GAP
G Scale Model Trains, 1:1 Sugar Cane Trains
A simple analogy for DC electricity is to think of Voltage as the water pressure at a tap, Current as the flow of water coming out of it, and a Resistor is a flow restrictor/pressure reducer.
Help needed to wire up a row of street lamps to my G scale layout
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A simple analogy for DC electricity is to think of Voltage as the water pressure at a tap, Current as the flow of water coming out of it, and a Resistor is a flow restrictor/pressure reducer.
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Greg Elmassian
Guest
The analogy is nice for giving a feel of what voltage and current is "like", but not enough to solve problems, you need some basics if you are to solve things yourself.
You need the concept of a "complete circuit"
You need to know what volts and amps represent
You need to know how to measure volts and amps
You need to know Ohms law (which ties volts, amps, resistance together, not to mention parallel and series circuits)
If you know these, and also understand that incandescent bulbs are rated in voltage, and LEDs are rated in current, you can do this task. (actually you can extend this to almost any electronic component)
If not, then you have to give all the parameters of the situation to someone who knows.
I have a friend who steadfastly refuses to take the time to learn, but has burned up hundreds of lamps, and still does not "get" series and parallel. He just hooks things up until the lights go on, and then calls me when they burn out the next day. I don't call him any more on my own. (after 10 years of this)
None of this is actually difficult, I taught physics and electronics in our junior colleges, which are not the top level of education. Anyone who actually wants to understand can. It's a matter of priorities.
Greg
You need the concept of a "complete circuit"
You need to know what volts and amps represent
You need to know how to measure volts and amps
You need to know Ohms law (which ties volts, amps, resistance together, not to mention parallel and series circuits)
If you know these, and also understand that incandescent bulbs are rated in voltage, and LEDs are rated in current, you can do this task. (actually you can extend this to almost any electronic component)
If not, then you have to give all the parameters of the situation to someone who knows.
I have a friend who steadfastly refuses to take the time to learn, but has burned up hundreds of lamps, and still does not "get" series and parallel. He just hooks things up until the lights go on, and then calls me when they burn out the next day. I don't call him any more on my own. (after 10 years of this)
None of this is actually difficult, I taught physics and electronics in our junior colleges, which are not the top level of education. Anyone who actually wants to understand can. It's a matter of priorities.
Greg
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GAP
G Scale Model Trains, 1:1 Sugar Cane Trains
You can lead a horse to water but cannot make it drink best describes some people.
Greg Elmassian
Guest
Yep, I will help a couple of times, (do it for them) but if someone really wants it done for him over and over, then he should probably consider paying for the service if he steadfastly refuses to learn a bit.
Ask me to explain/teach a method, and I'm right there, and as long as there is incremental progress, no matter how slow, I'm game.
Greg
Ask me to explain/teach a method, and I'm right there, and as long as there is incremental progress, no matter how slow, I'm game.
Greg