ok, so an open circuit has no load device on it?
Right; no current flows.
I thought a short circuit was where a device, say, a toaster, was not getting any current? That sounds like the opposite of "maximum current available from a source is flowing" - wouldn't it?
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Isn't a short circuit when, say, a wire between the fuse panel and, for example, a toaster - has a bare spot in the rubber, and the copper wire is touching something metal - short circuiting the electricity away from the toaster?
Yes, it's a path that causes current to flow in the wrong places and usually at values much higher than the design value.
So a closed circuit has a load device? and 'some current' would still be enough to run the device properly?
A circuit can be closed and still have abnormally high or abnormally low current.
- I never tested the resistance(ohms) of the valve...it sounds like i'd need to?
Yes.
- so if I test for DC mV with a 3ohm resistor attached to the t'pile generator (and assuming the t'pile also had 3ohms resistance) - then I'd measure 380mV DC ?