The Standard Electrical Dictionary Part 34

Circuit, Loop.

A minor circuit introduced in series into another circuit by a cut-out, or other device, so as to become a portion of the main circuit.

Circuit Loop Break.

A supporter or bracket with two arms for carrying insulators. Its use is to enable a loop connection to be introduced into a line which is cut, so as to enable the connection of the ends of the loop to be made, one to each end of the through wire, which ends are attached, one to each of the two insulators.

Circuit, Main.

The circuit including the main line and apparatus supplied by the main battery, as distinguished from the local circuit. (See Circuit, Local.)

Circuit, Main Battery.

The main circuit, including the main or princ.i.p.al battery in its course.

Circuit, Metallic.

A circuit in which the current outside the generator, or similar parts, is carried on a metallic conductor; a circuit without any ground circuit. The including of a galvanic battery or electro plating bath would not prevent the application of the term; its essential meaning is the omission of the earth as the return circuit.

Circuit, Negative Side of.

The side of a circuit opposite to the positive side. (See Circuit, Positive Side of) It is defined as the half of a circuit leading to the positive terminal of the generator.

Circuit, Open.

A circuit with its continuity broken, as by disconnecting a wire from the battery, or opening a switch; a broken circuit is its synonym. To open a switch or disconnect or cut the wire is termed opening or breaking the circuit.

Synonyms--Incomplete Circuit--Broken Circuit.

Circuit, Positive Side of.

This side is such that an observer standing girdled by the current with his head in the positive side or region, would see the current pa.s.s around him from his right toward his left hand. It is also defined as the half of the circuit leading to the negative terminal of the generator.

Circuit, Recoil.

The portion of a parallel circuit presenting an alternative path, q. v., for a disruptive discharge.

Circuit, Return.

(a) The part of a circuit extending from the generator to the extreme point in general, upon which no apparatus is placed. In telegraph systems the ground generally forms the return circuit. The distinction of return and working circuit cannot always be made.

(b) It may also be defined as the portion of a circuit leading to the negative terminal of the generator.

126 STANDARD ELECTRICAL DICTIONARY

Circuits, Forked.

Circuits starting in different paths or directions from one and the same point.

Circuit, Simple.

A circuit containing a single generator, and single receiver of any kind, such as a motor or sounder, with a single connecting conductor. It is also used to indicate arrangement in multiple arc, but not generally, or with approval.

Circuits, Parallel.

Two or more conductors starting from a common point and ending at another common point are termed, parallel circuits, although really but parts of circuits. If of equal resistance their joint resistance is obtained by dividing the resistance of one by the number of parallel circuits. If of unequal resistance r, r', r" , etc., the formula for joint resistance, R, of two is

R = ( r * r' ) / ( r + r' )

This resistance may then be combined with a third one by the same formula, and thus any number may be calculated.

Synonym--Shunt Circuit.

Circuit, Voltaic.

Properly a circuit including a conductor and voltaic couple.

It is also applied to the electric circuit, q. v., or to any circuit considered as a bearer of current electricity.

Circular Units.

Units of area, usually applied to cross sectional area of conductors, by whose use area is expressed in terms of circle of unit diameter, usually a circular mil, which is the area of a circle of one-thousandth of an inch diameter, or a circular millimeter, which is the area of a circle of one millimeter diameter. Thus a wire one-quarter of an inch in diameter has an area of 250 circular mils; a bar one centimeter in diameter has an area of ten circular millimeters.

[Transcriber's Note: Area is the diameter squared. A 1/4 inch wire has 62500 circular mils of area. A one centimeter (10 millimeter) wire has 100 circular millimeters of area. Actual area = circular mils * (PI/4).]

Circ.u.mflux.

The product of the total number of conductor turns on the armature of a dynamo or motor, into the current carried thereby. For two pole machines it is equal to twice the armature ampere-turns; for four pole machines to four times such quant.i.ty, and so on.

Clamp.

The appliance for grasping and retaining the end of the rod that holds a carbon in the arc lamp.

Clark's Compound.

A cement used for the outside of the sheath of telegraph cables.

Its formula is: Mineral Pitch, 65 parts.

Silica, 30 parts.

Tar, 5 parts.

All parts by weight.

127 STANDARD ELECTRICAL DICTIONARY.

Cleats.

A support; a short block of wood, grooved transversely, for holding electric wires against a wall. For the three wire system three grooves are used. The entire wiring of apartments is sometimes done by the "cleat system," using cleats instead of battens, q. v., or mouldings.

The cleats are secured against the wall with the grooves facing it, and the wires are introduced therein.