Electricity Merit Badge

Eleven requirements, with the emergency demonstrations of requirement 1, the home inspection, circuits, wiring diagram and electric bill marked as the parts that involve your home, and requirement 10 (two of six circuit projects) drawn as a question.

12 steps (22 parts inside them). 6 parts depend on questions you have not answered yet. · Version 1, published 8 October 2026 · About Electricity Merit Badge

No questions answered

This is the whole plan: everything that could apply to anybody. Answering the question at the address above takes out the parts that are not for you.

Which of this applies to you

You have not answered anything yet, so this is the whole plan: everything that could apply to anybody. Answering one question will take out the parts that are not for you.

Answer the questions

The steps

Stage 1 of 12

1 step

1. Respond to electrical emergencies Requirement

Seven parts, (a) to (g). Three are shown, not only explained: the rescue, the first aid and the burn treatment.
7 parts

Stage 2 of 12

1 step

2. An electrical home safety inspection of your home Often forgotten Requirement

Using the checklist in the Electricity merit badge pamphlet or one approved by your counselor. Then discuss what you find with your counselor.

Stage 3 of 12

1 step

3. Make an electromagnet; show attraction and repulsion Requirement

A simple electromagnet, used to show magnetic attraction and repulsion.

Stage 4 of 12

1 step

4. Current, and how electricity is produced Requirement

Two explanations.
2 parts
- 4(a). Direct current and alternating current
- 4(b). Three ways electricity is produced

Stage 5 of 12

1 step

5. Draw how a battery and an electric bell work Requirement

A simple drawing, and the purpose of each of the components described.

Stage 6 of 12

1 step

6. Overloads, fuses and circuit breakers Requirement

Four parts, two of them about your own home.
4 parts

Stage 7 of 12

1 step

7. A floor plan wiring diagram of a room in your home Requirement

The lights, switches and outlets, and which fuse or circuit breaker protects each one.

Stage 8 of 12

1 step

8. The electric bill, and saving energy Requirement

Three parts: the meter, the bill and conservation.
3 parts

Stage 9 of 12

1 step

9. Electrical terms, units, conditions and equipment Requirement

Explain (a) current, energy, power, resistance and voltage; (b) ampere (amps), ohms, volts, watts and watt-hours; (c) generating source with example, ground, open circuit, overvoltage, potential difference and short circuit; (d) the use of circuit, conductor, Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI), insulator, inverter, rectifier, rheostat, substation, surge protection, solar panel, transformer, transmission and distribution systems, and wind turbine.

Stage 10 of 12

1 step

10. Circuit projects. Do TWO Requirement

The badge states the choice: two of six things to connect, build or explain.
6 parts
- 10(a). Connect a buzzer, bell or light with a battery Optional May not apply
- 10(b). Make and run a simple electric motor Optional May not apply Often forgotten
- 10(c). Build a simple rheostat and show that it works Optional May not apply
- 10(d). Build a single-pole, double-throw switch and show that it works Optional May not apply
- 10(e). Explain how 3-way switch wiring works in a lighting circuit Optional May not apply
- 10(f). Two lights in series, then the same circuit in parallel Optional May not apply

Stage 11 of 12

1 step

11. Three careers in electricity, one researched Requirement

Training, education, certification requirements, experience and expenses; prospects for employment, starting salary, advancement opportunities and career goals. Discuss what you learned with your counselor, and whether you might be interested.

Stage 12 of 12

1 step

Counselor signs it off Milestone

The completion date is the date you met the requirements, not the date of the signature.

Usually comes after 1. Respond to electrical emergencies, 2. An electrical home safety inspection of your home and 9 others.

Merit badge requirements are republished annually. A Scout beginning work uses the requirements as they stand then; a Scout already working may finish under the ones they started with. Guide to Advancement 7.0.4.3 governs which applies. This page records the date its copy was read. Check it against the official page before relying on it.

This plan is a planning aid: the current Boy Scouts of America publication is always the authority, and the sources used here are listed in full. Each step names its own.