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The Book of Terms

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.

   

 

All   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

Internal Soundness

This refers to the inside condition of a material, and can qualify it in terms of conditions such as defects, pipe, segregation and non-uniformity of composition.

Internal Wiring

Electronic wiring that interconnects components, usually within a sealed subsystem.

Interpolate

To estimate an intermediate value between two values in a sequence.

Interrupting Time

The sum of the opening time and arcing time of a circuit-opening device.

Interstices

Voids or valleys between individual strands in a conductor or between insulated conductors in a multiconductor cable. Any regularly occurring voids, such as among atoms in a crystal structure.

Interstitials

Foreign solute elements located in interstices or voids of a solute atom lattice.

Intrabuilding

Within a building.

Intrinsically Safe

Incapable of releasing sufficient electrical or thermal energy under normal or abnormal conditions to cause ignition of a specific hazardous atmospheric mixture in its most ignitable concentration.

Inverted Block

Suspended from a stand so that coils of drawn wire are deposited by gravity on to an independent receiver, which can be quickly replaced.

Inverter

An item that changes DC to AC.

Ion

An atom that has gained or lost one or more outer electrons and thus carries an electric charge. Positive ions, or cations, are deficient in outer electrons. Negative ions, or anions, have an excess of outer electrons.

Ion Exchange

The interchange of ions between a liquid and solid. Typically used in the demineralization process to treat water before it is used in industrial processes. Water is passed through a single bed of mixed ion exchange resins. Typically, there is no sodium left in the water so it is in its purest state.

Ionization

The act of splitting into or producing ions. Generally, the dissociation of an atom or molecule into positive or negative ions or electrons. Restrictively, the state of an insulator whereby it facilitates the passage of current due to the presence of charges particles usually induced artificially.

Ionization Extinction Voltage

See Voltage, Corona Extinction.

Ionization Factor

The difference between percent power factors of a dielectric at two specified values of electrical stress. The lower of the two stresses is usually selected so that the effect of ionization on power factor at this stress is negligible.

Ionization Voltage

The minimum value of falling rms voltage that sustains electrical discharge from surface irregularities of bare cable or within the vacuous or gas filled spaces in the cable construction or insulation.

IPCEA

Insulated Power Cable Engineers Association. An association of power cable engineers from many different companies. Its object is to establish standards in the insulated power cable industry.

IPE

Irradiated polyethylene tape.

IPM

Inches per minute.

IR

Insulation Resistance.
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