If a Light Fixture Burns Up Will it Cause the Rest of the Lights on That Circuit to Not Work?

Electrical Circuits

• An electrical circuit has three basic components: the power source, a conductor and a switch. In most homes, the power source is a battery or an alternating current (AC) outlet. The conductor is typically insulated copper wire. The switch opens or closes the circuit to allow or prevent electricity from flowing through the conductor.

Appliances or Resistors

• An appliance, sometimes referred to as a resistor, is any object designed to draw and use electrical power. Appliances are directly connected to the conductor or indirectly connected by an electrical outlet and plug. Common examples of household appliances are electrical lights, toasters, washing machines, flashlights, hair dryers and computers.

Series Circuit

• Series circuits are most commonly used in the home to connect batteries for portable appliances. When connected in series, the voltage of the circuit is equal to the sum of the voltages of the connected batteries. To keep the circuit closed so electrical current continues to flow, the current must flow through all resistors or appliances in the circuit. If one appliance fails, current to the entire circuit is interrupted.

Parallel Circuit

• Homes are wired in parallel for two main reasons. First, you can turn off one appliance and current will continue to flow through the remaining appliances on the circuit. This is because collateral or parallel wiring routs the current around the appliance that has been turned off or fails. Parallel circuits also limit the rate of electrical flow (amperage) through the circuit. Fuses or breakers, installed in the circuit, open the circuit to turn off the electricity before amperage is high enough to heat the conductor, causing a house fire.