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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

Law of Charges

Like charges repel, unlike charges attract.

Law of Magnetism

Like poles repel, unlike poles attract.

Lay

1) The distance taken to complete one revolution of helically laid strands or wires around a central core. 2) The manner in which wires are helically laid into strands or strands into rope. 3) Part of a weaving loom, also known as a slay or batten, which operates horizontally across the loam and which beats the wire into position during cloth weaving.

Lay Direction

The twist in a cable or strand as indicated by the top strands or wires while looking along the axis of the cable away from the observer. Described as right hand or left hand.

Lay Factor

The increase in weight of the cable due to a particular lay length.

Lay Length

The distance required to complete one revolution of helically laid strands or wire.

Lay Ratio

The ratio of the axial length of a complete turn of the helix formed by the wire of a stranded conductor to the mean diameter of the helix.

Layer

Consecutive turns of a coil lying in a single plane.

Layer Wind

The precision winding of wire on a spool so that the edge of each wire rests parallel to the edge of the adjacent strand of wire. The result is a smooth, level layer of wire on the spool for all the layers that are wound.

Layered Cable

The older type of sub­scribers’ telephone cable, which has been largely superseded by unit cables. In the manufacture of layered cable, the reels of the stranding machine carry paired or quadded conductors, which are twisted together so that the conductors from the first carriage form the core of the cable, while those from subsequent carriages, which rotate in opposite directions, form layers over this.

Laying Reel

A term for a process once used that employed a stationary reel for taking up hot wire rod after rolling, the rod being dis­tributed into a coil by a revolving delivery pipe or by a delivery pipe ending in an arc which causes the rod to coil by starting it on a circular path. The technology was replaced by Stelmor lines.

Laying-Up

Twisting of pre-stranded conductors (bare or insulated) to form a rope or cable.

Laying-up Machine

Similar in principle to a stranding machine, but used for laying-up or twisting together in helical form round or sector shaped insulated cores of a multi-core cable. The cores, with paper, rubber, plastic or textile fillers placed at the interstices, are led from bobbins through the lay plate in a pre-determined sequence and then drawn through a closing die to ensure that a compact circular cross-section is ob­tained.

LC

Designation for Lead Covered.

LDPE

Designation for low-density polyethylene.

Lead

Element, chemical symbol Pb. Obtained from galena ore lead is a heavy metal (specific gravity 11.34) that has a low melting point of 327°C (621°F). It is a very soft, bluish-white metal that is highly malleable and ductile. It is a poor conductor of electricity, resistant to corrosion and radiation and a good noise-dampening material. Lead had been used for cable coverings, for soldering and for heat-treatment baths; however, its usage has been declining because of toxicity concerns.

Lead Baths

Molten lead used for continuous heat treating (both heating and cooling) of wire for galvanizing, patenting and oil tempering. Lead’s exceptional heat transfer properties result in uniform structure of the finished material. Airborne contamination can be a concern during processing, however.

Lead Dress

The placement or routing of wire, called leads (pronounced “leeds”) in an electrical circuit to ensure they are safely positioned and do not interfere with other components.

Lead Patenting

See Paten­ting.

Lead Squeeze

The amount of compression of a cable by a lead sheath.
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