How Do Circuits Work? Volts, Amps, Ohm's, and Watts Explained!

What is a circuit and how does it work? Even though most of us electricians think of ourselves as magicians, there is nothing really magical about electricity!! In the latest episode of Electrician U, Dustin explains the theories behind how a circuit actually works and the basic principles of electricity.
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On a basic level, there are 4 distinct principles that govern how a circuit and electricity actually work. Volts, Amps, Watts, and Ohm’s (or resistance). Each one plays an important role in the flow of electrons within a conductor and can change how the overall experience is perceived.
First let’s discuss volts. Volts relates to pressure. This PRESSURE is what moves things along. On one end of a circuit, somewhere, there is a generator that is creating this pressure. The other end (which we will discuss momentarily) is using that pressure to be useful. Voltage can come in several different amounts. The higher the voltage the more the pressure. 12 volts is much less than 120 volts, which is much less than 480 volts. The lower the voltage the more you risk not having enough pressure to operate a higher quantity of loads or go as far in distance. One reason we use higher voltages for those situations.
What we are actually pushing with that pressure is current and that is measured in AMPERES (amps). Think of amps as flow. How much is actually going thru the circuit. So, amps can be thought of as how much is flowing thru the circuit per second. The smaller the amount, the less the amperage. Some equipment requires more amps to operate (motors, large light bulbs, etc.). Water can be a good analogy to use when discussing parts of electricity (even though the two REALLY shouldn’t be put together!!). While water pressure could be used to describe VOLTS, the flow rate (or gallons/liters per minute) can be used to describe AMPERAGE.
The next part of the puzzle is resistance. If we were to hook up a wire straight in between a hot and a neutral, there would be an infinite amount of current allowed to flow as there is no resistance to slow it down. This would end in a rather catastrophic event! So, resistance slows down the rate of current flow to a more manageable/useful rate. Remember, for a circuit to work, it must be a complete loop. So a resistive load completes the loop enough for current flow to slow down to a useful rate, but not great enough to create a short circuit! Take a light bulb for instance. One side of the lamp is connected to one end of a filament while the other side is connected to the other. When power is applied, the filament glows, slowing down the rate of current flow but completing the circuit.
The last part to discuss is wattage. Think of wattage as power consumption. How much work is being performed. Take a toaster for example. We need wattage to toast our bread. The resistive elements get hot from current flow/resistance. That power consumption is measured in watts. The higher the watts for our toaster, the hotter it will get and faster it will toast our bread.
We hope this has been insightful into how a circuit works and the different basic components of them. Is there a topic you would like to see discussed? Leave a comment in the comments section below and let us know. Please continue to follow Dustin and Electrician U as we are constantly adding new content to assist our followers in becoming the best they can be!
#electrician #electrical #electricity #circuits #amps #volts #watts #ohms

[@Teampierrellc]

I’m an apprentice and I go to class twice a week and I can tell you this guy is amazing. My current instructor has no business teaching. The more I watch the worst my instructor looks.

[@brandoflakez5561]

😂😂😂 word

[@getrektnoobgg5043]

Bro I’m dying right now. Got an ohms law test. Most of the true and false questions have no idea about cuz he never taught us.

[@1luvpizza-.-]

Can I go to trade school first then be an apprentice

[@danknation6408]

@@1luvpizza-.-what’s the point just go be an apprentice

[@Tacoma_HIM]

Fss mine sucks so bad

[@jenniferblakely1917]

Your passion for this is hilarious, but it's also super engaging and informative. Thank you for geeking out with us.

[@ElectricianU]

Hahaha thank you for watching =)

[@aaronblakeley9442]

Hmmm, another Blakeley, or Blakely rather. Good to see.

[@chrisungerecht7397]

The amount of knowledge this guy has. Love it

[@Flowtester1]

Yeah its weird. I know several electricians that don’t know half of what this guy knows. Most of them just show up to get a paycheck. This guy actually cares about the field he is in.

[@jsb7546]

@@Flowtester1 that's wild. You would think people that work with electricity would care specially because of how dangerous it is. Granted I see this mostly in residential beacuse the barrier to entry is very low. Imagine just showing up and not caring at in industrial facility working with 277/480 volt motors and transformers you'd get either fired or fried.

[@deang5622]

Really? And lots of it are just wrong. You clearly have never met an electrical engineer.

