. The fact that it predominantly flows on the paths of lower resistance, like conductors, is the simplified 'just tell the time' view.

But, the OP wanted to know what was more important for an electrician; electrical theory or practical knowledge.

IMHO, installers and designers need to know the basic theory and practical experience while troubleshooters need more advanced theory and experience.
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You guys are funny... i have no idea what that has to do with the o.p.'s question or my "keep it simple" and start with the basic "simple" conductor comments.

The sad thing is you are not helping very well. My comment was to the o.p., not some experienced tradesmen.
 
rambojoe said:
My comment was to the o.p., not some experienced tradesmen.
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But your comment was false and misleading to anyone in the electrical trade. There is advanced theory like semi-conductors and practicle theory like conductors and insulation and the stuff for non-electrical people like electricity is like water.

I stand with: installers and designers need to know the basic practicle theory while troubleshooters need more advanced theory and practicle experience.
 
rambojoe said:
Well anyway, dont screw up.

You guys are funny... i have no idea what that has to do with the o.p.'s question or my "keep it simple" and start with the basic "simple" conductor comments.

The sad thing is you are not helping very well. My comment was to the o.p., not some experienced tradesmen.
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Current does flow on all possible paths and this is covered in the basics involving Ohm's and Kirchhoff's laws.

More resistance a particular path has the less current it will carry but current doesn't seek out only the lowest resistance path which is possible misinterpretation when people say current takes path of least resistance. Stating the most current will flow on path of least resistance is more accurate.
 
Would check.out the great large assortment of books published by Mike Holt. Look at his daily graphic & his & Charlie Trout ( thru NICCA ) code question of. the day.I belonged to an electricsl.organization back.in the 1970' s until they wanted you to eat at an expensive meal at a fancy place. Attended the 8 yearly IAEI meetings in my city until a year after retiring & pandemic shut them down for awhile. At least once a year they had a brilliant person from UL present the meeting that provided ed two hours of continuing education that I needed 8 hours every year to renew my license. At the IAEI meeting s that I attended st leash two of the dedicated hard working board members had their own training centers that offered a vast variety of classes. One of them came to the larg hospital that I retired from and provided maybe a couple of 8 hour training days for the 6 electricians and a halve day class to building engineers & BMT'S ( basic maintenance Tech's or zone maintenance guys ). I took a 8 hour on line OSHA class but old school and get more from a live classroom setting.
 
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