Posted by POW on October 19, 1999 at 09:54:12:
In Reply to: Basic dumb electrical question... posted by Ethan on October 19, 1999 at 03:54:43:
Hi Ethan,
The concept of electricty is usually overlooked in schooling, and most often in auto mechanics. You have posed a good question. Think of it as the flow of water in an artificial pond. The pump is a battery, the uphill path the lights or some other accessory, and the Pipes as the wires. Current (or water) will flow as long as there is a pressure difference and something to pump. Stop supplying the energy or run it out of things to do, the flow stops. The direction of flow in an automotive electrical has little to do with polarity, or which side is ground. The important thing to remember is all devices in the system have to be hooked the same way. In the average PW, the only things caring about polarity are the battery, generator, and some magnetic gages (ammeter, for one). A radio, if you have it, too. The various electrical motors like fans and starters are usually shunt-wound, so they will turn the same direction regardless of polarity. DG