| AC |
Alternating Current — electric current that periodically reverses direction. |
| Ampere |
The base unit of electric current. |
| ASTM |
American Society for Testing and Materials, a standards body covering wire and cable material specifications. |
| AWG |
American Wire Gauge — the standard system for specifying round conductor diameter. See our AWG Wire Gauge Chart for the full reference table. |
| Binder |
A tape or thread wrapped around cable core components to hold them together before jacketing. |
| Cable |
An assembly of one or more insulated conductors, typically under a common outer jacket. |
| Cabling |
The process of twisting or stranding individual insulated conductors together into a cable core. |
| Coaxial Cable |
A cable with a central conductor, a dielectric layer, and a concentric outer shield, used for high-frequency signal transmission. |
| Concentric Stranding |
A stranding pattern where wire strands are laid in successive helical layers around a central core. |
| Conductivity |
A measure of how easily a material allows electric current to flow through it. |
| Conductor |
The current-carrying metallic part of a wire or cable, typically copper or aluminum. |
| Cord |
A flexible, typically lighter-duty cable used for portable or low-power connections. |
| Current Carrying Capacity |
The maximum current a conductor can carry continuously without exceeding its temperature rating. |
| DC |
Direct Current — electric current that flows in one direction only. |
| Drain Wire |
A bare (uninsulated) wire in contact with a cable's shield, used to terminate the shield to ground. |
| EIA |
Electronic Industries Alliance, a standards body for electronic component and cable specifications. |
| Earth (Ground) |
A reference conductor connected to earth potential, typically for safety or noise-reduction purposes. |
| FEP |
Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene, a fluoropolymer insulation material with high heat and chemical resistance. |
| Fillers |
Non-conductive elements added inside a cable core to maintain a round cross-section. |
| Foamed PE |
Foamed (expanded) polyethylene, used as an insulation material where lower dielectric constant or weight matters. |
| Hard Drawn Copper Wire |
Copper wire that has not been annealed after drawing, giving it higher tensile strength but lower flexibility than annealed copper. |
| IEEE |
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, a professional association that publishes widely used electrical standards. |
| Impedance |
The total opposition a circuit presents to alternating current, combining resistance and reactance. |
| Insulation |
The non-conductive material covering a conductor to prevent current leakage and contact with other conductors. |
| Irradiation |
A process that cross-links insulation material using radiation to improve heat and chemical resistance. |
| Jacket |
The outer protective covering of a cable, surrounding the insulated conductors and any shielding. |
| Lay |
The linear distance required for one complete twist of a stranded conductor or cabled component; also called lay length. |
| Lay Direction |
The direction (left-hand or right-hand) in which strands or cable components are twisted. |
| Mega |
A metric prefix meaning one million (10⁶). |
| Mil |
One-thousandth of an inch (0.001in), commonly used to specify wire diameter or insulation thickness. |
| Milli |
A metric prefix meaning one-thousandth (10⁻³). |
| Mylar |
A common brand name for polyester film, often used as a cable wrap or shielding tape. |
| NEMA |
National Electrical Manufacturers Association, a U.S. standards body for electrical equipment. |
| Nylon |
A synthetic polymer used for cable jacketing or as an abrasion-resistant outer coating. |
| Ohm |
The unit of electrical resistance. |
| Plasticizer |
An additive used in PVC compounds to increase flexibility. |
| PE |
Polyethylene, a common insulation and jacketing material. |
| PP |
Polypropylene, used for insulation, jacketing, and fillers. |
| PU |
Polyurethane, valued for abrasion and oil resistance in jacketing applications. |
| PVC |
Polyvinyl Chloride, the most common general-purpose wire and cable insulation and jacketing material. |
| Resistance |
Opposition to current flow, measured in ohms. |
| Retractile Cord |
A coiled cable, similar to a telephone handset cord, that stretches and retracts. |
| Rubber |
A natural or synthetic elastomer used as an insulation or jacketing material. |
| SAE |
Society of Automotive Engineers, publisher of widely used automotive wire and cable standards. |
| Semi-rigid PVC |
A PVC compound formulated with reduced flexibility for specific mechanical or dimensional requirements. |
| Separator |
A layer separating internal cable components, such as a shield from the surrounding insulation. |
| Shield |
A conductive layer around a cable's core used to reduce electromagnetic interference. |
| Shield Coverage |
The percentage of a cable's circumference physically covered by its shielding layer. |
| Silicone |
A heat-resistant elastomer used as insulation in high-temperature applications. |
| Teflon / TFE |
Common names for PTFE, a fluoropolymer insulation material with high heat and chemical resistance. |
| Tinsel |
A fine braided wire construction used in cords requiring high flex life, such as coiled handset cords. |
| Thermal Rating |
The maximum continuous operating temperature a cable or insulation material is rated for. |
| VW-1 |
A vertical wire flame test rating (UL) indicating a wire's resistance to flame propagation. |