[@ikerivers1795]

@@deang5622 I came up through the Electrician Ranks but have for the last 10 years been a Protection Relay and AVR Tech. The things that this guy puts out on his channel are fpr his intended audience. Apprentices, Resi and Commercial guys. He does a service BUT his lack of experience at the higher end of the spectrum of Electrical Workers is obvious.

[@deang5622]

@@ikerivers1795 I don't agree with that, that hr's putting out content that is suitable for his audience. A teacher should always teach accurately. I am not talking about advanced content and complex number theory and doing impedance calculations properly. If you're can't get your head around a few simple equations, functions of one variable representing a curve then these people shouldn't be electricians. There is a problem in the industry in my country, and I suspect it is also present in the USA, of idiot electricians that do a poor job because they are just not competent. I can teach somebody circuit theory in a couple of hours and do it properly without advanced mathematics. But that is because I understand it fully. I happen to know all the mathematical relationships, and all of the fundamental principles because I was taught it properly by degree qualified people that knew what they were talking about. Now, I can teach somebody without going into detail in to all the equations but just explain things verbally but using proper concepts and terminology. If you're a 17 year that kid has left school and if presented with a chart with a straight line, on squared graph paper, and I ask you to calculate the gradient of it, and if you can't do it, then you need to go back to school. The problem is they are taking kids on to electricians courses and apprenticeships when they don't have even the most basic of math skill which they should have for life, not just for electricians training. I don't think in his case it is a lack of experience, it's a fundamental lack of understanding because he hasn't been taught properly himself, or lacks the cognitive skills to be able to understand things properly. It's shocking. Pun intended.

[@NBHayes]

I've been taking an Industrial Electricity course which also covers residential electrical and I just wanted to say that your videos have made understanding how electricity works (both aspects of the course) so much easier while I've been in this class. Thank you so much and please keep up the outstanding work.

[@ElectricianU]

I have no plan on stopping anytime soon my friend! Thanks for watching

[@stevesargent4269]

Wow! I'm 57 and this reminds me so much of my teacher in high school. I was fortunate to grow up when high schools had vocational programs. I was a total "nerd" and thought about following my love of physics. But my dad was an electric motor rebuilder. So I wanted to have a job and took vocational electricity my jr and sr years. It's a decision I'll never regret. The way you explain ohms law is AWESOME! Keep up the good work!

[@kinktheride1229]

Love your videos man. Inside apprentice in my 3rd month and though I’m not in school and learning electrical theory, I have an urge to know what I’m working on and why and this totally feeds my desire to know the intricacy of the work.

[@TheCantstop10]

I’m just starting this career at 35. Very excited. Did other construction my whole life like carpentry and masonry.

[@Ryangosden]

Man, I feel stupid when trying to understand electricity. Tried so many videos in the past and it went in one ear and out the other. But this guy really explains it well. Thank you!

[@lelandmorris7259]

I'm a first year apprentice. A Jr in highschool . I've always been interested in electrical. I've watched you for a good while between you and my votech class I've learned a lot just in a few months appreciate all you do on explaining everything

[@cjturn8431]

Great explanation of how electricity works. I have worked both distribution and transmission work for a big company here on the east coast, your explanation is great for a beginner. Hopefully we can get more of our youth in this great trade!!

[@bryanduchane2371]

Great explanation. Had an electrician explain it almost identical when I got into the electrical Distribution business. Helped me in my career so much.

[@jamesfleming7580]

I substitute teach high school on the side as a home inspector and retired military with an engineering background. Mostly math, physics, and science. This is terrific stuff. Sometimes I get stuck without a lesson plan. I can pull up one of these videos and get the kids hooked. You are awesome. BTW, as a home inspector, I drive a lot of business to electricians (because it's really needed...some of the stuff I see is OMG).

[@nathaniel1766]

You took me back to the 1970s, high school, vocational training, 10 weeks of Electrical Shop, still remember my color codes on...gasp...resistors! LOL! Great video, easy to understand! Looking forward to your upcoming videos!!

[@jumb0juice327]

I appreciate you taking the time to break everything down. Keep up the good work!

[@garrysekelli6776]

This guy is controlled oposition. He is trying to keep Nicola Tesla's secrets of free wireless energy hidden from the masses.

[@mikerannazzisi821]

Hey guys, I stumbled across your channel looking for information I believe it was on transformers. Don’t remember. I’m a licensed electrician in the state of New Jersey. And I love your channel. Get a ton from it. been in the business over 30 years and constantly either re-learning or learning new stuff from you guys. Thank you!!!!

