Glossary – 89 German terms
🌐 Machine-translated page. The German version is authoritative.
The terms are grouped by topic. The German technical term stays in every language, because vocational school, company and exam are in German. Once you know the term, you will recognise it on every page of this site.
Profession and training
| German term | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Ausbildung | Dual vocational training: company + vocational school, 3½ years for the Elektroniker (ElekAusbV 2021). |
| Azubi / Auszubildende(r) | A person in vocational training; always works under the supervision of an Elektrofachkraft (qualified electrician). |
| Berufsschule | The school-based part of the dual training system, taught according to learning fields (KMK framework curriculum). |
| Lernfeld | A teaching unit at the Berufsschule (vocational school), oriented around a typical customer order; 13 learning fields, 1 020 hours. |
| Gesellenprüfung (gestreckt) | Final trade examination in two parts: Part 1 in the 4th half-year of training (30 %), Part 2 at the end (70 %). |
| Gesellenbrief | Certificate of having passed the journeyman examination; proof of qualification as an Elektroniker (electrician). |
| Kundenauftrag | The most important examination area in Part 2 (36 %): a 16-hour practical work task with a technical discussion. |
| Handwerkskammer (HWK) | The competent body for training contracts, examinations and the master craftsman examination in the skilled trades. |
| Meister/-in | The highest qualification in the skilled trades (§ 45 HwO), required to run your own electrical business; DQR level 6. |
| Elektrofachkraft (EFK) | A person with electrical training, experience and knowledge of standards who is permitted to work independently on electrical installations (DGUV V3). |
| Elektrotechnisch unterwiesene Person (EuP) | A person instructed by an Elektrofachkraft (qualified electrician) for specific tasks; may only work under direction and supervision. |
| Netzbetreiber | The operator of the power grid; installs the Zähler (meter), seals it and maintains the Installateurverzeichnis (installer directory). |
| Installateurverzeichnis | A list kept by the Netzbetreiber (grid operator) of the companies allowed to work on the Hausanschluss (service connection) and meter position (§ 13 NAV). |
| Ausbildungsvergütung | Monthly pay during training; statutory minimum for 2026: €724 in the 1st year, collective-agreement rates are usually much higher. |
Basics
| German term | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Spannung (U) | Electrical "pressure" between two points, unit volt (V). Domestic grid: 230 V / 400 V. |
| Strom / Stromstärke (I) | Amount of charge per second flowing through a conductor, unit ampere (A). |
| Widerstand (R) | A measure of how strongly a component or conductor limits the current, unit ohm (Ω). |
| Leistung (P) | Work per second, P = U · I, unit watt (W). |
| Energie / Arbeit (W) | Power times time, unit kilowatt-hour (kWh) – what the Zähler (meter) counts. |
| Ohmsches Gesetz | U = R · I – the relationship between voltage, resistance and current. |
| Wechselstrom / Wechselspannung | Current that periodically changes direction; in Europe 50 Hz, 230 V between the Außenleiter (line conductor) and the neutral conductor. |
| Drehstrom | Three alternating voltages offset by 120° (L1, L2, L3); 400 V between two Außenleiter (line conductors). |
| Außenleiter (L1, L2, L3) | Live conductor ("phase"); colours brown, black, grey. |
| Neutralleiter (N) | Return conductor, connected to the star point; colour blue. |
| Schutzleiter (PE) | Conductor for protection against electric shock, carries no current in normal operation; colour green-yellow. |
| PEN-Leiter | Combined protective and neutral conductor in TN-C systems, up to the Hausanschluss (service connection); it is split on the Haupterdungsschiene (main earthing busbar). |
| Leiterfarben | Core identification according to DIN VDE 0293-308: L1 brown, L2 black, L3 grey, N blue, PE green-yellow. |
| Netzform (TN, TT, IT) | The type of earthing of the grid and the equipment; in German residential buildings usually TN-C-S. |
| Erdung | Conductive connection to the earth, e.g. via the Fundamenterder (foundation earth electrode). |
| Fundamenterder | Strip steel or round steel in the concrete foundation used as an earth electrode; mandatory in new buildings. |
| Haupterdungsschiene (HES) | The central earthing busbar in the service connection room; here the earth electrode, PE, PEN splitting and equipotential bonding are connected. |
| Potentialausgleich | Connection of all conductive parts (pipes, heating, steel) to the HES (main earthing busbar) so that no dangerous voltages can occur. |
| Querschnitt | Conductor cross-sectional area in mm²; determines current-carrying capacity and voltage drop (1.5 / 2.5 / 10 / 16 mm²). |
| Spannungsfall | Voltage loss along the cable due to its resistance; according to DIN 18015 it must generally not exceed 3 %. |
| Isolationswiderstand | Resistance of the insulation against PE, measured with 500 V DC; at least 1 MΩ. |
| Fehlerstrom | Current that flows to earth via an unintended path (enclosure, person); the RCD detects it. |
| Kurzschluss | A direct connection between conductors of different voltage; very high current, the LS-Schalter (miniature circuit breaker) trips immediately. |
| Überlast | A persistently excessive current caused by too many loads; the cable heats up and the LS-Schalter (miniature circuit breaker) trips with a time delay. |
| Schutzklasse (I, II, III) | Classification of appliances by protection against electric shock: Class I with PE, Class II double-insulated, Class III low voltage. |
| Schutzart (IP) | Protection of an enclosure against foreign objects and water, e.g. IP44 (protected against splashing water). |
Protective devices
| German term | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Leitungsschutzschalter (LS-Schalter) | "Circuit-breaker fuse"; protects the cable against overload and short circuit, e.g. B16. |
