Electrical question about the direction of D/C current flow

[joshlee]

Now I understand CobyRupert. The illustrations were great examples and you explained it in a way I understand. Thanks man

 

[joshlee]

I guess your just smarter than I am DarkBlack.

 

[joshlee]

Thanks for your help bcp. Thats a great illustration.

 

[Soundguy]

Simple explanation:

Electron flow and conventional current flow - d.c. theory - (science -campus)

Bruce

yup.. electron current flows from neg to positive.

hole current / conventional current ( an entirely bs contraption by the way. ) flows like franklin thought it did.. positive to negative.

I'm an electron current guy myself.

 

[joshlee]

Electric is awesome stuff. Whats even more awesome is how these bodies don't have a generator, solar panel, wind mill, or anything else attached but yet we still receive electro magnetic impulse.

yup.. electron current flows from neg to positive.

hole current / conventional current ( an entirely bs contraption by the way. ) flows like franklin thought it did.. positive to negative.

I'm an electron current guy myself.

 

[Topher265]

Like this? Any reason one is better than the other?

View attachment 385248

There is no reason one is better than the other. In a series circuit, current flow is the same everywhere in the circuit. So, regardless of where you put the switch it is handling the same current.

Electric is awesome stuff. Whats even more awesome is how these bodies don't have a generator, solar panel, wind mill, or anything else attached but yet we still receive electro magnetic impulse.

Huh? What "bodies"? Do you mean our human bodies? Because if that's what you mean we do have the ability to generate electricity...it's how our nervous system works.

 

[joshlee]

Yeah, our bodies do. Its a very complicated concept to understand how that exactly happens. Its all a divine design humans can not take credit for.



Huh? What "bodies"? Do you mean our human bodies? Because if that's what you mean we do have the ability to generate electricity...it's how our nervous system works.[/QUOTE]

 

[skyhook]

Think of it as, a pipe holding a bunch of ping-pong balls,
the balls are electrons and flow from negative to positive. ( or so they say).
As one ball moves towards the positive, it leaves a "hole" for the next ball.
Then another ball takes it's place, so if you were to actually "see" this happening,,
the balls would appear to be moving "towards" the positive, and the "holes" would appear to be moving towards the "negative".
Hence, "hole" flow is towards negative and "electron" flow is towards positive.
By the way, this happens on the "surface" of the wire, not internally.

 

[CobyRupert]

Like this? Any reason one is better than the other? <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/parts-repairs/385248-electrical-question-about-direction-d-switchedbeforeafter-jpg"/>

Yes, there's a big reason why one is better than the other. When you put the switch after/downstream of the load, how do you turn off the device if any of the wiring between the load and switch shorts to ground and has an alternative path that bypasses the switch to the negative terminal ? Not being able to turn off device can be dangerous

 

[Topher265]

Yes, there's a big reason why one is better than the other. When you put the switch after/downstream of the load, how do you turn off the device if any of the wiring between the load and switch shorts to ground and has an alternative path that bypasses the switch to the negative terminal ? Not being able to turn off device can be dangerous

I get what you're saying, but then the converse must also be true. If the switch is on the power side, how do you turn off the load if it shorts to power after the switch? It's the same issue as having the switch on the ground side and the circuit shorting to ground. Regardless of where the switch is, if it is bypassed the circuit will unintentionally run.

There's no actual benefit one way or the other. It's just a psychological comfort, based on what one is used to.