[@ElectricianU]

Thank you so much for taking the time to comment (and watch!) - glad you get some value from this!

[@RuskyHuskyful]

I just started teaching (2nd year apprentices) and we are about to cover circuit's for the next 25 sessions... this will be a great starting place!

[@kevinmach730]

Always great to get go back to basics and see something through different eyes as folks build on their skils! Another home run Dustin. As far as your last video went in asking us what we'd like to see, looks like you already know!

[@radicallyforjesus]

Wow! This just hit my homeschool science list. Honestly, I never really understood this before. Back when I was in public school, I could regurgitate definitions with the best of them, but I never really understood what was being said when we covered electricity. This helps so much! I’d love to see more like this that hit those nerdy points you mentioned. Excellent video.

[@ElectricianU]

Awesome!! I'm glad it helped, thanks for stopping by =)

[@devinrossi1715]

3rd year apprentice here. You teach better than any instructor I’m yet to have, make thing super easy to understand. So just wanted to thank you. Not to be an annoyance but blue is hard to see on the bored with you’re lighting setup. If it’s just me brush it off, don’t change a thing. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@ElectricianU]

Thanks for watching! I'll check out the lighting stuff, my setup is going to change in a few months when I move so I'll look into something new.

[@quinnfrederick13]

Awesome video man. Really breaks it down for the basic learners like myself trying to grasp the little parts 🙏

[@SKWDMDYT]

Very good recap for those like me still trying to grasp all the basic concepts. Have to say you have come a loooong way froom your first video and all the expletives!!!!! Sound more like a trustworthy scholar than a wing it kind of guy.

[@ElectricianU]

Thank you! Ya I've now spent years talking in front of a camera so I've gotten more confident, and I've also spent years studying the subject matter so I don't need to cuss so much to get a point across. I too have growth in the years ahead of me. We all do. Thanks for noticing, and thank you for taking the time to write this. Be well my friend.

[@TheXlt1200]

Really well explained! Keep making videos! Thanks

[@albertoferrer1388]

Clearer than water, very good explanation, greetings from the Republic of Panama

[@ElectricianU]

Yoooo!! Howdy from Austin, TX

[@teddyjones3055]

Watched two of your videos and I've already learned more about circuits than I did back in my college physics course. TY!

[@factjoe]

As a former electronics teacher, this is amazing. I used water and different sized cups to demonstrate voltage drops.

[@andrewweitzman2716]

He does a great job of conceptualizing. I've watched other videos that didn't use real life appliances. The ACDC flickering light bulb is a good example. He could improve his transition to new concepts.

[@malcolmjamesmyers6190]

I've seen people that get confused and don't know how to apply a formula to DC circuits, they get confused by calculating the 220v supply or do they calculate the 12v dc output into ohms law.... I think this would be a great topic to touch on and help the guys that could potentially burn places down lol

[@Shadow_B4nned]

"How Do Circuits Work?" That's a decent explanation. Something that helps me conceptualize how circuits work is ionizing voltage. Once an appliances electrons have enough voltage applied to them they start to burn off pulling more electrons in to replace the burnt ones. Ionizing voltage creates electron affinity.

[@barry3573]

Great video as I am in the second year of an apprenticeship for industrial I always like how you explain everything.....AWESOME

[@pappy69pappy]

You Are so good at describing electricity and how it works!

[@Crazypug-eh7xi]

Outstanding!! Love the breakdown

[@weldonpinder7295]

This video helped in so many ways thanks. I love how you use so many examples to make it easier to understand instead of just saying ohlmes resistance if I spelled that right

[@Jetlag320]

Your teaching style is outstanding - thank you for sharing it with us.

[@Sick-Of-It-All]

Funny, I avoided the basic understanding electricity for a long time because of the water analogy. I couldn't convince myself (or anyone else) that the only way to increase water pressure to get a decent shower, was to use less water. It just didn't make sense. It's nice to see someone point out there are problems with that analogy.

[@Tomster-hj3je]

Learned many new things this afternoon; thank you for sharing. I really appreciate what Electricians do.

[@stevevos2764]

Man. I learn a lot from this guy. He so smart and good teacher. Thank you sir

[@seunsamuel6999]

You made my day, Professor

[@columbuspalmer846]

Why go to electrician school when I can just learn from this guy. Lol😊

Ohhh my goodness! You made me understand in the simplest form many components of electricity!! I'm a suit, city slicker but you taught me today the entry-level fundamentals! Thank you! Greetings from Hollywood California.

