ABSTRACT
This chapter covers the basics of electricity, how to hook up different components, how to make and troubleshoot circuits, and how to do it all safely. The voltage moves electrons through the wires and components. This movement or flow is called current. Electrons only flow when their path, or circuit, is unbroken from the positive side of the battery to the negative side. The force of electricity is measured in volts (V). Watts (W) are how much power is released each second. Amperes (A), or "amps" for short, are the amount of electricity flowing through the wire. These three measurements relate to each other in an equation commonly called "West Virginia": W = V * A. Resistance is a measure of how difficult it is for the electrical current to push through a material. All materials have resistance, from lights and motors, to switches and wires. Electricity flows in one of two ways: direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC).
