| A.C. Resistance |
The total resistance offered by a device in an alternating current circuit due to inductive and capacitive effects, as well as the direct current resistance |
| Abrasion resistance |
Ability of a wire, cable or material to resist surface wear |
| Accelerated Aging |
A test in which voltage, temperature, etc, are increased above normal operating values to obtain observable deterioration in a relatively short period of time. The plotted results give expected service life under normal conditions. |
| Accelerated Life Test |
A test in which certain factors such as voltage, temperature, etc., to which a cable is subjected are increased in magnitude above normal operating values to obtain observable deterioration in a reasonable period of time |
| Accelerator |
A chemical additive which hastens a chemical reaction under specific conditions |
| Activator |
A chemical additive used to initiate the chemical reaction in a specific chemical mixture |
| Active Current |
In an alternating current, a component in phase with the voltage; the working component as distinguished from the idle or watt-less component |
| Active Pressure |
In an A.C. circuit, the pressure which produces a current, as distinguished from the voltage impressed upon the circuit |
| Adhesion |
The state in which two surfaces are held together by interfacial forces which may be chemical or mechanical in nature |
| Admittance |
The measure of the ease with which an alternating current flows in a circuit. The reciprocal of impedance. |
| Aerial Cable |
A cable suspended in the air on a pole or other overhead structure |
| Aging |
The irreversible change in properties or appearance of a material with time and under specific conditions (usually accelerated representations of environmental states, such as high temperature, oxygen or other various conditions or media.) |
| Air Core Cable |
A telephone cable in which the interstices in the cable core are not filled with a moisture barrier |
| Air Spaced Coaxial Cable |
One in which air is the essential dielectric material. A spirally wound synthetic filament or spacer may be used to center the conductor. |
| Alloy |
A metal formed by combining two or more different metals to obtain desirable properties |
| Alpeth |
An aerial telephone cable having an aluminum shield |
| ALS |
A type of cable consisting of insulated conductors enclosed in a continuous closely fitting aluminum tube |
| Alternating Current (AC) |
Electric current that continually reverses its direction. It is expressed in hertz or Hz (cycles per second). |
| Alternating Voltage |
The voltage developed across a resistance or impedance through which alternating current is flowing |
| Ambient Temperature |
Any all-encompassing temperature within a given area |
| Ampacity |
The maximum current an insulated wire or cable can safely carry without exceeding either the insulation or jacket material limitations. (Same as Current Carrying Capacity.) |
| Ampere |
The unit of current. One ampere is the current flowing through one ohm of resistance at one volt potential. |
| Anneal | Relief of mechanical stress through heat and gradual cooling. Annealing copper renders it less brittle. |
| Anode | The electrode through which a direct current enters the liquid, gas or other discrete part of an electrical circuit; the positively charged pole of an electrochemical cell. |
| ANSI | American National Standards Institute |
| Anti-Oxidant | A substance that prevents or slows down oxygen decomposition (oxidation) of a material exposed to air |
| Anti-Oxonant | A substance which prevents or slows down material degradation due to ozone reaction |
| Arc Over Voltage | The minimum voltage required to create an arc between electrodes separated by a gas or liquid insulation under specified conditions |
| Arc Resistance | The degree to which a material opposes the formation of a conductive path |
| Arc. | !) A luminous glow formed by the flow of electric current through ionized air, gas or vapor between separated electrodes or contacts. 2) A portion of the circumference of a circle. |
| Area of conductor | The sized of a conductor cross section measured in circular mils, square inches, etc. |
| Armor | A braid or wrapping of metal, usually steel, used for mechanical protection. Generally placed over the outer sheath. |
| Armored Cable | A cable having a metallic covering for protection against mechanical injury |
| ASA | The American Standards Association. Former name of ANSI. |
| ASME | The American Society of Mechanical Engineers |
| ASP | A filled direct burial telephone cable used in areas subject to rodent attack. It consists of a filled cable core, corrugated aluminum shield, corrugated steel tape, flooding compound and polyethylene jacket. |
| ASTM | The American Society for Testing and Materials |
| Attenuation | Power loss in an electrical system. In cables, generally expressed in dB per unit length, usually 100 ft. |
| Audio Frequency | The range of frequencies audible to the human ear. Usually 20-20,000 Hz. |
| AWG | Abbreviation for American Wire Gauge |
| AWM | Designation for appliance wiring material |
