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The Book of Terms

The Book of TermsThe WJI Book of Wire & Cable Terms: an interactive experience of learning and sharing
This book, written by industry volunteers and containing more than 5,000 entries, is an asset for newcomers to wire and cable.

At the same time, it also represents an opportunity for industry veterans to give back by either updating or adding to the more than 5,000 entries. This is an honor system process. Entries/updates must be non-commercial, and any deemed not to be so will be removed. Share your expertise as part of this legacy project to help those who will follow. Purchase a printed copy here.

   

 

All   0-9   A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Kilometer

Unit of measure for length equal to 1000 meters (about 3,281 ft).

Kilovolt (kV)

One thousand volts.

Kilovolt Ampere

1000 volts x amperes

Kilowatt

A unit of power equal to one thousand watts.

Kinetic Energy

Energy by virtue of motion.

Kink

Term applied to an angle or bend made in a length of metal by a blow or excessive strain.

Kink Test

Another name for the looping test.

Kinks

1) Small creases or indentations caused by localized bending during handling, etc. 2) used to describe a defect in rod or wire caused by mechanical damage during the manufacturing process, i.e., where the cause may be attributed to a poorly adjusted stripper leg or block defect

Kip

A load of 1,000 lb, equals 453.59 kg.

Kirchoff’s Laws

1) The algebraic sum of the currents that meet at any point is zero. 2) In any closed circuit the algebraic sum of the products of the current and the resistance in each conductor in the circuit is equal to the electromotive force in the circuit.

Knife Switch

See Switch, Knife.

Knitted Wire

Produced on conventional knitting machines after suitable adjust­ments. As compared with woven wire mesh, knitting produces a mesh of inter­locking loops, the resultant fabric being very stable and resistant to permanent deformation by heat or mechanical stress. It is also more flexible and resilient than a woven mesh.

Knitting Needle Wire

Hard bright drawn carbon (0.85 to 0.89%) steel wire, polished after finishing. Anodized aluminum wire is also widely used.

Knock Down Test

Another name for the upending test to detect surface defects when determining the suitability of rod or wire for hot or cold forging. See also Upsetting Test.

Knockout

A section of an enclosure designed to be readily removed for installation of a raceway or other types of connecters.

Knoop Hardness

Microhardness determined from the resistance of metal to indentation by a pyramidal diamond indenter that is a diamond that is ground to an elongated pyramidal form.

Knotter

A mechanism for knotting the end of the top or bottom convolution of a coil spring about itself, thus anchoring the ends.

Knurling

Rolling a pattern on wire (or other material) by means of a special tool.

KOVAR

An alloy of iron, nickel and cobalt.

KPSI

Tensile strength or stress in general expressed in thousands of pounds per square inch.
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