|
5-Mil
Copper
|
Solid
Copper Shield. Provides added electrical protection.
|
|
A
|
A
symbol designation for ampere.
|
|
Abrasion
Resistance
|
Ability
of a wire, cable or material to resist surface wear.
|
|
Abrasion
Stripper
|
More
accurately described as "buffing stripper", which is a motorized
device for removing flat cable insulation by means of one or two buffing
wheels that melt the insulation and brush it away from the conductors.
|
|
AC
|
Alternating
current.
|
|
Accelerated
Aging
|
A
test that simulates long time environmental conditions in a relatively
short time.
|
|
ACR
|
The difference between
attenuation and crosstalk, measured in dB, at a given frequency (acronym
for Attenuation Crosstalk Ratio). Important characteristic in networking
transmission to assure that signal sent down a twisted pair is stronger at
the receiving end of the cable than are any interference signals imposed
on that same pair by crosstalk from other pairs.
|
|
AES/EBU
|
Informal name of a
digital audio standard established jointly by the AES (Audio Engineering
Society) and EBU (European Broadcast Union) organizations.
|
|
AF
|
Audio frequency.
|
|
Air
Core
|
Cables
that are not gel filled.
|
|
Air-Gap
Dielectric
|
A
coaxial design in which a monofilament of plastic holds the center
conductor in place allowing the remainder of the dielectric to be air.
Typical velocities of up to 84% can be achieved in this design.
|
|
Alloy
|
A combination of two or
more different polymers/metals. Usually combined to make use of different
properties of each polymer metal.
|
|
Alpeth
|
Coated
Aluminum Polyethylene. Basic sheath.
|
|
Alternating
Current (AC)
|
Electric Current that
alternates or reverses polarity continuously. The number of alternations
per second are described as cycles, (hertz or Hz).
|
|
AM
|
Amplitude modulation.
|
|
Ambient
|
Conditions existing at
a test or operating location prior to energizing equipment (e.g.: ambient
temperature).
|
|
American
Wire Gauge (AWG)
|
A standard for
expressing wire diameter. As the AWG number gets smaller, the wire
diameter gets larger.
|
|
Ampacity
|
Current
handling capability. The maximum current a conductor can carry without
being heated beyond a safe limit.
|
|
Ampere
|
A
standard unit of current. Defined as the amount of current that flows when
one volt of emf is applied across one ohm of resistance. An ampere of
current is produced by one coulomb of charge passing a point in one
second.
|
|
Amplitude
|
The
Maximum value of a varying wave form.
|
|
Analog
|
Representation
of data by continuously variable quantities.
|
|
Analog
Signal
|
An
electrical signal which varies continuously, not having discrete values.
Analog signals are copies or representations of other waves in nature. An
analog audio signal, for instance, is a representation of the pressure
waves which make up audible sound.
|
|
Anneal
|
To soften and relieve
strains in any solid material, such as metal or glass, by heating to just
below its melting point and then slowly cooling it. Annealing generally
lowers the tensile strength of the material, while improving its flex life
and flexibility.
|
|
ANSI
|
American National
Standards Institute.
|
|
ASP
|
Aluminum
Steel Polyethylene. Provides mechanical and electrical protection.
|
|
ASTM
|
The American Society
for Testing and Materials, a standards organization which suggests test
methods, definitions and practices.
|
|
Asynchronous
Transfer Mode
|
The SONET standard for
a packet switching technique which uses packets of a fixed length.
|
|
ATM
|
The SONET standard for
a packet switching technique which uses packets of a fixed length.
|
|
Attenuation
|
The decrease in
magnitude of a signal as it travels through any transmitting medium, such
as a cable or circuitry. Attenuation is measured as the logarithm of a
ratio. It is expressed in decibels or dB.
|
|
Audio
|
A term used to describe
sounds within the range of human hearing. Also used to describe devices
which are designed to operate within this range (20 Hz to 20 kHz).
|
|
Audio
Frequency
|
Frequencies within the
range of human hearing: approximately 20 to 20,000 Hz.
