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The Book of Terms

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.

   

 

All   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

G

Designation for rubber-insulated, neoprene jacketed, portable power cable with two to five #8 AWG or larger conductors with ground wires.

G Cable

Designation for a type W or power cable with ground wires. The total CM area of the ground wires is approximately one-half to three-quarters of the CM area of one of the conductors.

G-GC

Designation for a type of G cable containing a ground check wire.

Gadroon Wire

A soft brass, copper or nickel silver wire with a pattern rolled on to it. It is mainly used in the fancy trade for the edging of trays and to cover the edges of mirrors.

Gage

An alternative spelling for gauge.

Gain

The increase of voltage, current or power over a standard or previous reading. Usually expressed in decibels (dB).

Galfan

Hot-dipped coating applied to steel wire that consists of an alloy of zinc, aluminum and mischmetal. It is a trademark of the Galfan Technology Centre, Inc.

Galling

A wire surface defect that results from the disruption of the lubricant layer between metal asperities and the forming die during drawing. The additional friction may cause localized heating, surface roughness, spalling, and the formation of transverse cracks.

Gallium

Element, chemical symbol Ga. This bluish-white metal (silvery-white metal at high purity) can be recovered from bauxite and zinc processing. Used to make semiconductors, laser diodes, light emitting diodes, integrated circuits, photo detectors, solar cells and other optoelectronic devices.

Gallows

Term once used to describe the hoist over the final block of a drawing machine for removing completed coils of wire. Some machines were provided with a traveling hoist enabling in­termediate blocks to be stripped when desired.

Galvanized Wire

See Galvanizing.

Galvanizing

The application of a zinc coating on the surface of steel wire to protect it from corrosion. This can be done by either dipping the wire in a bath of molten zinc or by the electro-deposition of a zinc coat from an aqueous solution of a zinc salt.

Galvanizing Bath

A tank con­taining the electrolyte and zinc anodes for electro-galvanizing. In hot-dip galvaniz­ing, a provision has to be made for heating, while the bath has to be a very much stronger structure to withstand the weight of the zinc and to take account of the fact that zinc is a relatively bad heat conductor.

Galvanizing Blanket

The materials, such as charcoal, vermiculite or granulated graphite, which are floated on the top of a galvanizing bath to provide insulation and reduce the formation of zinc oxides as a result of contact with the atmosphere.

Galvanizing Flux

A solution, usually in the form of a blanket 50 to 75 mm (1.97 to 2.95 in.) thick, on the surface of the molten zinc, through which wires pass before entering the galvanizing bath. Its purpose is to remove impurities from the surface of the wire and assist adhesion of the zinc coat to the wire. Also used in a separate tank followed by a drying tunnel before passing into a zinc bath.

Galvannealed

An extra tight coat of galvanizing metal (zinc) applied to a soft steel sheet, after which the sheet is passed through an oven at about 750°C (1200°F). The resulting coat is dull gray without spangle especially suited for subsequent painting.

Galvanometer

An instrument for detecting or measuring a small electric current by movements of a magnetic needle or of a coil in a magnetic field.

Gamma Iron

The form of iron that is stable between 910 and 1400°C (1670 and 2550°F)] and characterized by a face-centered cubic crystal structure. Also known as Austenite (see entry).

Gang Strip

Simultaneously stripping all conductors in a flat or ribbon cable.

Garnett Wire

Toothed wire used for clothing the swifts and rollers of textile Garnett and similar machines.
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