Part of a cable which has the specific function of carrying electrical current.
Conductor consisting of a single solid metallic wire.
Conductor consisting of a number of individual metallic wires, all or some of which are wound in a helix.
Metal cable conductor in which the wire or wires are not coated with any additional metal layer.
Metal-coated conductor in which the metallic coating applied to the conductor wires is made of tin.
Stranded conductor having wires of diameters small enough and so assembled that the conductor is suitable for use in a flexible cable setup.
Shaped conductor the cross-section of which approximates to a sector of a circle.
Stranded conductor in which the empty spaces (interstices) between the component wires have been reduced by mechanical compression or drawing, or by suitable selection of the shape and layout of the wires.
Assembly of insulating materials incorporated in a cable with the specific function of withstanding operating voltage.
Insulation made of a plastic material capable of being repeatedly softened by heating and hardened by cooling through a temperature range characteristic of the plastic, and, in the softened state, capable of being shaped by extrusion.
Insulation made of plastic which, when cured by heat or other means (such as radiation, catalysts, etc.), changes into a substantially infusible and insoluble product.
Insulation made of a thermoplastic material or copolymer compound, the internal molecular structure of which is changed when cured by chemical reaction (such as crosslinking or vulcanization) and/or a physical process (such as irradiation).
Insulation made of a material that deforms under low mechanical stress and returns to its original state upon release of that stress.
Conducting layer or assembly of conducting layers having the function of control of the electric field within the insulation.
Electrical screen made of non-metallic and/or metallic material covering the conductor core.
Electrical screen made of non-metallic and/or metallic material covering the insulation layer.
Surrounding earthed metallic layer which serves to confine the electric field within the cable and/or protect the cable cores from external electrical electromagnetic influences.
Uninsulated wire laid in contact with a screen or a shield to ensure continuous earthing and ease of termination.
Cushioning layer or layers applied to a cable immediately beneath a metallic layer (such as the armour or reinforcement) to protect inner cores from damage.
Uniform and continuous outer tubular covering of metallic or non-metallic material, generally extruded over the cable cores.
Covering consisting of metal tape(s) or wires, generally used to protect the cable from external mechanical stresses or rodent attacks.
Covering formed from plaited metallic or non-metallic threads/wires.
Metallic or synthetic tape wound in an open helix on wire armour to keep it firmly in place.
Tape applied under a sheath or into the spaces between conductor wires in order to swell in contact with moisture and prevent water migration along the cable length.
Formation of three single-core cables so laid as to be mutually equidistant from each other.
Formation of a number of cables laid in a single horizontal plane, usually with equal spacing between adjacent cables.
Cylinder with side flanges on to which cable is wound during manufacture, utilized for storage, transport, and installation.
Cable wound to form a circular package without any internal support structure.
Watertight protective device placed on the ends of a cable to prevent the ingress of moisture or dirt during storage, transit, and installation.
Free-running cylinder or set of cylinders, shaped to support and assist in conveying the cable along trenches during laying.
Set of cable rollers, at least one of which is driven by a motor in order to apply pushing force for pulling cables in long trenches.
Pair of motor-driven tracks, chains, or belts that apply clamping and pulling forces for conveying cable during manufacture or laying.
Woven tubular mesh device placed around the end of a cable, which reduces in diameter (tightens) as pulling force is applied, used to grip the cable sheath.
Device attached directly to the cable conductor cores and/or the outer metal sheath/armour to transfer pulling forces to the cable structure.
Color-coded plastic tape or mesh placed in the ground above buried cable circuits to warn future excavators of the cable's proximity.
Backfill composed of selected materials whose thermal characteristics (resistivity) are optimized to facilitate the dissipation of heat from running cables into the surrounding ground.
Maximum current which a cable can carry when subjected to a repetitive daily load cycle over a long period such that the conductor core reaches, but does not exceed, its maximum rated safe temperature during the peak cycle.
Multiplier factor by which the permissible steady-state rated current (corresponding to a 100% continuous load factor) is multiplied to determine the peak current capacity during a daily cyclic load profile without exceeding thermal limits.
The basic unit of electrical current. One ampere is defined as the current intensity flowing through a circuit having a resistance of one ohm when a potential difference of one volt is applied across it.
The unit of electrical capacitance. Capacitance represents the ratio of the accumulated electrostatic charge on a conductor to the electrical potential difference required to maintain it. A one-farad capacitor stores a charge of one coulomb under a potential of one volt.
The unit of electromagnetic inductance. Inductance is a property of a electrical conductor or loop that opposes any changes in the flow of electric current through it, causing current changes to lag behind voltage variations.
The unit of frequency, representing cycles per second. In electrical terms, it defines the number of complete cycles or oscillations that an alternating current (AC) undergoes in one second.
The unit of electrical resistance. Resistance measures the mechanical opposition or difficulty encountered by free electrons moving through a conducting material under an applied voltage. One ohm allows one ampere of current to pass under one volt of pressure.
The unit of electrical pressure or electromotive force. One volt is defined as the electrical potential difference required to drive a current of one ampere through a resistance of one ohm.
Current carrying capacity of a cable is known as its ampacity.
This property is unique for each wire/ cable & is influenced by
Conductor material, number of conductors & cross- sectional area
Thermal conductivity & Thickness of insulation
Ambient temperature
Ability of construction to dissipate heat after installation
A metal covering usually applied in the form of tape or wire, intended to protect a cable from mechanical damage.
Metal spools used for taking up drawn wire and subsequently used for payoff packages in cabling and stranding equipment
The plaited protective covering of a cable.
cushioning layer or layers applied to a cable immediately beneath a metallic layer such as the armour or the reinforcement
A term applied to a number of wires twisted together in one direction in one operation without any regard to their geometric arrangement.
