Glossary of Terms

Alternating Current
Electrical current that continually reverses its direction, giving a definite plus and minus
waveform at fixed intervals. Its unit of measure is Hertz (Hz).
Aluminum
Aluminum is a silvery and is ductile, malleable and resistant to corrosion, but prone to acids and
alkalis. It is primarily used in transportation, packaging building, electrical and consumer durable
products, as well as a conductor of electricity in electrical cables.
Ambient Temperature
Temperature of the medium, to which an object is exposed.
Annealing
Heating to and holding at a suitable temperature and then cooling at a suitable rate, for such
purposes as reducing hardness, improving machinability, facilitating cold working, producing a
desired microstructure or obtaining desired mechanical, physical or other properties. When
applied to ferrous alloys, it implies a heat treatment designed to soften a cold worked structure
Anti-Oxidant
Substance, which prevents or slows down the decomposition or degradation of materials exposed
to oxygen or peroxides.
Armor
Mechanical protection of a cable consisting of metallic tape, layer or braid, made of aluminum or
steel.
Armored cable
A multi-conductor cable in which the metal armor may be used as the ground return path. Can be
designated as Type AC (Armored Cable), Type ACT (Armored Cable with Thermoplastic
conductors), and Type ACTH (Armored Cable with Thermoplastic-insulated, heat-resistant
conductors).
AWG
Acronym for American Wire Gauge, formerly known as Brown & Sharpe Gauge. In this system,
1 mil is equal to 0.001 inch. Lower AWG number indicates larger diameter.

Binder
A spirally wrapped tape or thread used for holding cable components in place until additional
manufacturing operations are performed.
Braid
A fibrous or metallic group of filaments interwoven in cylindrical form to form covering over
one or more wires. Formed by laying a number of strands of material diagonally in such a way
that one or more strands pass alternately over and under one or more strands laid up in the
opposite direction.
Breakdown Voltage
The voltage at which the insulation between two conductors breaks down, allowing current to
flow between conductors.
Building Wire
Insulated wires, up to a maximum of 600V, that are used in buildings for light power.
Cable Filler
Material use to fill the spaces between the intersection of multiple-conductor cables spaces
allowing the formulation of a cable core that is circular in shape.
Capacitance
The property of a system of conductors, electronic components and dielectrics that permits the
storage of electricity when potential differences exist between the conductors. It is measured in
farads. For cables it is usually measured as Pico farads per foot (pf/ft), which indicates how
much charge the cable can store within itself. If a voltage signal is being transmitted by a twisted
pair, the insulation of the individual wires becomes charged by the voltage within the circuit.
Since it takes a certain amount of time for the cable to reach its charged level, this slows down
and interferes with the signal being transmitted. Digital data pulses are a string voltage variations
that are represented by square waves. A cable with a high capacitance slows down these signals
so that they come out of the cable looking more like saw-teeth rather that square waves. The
lower the capacitance of the cable, there better it performs at higher frequencies.
Circular Mil (cmil) or (CM)
Unit used to express the area of a wire. A circular mil is the area of a circle one 1/1000 of an inch
(3.9 x 10-5mm.) in diameter. As the number of circular mils increases, the size of a wire
increases.
Compact conductor

Stranded conductor drawn to deform the round wires to fill the normal interstices between the
wires in a strand.
Concentric-lay cable
A concentric lay conductor or multiple conductor cable composed of a central core surrounded
by one or more layers of helically laid conductors. Each of these succeeding layers is applied
with an opposite direction of twist.
Concentric Stranding
A group of uninsulated wires twisted so as to contain a center core with one or more distinct
layers of spirally wrapped, un-insulated wires laid overall to form a single conductor.

