Mike PleziaInside service technician, Clark Associates · Commercial Equipment, HVAC, and Refrigeration professional

Ohm's Law: The Rule Behind Every Circuit

21 Sept 2026 · 2 min

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1:32

In this instructional monologue, the speaker introduces Ohm's Law as a fundamental rule for anyone working in the electrical trades. The law is presented as V = I × R, with clear definitions of voltage (electrical push), current (amps of flow), and resistance (anything that impedes flow, such as wires, motor windings, or loose connections). The speaker then explains practical consequences: lowering resistance while voltage stays constant raises current (causing high amps in a short circuit), and increasing resistance at a loose terminal leads to heating and voltage drop, reducing voltage at the load. For troubleshooting, the speaker advises checking supply voltage, comparing motor amp draw to the nameplate rating, and looking for extra load or faults, emphasizing that Ohm's Law provides a systematic way to interpret measurements. The tone is conversational and instructional, aimed at empowering new tradespeople to diagnose electrical issues confidently.

Chapters

Hey, are you new to the trades? Here's something you may not know about Ohm's Law. Ohm's Law is the simple rule that helps you understand what electricity is doing instead of just guessing. It says voltage equals current times resistance. V equals I times R. Voltage is the electrical push. Current is the amount of electricity moving. Measured in amps. Resistance is anything that slows that movement down, like a wire, a motor winding, or even a loose connection. Voltage pushes, resistance limits. Here is the practical part. If the voltage stays the same and resistance goes down, current goes up. That is why a short, which is an unwanted low-resistance path, can create very high amps. If resistance goes up at a loose terminal, the connection can heat up and cause a voltage drop. A voltage drop means less voltage makes it to the load. When a motor is drawing more amps than expected, do not guess. Check the supply voltage, compare the amp draw to the nameplate, and look for a problem creating extra load or an electrical fault. Ohm's Law gives you a way to connect those readings. One law, every circuit. Now that you know, you can help someone else know.