|
|
AWG
|
American Wire Gage. A
wire diameter specification. The smaller the AWG number, the larger the
wire diameter.
|
|
AWM
|
Appliance Wiring
Material.
|
|
Backbone
|
The cable used to
connect all systems of a multi-level distributed system to an intermediate
system.
|
|
Backshell
|
Metal housing providing
continuity of shield through IDC connectors.
|
|
Balanced
Line
|
A cable having two
identical conductors which carry voltages opposite in polarity and equal
in magnitude with respect to ground, suitable for differential signal
transmission.
|
|
Balun
|
A device for matching
an unbalanced coaxial transmission line to a balanced two-wire system. Can
also provide impedance transformation, as 300 ohm balanced to 75 ohm
unbalanced.
|
|
Bandwidth
|
The difference between
the upper and lower limits of a given band of frequencies. Expressed in
Hertz.
|
|
Baud
|
Unit of data
transmission speed meaning bits per second (500 baud=500 bits per second).
|
|
Bel
|
A unit that represents
the logarithm of the ratio of two levels. The number of bels is equal to
the logarithm sub 10 of P sub 1/P sub 2):2 logarithm sub 10 (E sub 1/E sub
2); and 2 logarithm sub 10 (I sub 1/I sub 2). See dB.
|
|
Beldfoil
|
Belden trademark for
highly effective electrostatic shield of reinforced metallic foil.
|
|
Beldsol
|
Solderable
Belden magnet wire combining insulating films of polyurethane for
excellent dielectric characteristics and nylon for mechanical protection.
|
|
Bend
Loss
|
A form of increased
attenuation caused by (a) having an optical fiber curved around a
restrictive radius of curvature or (b) microbends caused by minute
distortions in the fiber imposed by externally induced perturbations.
|
|
Bend
Radius
|
Radius of curvature
that a flat, round, fiber optic or metallic cable can bend without any
adverse effects.
|
|
Binder
|
A tape or thread used
for holding assembled cable components in place.
|
|
Bit
|
One binary digit.
|
|
Bit
Error Rate
|
The number of errors
occurring in a system per second. Typically less than 10e-12.
|
|
Bits
Per Second
|
The number of binary
bits that can be transmitted per second - I.e. Mbps (Mega - millions),
Gbps (Giga - billions).
|
|
BNC
|
Abbreviation for
"Bayonet Neil Concelman". A coaxial cable connector used
extensively in video and R. F. applications and named for its inventor.
|
|
Bonded
|
Steel
is bonded to polyethylene with a copolymer adhesive All STALPETH and some
ASP cables are bonded. Provides extra strength to jacket, primarily
used in underground applications.
|
|
Bonded
ASP
|
Aluminum
Steel Polyethylene where the steel is bonded to polyethylene for strength.
Filled cables for use in ducts.
|
|
Bonding
|
The method used to
produce good electrical contact between metallic parts of any device. Used
extensively in automobiles and aircraft to prevent static buildup. Also
refers to the connectors and straps used to bond equipment.
|
|
Booster
|
A device or amplifier
inserted into a line or cable to increase the voltage. Transformers may be
employed to boost ac voltages. The term booster is also applied to antenna
preamplifiers.
|
|
BPS
|
The number of binary
bits that can be transmitted per second - I.e. Mbps (Mega - millions),
Gbps (Giga - billions).
|
|
Braid
|
A group of textile or
metallic filaments interwoven to form a tubular flexible structure which
may be applied over one or more wires, or flattened to form a strap.
|
|
Braid
Angle
|
The angle between a
strand of wire in a braid shield and the axis of the cable it is wound
around.
|
|
Breakdown
Voltage
|
The voltage at which
the insulation between two conductors will fail and allow electricity to
conduct or 'arc'.
|
|
Breakout
|
The point at which a
conductor or conductors are separated from a multi-conductor cable to
complete circuits at various points along the main cable.
|
|
Broadband
|
The technique used to
multiplex multiple networks on a single cable without interfering with
each other.
