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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

Proportional Limit

See Limit of Proportionality.

Protective Atmosphere

The atmosphere in a chamber surrounding a process that is filled with an inert gas or steam to protect the fresh surfaces of the product from the air where they would oxidize. This is mainly applicable to heat treatment operations for most metals.

Protocol

A set of rules for communication.

Prototype

Original design or first operating model.

Proximity Effect

The phenomena of non-uniform current distribution over the cross-section of a conductor caused by the variation of the current in an adjoining conductor.

PS

Designation for thermostat cable with solid conductors, individual rubber insulation and cotton braid. Twisted rubber jacket and cotton braid overall.

PS Tape

Designation for nonmetallic shielding that is very flexible. It remains in positive contact with insulation and prevents formation of air gaps between conductor and insulation.

PSELFEXT

Designation for Power Sum Equal Level Far-End Crosstalk, calculated by totaling the individual FEXT measurements relative to the disturbed pair. PSELFEXT provides an accurate evaluation of cable performance because network protocols increasingly use multiple pairs for data transmission.

PSH

Designation for three-conductor cable. Each conductor has type PS shielding over the insulation and contains ground wires. The insulation is extra heavy. Recommended for intermediate voltage where extra safety is needed.

PSI

Designation for pounds per square inch.

PSNEXT

Designation for Power Sum Near-End Crosstalk, calculated by totaling the individual NEXT measurements of all pairs relative to the disturbed pair. PSNEXT provides an accurate evaluation of cable performance because network protocols increasingly use multiple pairs for data transmission.

PT

Designation for potential transformer.

PTF Wire

Designation for a type of polytetrafluoroethylene insulated wire.

PTFE

Designation for a polymer called polytetrafluoroethylene. It is one of the tetrafluoroethylene-TFE, or DuPont’s Teflon, family. It is non-polar and has outstanding electrical properties. This insulation has to be applied to conductors by a cold-shaping operation followed by a sintering process to cause a polymer particle to fuse and coalesce. The good electrical properties are combined with very high resistance to chemicals and temperature.

PTFF Wire

Designation for type of polytetrafluroethylene insulated wire.

Pull Box

A device to access a raceway used to facilitate placing of wire or cables.

Pull Cord

Cord or wire placed within a raceway and used to pull wire and cable through the raceway.

Pull Down

Localized reduction of wire diameter by longitudinal stress. See Necking.

Pull Out

Force needed to separate a cable from a connector by pulling the two apart.

Pull Strength/Tension

The maximum pulling force that can be safely applied to a cable without damage.
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