ECN Forum Forums Technical Discussion Electrical Theory and Applications I gotta Ask?

Steve,

Good call!!!
The main consideration would be that there's some opposite polarity involved, or difference in Potential, otherwise current would not flow.

Appy,

To amplify a bit on your message, the better way to word this would be Electrons [or total current flows] would be "pushed" through the connected load by the pressure of the voltage, not through the entire circuit.
EMF [voltage] is the pressure which moves charges through resistances.

Now I'll throw a real monkey wrench into everything

Why do Discharge Lamps [HID, Fluorescent, Neon] require a ballast??
To control the maximum current flowing in the lamp to a certain value.
Without the ballast, the lamp will draw as much current it can, before self destruction.

Here's the clincher - once the current starts to flow, the voltage at the lamp becomes real low - almost swings to negative voltage!!

How is this possible, when such a large amount of current is flowing across something that has no physical connection?? - there's no wire between the two ends of a Fluorescent lamp!!

This will make your head spin when you read about it!

BTW: Arc faults and lightning work this way also!!

Scott SET