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Electrical & Electronics Engineering vocabulary · Circuits and Components

Open circuit

Meaning in electrical & electronics engineering, with examples

nounCore term

In electrical & electronics engineering, open circuit means: A circuit with a break in its path, so no current can flow. It can be intentional, like an open switch, or a fault, like a broken wire or a cracked solder joint.

In Turkish: açık devre, kopukluk

How it is used

Used in testing and fault-finding. A multimeter shows an open circuit as 'OL' or infinite resistance, and technicians simply say 'it's open'. Open-circuit voltage is the voltage of a source with no load connected.

Example sentences

  1. The heating element shows an open circuit, so it has to be replaced.

  2. On a sunny day the panel's open circuit voltage is about 45 V.

Common collocations

  • open circuit voltage
  • open circuit fault
  • test for an open circuit
  • read open
  • short circuitAn unwanted low-resistance connection between two points that should be kept apart, such as live and neutral. It causes a very large current that can damage equipment or start a fire.
  • continuityAn unbroken electrical path between two points. A continuity test checks whether current can flow from one point to another, for example along a wire or a PCB trace.
  • multimeterA handheld or bench instrument that measures voltage, current and resistance, and often continuity, capacitance and frequency as well. It is the most basic tool for electrical testing.
  • circuitA closed path through which electric current can flow, made of a source, conductors and components. In building wiring it also means one branch protected by its own breaker.

More terms: Circuits and Components

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