|
|
Buffer
|
A protective coating
over an optical fiber.
|
|
Buffing
Stripper
|
A motorized device for
removing flat cable insulation by means of one or two buffing wheels that
melt the insulation and brush it away from the conductors. Also called
Abrasion Stripper.
|
|
Bunch
Strand
|
Conductors twisted
together with the same lay and direction without regard to geometric
pattern.
|
|
Buried
|
Cables
that are required to go underground.
|
|
Bus-bar
Wire
|
Uninsulated
tinned copper wire used as a common lead.
|
|
Butyl
Rubber
|
A synthetic rubber with
good electrical insulating properties.
|
|
Byte
|
A group of adjacent
binary digits (8 bits).
|
|
C
|
Symbol designation for
capacitance, and Celsius.
|
|
Cable
|
A group of individually
insulated conductors twisted helically.
|
|
Cabling
|
The grouping or
twisting together of two or more insulated conductors to form a cable.
|
|
CACSP
|
Coated
Aluminum, Coated Steel, Polyethylene. Provides additional strength
and protection.
|
|
Canadian
Electrical Code (CEC)
|
Canadian version of the
US National Electrical Code (NEC).
|
|
Capacitance
|
The ability of a
dielectric material between conductors to store energy when a difference
of potential exists between the conductors. The unit of measurement is the
farad. Cable capacitance is usually measured in picofarads (pF).
|
|
Capacitive
Crosstalk
|
Cable crosstalk or
interference resulting from the coupling of the electrostatic field of one
conductor upon one or more others.
|
|
Capacitive
Reactance
|
The opposition to
alternating current due to the capacitance of a capacitor, cable, or
circuit. It is measured in ohms and is equal to 1/6.28fC where f is the
frequency in Hz and C is the capacitance in farads.
|
|
Capacitor
|
Two conducting surfaces
separated by a dielectric material. The capacitance is determined by the
area of the surfaces, type of dielectric, and spacing between the
conducting surfaces.
|
|
Carrier
Strip
|
Also referred to as
substrate. A film that is on one side of a laminated flat cable.
|
|
CASPIC
|
Coated
Aluminum, Coated Steel.
|
|
Category
|
Rating of a cable
established by TIA/EIA to indicate the level of electrical performance.
|
|
CATV
|
Abbreviation for
Community Antenna Television.
|
|
CB
|
Citizens band.
|
|
CCTV
|
Closed-circuit
television.
|
|
Cellular
Polyethylene
|
Expanded or
"foam" polyethylene, consists of individual closed cells of
inert gas suspended in a polyethylene medium, resulting in a desirable
reduction of the dielectric constant.
|
|
Center-to-Center
Distance
|
Pitch. Nominal distance
from center-to-center of adjacent conductors within a cable. When
conductors are flat, pitch is usually measured from the reference edge of
a conductor to the reference edge of the adjacent conductor.
|
|
Channel
|
The horizontal cable
including the workstation outlet and patch panel in the telecommunications
closet plus a maximum combined length of up to ten meters of patch cable
at each end (maximum length of 100 meters).
|
|
Characteristic
Impedance
|
In a transmission cable
of infinite length, the ratio of the applied voltage to the resultant
current at the point the voltage is applied. Or the impedance which makes
a transmission cable seem infinitely long, when connected across the
cable's output terminals.
|
|
Chrominance
Signal
|
The portion of a
composite video signal that contains the color information.
|
|
Circuit
|
A system of conducting
media designed to pass an electric current.
|
|
Circular
Mil
|
The area of a circle
one one-thousandth of an inch (.001") in diameter. By knowing the
circular mil area of various conductors, they can be used to determine
what conductivity and gage size various combinations will produce.
|
|
Cladding
|
A low refractive index
material that surrounds the core of an optical fiber causing the
transmitted light to travel down the core and protects against surface
contaminant scattering. A layer of metal applied over another. Cladding is
often chosen to improve conductivity or to resist corrosion.
|
|
Coaxial
Cable
|
A cylindrical
transmission line comprised of a conductor centered inside a metallic tube
or shield, separated by a dielectric material, and usually covered by an
insulating jacket.
