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Cable. A group
of individually insulated conductors in twisted or parallel configuration,
with or without an overall covering.
Cable Assembly.
A completed
cable and its associated hardware ready to install.
Cable Filler.
The material
used in multiple conductor cables to occupy the spaces formed by the
assembly of components, thus forming a core of the desired shape (normally
cylindrical.)
Cabling.
The twisting together
of two or more insulated conductors to form a cable.
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.
Caged Armor.
A construction using
wires within a jacket to increase mechanical protection and tensile
strength. This construction is sometimes used in submarine cables.
Capacitance.
Storage of
electrically separated charges between two plates having different
potentials. The value depends largely on the surface area of the plates and
the distance between them.
Capacitance,
Direct. The
capacitance measured directly from conductor to conductor through a single
insulating layer.
Capacitance,
Mutual. The
capacitance between two conductors with all other conductors, including
shield, sort circuited to ground.
Capacitance,
Unbalance.
An
inequality of capacitance between the wires of two or more pairs which
result in a transfer of unwanted signal from one pair to others.
Capacitance,
Unbalance To Ground.
An inequality of capacitance between the ground capacitance of the
conductors of a pair which results in a pickup of external source of energy,
usually from power transmission lines.
Capacitive
Coupling.
Electrical interaction between two conductors caused by the capacitance
between them.
Carrier.
The basic woven
grouping of a braided shield, consisting of one or several parallel ends.
Cathode.
Negative pole of an
electric source.
Cathodic
Protection.
The control of the electroytic corrosion of an underground or underwater
metallic structure by the application of an electric current through a
sacrificial anode in such a way that the structure is made to act as a
cathode of an electrolytic cell.
CATV.
An acronym for Community
Antenna Television.
CCTV.
Closed Circuit
Television.
CEBEC.
Belgium approval agency;
Comite Electrotechnique Beige Service de la Marque.
Cellular
Polyethylene.
Expanded or "foam" polyethylene consisting of individual closed cells
suspended in a polyethylene medium.
CENELEC.
European standards agency; European Committee for Electrotechnical Norms.
Center-to-Center
Distance.
See
Pitch.
Certificate of
Compliance (C of C).
A certificate which shows
that the product being shipped meets customers specifications.
Certified Test
Report (CTR).
A report providing actual test data on a cable. Tests are normally run by a
Quality Control Department, which shows that the product being shipped
conforms to test specifications.
Characteristic
Impedance. The
impedance that, when connected to the output terminals of a transmission
line of any length, makes the line appear infinitely long. The ratio of
voltage to current at every point along a transmission line on which there
are no stranding waves.
Charge.
The quantity of
electricity held statically in a condenser or on an insulated conductor.
Charging Current.
The current
produced when a DC voltage is first applied to conductors of an unterminated
cable. It is caused by the capacitive reactance of the cable, and decreases
exponentially with time.
Charging Time.
The time
required for the voltage between two conductors of a cable to acquire a
value equal to 98.2% of the magnitude of an instantaneously applied DC
voltage change.
Chlorosulfonated
Polyethylene (CSPE).
A rubbery polymer made by
treating polyethylene with chlorine and sulfur dioxide. It is suitable
compounded and cross-linked for application as jacket or as insulation.
Manufactured by E.I. DuPont under trade name of Hypalon.
Circuit.
The complete path
through which a current flows or part of the complete path, such as one
conductor. Circuit Sizes. A popular term for building wire sizes 14
through 10 AWG.
Circular Mil.
The area of a
circle one mil (.001") in diameter, 7.845 x 10-7 sq. in. Used in expressing
wire cross sectional area.
Cladding.
A method of applying
a layer of metal over another metal whereby the junction of the two metals
in continuously welded.
Coat.
To cover with a
continuous layer of compound (such as varnish) for purposes of finishing,
protecting or enclosing. Usually comprises variable degrees of impregnation
depending on the nature of the substance.
Coating.
A material applied to
the surface of a conductor to prevent environmental deterioration,
facilitate soldering or improve electrical performance.
Coaxial Cable.
A cable
consisting of two cylindrical conductors with a common axis, separated by a
dielectric.
Cold Flow.
Permanent deformation
of the insulation due to mechanical force or pressure (not due to heat
softening.)
Cold Test.
Any test to determine
the performance of cables during or after subjection to a specified low
temperature for a specified time.
Color Code.
