How Important Is Ohm's Law In The Real World

 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 12-20-2007, 09:56 AM   #1
Registered User
 
pennco tech's Avatar
 
Trade: electrician
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 4

How Important Is Ohm's Law In The Real World


i was wondering is ohm's law important when working or is it just another school formality.

pennco tech is offline  
Warning: The topics covered on this site include activities in which there exists the potential for serious injury or death. ContractorTalk.com DOES NOT guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information contained on this site. Always use proper safety precaution and reference reliable outside sources before attempting any construction or remodeling task!

Old 12-20-2007, 10:00 AM   #2
New Guy
 
Banned For Life's Avatar
 
Trade: Super Electrician
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 13

Re: How Important Is Ohm's Law In The Real World


Quote:
Originally Posted by pennco tech View Post
i was wondering is ohm's law important when working or is it just another school formality.
You'll use it often to calculate wire size and loads. It's very common to add up connected loads in Watts and convert to amps at various voltages for panel and breaker sizing.
Banned For Life is offline  
Old 12-20-2007, 12:24 PM   #3
Registered User
 
pennco tech's Avatar
 
Trade: electrician
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 4

Re: How Important Is Ohm's Law In The Real World


thanx for your help
pennco tech is offline  
Old 12-20-2007, 05:45 PM   #4
Professional Remodeler
 
firemike's Avatar
 
Trade: Remodeling Contractor
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Southeast Michigan
Posts: 2,289

Re: How Important Is Ohm's Law In The Real World


If your going to do electrical work, that is one law that you probably will use often. Learn it - Know It
__________________
-Mike-
Falcon Contracting
Residential - Commercial
firemike is offline  
Old 12-20-2007, 06:41 PM   #5
Electrician
 
jrclen's Avatar
 
Trade: Electrical Contractor
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Central Wisconsin
Posts: 265

Re: How Important Is Ohm's Law In The Real World


Quote:
Originally Posted by pennco tech View Post
i was wondering is ohm's law important when working or is it just another school formality.
Extremely important. Used often.
jrclen is offline  
Old 12-20-2007, 09:24 PM   #6
Service & Repairs
 
Magnettica's Avatar
 
Trade: Electrician
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Rahway, New Jersey
Posts: 3,998

Re: How Important Is Ohm's Law In The Real World


Suppose you had to install a 10 horsepower 1ø motor for an exhaust fan and it was a 100' away from a power source. Would you A) operate the motor at 115 volts (100 amps), or B) operate the motor at 230 volts (50 amps)? The wattage would be the same for both applications.

In the first example you'll need to run #3 copper, the second, #8 copper.

One cost twice as much (or close to it) than the other one does.

Ultimately, this is an example of Ohm's law and why it'll be very important to know it later on.

Good luck!
Magnettica is offline  
Old 12-20-2007, 09:28 PM   #7
DGR,IABD
 
mdshunk's Avatar
 
Trade: Electrical; Commercial and Residential Service
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Central PA
Posts: 9,680

Re: How Important Is Ohm's Law In The Real World


Quote:
Originally Posted by pennco tech View Post
i was wondering is ohm's law important when working or is it just another school formality.
It's far from a formality. It's the basic set of formulas that all electrical work is based on. It will become second-nature to you in time.
mdshunk is offline  
Old 12-20-2007, 09:46 PM   #8
Service & Repairs
 
Magnettica's Avatar
 
Trade: Electrician
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Rahway, New Jersey
Posts: 3,998

Re: How Important Is Ohm's Law In The Real World


R stands for resistance measured in ohms
I stands for current measured in amperes
E stands for voltage measured in volts
P stands for power measured in watts

Magnettica is offline  
Old 12-20-2007, 09:48 PM   #9
Celtic's #1 Fan
 
mahlere's Avatar
 
Trade: electrical
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,581

Re: How Important Is Ohm's Law In The Real World


ahh...it's useless these days..don't worry about it...
mahlere is offline  
Old 12-20-2007, 10:43 PM   #10
Pro
 
goose134's Avatar
 
Trade: Union Electrician
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Chicago
Posts: 135

Re: How Important Is Ohm's Law In The Real World


Right, that is why the American Federation of Scientific Researchers voted overwhelmingly to rename it Ohm's suggestion.
goose134 is offline  
Old 12-21-2007, 05:53 AM   #11
Pro
 
joasis's Avatar
 
Trade: General Contractor
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Hennessey, Oklahoma
Posts: 6,052

Re: How Important Is Ohm's Law In The Real World


Quote:
Originally Posted by Magnettica View Post
R stands for resistance measured in ohms
I stands for current measured in amperes
E stands for voltage measured in volts
P stands for power measured in watts

Nice chart, all I learned in tech school was P/IxE and E/IxR.
__________________
Ladwig Construction
Hennessey, Oklahoma
405 853 1563

Ladwig Insulation & Construction Services
Serving Oklahoma Statewide
joasis is offline  
Old 12-21-2007, 06:56 AM   #12
Celtic's #1 Fan
 
mahlere's Avatar
 
Trade: electrical
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,581

Re: How Important Is Ohm's Law In The Real World


Quote:
Originally Posted by goose134 View Post
Right, that is why the American Federation of Scientific Researchers voted overwhelmingly to rename it Ohm's suggestion.
that was my idea
mahlere is offline  
Old 12-21-2007, 11:18 PM   #13
Pro
 
macmikeman's Avatar
 
Trade: Master Electrican, Electrical Contractor
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 348

