As shown below, all automotive electrical circuits have one or more of the following components:
- Power Source - Battery, Alternator, Capacitor, etc.
- Circuit Protection - Fuse, fusible link, Circuit Breaker.
- Control Device - Switch, switched on the power side or the ground side of the circuit.
- A Current path - Wire
- Electrical Load - Relay, Solenoid, light bulb, motor, etc.
- Ground path - leading to the battery negative post.
