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Origin of the terms "live" and "hot"

I'm curious as to how the term "live" came to refer to an energized
circuit. It is somewhat of a contradiction, as touching a live wire has
the potential of making someone dead! I can however, see how the term
expresses the idea that the circuit has a certain quality of "life" to
it. I've tried checking etymological sources but the most mentioned is
that the term came about around 1890, which would make sense.

Thanks! :)
 
C

colin

Jan 1, 1970
0
I'm curious as to how the term "live" came to refer to an energized
circuit. It is somewhat of a contradiction, as touching a live wire has
the potential of making someone dead! I can however, see how the term
expresses the idea that the circuit has a certain quality of "life" to
it. I've tried checking etymological sources but the most mentioned is
that the term came about around 1890, which would make sense.

Thanks! :)

I gues the opposite is when you 'kill' the power.

Colin =^.^=
 
D

Dmitri

Jan 1, 1970
0
I'm curious as to how the term "live" came to refer to an
energized
circuit. It is somewhat of a contradiction, as touching a live wire has
the potential of making someone dead! I can however, see how the term
expresses the idea that the circuit has a certain quality of
"life" to
it. I've tried checking etymological sources but the most mentioned is
that the term came about around 1890, which would make sense.

Well, I think it's got something to do with the early experiments with
electricity whereby a DEAD frog’s leg would move as if it was ALIVE when
shocked with electrical current. It would then be early 1800s you'd need
to look at if you want to find out when did the term come about.



--
Dmitri Abaimov, RCDD
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E

Eric R Snow

Jan 1, 1970
0
I'm curious as to how the term "live" came to refer to an energized
circuit. It is somewhat of a contradiction, as touching a live wire has
the potential of making someone dead! I can however, see how the term
expresses the idea that the circuit has a certain quality of "life" to
it. I've tried checking etymological sources but the most mentioned is
that the term came about around 1890, which would make sense.

Thanks! :)
Maybe because when you grab the Live wire you may flail around in a
lively manner. I imagine Hot comes from how hot something (like your
body) gets when connected to the Hot wire. I have heard electricians
say they were were all "Het up" when they touched the wrong wire.
ERS
 
M

Michael Black

Jan 1, 1970
0
Eric said:
Maybe because when you grab the Live wire you may flail around in a
lively manner. I imagine Hot comes from how hot something (like your
body) gets when connected to the Hot wire. I have heard electricians
say they were were all "Het up" when they touched the wrong wire.
ERS

When voltage is going through it, it can do something. It's live.

If there's no voltage, it can't do anything. It's dead.

Michael
 
L

Lord Garth

Jan 1, 1970
0
Michael Black said:
When voltage is going through it, it can do something. It's live.

If there's no voltage, it can't do anything. It's dead.

I always prevent my voltage from going through my circuits...
I find it easier to measure voltage when it is across a circuit.
 
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