Wire And Cable Glossary Of Terms | C
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 | #
C
Centigrade or Celsius
Cable
A stranded conductor with or without insulation and other coverings (single-conductor cable) or a combination of conductors (multiple-conductor cable). In fiber optics, a jacketed fiber or jacketed bundle in a form which can be terminated.
Cable Assembly
Typically, the cable and associated connectors ready to install.
Cable Clamp
A device used to give mechanical support to the wire bundle or cable at the rear of a plug or receptacle.
Cable Clamp Adapter
A mechanical adapter that attaches to the rear of a plug or receptacle to allow the attachment of a cable clamp.
Cable Core
The portion of an insulated cable lying under a protective covering.
Cable Core Binder
A wrapping of tapes or cords around the conductors of a multiple conductor cable used to hold them together.
Cable Filler
The material used in multiple conductor cables to occupy the interslices formed by the assembly of the insulated conductors, thus forming a cable core.
Cable Sheath
The protective covering applied to cables.
Cable Tray
A rigid structural system used to support cables and raceways. Types of cable trays include ladder, ventilated trough, ventilated channel and solid bottom.
Cable Vulcanizer
Compression molding machine used to repair cable jacketing that has had a part removed for splicing, to add connectors and other devices or to replace damaged sections.
Cabling
Twisting together two or more insulated conductors by machine to form a cable. In fiber optics, a method by which a group or bundle of fibers is mechanically assembled.
Cabling Factor
Used in the formula for calculating the diameter of an unshielded, unjacketed cable. D=Kd, where D is the cable diameter, K is the factor and d is the diameter of one insulated conductor.
Calibration
The process of setting a measurement instrument by use of standards.
Capacitance
The ratio of the electrostatic charge on a conductor to the potential difference between the conductors required to maintain that charge.
Capacitance, Direct
The capacitance measured from one conductor to another conductor through a single insulating layer.
Capacitance, Mutual
The capacitance between two conductors (typically of a pair) with all other conductors, including shield and short circuited to ground.
Carrier
The woven element of a braid consisting of one or more ends (strands) which creates the interlaced effect. Also, a spindle, spool, tube or bobbin (on a braiding machine) containing yarn or wire, employed as a braid.
CATV
Community Antenna Television
CBO
Rubber-insulated Brewery Cord.
CCTV
Closed-Circuit Television
CEBEC
Belgium Approval Agency; Comite Electrotechnique Belge Service de la Marque.
CEE
European Standards Agency; International Commission on Rules for the Approval of Electrical Equipment.
CENELEC
European Standards Agency; European Committee for Electrotechnical Norms.
Certificate of Compliance (C of C)
A written statement, normally generated by a Quality Control Department, which states that the product being shipped meets customer’s specifications.
Certified Test Report (CTR)
A report reflecting actual test data on the cable shipped. Tests are normally conducted by the Quality Control Department and show that the product being shipped meets the required test specifications.
Characteristic Impedance
The impedance that when connected to the output terminals of a transmission line, of any length, makes the line appear indefinitely long.
Chlorinated Polyethylene (CPE)
Rubbery polymer used for insulation and jacketing of wire and cable. Manufactured by Dow Chemical under the trade name Tyrin.
CIC
Control and Instrumentation Cable, same as ACIC except not armoured
Cigarette Wrap
Tape insulation wrapped longitudinally instead of spirally over a conductor.
Circuit
A complete path over which electrons can flow from the negative terminals of a voltage source through parts and wires to the positive terminals of the same voltage source.
Circuit Breaker
A device that can be used to manually open or close a circuit and to automatically open a circuit at a predetermined level of overcurrent without damage to itself.
Circuit Sizes
A popular term for building wire sizes 14 through 10 AWG.
Circuit Voltage
The root-mean-square (effective) difference of potential between any two conductors of the circuit.
Circular Mil
The area of a circle one mil (.001") in diameter; 7.854 x 10-7 sq. in. Used in expressing wire cross sectional areas.
CL Series
Coil Lead Wire – CL is followed by a number series indicating it’s rated baking temperature
Cladding
Method of applying a layer of metal over another metal whereby the junction of the two metals is continuously welded. In fiber optics, a sheathing intimately in contact with the core of a higher refractive index material which serves to provide optical insulation and protection to the reflection interface.
Closed End Splice
An insulated splice in which two or more wires overlap and enter the splice from the same end of the barrel.
CMA
Circular-Mil Area
Coated Copper
A copper conductor which has been coated with a metallic substance. A tin coating is applied to protect copper from chemical attack by sulfur-based insulation compounds; nickel coating is sometimes used with conductors rated for extremely high temperatures.
Coaxial Cable
A cable consisting of two cylindrical conductors with a common axis, separated by a dielectric.
Coaxial Connector
A connector that has a coaxial construction and is used with coaxial cable.
Coil Effect
The inductive effect exhibited by a spiral-wrapped shield, especially above audio frequencies.
Cold Bend
Generally refers to a test to determine cable or wire characteristics at low temperatures.
Cold Flow
Permanent deformation of the insulation due to mechanical force of pressure (not due to heat softening).
Color Code
A color system for wire or circuit identification by use of solid colors, tracer braids, surface printing, etc.
Combination Unilay
A stranding configuration that uses two strand sizes to achieve a 3% reduction in the conductor diameter without compression.
Common Axis Cabling
In multiple cable constructions, a twisting of all conductors about a “common axis” to result in smaller diameter constructions. Tends to result in greater susceptance to electromagnetic and electrostatic interference.
