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The Book of Terms

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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.

   

 

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

Armature Winding

A winding in which both coil sides are on the outside of the core or drum, but at different points on the drum depending on the pole pitch desired. For instance, a two-pole armature would have two sides of a coil spaced approxi­mately 180 degrees apart, a four-pole arma­ture 90 degrees apart.

Armature Wire

Stranded annealed copper wire, straight lay, covered with soft, loose white cotton braid. It is used for low voltage, high current rotor windings in motors and generators. Straight lay aids the forming in armature slots and in com­pressibility.

Armor

A braid or wrapping of metal, usually steel or aluminum, used for additional mechanical protection in harsh environments, formed so that each convolution locks mechanically upon the previous one (interlocked armor). The outermost layer of a cable is applied for mechanical protection that usually consists of a layer or layers of a metallic tape, braid or served wires.

Armor Wire, High Strength Galvanized

Used in armoring marine communication cables. The wire is produced from high-carbon steel and is zinc coated at finish size by either the hot dip or electrolytic process to a specified minimum weight of zinc coating.

Armor Wire, Soft Galvanized

Produced from low-carbon steel, it is used to armor and protect marine communication cables by the laying of a single wire around the outer periphery of the cable in either a tight or an open helix. The wire is zinc coated by either the hot dip or electrolytic process to a specified weight of coating.

Armored Cable

Type AC, a multi-conductor cable similar to Type MC, in which the metal armor may be used as the ground return path. Sometimes further designated Type ACT (armored cable with thermoplastic conductors), Type ACTH (armored cable with thermoplastic-insulated, heat-resistant conductors).

Armoring

Usually wire or metal tape that is often applied over a bedding of hessian or jute to protect cables against mechanical damage. Magnetic materials are usually applied only to cables containing two or more cores.

Armoring Wire

In brass or aluminum for electric cables, high tensile galvanized steel for submarine cables and galvanized mild steel for ordinary cables and rubber tubing. Galvanized high tensile steel wire is manufactured for armoring submarine cables.

Arrestor

See Lightning Arrestor.

Arrhenius Plot

A method used to predict time-to-failure, based on a device’s performance at different temperatures.

AS

Designation for aluminum-clad steel. A coating of aluminum is applied over a steel wire to prevent steel corrosion and sometimes is considered an electrical conductor. See ACSR.

Asbestos

A silicate mineral that readily separates into flexible fibers suitable for use as an incombustible, non-conducting, chemically resistant material. Fibrous asbestos wire and cable insulation is used in the form of yarn servings, felts, lap, roving and braid. Due to health hazards associated with asbestos, different materials are now used.

Asbestos Cut System

A term in the non-metallic braiding for glass yarns used in a system for measurement. For example, a size 450 1/0 glass yarn would be interpreted as follows: “450” refers to strand count and indicates approximate bare glass yardage per pound in hundreds. “1/0” refers to the number of piles in continuous filament yarn.

Asbestos Wipes

Formerly used in hot-dip galvanizing to cover the wire with a thin coat of zinc (known as tight wiping). The wires pass from the galvanizing bath through the wipers placed immediately next to the exit end of the bath. Due to health hazards associated with asbestos, different materials are now used.

ASC

Designation for Aluminum Stranded Conductors.

Askarel

A synthetic insulating oil that is nonflammable but very toxic, which is being replaced by silicone oils.

ASP

A cable sheath consisting of a corrugated aluminum (A) shield, corrugated steel (S) shield, flooding compound and an outer polyethylene (P) jacket. A typical use is as a filled direct burial telephone cable.

Aspect Ratio

Ratio of width to thickness of a shaped wire. A low aspect ratio indicates a section with a thickness approaching that of the width.

Asphalt

A dark colored viscous to solid hydrocarbon complex also referred to as bitumen. Used to impregnate textile braid on wire to provide some degree of weatherproofing.

Asphalt-Saturated Braid

A textile braid on wire impregnated with a petroleum derivative much like tar. The application of such a braid affords some degree of weatherproofing.
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