| Auslösecharakteristik (B, C, D) | Range of the magnetic trip unit of an LS-Schalter (miniature circuit breaker): B 3–5×, C 5–10×, D 10–20× rated current. |
| Nennstrom | The current a protective device may carry continuously, e.g. 16 A. |
| RCD / FI-Schutzschalter | Residual current protective device; trips on differential current, personal protection at IΔn = 30 mA. |
| Bemessungsdifferenzstrom (IΔn) | The fault current at which an RCD trips at the latest; 30 mA for personal protection, 300 mA for fire protection. |
| RCD-Typ (A, F, B) | The type of fault currents detected: A standard household, F frequency converters, B smooth DC fault currents (wallbox, PV). |
| RCBO | A combination of RCD and LS-Schalter (miniature circuit breaker) for a single circuit. |
| Schmelzsicherung | A fuse with a melting wire (Neozed, NH); must be replaced after tripping. |
| SLS-Schalter | Selective main-line circuit breaker in front of the Zähler (meter); acts as upstream protection and isolation point of the customer installation. |
| Selektivität | Only the protective device closest to the fault trips, not the upstream fuse. |
| Überspannungsschutz (SPD) | Surge arrester against voltage spikes caused by lightning or switching operations; Type 1, 2, 3; mandatory in new buildings. |
| Prüftaste (T) | A button on the RCD that simulates a fault current; press it monthly. |
Installation and components
| German term | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Hausanschlusskasten (HAK) | The transfer point from the grid into the building with NH fuses; property of the Netzbetreiber (grid operator), sealed. |
| Hauptleitung | The unmetered cable from the HAK to the meter cabinet, e.g. 5×16 mm². |
| Zählerplatz / Zählerschrank | The location of the measurement according to VDE-AR-N 4100: busbar, SLS, meter field, distribution field, APZ. |
| Zähler (eHZ) | Electronic household meter; installed and sealed by the metering point operator. |
| APZ | Lockable space for additional applications in the meter cabinet (smart meter gateway, control box). |
| Unterverteilung / Stromkreisverteiler | The "fuse box" of the apartment: main switch, SPD, RCDs, LS-Schalter (miniature circuit breakers), terminals. |
| Zuleitung | The cable from the meter cabinet to the sub-distribution board, e.g. NYM-J 5×10 mm². |
| Endstromkreis | A circuit from the LS-Schalter (miniature circuit breaker) to the loads (sockets, lighting, cooker). |
| Hauptschalter | Switches off the entire distribution board on all poles; the first step when isolating the installation. |
| Hutschiene | 35-mm mounting rail for DIN-rail mounted devices; 1 module (TE) = 18 mm. |
| Reiheneinbaugerät | A device for the Hutschiene (DIN rail): MCB, RCD, relay, timer. |
| Kammschiene / Phasenschiene | A plug-in busbar that connects several LS-Schalter (miniature circuit breakers) to the RCD. |
| Reihenklemme | A terminal on the Hutschiene (DIN rail) for N and PE conductors; N-splitting terminals per RCD group. |
| Aderendhülse | A metal ferrule on fine-stranded conductors for secure terminal connection. |
| NYM-J | Sheathed cable for fixed installation in dry and damp rooms; J = with green-yellow protective conductor. |
| Verteilerdose / Abzweigdose | A box in which cables are distributed using connector terminals. |
| Steckdose (Schuko) | Socket outlet with protective contact (L, N and PE); in apartments behind a 30 mA RCD and LS B16. |
Circuits
| German term | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Ausschaltung | Switching a light from one location; the Außenleiter (line conductor) is always the switched conductor. |
| Wechselschaltung | Switching a light from two locations; two two-way switches and two corresponding conductors. |
| Kreuzschaltung | Switching a light from three or more locations; an intermediate switch between two two-way switches. |
| Korrespondierende Leiter | The two conductors between two two-way switches (black, grey). |
| Geschalteter Leiter | The conductor from the switch to the light that carries voltage only when "on" (black). |
| Stromlaufplan | A circuit diagram in resolved (single-line) representation showing the functional relationship. |
| Installationsplan | A floor plan showing the positions of boxes, switches, lights and cables. |
Safety, testing, standards
| German term | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Fünf Sicherheitsregeln | Isolate · secure against re-energisation · verify absence of voltage · earth and short-circuit · cover adjacent parts (DIN VDE 0105-100). |
| Freischalten | Switching off the part of the installation on all poles before working on it – the first safety rule. |
| Spannungsfreiheit feststellen | Check all conductors with a two-pole voltage tester; test the tester before and afterwards. |
| Zweipoliger Spannungsprüfer | The only permitted device for verifying absence of voltage (DIN EN 61243-3). |
| Erstprüfung | Testing of every new installation before commissioning according to DIN VDE 0100-600: inspect, test, measure, record. |
| Prüfprotokoll | A document with all measured values, date and signature; part of the handover of the installation. |
| Schleifenimpedanz | The impedance of the fault loop; determines whether the LS-Schalter (miniature circuit breaker) trips safely in the event of a short circuit. |
| Drehfeld | The sequence of the line conductors L1–L2–L3; a clockwise (positive-sequence) field must be present at the Zähler (meter) and the cooker. |
| DGUV Vorschrift 3 | Accident prevention regulation "Electrical installations and equipment"; governs who may work on and test them. |
| § 13 NAV | Low-voltage connection ordinance: work behind the Hausanschluss (service connection) may only be carried out by registered installation companies. |
| VDE-AR-N 4100 | Technical connection rule for low voltage: design of the Hausanschluss (service connection) and meter position. |
| DIN 18015 | Standard for electrical installations in residential buildings: planning and minimum equipment (sockets, circuits). |
| DIN VDE 0100 | Series of standards "Erection of low-voltage installations"; Part 410 protection against electric shock, Part 600 testing. |