Glossary

Australian electrical terms used across calculators, tables, charts and learning articles.

42 terms
Australian English

Terms by topic

Open the definition that matches the conductor, supply or protection term.

Active, neutral and earthing2026-07-12 · TermActive conductorAn active is an energised conductor in an Australian low-voltage a.c. circuit record, distinct from neutral and protective earth.
Active, neutral and earthing2026-07-13 · TermNeutral conductorNeutral is the return conductor term used in many Australian low-voltage a.c. circuit records, distinct from active and protective earth.
Active, neutral and earthing2026-07-13 · TermEarthEarth is the Australian electrical record term for protective earthing context, distinct from active and neutral.
Active, neutral and earthing2026-07-13 · TermProtective earthProtective earth is the earthing path term used in Australian records for protective earthing context, distinct from active and neutral.
Active, neutral and earthing2026-07-13 · TermProtective conductorProtective conductor is a conductor term used in Australian records for the protective earthing function, separate from active and neutral conductors.
Active, neutral and earthing2026-07-13 · TermEarthing conductorEarthing conductor is an Australian record term for a conductor associated with earthing context, distinct from active and neutral.
Active, neutral and earthing2026-07-13 · TermMEN systemMEN system means multiple earthed neutral, a core Australian earthing context term used beside neutral and protective earth records.
Supply and switchboards2026-07-13 · TermSingle-phaseSingle-phase describes an Australian a.c. record using one phase arrangement, commonly tied to 230 V phase-to-neutral context.
Supply and switchboards2026-07-13 · TermThree-phaseThree-phase describes an Australian a.c. record using three phase or line conductors, commonly tied to 400 V line-to-line context.
Supply and switchboards2026-07-13 · TermConsumer mainsConsumer mains names a supply cable section in Australian records and must be kept distinct from submain and final circuit wording.
Supply and switchboards2026-07-13 · TermSubmainSubmain names a cable route feeding another board or section in Australian records, distinct from consumer mains and final circuit wording.
Supply and switchboards2026-07-13 · TermSwitchboardSwitchboard is the Australian record term for a board where electrical circuits, protection or control equipment are organised.
Supply and switchboards2026-07-13 · TermMain switchboardMain switchboard is the board term used for the principal switchboard context in an Australian electrical record.
Supply and switchboards2026-07-13 · TermDistribution boardDistribution board is a board term used in Australian records for a downstream board or distribution point, distinct from main switchboard context.
Power and load2026-07-13 · TermVoltage dropVoltage drop is the reduction in voltage along a cable run, recorded in AUWiring as volts and percent from entered project values.
Power and load2026-07-13 · TermMaximum demandMaximum demand is a load-planning value or worksheet result used in Australian switchboard and supply records.
Power and load2026-07-13 · TermLoad scheduleA load schedule is a structured Australian switchboard record listing loads, units, phase context and assumptions.
Power and load2026-07-13 · TermPower factorPower factor describes the relationship between real power and apparent power in an a.c. load record.
Power and load2026-07-13 · TermkWkW means kilowatt, a real power unit used in Australian load, power and energy records.
Power and load2026-07-13 · TermkVAkVA means kilovolt-ampere, an apparent power unit used in Australian load, transformer and generator records.
Power and load2026-07-13 · TermkVArkVAr means kilovolt-ampere reactive, a reactive power unit used in power factor and correction records.
Power and load2026-07-13 · TermkWhkWh means kilowatt-hour, an energy unit used in Australian usage, tariff and running-cost records.
Protection and testing2026-07-13 · TermProspective short-circuit currentProspective short-circuit current is the fault current that could flow at a point under short-circuit conditions, based on the entered or supplied fault context.
Protection and testing2026-07-13 · TermFault loop impedanceFault loop impedance is the impedance of the fault path used in Australian protection review and entered-value fault-current calculations.
Protection and testing2026-07-13 · TermBreaking capacityBreaking capacity is a protective-device rating context related to the device's ability to interrupt fault current.
Protection and testing2026-07-13 · TermI2tI2t is a fault-current-over-time value used in cable withstand and protective-device energy records.
Protection and testing2026-07-13 · TermRCDRCD means residual current device, a protective-device term used in Australian testing and safety-switch records.
Protection and testing2026-07-13 · TermRCBORCBO is a protective-device term used in Australian records for a device combining residual-current and overcurrent protection functions.
Protection and testing2026-07-13 · TermMCBMCB means miniature circuit breaker, a protective-device term used in Australian circuit and protection records.
Protection and testing2026-07-13 · TermMCCBMCCB means moulded case circuit breaker, a protective-device term used in Australian switchboard and protection records.
Protection and testing2026-07-13 · TermFuseFuse is a protective-device term used in Australian records for a device that opens a circuit under overcurrent or fault conditions according to its product data.
Protection and testing2026-07-13 · TermSafety switchSafety switch is common Australian public wording often used near RCD and RCBO protection records.
Cables and equipment context2026-07-13 · TermTPS cableTPS cable is a common Australian cable term used as a record label for cable type, not as a rating by itself.
Cables and equipment context2026-07-13 · TermCable deratingCable derating is the review of cable current-carrying capacity context when installation conditions affect the usable value.
Cables and equipment context2026-07-13 · TermCopper conductorCopper conductor is a conductor material term used in Australian cable records and cable calculation inputs.
Cables and equipment context2026-07-13 · TermAluminium conductorAluminium conductor is a conductor material term used in Australian cable records and cable calculation inputs.
Cables and equipment context2026-07-13 · TermIP ratingIP rating is an ingress protection code used in Australian equipment records to describe protection against solids and water.
Energy systems and power quality2026-07-13 · TermDNSPDNSP means distribution network service provider, the network context term used in Australian connection records.
Energy systems and power quality2026-07-13 · TermInverter energy systemInverter energy system is a term used around solar, battery or hybrid inverter equipment in Australian connection records.
Energy systems and power quality2026-07-13 · TermPV stringPV string is a series group of PV modules recorded for voltage, module and equipment-limit review.
Energy systems and power quality2026-07-13 · TermVoltage unbalanceVoltage unbalance describes how far measured three-phase voltages differ from their average or expected relationship.
Energy systems and power quality2026-07-13 · TermHarmonic THDHarmonic THD means total harmonic distortion, a power-quality measurement value calculated from a fundamental and harmonic magnitudes.

Calculation tools, structured tables, charts and guides for Australian electrical work using local terms, metric conductor sizes and 230/400 V, 50 Hz context.

Tools

Calculators
Tables
Charts
Guides
Learn
Glossary

Site

Support
Contact
Safety disclaimer
About

Editorial policy Privacy Terms Sitemap