|
|
Coil
Effect
|
The inductive effect
exhibited by a spiral-wrapped shield, especially above audio frequencies.
|
|
Color
Code
|
A system of different
colors or stripes used to identify components of cables such as individual
conductors or groups of conductors.
|
|
Component
Video
|
The unencoded output of
a camera, video tape recorder, etc., whereby each red, green, and blue
signal is transmitted down a separate cable. Component video systems most
commonly use bundled coax as a transmission medium.
|
|
Composite
Video
|
The encoded output of a
camera, video tape recorder, etc., whereby the red, green, blue,
horizontal and vertical sync are transmitted simultaneously down one
cable.
|
|
Concentric
Stranding
|
A group of uninsulated
wires twisted together and containing a center core with subsequent layers
spirally wrapped around the core with alternating lay directions to form a
single conductor.
|
|
Conductivity
|
The ability of a
material to allow electrons to flow, measured by the current per unit of
voltage applied. It is the reciprocal of resistively.
|
|
Conductor
|
A substance, usually
metal, used to transfer electrical energy from point to point.
|
|
Conduit
|
A tube of metal or
plastic through which wire or cable can be run. Used to protect the wire
or cable and, in the case of metal conduit, make it fireproof.
|
|
Connector
|
A device designed to
allow electrical flow from one wire or cable to a device on another cable.
A connector will allow interruption of the circuit or the transfer to
another circuit without any cutting of wire or cable or other preparation.
|
|
Copperweld
|
Trademark of Copperweld
Steel Co. for copper-clad steel conductor.
|
|
Cord
|
A very flexible
insulated cable.
|
|
Core
|
The light conducting
central portion of an optical fiber with a refractive index higher than
that of the cladding. The center of a cable construction. Most often
applies to a coaxial cable, where the core is the center conductor and the
dielectric material applied to it.
|
|
Corona
|
The ionization of
gasses about a conductor that results when the potential gradient reaches
a certain value.
|
|
Coupling
|
The transfer of energy
(without direct electrical contact) between two or more cables or
components of a circuit.
|
|
Coverage
|
How well a metal shield
covers the underlying surface. Measured in percent.
|
|
CPE
|
Chlorinated
polyethylene can be used as either a thermoplastic or thermoset. It is a
tough chemical and oil-resistant material and makes an excellent jacket
for industrial control cable. As a thermoset, it can be used as an oil
resistant cord jacket. Other outstanding properties include low water
absorption and superior crush resistance, which are important attributes
in industrial control applications.
|
|
CPS
|
Abbreviation for cycles
per second or Hertz.
|
|
CPU
|
Central Processing
Unit.
|
|
Crosstalk
|
A type of interference
caused by audio frequencies from one pair being coupled into adjacent
pairs. The term is also used to describe coupling at higher frequencies.
|
|
CRT
|
Cathode Ray Tube.
|
|
CSA
|
Abbreviation for
Canadian Standards Association, the Canadian version of the Underwriters
Laboratories.
|
|
CUPIC
|
Copper.
|
|
Current
Carrying Capacity
|
The maximum current a
conductor can carry without being heated beyond a safe limit (ampacity).
|
|
Current
Loop
|
A two wire
transmit/receive interface.
|
|
Current,
Alternating (ac)
|
An electric current
that periodically reverses direction of electron flow. The rate at which a
full cycle occurs in a given unit of time (generally a second) is called
the frequency of the current.
|
|
Current,
Direct (dc)
|
Electrical current
whose electrons flow in one direction only. It maybe constant or pulsating
as long as its movement is in the same direction.
|
|
Cut-through
Resistance
|
A test to determine the
ability of a material to withstand the application of blades or sharp
edges without being cut.
|
|
D1
|
A component digital
video recording format that conforms to the CCIR-601 standard. Records on
19 mm magnetic tape. (Often used incorrectly to indicate component digital
video).
|
|
D2
|
A composite digital
video recording format. Records on 19 mm magnetic tape.
