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The Book of Terms

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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.

   

 

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

Nylon

A synthetic fiber made from crude oil and natural gas that often is used in conductor jacketing material. This plastic has great toughness, strength and elasticity, high melting point and good resistance to water and to most chemicals. Its abrasion resistance is superior to polythene and PVC, and because of this it is often used as a sheathing material on previously jacketed polythene or PVC cables or wires, and is simple to apply to wire or cable.

Nylon 11

A manufactured fiber in which the fiber forming substance is any long chain synthetic polymide having recurring amide groups (-NH-CO-) as an integral part of the polymer chain. Its uses include as a versatile and popular plastic finish available for coating wirework. It has excellent compact resistance that led to its use in the fur­niture industry and also for supermarket self-service baskets.

Nylon Jacketed

Encased in an outer covering of nylon. On wire or cable, this can be either an extruded layer or a braid of nylon filaments.

O

Designation sometimes used in coding wire to indicate oil resistance insulation.

OAW

Designation for Overall Width.

OC

Designation for Overcurrent.

Occlusion

A term applied, in the case of metals, to the absorption or entrapment of gases.

Occupational Safety and Health Act

Specifically the Williams-Steiger law passed in 1970, it covers all factors relating to safety in places of employment. Administered by the U.S. Dept. of Labor, which establishes mandatory standards and safety requirements for all businesses.

OD

1) Designation for the overall diameter of a cable, including conductor, insulation and jacket and concentric neutral (if used). 2) Designation for the outside diameter of a cylindrical object.

OEM

Designation for Original Equipment Manufacturer.

OF

Designation for Oxygen-Free.

Off Center

Conductor displaced within the cross-section of its insulation; not perfectly centered within the insulation.

Offgassing

Percentage of a specified gas released during the combustion of insulation or jacketing material.

Offset Marker

Identification technique of marking wire and cable for irregular surface printing. It employs rubber-faced transfer rolls that conform to a wide variety of surface types and shapes. Some products that have successfully used this system are multi-colored cables, ribbon or flat cables, ropey electronic cables and tech cables.

OFHC

See OFHC Copper.

OFHC Copper

Oxygen-free, high-conductivity copper. One of the general types of copper used for electrical conductors. It has no residual deoxidant, 99.95 percent minimum copper content and an average annealed conductivity of 101 percent.

Ohm

Designation for an S.I. unit for measuring electrical resistance or impedance. One ohm equals one volt per ampere.

Ohm Lead Wire, 300

Television lead-in wire.

Ohms Law

The formula V = I x R (voltage equals current multiplied by resistance), used for calculating voltage drop, fault current and other values in an electrical circuit. Voltage is in volts, current is in amperes and resistance is in ohms.

OI

Designation for Official Interpretation. An interpretation of the National Electrical Code to help resolve a specific problem between an inspector and an installer.
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