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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

Water Absorption Test

A method to determine the amount of water absorbed through an insulating material after a given water immersion period.

Water Hardening

Hardening of rod or wire by heating followed by quenching in water. Close control of water temperature is essential as small differences in temper­ature cause marked changes in the hardened structure. Also known as chilling. The process is confined to low-carbon steels.

Water Stains

For cable, this can be a superficial etching of the surface from prolonged contact with moisture in a restricted air space, such as between wraps of a coil or other layers of a product. Such stains are generally white in appearance.

Water-Blocked Cable

A cable constructed with internal voids to prevent longitudinal water passage under a given pressure.

Water-Cooled Cable

A cable that is internally cooled by circulating water. A high-voltage cable can carry two or three times as much current as a conventional cable of equiv­alent size, with a consequent saving in costly copper conductor. The central duct is formed by a helical strip round which the conductor is stranded, in the same way as in a single-core, oil-filled cable.

Watt

A representing power. One watt is the amount of power dissipated, as heat, when a dc current of one ampere flows through one ohm of resistance in one second.

Watt-Hour

An electrical unit representing power consumed with respect to time.

Watt-Hour Meter

A meter that measures and registers the integral, with respect to time, of the active power in one hour.

Wattmeter

An instrument for measuring the magnitude of the active power in a circuit.

Wax Seal

A coating material on just cleaned rod to prevent discoloration and oxidation, and to reduce the tendency of the coil to entangle.

Wear Ring

When a wiredrawing die develops an abraded surface where the wire first contacts the die. The abraded surface is dull in appearance. Wear rings occur as a result of normal die wear. However, the abraded area can become so large that lubricant failure may occur and the die must be replaced.

Weather Proof Line Wire

A wire manufactured for exposure to the outside weather elements. Typical examples of suitable wire are 1350 electrical conductor (EC) ACSR or high strength aluminum alloys which are insulated with an extruded polyethylene or crosslinked polyethylene covering. A version could be fabricated with self-supporting secondary wire.

Weatherhead

The fitting at a conduit line installation that will allow conductor entry, but prevent weather entry.

Weathering

Parameter used in evaluating a jacketing material’s ability to survive exposure to the weather. Symptoms could be loss of flexibility, degradation of low temperature impact resistance and ultraviolet light damage.

Weatherometer

An apparatus that is used to simulate accelerated weathering conditions, especially ultraviolet and moisture.

Weave

A weave is a pattern of interlaced warp and weft wires (also known as “shute” wires). The pattern, which can vary greatly, depends on the sequence that the individual warp wires are raised and lowered as they pass through the shuttle carrying the shute wire.

Weaving Wire

A wide range of wire materials used for weaving applications. These include: steel wires, for mesh and cloth; copper wire, for electrical applications, etc.; bronze wire, for forming into tubes, diaphragms, etc.; phosphor bronze wire, for conveyor belts, etc.; brass wire, for gauze filters, etc.; aluminum and aluminum alloy wire, for cloth employed in processing food, drink and medicine; nickel wire, for high temperature heat-insulating materials; and monel wire, for filters and strainers for acid dipping baskets, etc.

Web

An open braid.

Wedge Wire

Wire that is used in filters where the wedge shape of the openings minimizes the risk of the filtering spaces becoming blocked for maximum free clearance with high mechanical strength.

Weft

The wires (or threads) running horizontally across woven material. The vertical wires/threads are referred to as the warp. It is also known as shute.
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