|
|
D3
|
A composite digital
video recording format. Records on 1/2" magnetic tape.
|
|
Daisy
Chain
|
A cable assembly with
three or more termination areas.
|
|
Datalene
|
Belden trademark for
foam polyolefin.
|
|
dB
|
Decibel.
|
|
DC
|
Direct current.
|
|
DC
Resistance
|
See resistance.
|
|
Decibel
(dB)
|
A decibel is one-tenth
of a bel and is equal to 10 times the logarithm of the power ratio, 20
times the log of the voltage ratio, or 20 times the log of the current
ratio. Decibels are also used to express acoustic power, such as the
apparent level of a sound. The decibel can express an actual level only
when comparing with some definite reference level that is assumed to be
zero dB.
|
|
Delay
Line
|
A transmission line or
equivalent device designed to delay a wave or signal for a specific length
of time.
|
|
DEPIC
|
Dual
Expanded Plastic Insulated Conductor (Foam Skin). Decreases outside
diameter of cable.
|
|
Derating
Factor
|
A multiplier used to
reduce the current carrying capacity of conductors in more adverse
environments.
|
|
Dielectric
|
An insulating (nonconducting)
medium when used in a signal-carrying design.
|
|
Dielectric
Breakdown
|
Any change in the
properties of a dielectric that causes it to become conductive. Normally a
catastrophic failure of an insulation because of excessive voltage.
|
|
Dielectric
Constant
|
Also called
permittivity. That property of a dielectric which determines the amount of
electrostatic energy that can be stored by the material when a given
voltage is applied to it. Actually, the ratio of the capacitance of a
capacitor using the dielectric to the capacitance of an identical
capacitor using a vacuum (which has a Dielectric Constant of 1) as a
dielectric. A number which indicates the quality of a material to resist
holding an electrical charge when placed between two conductors.
|
|
Dielectric
Heating
|
The heating of an
insulating material when placed in a radio-frequency field, caused by
internal losses during the rapid polarization reversal of molecules in the
material.
|
|
Dielectric
Loss
|
The power dissipated in
a dielectric as the result of the friction produced by molecular motion
when an alternating electric field is applied.
|
|
Dielectric
Strength
|
The voltage an
insulation can withstand before it breaks down. Usually expressed as
'volts per mil'.
|
|
Dielectric
Withstand Voltage
|
The voltage that an
insulating material can withstand before breakdown occurs.
|
|
Digital
Signal
|
An electrical signal
which possesses two distinct states (on/off, positive/negative).
|
|
Dispersion
|
The cause of bandwidth
limitations in an optical fiber. Dispersion causes a broadening of input
pulses along the length of the fiber. Two major types are (a) mode
dispersion caused by differential optical path lengths in a multimode
fiber, and (b) material dispersion caused by a differential delay of
various wavelengths of light in a wave guide material.
|
|
Distortion
|
Any undesired change in
a wave form or signal.
|
|
Distribution
Cables
|
In a CATV system, the
transmission cable between the distribution amplifier and the drop cable.
|
|
Disturbed
Conductor
|
A conductor that
receives energy generated by the field of another conductor or an external
source. e.g. the quiet line.
|
|
Drain
Wire
|
A non-insulated wire in
contact with parts of a cable, usually the shield, and used in the
termination to that shield and as a ground connection.
|
|
Drop
Cable
|
In a CATV system, the
transmission cable from the distribution cable to a dwelling.
|
|
Duobond
II
|
Belden trademark for a
laminated shielding tape consisting of heat sensitive adhesive, aluminum
foil, polyester or polypropylene, and aluminum foil.
|
|
Duofoil
|
Belden trademark for a
shield in which metallic foil is applied to both sides of a supporting
plastic film.
|
|
E
|
Voltage (electromotive
force).
|
|
Earth
|
British terminology for
zero-reference ground.
|
|
Edge
Margin
|
Margin.
|
|
EFP
|
Abbreviation for
Electronic Field Production. Video production for commercials, television
shows and other non-news purposes done outside the studio.
