Tom,
Maybe if it's put in operational terms. The whole point is not to lose too many systems after one or more failures. Most aircraft have two main generators, one on each engine with another on the APU for use on the ground or in the air (if needed). Each one puts out enough electricity to keep your street powered and basically provides it to its side of the aircraft - No. 1 on the Left and No. 2 on the Right. Depending on where the fault may be the crew can use large remote switches known as Contactors to couple (or transfer) Buses.
This power is usually 3 Phase Alternating Current (AC) at 115V & 400 Hz and is brought down to much lower voltages (28 V DC) for radios, avionics & lighting by units called Transformer Rectifier Units (TRUs). Each one of these, and in some cases in pairs, is used to power a DC Bus. Again these have contactors & switches to allow the power to be moved around a fault and keep systems alive. Finally, exactly like your car, you have one, or more likely, two batteries to keep a minimum number of radios and other services alive if all else fails.
Hope this helps.