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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

Colza

Another name for rapeseed oil (Canola oil), it is used for the lubrication in ferrous continuous casting molds and in the drawing of aluminum wire or tubes. It may also be used to draw copper rod on non-slip accumulation machines. Staining, however, is difficult to avoid. It is not recommended for enameling and tinning purposes or for fine copper wire.

Combination Unilay

A stranding configuration that used two strand sizes to achieve a 3 percent reduction in the conductor diameter without compression.

Commercial Tolerance

See Tolerance.

Common Axis Cabling

In multiple cable constructions, a twisting of all conductors about a common axis with two conductor groups then selected as pairs.

Common Carrier

An organization that provides regulated telephone, telegraph, telex and data communications systems. Also, a term for ordinary shipping of materials.

Common Draw Size

See Base Size.

Common Mode

Noise caused by a difference in ground potential. By grounding at either end rather than both ends (usually grounded at source) one can reduce this interference.

Common Solder

Soft solder containing about 60 percent lead and 40 percent tin.

Community TV Cable

Coaxial cables used to transmit television signals from a master antenna to a group of receivers in a community.

Commutator

A series of bars or segments so connected to the armature coils of a dynamo that rotation of the armature will, in conjunction with fixed brushes, result in unidirectional current output in the case of a generator and in the reversal of the current into the coils in the case of a motor. A switch for reversing the direction of an electric current.

Commutator Segment Bar

A shape of trapezoidal cross-section for manufacturing into commutator segments.

Commutator Segments

Elements usually cut from commutator segment bar.

Compact

See Stranding, Compact.

Compact Conductor

Stranded conductor drawn 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 diameter by approximately 10 percent.

Compatibility

The ability of dissimilar materials to exist in mutual proximity or contact without changing their physical or electrical properties.

Compax®

A General Electric trade name for the manufacturing of diamond die blanks that are a combination of synthetic polycrystalline diamond and cemented tungsten carbide. The two materials are produced as an integrated unit by means of a high temperature-high pressure process closely approximating the conditions, which cause natural diamonds to form.

Complex Number

A mathematical expression (a + bi) in which ‘a’ and ‘b’ are real, i2 = 1; useful in analyzing certain vectors, especially of electrical fields: j is substituted for I in formula for electrical circuits, i.e., (a + jb).

Composite (Clad) Wire

A wire having a core of one metal to which is clad an outer shell of one or more different metals. See Cladding.

Composite Cable

A cable containing more than one type or gauge size of conductors (i.e., power and control conductors in one assembly).
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