Radius of curvature that a flat, round, fiber optic or metallic cable can bend without any adverse effects.
An assembly of one or more conductors, ether solid or stranded, each covered with a layer of insulating material throughout its length, the whole being provided with a common protective covering.
A material used in a multiple-core conductor cable to occupy space and thus round up the cable, sometimes used to accomplish conductor spacing.
Abbreviation for Community Antenna Television. Cable TV.
A multi-conductor cable made for operating in control or signal circuits, usually flexible, relatively small in size, and with relatively small current rating.
Assembly comprising a conductor and its own insulation.
A system of different colors or stripes used to identify components of cables such as individual conductors or groups of conductors.
cylinder with flanges on to which cable is wound during manufacture, for storage, transportation and installation
cable wound to form a circular package without internal support
The sum of the cross-sectional area of the component wires of the conductor of a cable, the cross-sectional area of each wire being measured perpendicular to its individual axis.
The current a conductor of a given size is capable of carrying safely without exceeding its own temperature limitations, at a defined set of conditions.
The ability of a material to allow electrons to flow, measured by the current per unit of voltage applied. It is the reciprocal of resistivity
A number of small gauge bare wires applied concentrically about the insulation shield of a high voltage cable for the purpose of a fault current return path.
The process of reducing a cylindrical rod or wire to a desired diameter by pulling the wire through a die or series of dies thus stretching the wire.
The application of a semi-solid plastic or rubber material by forcing it on a wire passing through the extruder in a continuous fashion.
device placed on the ends of a cable to prevent the ingress of moisture during storage, transportation and installation
The material used to fill the interstices between the cores of a two-, three-four-core or multicore cable.
A coating of some metal part (usually steel or iron) with zinc by dipping or electroplating.
A non-conductive material usually surrounding or separating two or more conductive materials.
A covering put around an insulated conductor for the purpose of protection and/or resistance.
In multiphase circuits the conductor used to carry unbalanced current and in single phase systems the conductor used for a return current path.
It is the minimum of oxygen in an oxygen -nitrogen mixture in which the material will burn (air contains 21 % oxygen).
The process of feeding a cable or wire from a bobbin, reel, or other packages. Also a device used for paying out wire or cable into a piece of equipment or machinery.
A sheathing of PVC compound Used on an insulated cable or flexible cord to form an outer protective covering so as to make the cable or cord reasonably resistant to decay, mechanical abrasion, acids, alkalies and other corrosive materials.
The property of an electric circuit which determines, for a given current, the rate at which electric energy is converted into heat and has a value such that the current squared, multiplied by the resistance gives the power
The voltage at which the cable is designed to operate. In the case of ac system, the rated voltage means the voltage between phases.
A uniform and continuous covering used to protect the insulation, especially against moisture, or to protect an inner metallic sheath or armour against corrosion.
It is required to determine cross sectional areas of conductor and screen in respect of short circuit current.
Temperature index is the temperature at which oxygen index becomes 21.
Composed of a conducting material, uniform in diameter and circular in cross section.
part of a cable which has the specific function of carrying current
conductor consisting of a single wire
conductor consisting of a number of wires, all or some of which are wound in a helix
metal cable conductor in which the wire or wires are not coated with an additional metal
metal-coated conductor in which the metal coating is of tin
stranded conductor having wires of diameters small enough and so assembled that the conductor is suitable for use in a flexible cable
shaped conductor the cross-section of which approximates to a sector of a circle
stranded conductor in which the interstices between the component wires have been reduced by mechanical compression or by drawing or by suitable choice of the shape and disposition of wires
assembly of insulating materials incorporated in a cable with the specific function of withstanding voltage
insulation made of a plastic capable of being repeatedly softened by heating and hardened by cooling through a temperature range characteristic of the plastic and, in the softened state, capable of being repeatedly shaped by extrusion
insulation made of a thermoplastic material or a copolymer or a compound based on one of these materials, the internal molecular structure of which is changed when cured by chemical reaction, such as, crosslinking or vulcanization and/or physical process, such as irradiation
conducting layer or assembly of conducting layers having the function of control of the electric field within the insulation (Note – It may also provide smooth surfaces at the boundaries of the insulation and assist in the elimination of spaces at these boundaries.)
electrical screen of non-metallic and/or metallic material covering the conductor
electrical screen of non-metallic and/or metallic material covering the insulation
surrounding earthed metallic layer which serves to confine the electric field within the cable and/or to protect the cable from external electrical influence (Note – Metallic sheaths, foils, braids, armours and earthed concentric conductors may also serve as shields)
uninsulated wire laid in contact with a screen or a shield
Unit of current. One ampere is the current flowing through one ohm of resistance at one-volt potential.
Unit of capacitance. Capacitance is the ratio of the electrostatic charge on a conductor to the potential difference between the conductors required to maintain that charge. A one farad capacitor is one in which a one coulomb charge produces a one-volt potential difference between the plates.
Unit of inductance. Inductance is a property of a circuit or circuit element that opposes a change in current flow, causing current changes to lag behind voltage changes
Unit of frequency. Frequency is the number of cycles by an alternating current in one second. One hertz is equal to one cycle per second.
Unit of electrical resistance. Resistance is a measure of the difficulty in moving electrical current through a medium when voltage is applied. The resistance of a circuit in which a potential difference of one volt produces a current of one ampere.
The standard unit of electromotive force or electrical pressure. One volt is the amount of pressure that will cause one ampere of current to flow through one ohm of resistance.
The decrease in magnitude of a signal as it travels through any transmitting medium, such as a cable or circuitry. Attenuation is usually expressed logarithmically as the ratio of the original and decreased signal amplitudes. It is usually expressed in decibels (dB).