[@ElectricianU]

Greetings from Austin, TX my friend!

@@ElectricianU Keep up the great information and content!

[@michieladriaansens5977]

i just started vaping and trying to figure out what's goin on and what influences the output. Very insightfull and clear to understand for a complete beginner like myself :)

[@Sky_Hlgh]

4:53 love it!

[@phillippeharris6069]

Thank you for the information I'm going to enroll to be an electrician. You are a inspiration.

[@JasonEsquivel]

The way you nerd out about this stuff is incredible. Have you made a video about infrastructure required for evs? Want to be able to explain to my Mom how power goes from the plant to the accelerator in the car.

[@levio1314]

These videos are great. When I'm thinking about our questioning something electrical, I can always find a very helpful video from this channel. Thanks for sharing so much good information.

[@gefginn3699]

Great post my friend. Starting out..... this field is super mysterious. This helps.

[@number1pappy]

Thank you so much for your videos and time! I have a so much better understanding of electricity thru your tutalidge. I found your channel wanting to learn how to wire a three way switch and I continued watching your videos because I can actually understand the way you explain everything 😀

[@josephnicolas2158]

Absolutely amazing videos as usual! Thank You Kindly for the work you do!

[@ElectricianU]

Thank you for the kind words and for continually watching!

[@xtc9700]

I’m a plumber and love watching your videos, still learning plumbing but wanna learn electrical at the same time :)

[@ralphnabozny8494]

defineing is always good for comunicating abstract stuff. This is good

[@ladi3sm4n213]

Its amazing how similar utility locating is and electricity. Im not even close to being knowledgeable on electricity but know of the loops because of work and utility locating… I often can tell if my locate is going to be a good or bad locate by the amount of volts I get when I hook to a wire. Normal readings should give 20mA, voltage reading in standard mode for an RD can max out at 30 volts. It would be interesting to see your take on the similarities between utility locating and electricity

[@austinmuncrief252]

I’m a paramedic , I work for a busy system . I have been over obsessed with electrical components and how everything works …. I have no idea why. I should be brushing up on medicine but maybe I’ll consider being an electrical engineer now 😂

[@TheCountDeSaintGermain]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge brother.

[@windward2818]

A circuit is called a circuit because at a minimum you need a loop of wire to include both the source and the load to enable current flow, the loop forms a circle, hence circuit. But, there is a problem. The video uses a circuit diagram which depicts ideal component models within certain rules that help us make circuits and the application of electricity useful. The diagram is not however the real world, it is an idealized representation of effects caused by electromagnetic fields. To understand circuits you must understand electricity, which means understanding electromagnetic fields. The starting point for this is to understand Maxwell's equations in what they represent, you do not have to understand the math behind the equations vector calculus. This is because Maxwell based his unified work on others that came before, like Gauss, Faraday, and Ampere.

[@crazycrafttimesubscribetod2261]

Say more, lol

[@hokimocus]

Best explanation ever. Thanks!

[@feed730]

best intro video out there

[@cheflebowski8155]

I direct all my new helpers to your videos. 👍🏼👍🏼

[@rebekahhahner8727]

This is awesome! I never learned about electricity so well as in this video. Thank you!

[@lav8378]

the best lesson about electricity.

[@maddyolive5985]

I really appreciate your videos, they're helping me understand electricity a bit better. I'm looking into whether or not I can soak up this info, so then maybe I can apply to be an electrical apprentice.

[@user-bp1sw1wh8e]

Good lesson!! have a nice day!

[@kacarnahanabmm213]

Dude you’re fucking awesome. I do HVAC/R work so we dabble a bit in electrical, and you’ve taught me more about electrical the last week I’ve been watching you than I have the last three years combined.

[@ElectricianU]

Dude, thank you for watching! I'm glad you get value from all this stuff!

[@jet5632]

Thank you for being passionate about this my guy!

[@irishblue2831]

Great Video!⚡️ Can you do a video on Series & Parallel ?

[@ecospider5]

That’s a really great idea. Hopefully he does that.

[@ElectricianU]

Series and Parallel what? There's a lot of things that would fit into that so what specifically would you like to know about? Like resistance in parallel vs series, arcing-faults series vs parallel, or just in general how series circuits differ from parallel? There's an ocean here lol

[@phukworld1360]

U remind me of Ivan moody from five finger death punch a little mixed with a science teacher which is cool, but I just comprehended where the pushing of voltage comes from and man that is cathartic after this couple years of studying, thank u brother.

