Electrical Reference

Electrical units, terms, symbols, components and circuit laws explained with formulas, linked to Calxy electrical power, energy and wiring calculators.

• Electrical UnitsThe SI units used for current, voltage, resistance, power, charge and energy, how each is built from the others, and the non-SI units such as kWh, VA and dBm that appear on bills, nameplates and datasheets.
• Electrical TermsShort, precise definitions of the quantities that appear in every circuit calculation, each with its usual symbol, SI unit and the formula that ties it to the others.
• Electrical SymbolsWhat the common schematic symbols look like and what they mean, grouped by component family. The two main conventions are IEC 60617 (used internationally) and IEEE 315 / ANSI Y32.2 (common in North America); where they differ, both drawings are described.
• Electronic ComponentsThe basic building blocks of circuits, what each one does, and the formulas used to combine them in series and in parallel.
• Electrical LawsThe laws used to analyze almost every circuit: Ohm's law for single components, Kirchhoff's laws for networks, the voltage divider rule that follows from them, and Coulomb's law for the force between charges.