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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

Breakdown

The abrupt change of resistance from high to low, allowing current flow: an initial rolling or drawing operation. Also, a term used to describe the first reduction in wire diameter in the drawing process when more than one pass is done. Sometimes referred to as “rod breakdown.”

Breakdown (Puncture)

A disruptive discharge through the insulation.

Breakdown of Insulation

Failure of an insulation resulting in a flow of current through the insulation. It may be caused by the application of too high voltage or by defects or decay.

Breakdown Stands

A rolling operation where the first phase of stands creates the first reduction.

Breakdown Test

See Test, Breakdown.

Breakdown Voltage

The voltage at which the insulation between two conductors breaks down, allowing current to flow between the conductors.

Breaker Block

A comparatively inexpensive part of a rolling mill or other machine which is designed to break when the machine is overloaded and thus save more expensive parts.

Breaker Plates

component in a screw conveyor for transferring molten plastic during an extrusion process. Breaker plates are used to change the resistance to flow and control the head pressure. The breaker plate is located between the forward end of the barrel and the head of the extruder. The breaker plate is a circular disc of steel having many closely spaced small holes.

Breaker Strip

Thin strips of material placed between phase conductors and grounding conductors, in flat parallel portable cables; the breaker strips provide extra mechanical and electrical protection.

Breakout

1) A joint where a conductor or conductors breaks out from a multi-conductor cable to complete circuits at various points along the main cable. The rest of the conductors continue on within the jacket. The breakout may itself be jacketed and the joint sealed. Actually, the joint itself is the breakout. 2) A breach in the skin of a continuously cast billet or bloom, following exit from the mold. This condition allows for the draining of the liquid steel above the failure into the spray chamber.

Breaks

1) Creases or ridges, usually in untempered or aged material, where the yield point has been exceeded. Depending on the origin of the break, it may be termed a crossbreak, a coil break, an edge break or a sticker break. Insulated wire failures in the insulation. 2) A term used when wire breaks during the drawing process.

Bridge

1) An electrical circuit which measures by balancing four impedances through which the same current flows: Wheatstone – resistance; Kelvin – low resistance; Schering – capacitance, dissipation factor dielectric constant; and Wien – capacitance, dissipation factor. 2) A device used in communications to expand a local area network by forwarding frames between data link layers.

Bridge Cable

The wire ropes or strands used as the catenary and suspenders upon a suspension bridge. See Suspension Cables.

Bridged Tap

The multiple appearances of the same cable pair at several distribution points.

Bridging

In a power mass, the formation of arched cavities that may result in voids or uneven density in a compact or from stopping or interrupting the flow of powder through a funnel or other feeding device.

Bridle

A wire extending longitudinally between supporting structures with attachments for retaining the correct lateral position of the contact wire.

Bright Annealed Wire

See Wire, Bright Annealed.

Bright Annealing

A process of annealing usually carried out in a controlled furnace atmosphere so that surface oxidation is reduced to a minimum and the surface remains relatively bright.

Bright Dipped Finish

The finish that is obtained by final immersion of wire in a suitable oxidizing acid solution to give the true – or approximately true – color of the metal.

Bright Dipping of Copper

A bright golden color can be obtained for copper-zinc alloys by a half-minute immersion in a cold mixture of sulfuric and nitric acids, a typical solution being 30 percent nitric acid, 30 percent sulfuric acid and 40 percent water by volume. A more yellow color can be obtained by dipping brass in a solution of dilute sulfuric acid with either chromic acid or a dichromate addition.
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