Technical Information
Military Shipboard Catalog
Glossary
Drawing: In wire manufacturing,
pulling the metal through a die or
series of dies to reduce diameter to
a specified size.
Equal Load Sharing: An even distribution
of current between the parallel cables in
a power circuit.
Flex Life: The measurement of the
ability of a conductor or cable to
withstand repeated bending before
breaking.
Equilay: See Unilay: More than one layer of
helically laid wires with the length of
the lay the same for each layer.
Earth: British terminology for zero-
Flexibility: The ease with which a
cable may be bent without
sustaining damage.
reference ground.
Eccentricity: Like concentricity, a
Farad: A unit of electrical capacity.
measure of the center of a
conductor's location with respect to Fatigue Resistance: Resistance to metal
the circular cross section of the
insulation. Expressed as a
percentage of displacement of one
circle within the other.
FT1: One of several CSA flame test
designations for wires and cables
which pass the C22.2 No. 0.3 test
requirements. (Other designations
include FT2, FT4, etc.).
crystallization which leads to conductors
or wires breaking from flexing.
Ferrous: Composed of and/or containing iron.
A ferrous metal exhibits magnetic
Fusion Splice: A splice accomplished
by the application of localized heat
sufficient to fuse or melt the ends
of two lengths of optical fiber,
EEMAC: Electrical and Electronic
Manufacturers Association of
Canada (U.S. counterpart is
NEMA).
characteristics (e.g. steel armor).
FEP: Fluorinated ethylene propylene
insulated wire (see Teflon).
forming a continuous single fiber.
Elastomer: A rubber-like substance.
Any material that will return to its
original dimensions after being
stretched or distorted.
Fiber: A single, separate optical transmission
element characterized by core and
cladding.
Gauge: A term used to denote the
physical size of a wire.
GND: Abbreviation for ground.
Fiber Optics: Light transmission through
optical fibers communication and
signaling.
Electrostatic Shield: A copper or
laminated aluminum/mylar tape
wrap around a signal or
Graded-Index: A type of optical fiber
in which the refractive index of
the core is in the form of a
parabolic curve, decreasing toward
the cladding. This type of fiber
provides high bandwidth
instrumentation circuit (pair, triad,
etc.) to protect from the electric field
radiated by a voltage source. The
grounded shield intercepts static
interference and carries it off to
ground.
Filled Cable: Cable construction in which the
cable core is filled with a material that
will prevent moisture or gasses from
entering or passing through the cable.
capabilities.
Filler: 1) A material used in multi-conductor
cables to occupy large interstices formed
by the assembled conductors; 2) An inert
substance added to a compound to
improve properties.
Ground (GND): 1) A conducting
connection between an electrical
circuit and the earth, or other large
conducting body, to serve as an
earth thus making a complete
Elongation: The fractional increase in
length of material stressed in
tension.
electrical circuit; 2) Term used for
non-current carrying conductor in
a cable (see Bonding Conductor).
EMI: Abbreviation for electromagnetic Flat Cable: A cable with two essentially flat
interference.
surfaces (e.g. NMD90).
EMRC: Energy Mines and Resources
Flat Conductor: A wire having a rectangular
cross section as opposed to round or
square conductors.
Halogen: A term used to identify any
of the four elements chlorine,
fluorine, bromine and iodine,
grouped together because their
chemical properties are similar.
Canada
EPDM: Ethylene-propylene-diene
monomer rubber. A material with
good electrical insulating properties.
Flame Resistance: The ability of a material
not to propagate flame once the heat
source is removed (see FT1).
Hard Drawn Copper Wire: Copper
wire that has not been annealed
after drawing.
EPR: Ethylene-propylene copolymer
rubber. A material with good
Flammability: The measure of the materials
electrical insulating properties.
ability to support combustion.
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