Concentricity
Measure of location of center of conductor, in a wire or cable with respect to the geometric
center of the circular insulation.
Conductivity, Electrical
A term used in describing the capability of a conductor to carry electric current. Usually
expressed as a percent of IACS (International Annealed Copper Standard), which is defined as
being 100 percent conductive.
Conductivity, Thermal
Ability of a material to conduct heat. The measure of the heat conducted, expressed in BTU per
hour per sq ft of exposed surface, per oF difference between the adjacent hot and cold bodies, per
in. thickness. Not to be confused with Heat Transfer.
Copper Electrolytic
Highly pure copper that is refined by electrolysis and used for electrical conductors.
Copper, Oxygen-free
Copper containing neither copper oxide nor any residue of deoxidizers. Electrolytically refined
copper that has been remelted and fabricated without the introduction of oxygen.
Creep
Change in dimension of a material under mechanical load over a period of time. The flow or
plastic deformation of metals subjected to stress and for long periods of time.

Cross Linked Polyethylene (XLPE)

Common thermoset insulation for wire and cable, also known as XLPE. Polyethylene made from
petroleum and natural gas undergoes a cross-linking chemical reaction that causes compound
molecules to bond, forming heavier molecules with desired physical and chemical properties.
Cross-Linking
Phenomena found in thermosetting resins. Applied to polymer molecules, it is setting up of
chemical links between the molecular chain.
Cross Sectional Area of a Conductor
Exposed area of a conductor, obtained by cutting perpendicular to its longitudinal plane. Units of
measures are circular mils, square inches or square millimeters.
Current-Carrying Capacity (Ampacity)
The maximum current an insulated conductor can safely carry without exceeding its insulation
and jackets temperature limitations.
Dielectric Constant (K)
A measure of the dielectric loss through an insulation and also indicates the charging current
required for a conductor. It determines the electrostatic energy stored per unit volume for unit
potential gradient. Also known as permittivity and specific inductive capacity.
Dielectric Strength
Maximum voltage an insulating material can withstand before breakdown. Also known as
electric strength or disruptive gradient. It is expressed as voltage gradient (such as volts per mil).
Drain wire
Numerous small gauge bare wires applied concentrically about the insulation shield of a high
voltage cable for the purpose of a fault current return path. Drain wires also provide a means of
terminating laminated shields.
Drawing
The process of pulling wire at room temperature(cold) through a die that has a smaller opening,
which reduces the cross-sectional area to a required size. Since the wire is deformed plastically
in the die because of the pull exerted on it and the taper of the die, there is a limit to the reduction
which can be made at one die, according to the amount of pull the wire can withstand without
breaking.

Eccentricity
Measure of deviation in concentricity used in wire and tube manufacturing. In a hollowed
product, it is the difference between the maximum wall thickness and minimum wall thickness at
any one cross-section. Deviation is reported as plus or minus wall thickness fraction.
Elastomer
A rubber or rubber-like material that will stretch repeatedly to 200 percent or more and return
rapidly and with force to its approximate original shape.
Elongation
The amount that a conductor can stretch before breaking when a pulling force is applied in
tensile testing. The increase in the gauge length, measured after fracture of the specimen within
the gauge length is usually expressed as a percentage of the original gauge length.
Embossing
Raised lettering, for identification, on the sheath material of cable produced by thermal
induction.
Extrusion
The process of forming a product by continuously forcing a material through a die under
pressure. In the wire industry, a plastic or elastomer and a conductor core are forced through a
die to apply a continuous coating of insulation or jacket to the core or conductor.
Fault current
Current flowing as a result of short-circuit conditions.
Filler
1) A material used in multi-conductor cables to occupy large interstices formed by the assembled
conductors. 2) A substance, often inert, added to a compound to improve properties and/or
decrease cost.
Fire Resistant
Ability of cable material to avoid combustion for a specified period of time.
Fire Retardant

Property of a cable material that delay ignition for a given period of time and slows the spread of
the flame once ignition has occurred.
Grounding Conductor
Conductor connecting non-current carrying metal parts of equipment or the grounded circuit to a
grounding electrode.
Hard-drawn Wire
Hard drawn refers to the temper of wires that are cold drawn without annealing and work harden
in the drawing process. Also refers to, wire that has been drawn to a specific size without being
annealed.
Heat shock
Test conducted to determine the stability of material by exposing it to high temperature for short
time interval.
Hygroscopic
Hygroscopic materials are those, which absorb and retain moisture from the air.
Insulation Resistance
Resistance offered by insulating material when subjected to potential difference.
Lay
1) The distance taken to complete one revolution of helically laid strands or wires around a
central core. 2) The manner in which wires are helically laid into strands or strands into rope.
Length of lay
The distance required to complete one revolution of helically laid strand or wire.
Messenger Wire
Usually a high-strength bare steel wire supporting suspended aerial wire. It may be an integral
part of the cable or the exterior.
Migration
1) The movement of the non-resinous plasticizer in vinyl that takes place at elevated or lowered
temperatures. The migrating plasticizer from the jacket contaminates the polyethylene core of the
coaxial cable and thus changes its electrical characteristics. 2) Movement of a material from one