|
|
EIA
|
Electronic Industries
Association (formerly RMA or RETMA).
|
|
Elastomer
|
Any material that will
return to its original dimensions after being stretched or distorted.
|
|
Electromagnetic
|
Referring to the
combined electric and magnetic fields caused by electron motion through
conductors.
|
|
Electromagnetic
Coupling
|
The transfer of energy
by means of a varying magnetic field. Inductive coupling.
|
|
Electron
Volt
|
A measure of the energy
gained by an electron falling through an electric field produced by one
volt.
|
|
Electrostatic
|
Pertaining to static
electricity, or electricity at rest. An electric charge, for example.
|
|
Electrostatic
Coupling
|
The transfer of energy
by means of a varying electrostatic field. Capacitive coupling.
|
|
ELFEXT
|
Equal level Far End
Crosstalk (dB) - A subtraction of attenuation from FEXT. By subtracting
the attenuation, ELFEXT negates the effects of attenuation on the
interference as it propagates down the cable, thus bringing it to an
"equal level".
|
|
Elongation
|
The increase in length
of a wire or cable cause by longitudinal tension.
|
|
EMF
|
Electromotive force
(voltage).
|
|
EMI
|
Abbreviation for
electromagnetic interference.
|
|
Energy
|
The capability of doing
work.
|
|
Energy
Dissipation
|
Loss of energy from a
system due to the conversion of work energy into an undesirable form
usually heat. Dissipation of electrical energy occurs when current flows
through a resistance.
|
|
ENG
|
Abbreviation for
Electronic News Gathering.
|
|
EPDM
|
Ethylene-propylene-diene
monomer rubber. A chemically cross-linked elastomer with good electrical
insulating properties and excellent flexibility at high and low
temperatures. It has good insulation resistance and dielectric strength,
as well as excellent abrasion resistance and mechanical properties. EPDM
has better cut-through resistance than Silicone rubber, which it replaces
in some applications.
|
|
EPR
|
Ethylene-propylene
copolymer rubber. A material with good electrical insulating properties.
|
|
Equilay
|
More than one layer of
helically laid wires with the length of the lay the same for each layer.
|
|
ETP
|
Abbreviation for a
copper refining process called Electrolytic Tough Pitch. This process
produces a conductor that is 99.95% pure copper resulting in high
conductivity.
|
|
EV
|
Electron volt.
|
|
Expanded
Polyethylene
|
Expanded or
"foam" polyethylene, consists of individual closed cells of
inert gas suspended in a polyethylene medium, resulting in a desirable
reduction of the dielectric constant.
|
|
Extruded
Cable
|
Conductors are
simultaneously insulated and the cable is formed by a continuous extrusion
process.
|
|
f
|
Frequency.
|
|
Farad
|
A unit of capacity that
will store one coulomb of electrical charge when one volt of electrical
pressure is applied.
|
|
FAS
|
Fire Alarm and Signal
Cable, CSA (Canadian Standards Association) Cable Designation.
|
|
FCFC
|
Abbreviation for flat
conductor flat cable.
|
|
Feedback
|
Energy that is
extracted from a high-level point in a circuit and applied to a lower
level. Positive feedback reduces the stability of a device and is used to
increase the sensitivity or produce oscillation in a system. Negative
feedback, also called inverse feedback, increases the stability of a
system as the feedback improves stability and fidelity.
|
|
Feeder
Cable
|
In a CATV system, the
transmission cable from the head end (signal pickup) to the trunk
amplifier. Also called a trunk cable.
|
|
FEP
|
Fluorinated
ethylene-propylene. A thermo-plastic material with good electrical
insulating properties and chemical and heat resistance.
|
|
Ferrous
|
Composed of and/or
containing iron. A ferrous metal exhibits magnetic characteristics.
|
|
FEXT
|
Far End Crosstalk (dB)
- Crosstalk induced on the pairs, measured at the "far" end of
the cable.
|
|
Fiber
|
A single, separate
optical transmission element characterized by core and cladding.
|
|
Fiber
|
