Basic Electricity: Circuits: Notes

Electricity must have a complete or closed loop circuit to flow. A "Circuit" is defined as an unbroken, uninterrupted path which begins and ends at the same point. In the automobile that point is the battery. The electron flow must be from the battery through the wiring and consumers back to the battery. That flow represents a complete circuit.

A typical circuit will contain:

1. A battery and/or generator system (EMF or source of the electrons)
2. Conductors (wiring to deliver the electrons to the consumers)
3. Consumers (the load being placed on the system)

Any break or interruption in this circuit will cause the circuit to cease operation.

There are three basic types of circuits:

• Series
• Parallel
• Series/Parallel