Gene Selkov Jul 12, 2010:

apply to point Since I can't imagine what doing that will entail, I will agree with Farida. It is the least specific of all variants suggested, it does not commit you to anything, and no one will laugh at you.

Farida Vyachkileva Jul 12, 2010:

In most manuals it is written normally: Apply 220 V AC ... to Point A.

Alexander Kondorsky (asker) Jul 12, 2010:

Gene. thans a lot for your input. I'm translating a work algorithm for power plant construciton and I need to translate a sentence saying: Provide point A with 220 V AC (to make it so that 220 V AC is available at point A). I need badly to formulate it so that native speakers of English got the meaning right and not laught at me :-))

Gene Selkov Jul 12, 2010:

there's a number of ways to say that 1. Point "A" is connected to an AC voltage source
2. AC voltage is present at point A (usually, if the detection of that voltage is a concern: persent? not present?)
3. AC voltage exists across the terminals of a circuit (one of them may be point A)
4. Can also say, "AC voltage exists at point A" (synonymous with (2), but less common)
5. AC voltage has been applied to point A or to [smth.] at point A (as you suggest; but this will be more common in testing -- e.g., when a jumper or atest tip is connected at point A).
6. Similalrly, "AC voltage has been applied between ..."
7. AC voltage is available (at ..., between ...)
8. Point A is hot/active/energized
9. [smth.] at point A is under AC voltage (usually speaking of loads, insulation or electrolytes -- something with the ability to conduct the current or to experience tension due to the E/M field)

Alexander Kondorsky (asker) Jul 12, 2010:

Gene, do you have any idea how to say it in English that a potential of 220 V AC has been made available at certain point "A"?

Gene Selkov Jul 12, 2010:

energize This word has a peculiar meaning regarding electrical circuits. It is seldom, if ever, used in the sense "pump energy into the loads". But a power circuit is often said to be "energized" or "hot", when it has the potential of driving the loads, or is busy doing so.