| Tank Test | A voltage dielectric test in which the test sample is submerged in water and voltage is applied between the conductor and water as ground |
| Tape Wrap | A spirally applied tape over an insulated or uninsulated wire |
| Tear Strength | The force required to initiate or continue a tear in a material under specified conditions |
| Teflon | A DuPont company trademark for a family of fluorocarbon resins |
| Temperature Rating | The maximum temperature at which an insulating material may be used in continuous operation without loss of its basic properties |
| Tensile Strength | The pull stress required to break a given specimen |
| Thermal Rating | The maximum and/or minimum temperature at which a material will perform its function without undue degradation |
| Thermal Shock | A test to determine the ability of a material to withstand heat and cold by subjecting it to rapid and wide changes in temperature |
| Thermocouple | A device consisting of 2 dissimilar metals in physical contact, which when heated will develop an EMF output. |
| Thermocouple Element | A thermocouple designed to be used as part of an assemble, but without associated parts such as the terminal block, connecting head, or protecting tube |
| Thermocouple Extension Wire | A pair of wires of dissimilar alloys having such emf-temperature characteristics complimenting the thermocouple which is intended to be used, such that when properly connected allows the emf to be faithfully transmitted to the reference junction |
| Thermocouple Wire (Grade) | A pair of wires of dissimilar alloys having emf-temperature characteristics calibrated to higher temperature levels than the extension type of thermocouple wire |
| Thermoplastic | A material which softens when heated and becomes firm on cooling |
| Thermoset | A material which hardens or sets by heat, chemical or radiation cross-linking techniques and which, once set, cannot be resoftened by heating |
| THHN | 90C, 600V, nylon jacketed building wire for dry locations |
| THWN | 75C, 600V, nylon jacketed building wire for wet and dry locations |
| Tin Overcoat (TOC) | Tinned copper wire, stranded, then coated with tin |
| Tinned copper | Tin coating added to copper to aid in soldering and inhibit corrosion |
| Tinsel | A type of electrical conductor comprised of a number of tiny threads, each thread having a fine, flat ribbon of copper or other metal closely spiraled about it. Used for small size cables requiring limpness and extra-long flex life. |
| Topcoat | Bare (untinned) copper wire, stranded, then coated with tin |
| Transfer Impedance | Defined as the ratio of internal longitude in a voltage to external current flow on the cable shield. It's used to determine shield effectiveness against both the ingress & egress of interfering signals |
| Transmission Line | A signal-carrying circuit controlled electrical characteristics used to transmit high- frequency or narrow-pulse signals |
| Transmission Loss | The decrease or loss in power during transmission of energy from one point to another. Usually expressed in decibels. |
| Tray | A cable tray is a unit or assembly of units or sections, and associated fittings made of non-combustible materials forming a rigid structural system used to support cables |
| Tray cable |
A factory-assembled multiconductor or multipair control, signal or power cable specifically approved under the National Electrical Code for installation in trays |
| Triaxial Cable |
A cable construction having three coincident axes, such as conductor, first shield and second shield all insulated from one another |
| Triboelectric Noise |
Noise generated in a shielded cable due to variations in capacitance between shielding and conductor as the cable is flexed |
| Triple (Triad) |
A cable consisting of three insulated single conductors twisted together |
| Triplex |
A cable composed of three insulated single conductor cables twisted together |
| Tubing |
A tube of extruded nonsupported plastic or metallic material |
| Twin Cable |
A cable composed of two separately insulated stranded conductors laid parallel under a common covering |
| Twin Coaxial Cable |
A single cable consisting of two separate coaxial cables laid adjacent and parallel or twisted together |
| Twisted pair |
A twisted pair is composed of 2 small separately insulated wires twisted together without a common covering |