Compact Conductor
Stranded conductor rolled to deform the round wires to fill the normal interstices between the wires in a strand.
Compact Stranding
A stranding configuration with concentric strands in which each layer is passed through a compacting die to reduce the conductor diameter by approximately 10%.
Composite (Clad) Wire
A wire having a core of one metal with a fused outer shell of different metals.
Composite Conductor
Two or more strands of different metals assembled and operated in parallel.
Compound
An insulating or jacketing material made by mixing two or more ingredients.
Compressed
A stranding configuration with concentric strands in which all layers or the outer layer only is passed through a die to reduce the conductor diameter by 3%.
Compression Cable
A pipe-type cable in which the pressure medium is separated from the insulation by a membrane or sheath.which a wire has been inserted.
Contact Size
The largest size wire which can be used with the specific contact. Also, the diameter of the engagement end of the pin.
Continuity Check
A test to determine whether electrical current flows continuously throughout the length of a single wire or individual wires in a cable.
Continuous Load
An electrical load in which the maximum current is expected to continue for three hours or more.
Continuous Vulcanization
Simultaneous extrusion and vulcanization of rubber-like wire coating materials.
Contrahelical
Cable spiraling in an opposite direction than the preceding layer within a wire or cable.
Control Cable
A multiconductor cable made for operation in control of signal circuits.
Controlled Impedance Cable
Package of two or more insulated conductors where impedance measurements between respective conductors are kept essentially constant throughout the entire length.
Conventional Concentric
A stranding configuration in which individual wire are stranded concentrically with no reduction in overall diameter. Typically used for bare conductors.
Copolymer
A compound resulting from the polymerization of two different monomers.
Copper-Clad
Steel with a coating of copper welded to it before drawing as opposed to copper-plated. Synonymous with Copperweld.
Copperweld
The trade name of Flexo Wire Division (Copperweld Steel Corp.) for their copper-clad steel conductors.
Cord
A small, flexible insulated cable.
Cord Set
Portable cords fitted with a wiring device at one or both ends.
Core
In cables, a component or assembly of components over which other materials are applied, such as (additional components) shield, sheath or armor. In fiber optics, the transparent glass or plastic section with a highly refractive index through which the light travels by internal reflections.
Core Wire
The center strand of a stranded conductor, around which the other strands are wrapped in spiral layers.
Corona
A discharge due to ionization of air around a conductor due to a potential gradient exceeding a certain critical value.
Corona Resistance
The time that the insulation will withstand a specified level of field intensified ionization that does not result in the immediate complete breakdown of the insulation.
Corrosion
The destruction of the surface of a metal by chemical reaction.
Coverage
The calculated percentage which defines the completeness with which a metal braid covers the underlying surface. The higher percentage of coverage, the greater the protection against external interference.
Covering
Textile braid or jacket of rubber, plastics or other materials applied over wire and cables to provide mechanical protection and identification.
Crazing
The minute cracks on the surface of plastic materials.
Creep
The dimensional change with time of a material under load.
Creepage
The conduction of electricity across the surface of a dielectric.
Creepage Path
The path across the surface of a dielectric between two conductors.
Creepage Surface
An insulating surface which provides physical separation as a form of insulation between two electrical conductors of different potential.
Crimp
Act of compressing a connector barrel around a cable in order to make an electrical connection.
Crimp Termination
Connection in which a metal sleeve is secured to a conductor by mechanically crimping the sleeve with pliers, presses or automated crimping machines.
Cross-Linked
Inter-molecular bonds between long-chain thermoplastic polymers due to chemical or electron bombardment. The properties of the resulting thermo-setting material are usually improved.
Cross-Linked Polyethylene (XLPE)
A common thermoset insulation material for building wire and cable. Polyethylene made from petroleum and natural gas undergoes a cross-linking chemical reaction that causes compound molecules to bond, forming heavier molecules with the desired physical and chemical properties.
Cross-Sectional Area (csa)
The area of a conductor exposed by cutting the conductor perpendicularly to its length, expressed in circular-mils, thousands of circular-mil, square inches, or square millimeters.
Crosstalk
Undesired electrical currents in conductors caused by electromagnetic or electrostatic coupling from other conductors or from external sources. Also, leakage of optical power from one optical conductor to another.
CSA
Canadian Standards Association, a non-profit independent organization which operates a listing service for electrical and electronic materials and equipment. The Canadian counterpart of the Underwriters Laboratories.
C-SJ
Same as SJ except extra-flexible conductor.
C-SJO
Same as SJO except extra-flexible conductor.
Cu
The chemical symbol for copper.
Cure
To change the physical properties of a material by chemical reaction.
Curing Cycle
The time, temperature and pressure required for curing.
Curl
The degree to which a wire tends to form a circle after removal from a spool. An indication of the ability of the wire to be wrapped around posts in long runs.
Current
The rate of transfer of electricity. Practical unit is the ampere which represents the transfer of one coulomb per second. In a simple circuit, current (I) produced by a cell or electromotive force (E) when there is an external resistance (R) and internal resistance (r) is: I=E/R%2Br
Current-Carrying Capacity
The maximum current an insulated conductor can safely carry without exceeding its insulation and jacket temperature limitations.
Cut-Through Resistance
The ability of a material to withstand mechanical pressure usually a sharp edge or small radius without separation.
CV
Continuous Vulcanization
Cycle
The complete sequence, including reversal, of the flow of an alternating electric current.