[@BipolArteMusic]

Thanks! you explain better than my college professors! =)

[@GS-lh2nx]

That was a great video. I have been told that if you break the neutral instead of the hot you can destroy a lot of motors and other electronic devices. What's going on there? I realize current can't flow so it won't work but why does breaking a neutral cause damage when breaking a hot just switches it off?

[@suncoastflausa]

As always, tremendous job. This is the best channel on utube.

[@ElectricianU]

Wow, thank you!

[@Dareios074]

It’s actually very simple. Electricity wants to flow back to the source and we are manipulating it by redirecting it and putting obstacles in its way

[@T0PSTER63]

Very informative and simply explained, brilliant 👏👏👏

[@fixingahole2]

great explanation, thank you

[@drakezen]

Now it all make sense!

[@carlosfrancofeliciano6160]

Holly cow !! What a great video !!

[@PoPax186]

Great informational video thanks

[@chriswftdj]

Great video, thanks for not being boring 👍

[@brianbaigis]

How about a video on the advantages/ disadvantages, if any, on wiring a dual voltage motor to 120V or 240V? Been trying to find some answers but its been difficult, I can definitely tell that my radial arm saw seems to spin up faster on 240V... Thanks

[@khamtp42]

that's very good explain i leaning a lot from your channel love it good job

[@anoopsandhu8710]

Very fantastic Mr bombastic

[@Gasssan]

this explanation is Real Nasss Like 👏

[@ElectricianU]

Glad ye likezt it fren

[@bxgaucho4762]

Great inflow!

[@isaacibarra3990]

Thanks brother gonna be coming back.

[@daktusdurggery5505]

Can you explain designing residential circuits? How to set those up?

[@matiasbeccaglia8786]

Learnt something thank you!

[@newjerseefemale]

this is the perfect video at the right time 💪

[@Paul-jp8zz]

You're an excellent teacher!

[@vince6829]

Nice explanation. Thanks for sharing.

[@andypontiflet4828]

Hi, you're an excellent teacher !! Perfecting presentation for clarity 👌 thanks for sharing your blessings from God.

[@4dayweekend879]

awesome explanation

[@carlossaenz4075]

When you go to the shopping center that has a refrigeration unit with all currents and lights on . Refrigeration unit starts and stops. light, do not flicker or dim. Yet on ur house it does happen. Lets say everthing in ur house wiring is great ,breakers . This is a 200 amp main breaker. The other breakers are 20 amp the total amp draw is less than 70% of the 200 amp main breaker. And ur ac draws 40 amp on LRA. But when ur ac start lights flicker or dim thru out ur house. What could be the reson for it. What is the difference betwin the shopping store and ur home

[@gabrielM1111]

Hes good. Entire video in 1 take

[@howto5870]

Love the baby step learning and imagination

[@jrpewmacq737]

Thank you, this should help on my science test ☺️

[@Fly_The_Sky]

Your knowledge is top notch. But your teaching ability is still in training. I am a IFR pilot, but don't have my rating to teach IFR yet.

[@benjamincamping8134]

Are those edited in pencil stroke sound effects im hearing? Dang....really going the extra mile on production. I like it a lot.

[@williammoore4101]

Would a clip-on ammeter work differently with direct current, if there isn't a back-and-forth like there is in AC? Great video, thanks, Dustin!

[@ecospider5]

Yes an AC clamp meter is much easier to make so only the more expensive ones above $50 will Also read DC current.

[@sharpen-up]

Excellent!

[@carlosrodriges9401]

Loving your videos man please keep teaching you do great !!!

[@JMugarura]

Thank you,great stuff i love it

[@GregWarner1]

Super helpful to an electrical noob. Thanks!

[@mikeburrello4396]

Im still learning, however, could voltage be described as the amount of energy present between 2 points on a circuit rather than described as pressure?

[@JohnWinquist]

This is good for a beginner explanation of electricity, but at 8:48 he's wrong about resistance slowing electricity. Resistance limits current but does nothing to the speed of the current that passes. It would have also been worth mentioning that wattage is just Volts X Amps.

[@M82Predator]

Dustin, long time fan here, just wondering, when were you an apprentice? What was that like for you. Did you go through a traditional indentured apprenticeship Union or ABC? I am in southern Wisconsin, I remember hearing you were in Wisc for a long while, and now Texas.