point to another. Often the movement is unwanted such as migration of contaminants around a
seal in a filler.
Plasticizer
Chemical agent that is added to the stock material when compounding plastics to make it softer
and more flexible.
Polyethylene
A thermoplastic material composed of ethylene polymers, commonly used as a jacketing material
for outdoor cables. Derived from the polymerization of ethylene gas. Outstanding electrical
properties include good moisture resistance, high dielectric strength, low dielectric constant, low
dielectric loss at all frequencies, excellent resistance. Widely used for insulation on telephone
signal and control of cables, high frequency electronic cables, high and low voltage power
cables, line wire, neutral supported secondary and service drop cables.
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
A common thermoplastic insulation and jacketing material used for wire and cable. It is
composed of polymers of vinyl chloride that may be rigid or elastomeric, depending on specific
formation. Produced by the combination of acetylene and hydrochloride acid. The basic polymer
is a hard white infusible substance that can be rendered thermoplastic only by the addition of
plasticizers. By varying the nature and quantity of the plasticizer, wide range of properties to suit
a particular use can be obtained.
Resistance
Opposition by conductor to the flow of electric current. It is expressed in ohms (W).
Sheath
The combination of a metallic shield and an extruded plastic jacket applied as the outermost
covering on a cable. In the absence of a shield, the extruder jacket may be designated as a sheath.
Often referred to as a jacket.
Spark Test
Subjecting wire or cable to high voltage for short period while the wire is being drawn through
the electrode field. Cable is passed through a metallic electrode that makes contact with the
surface. The electrode is maintained at a high voltage with respect to the cable conductor. When
a fault in the cable insulant enters the electrode, it is indicated by a spark. This test is performed
to locate pin holes in the insulator.
Specific Gravity

The ratio of the mass of a body to the mass of equal volume of water at a specified temperature
(4oC).
Stablizer
A metallic compound used for insulating purpose in some plastics maintain the physical and
chemical properties of the insulation compound during processing and service life.
Strand
1) A single, uninsulated wire. 2) One of the individual wires that make up a stranded conductor.
3) An arrangement of wires helically laid about an axis or another wire or fiber center to produce
a symmetrical section.
Stranded Conductor
A conductor composed of individual groups of wires twisted together to form an entire unit. A
number of wires are twisted together, usually built up on a single central conductor with 6 wires
in a first layer, 12 in a second, 18 in a third and so on. Most conductors therefore have 7, 19, 37,
61 or 91 wires. When there is more than one layer in a stranded conductor, the direction of lay is
reversed in adjacent layers.
Strand lay
The distance advance of one strand of a spirally stranded conductor, in one turn, measured
axially.
Thermoplastic
A material that can be softened repeatedly by heating and hardened by cooling through a
temperature range characteristic of the plastic. In the softened state, it can be shaped by molding
or extrusion. In its cooled state it retains the shape imparted when hot. It is the opposite of a
thermoset material.
Thermoset
A classification of resin used for insulation that is crosslinked by a heating process known as
curing. Once the plastic is cured, it cannot be re-softened or distorted from its formed shape.
Volt
A unit of electromotive force. One volt is the amount of potential required to produce current of
one ampere through one ohm of resistance.

Voltage Drop

1) The difference of voltages at the two terminals of a passive impedance. 2) The difference
between the voltages at the transmitting and receiving ends of a feeder, main or service. With
alternating currents the voltages are not necessarily in phase and hence the voltage drop is not
necessarily equal to the algebraic sum of the voltage drops along the several conductors.