Fellow Dutchman Frank Meeuwsen, replying to my carpenter illustration in my What I don’t know post (translated by Google Translate):
I immediately thought of a conversation I had with the electrician a few minutes before. He explained to me how the power from the meter cupboard is distributed throughout the house and how overload and short circuit can occur. I have never fully understood how electricity works, I am always happy that the rest of the street still has light when I have once again connected a lamp. But this older Iranian craftsman explained to me patiently and clearly how it works.
Glad to see this topic spreading across the blogosphere.