A system for circuit identification through use of solid colors and
contrasting tracers.
Common Axis
Cabling. In
multiple cable constructions, a twisting of all conductors about a "common
axis" with two conductor groups then selected as pairs. This practice yields
smaller diameter constructions that does a separate axis construction, but
tends to yield greater susceptance to EMI and ESI.
Common Mode.
(Noise), caused by a
difference in "ground potential." By grounding at either end rather than
both ends (usually grounded at source) on can reduce this interference.
Compact Stranded
Conductor.
A
unidirectional or conventional conductor manufactured to a specified
diameter, approximately 8 to 10% below the nominal diameter of a noncompact
conductor of the same cross sectional area.
Compatibility.
The ability of
dissimilar materials to exist in mutual proximity or contact without
changing their physical or electrical properties.
Composite Cable.
A cable
consisting of two or more different types or sizes of wires.
Compound.
An insulating or
jacketing materials made by mixing two or more ingredients.
Concentric
Stranding.
A
central wire surrounded by one or more layers of helically wound strands in
a fixed round geometric arrangement.
Concentricity.
In a wire or
cable, the measurement of the location of the center of the conductor with
respect to the geometric center of the surrounding insulation.
Conductance.
The ability of a
conductor to carry electric current. It is the reciprocal of resistance and
is measured in ohms.
Conductivity.
The capability
of a material to carry electrical current-usually expressed as a percentage
of copper conductivity (copper being 100%).
Conductor.
An uninsulated wire
suitable for carrying electrical current.
Conduit.
A tube or trough in
which insulated wires and cables are run.
Connector.
A device used to
physically and electrically connect two or more conductors.
Contact.
The part of a
connector which actually carries the electrical current, and are touched
together or separated to control the flow.
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
Vulcanization.
Simultaneous extrusion
and vulcanization of rubber-like wires in a cable.
Control Cable.
A
multiconductor cable made for operation in control or signal circuits.
Copolymer.
A polymer formed from
two or more types of Monomers.
Copper-Clad.
Steel with a coating
of copper welded to it, as distinguished from copper-plated. Same as
Copperweld.
Copperweld.
The trade name of
Flexo Wire Division (Copperweld Steel Corp.) for their copper-clad steel
conductors.
Cord.
A small, flexible
insulated cable.
Core.
In cables, a component or
assembly of components over which additional components (shield, sheath,
etc.) are applied.
Corona.
A discharge due to
ionization of air around a conductor due to a potential gradient exceeding a
certain critical value.
Corona Effect (of
A.C.) In
wiring, the effect produced when two wires of other conductors having a
great difference of voltage are placed near each other.
Corona Loss.
A loss or discharge
which occurs when two electrodes having a great difference of pressure are
placed near together.
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.
Corona Test.
A test to determine
the ability of cable to withstand the formation of corona under an
increasing applied voltage and to extinguish corona when a corona-producing
voltage is reduced.
Corrosion.
The deterioration of a material by chemical reaction or galvanic action.
CPE.
Jacketing compound based
on chlorinated polyethylene.
Crazing.
The minute cracks on
the surface of plastic materials.
CRCS.
An acronym for continuous
rigid cable support. Synonymous with tray.
Creep.
The dimensional change
with time of a material under load.
Creepage.
Electrical leakage on
a solid dielectric surface.
Cross-Linked.
Inter-molecular bonds between long chain thermoplastic polymers by chemical
or electron bombardment means. The properties of the resulting thermosetting
material are usually improved.
Crosstalk.
Signal interference
between nearby conductors caused by pickup of stray energy. It is also
called induced interference.
C.S.A.
Abbreviation for Canadian
Standards Association. The Canadian counterpart of the Underwriters
Laboratories.
Cure.
See Vulcanization.
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 flow of
electricity in a circuit, measured in amperes.
Current-Carrying
Capacity. The
maximum current an insulated conductor or cable can continuously carry
without exceeding its temperature rating. It is also called ampacity.
Current
Penetration.
The depth a current of a given frequency will penetrate into the surface of
a conductor carrying the current.
Cut-Through.
Resistance of solid
material to penetration by an object under conditions of pressure,
temperature, etc.
CV (Continuous
Vulcanization).
Simultaneous extrusion
and vulcanization of wire coating materials.
Cycle.
The complete sequence of
alteration or reversal of the flow of an alternating electric current.
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