Re: How Important Is Ohm's Law In The Real World


Quote:
Originally Posted by goose134 View Post
Right, that is why the American Federation of Scientific Researchers voted overwhelmingly to rename it Ohm's suggestion.
Ohms nudge and a wink eh? Nudge and a wink.
macmikeman is offline  
Old 12-23-2007, 08:35 PM   #14
New Guy
 
Canuck Sparky's Avatar
 
Trade: Electrical & General Contracting
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Ontario
Posts: 28

Re: How Important Is Ohm's Law In The Real World


Quote:
Originally Posted by pennco tech View Post
i was wondering is ohm's law important when working or is it just another school formality.
Are you really an electrician?
Canuck Sparky is offline  
Old 12-24-2007, 07:28 AM   #15
Baltimore Electrician
 
JohnJ0906's Avatar
 
Trade: Electrician
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 1,249

Re: How Important Is Ohm's Law In The Real World


It is so important, we wear it on our wrists....

http://www.technotetime.com/items/al...tance/list.htm


Actually, I don't wear mine at work, because it was a gift, and it's metal


Lots of neat stuff on that site.
__________________
John from Baltimore
"One Day at a Time"
All replies based on the 2008 NEC
Quote:
Originally Posted by celtic
Deny Everything, Admit Nothing, Demand Proof
JohnJ0906 is offline  
Old 04-06-2008, 04:17 PM   #16
Pro
 
Electric_Light's Avatar
 
Trade: student again
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: helicopter
Posts: 717

Re: How Important Is Ohm's Law In The Real World


Probably not so important for electrical wiring technician / electrician who just knows how to hook up wires based on reference manual without a knowledge of why.
Electric_Light is offline  
Old 04-06-2008, 06:57 PM   #17
Pro
 
joasis's Avatar
 
Trade: General Contractor
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Hennessey, Oklahoma
Posts: 6,052

Re: How Important Is Ohm's Law In The Real World


Quote:
Originally Posted by Electric_Light View Post
Probably not so important for electrical wiring technician / electrician who just knows how to hook up wires based on reference manual without a knowledge of why.
I am not an electrician, but I do believe anyone specializing in a trade should know the theory along with the practical....I trained a lot of aircraft mechanics who would be working on jet engines and we still taught the basics of thermal dynamics and ratios....so they would understand how a fuel control actually made an engine work...kind of like knowing the electron theory and current theory would be important to a true electrician.
__________________
Ladwig Construction
Hennessey, Oklahoma
405 853 1563

Ladwig Insulation & Construction Services
Serving Oklahoma Statewide
joasis is offline  
Old 04-06-2008, 07:02 PM   #18
Handle It!
 
MALCO.New.York's Avatar
 
Trade: Everything The Union Guys Do Not Want To Do
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Brooklyn, NY ~ Haverford, PA
Posts: 9,369

Re: How Important Is Ohm's Law In The Real World


Quote:
Originally Posted by macmikeman View Post
Ohms nudge and a wink eh? Nudge and a wink.
+ YouTube Video
ERROR: If you can see this, then YouTube is down or you don't have Flash installed.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVJOP1RdHC4
__________________
Something to One may be Nothing to another!

Ultimate Wisdom---------
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW-cnizLDEE

Last edited by MALCO.New.York; 04-06-2008 at 07:05 PM.
MALCO.New.York is offline  
Old 04-06-2008, 07:14 PM   #19
Pro
 
mickeyco's Avatar
 
Trade: Squirrel Handler
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Chicago
Posts: 3,432

Re: How Important Is Ohm's Law In The Real World


Quote:
Originally Posted by pennco tech View Post
how important is ohm's law in the real world

i was wondering is ohm's law important when working or is it just another school formality.
Extremely important get it tattooed on your body, preferably where you can see it.
Attached Thumbnails
how important is ohm's law in the real world-ohms_idiot.jpg  
__________________
Some people climb mountains. I take out the trash. But we both do it for the same reason.
mickeyco is offline  
Old 04-09-2008, 04:02 PM   #20
Pro
 
nap's Avatar
 
Trade: sparky
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SW Michigan
Posts: 591

Re: How Important Is Ohm's Law In The Real World


I though it would be a good idea for all apprentices to have it tattood on their foreheads in a mirror image so they can look in the mirror and be able to read it.

higher powers didn't accept my proposal.
nap is offline  


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Real Estate Investment Company (REIT)? kdub1777 General Discussion 6 07-11-2009 02:55 PM
Let me be the 1st to introduce the World Series to Colorado! Mike Finley Off Topic (Non Trade) 4 10-16-2007 03:57 PM
Window World Ed the Roofer Windows, Siding and Doors 15 08-14-2007 04:33 PM
Ever have to go back to real world? 2500hd General Discussion 10 07-17-2007 09:35 PM
What We Think Is Important, But Customers Do Not Ed the Roofer Business 16 04-22-2007 10:06 PM

Join Now... It's Fast and FREE!

Privacy Badge
I am a professional contractor
I am a DIY Homeowner
ContractorTalk.com is for
PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTORS ONLY!

At ContractorTalk.com we cater exlusivly to professional contractors who make their living as a contractor. Knowing that many homeowners and DIYers are looking for a community to call home, we've created www.DIYChatroom.com DIY Chatroom is full of helpful advices and perfect for DIY homeowners.

Redirecing in 10 seconds
No Thanks
terms of service

Already Have an Account?