Cables & Connectors Flashcards
MEN
Multiple Earthed Neutral
CMEN
Common Multiple Earth System
RCD
Residual Current Device
SPD
Surge Protection Device
TVSS
Transient Voltage Surge Suppressor
Induced Voltage
…
Insulation Class
…
IP Rating (Ingress Protection)
They are used to define levels of sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures against intrusion from foreign bodies (tools, dirt, etc.) and moisture.
Annealing
In metallurgy and materials science, annealing is a heat treatment that alters the physical and sometimes chemical properties of a material to increase its ductility and reduce its hardness, making it more workable
Ductility
Ductility is the physical property of a material associated with the ability to be hammered thin or stretched into wire without breaking. A ductile substance can be drawn into a wire.
Elastomer
A natural or synthetic polymer having elastic properties, e.g. rubber.
PVC (Insulator)
Polymerizing Vinyl Chloride
PE, XLPE
Polyethylene, Cross-Linked Polyethylene
Silicone
Silicones are used in sealants, adhesives, lubricants, medicine, cooking utensils, and thermal and electrical insulation. Some common forms include silicone oil, silicone grease, silicone rubber, silicone resin, and silicone caulk.
Mineral Powder (Insulator)
…
Cellulose Insulation
Cellulose insulation is plant fiber used in wall and roof cavities to insulate draught proof and reduce free noise
Active, Single-Phase (colours)
Red or Brown
Neutral (colours)
Black or Blue
Three-Phase (colours)
L1, L2, L3; Red, White, Blue
SDI Cable
Single Double-Insulated
TPS (‘twin’ or ‘plus earth’) Cable
Thermoplastic Sheathed
TPI Cable
Thermoplastic Insulated
SWA Cable
Steel Wire Armoured (provides mechanical protection, used for underground power)
Mica Tape
Mica is the name given to a group of minerals of related composition and similar physical properties, most notably perfect basal cleavage, which means they can be split readily in one plane into a great number of thin, tough laminates.
MIMS Cable
Mineral Insulation, Metal Sheath
Dielectric
Dielectric, insulating material or a very poor conductor of electric current. When dielectrics are placed in an electric field, practically no current flows in them because, unlike metals, they have no loosely bound, or free, electrons that may drift through the material. Instead, electric polarization occurs.
Coaxial
In geometry, coaxial means that two or more three-dimensional linear forms share a common axis. Thus, it is concentric in three-dimensional, linear forms
Single-Mode Optical
…
Multi-Mode Optical (step or graded index)
Step or Graded Index refers to two different methods of transferring multiple signals through fiber optical cable. Multi-mode optical fiber is a type of optical fiber mostly used for communication over short distances, such as within a building or on a campus. Multi-mode links can be used for data rates up to 100 Gbit/s.
Trunking
A system of shafts or conduits for cables or ventilation.
Catenary
A curve formed by a wire, rope, or chain hanging freely from two points that are not in the same vertical line.
LOBAC
Low-Voltage Bundled Aerial Cable
RJ45
(Registered Jack) RJ45 is a type of connector commonly used for Ethernet networking. It looks similar to a telephone jack, but is slightly wider.
Main Earth Conductor
The main connection point for the earthing system, which is linked to Neutral in an MEN system
PEC
Protective Earth Conductor
Treeing
In electrical engineering, treeing is an electrical pre-breakdown phenomenon in solid insulation. It is a damaging process due to partial discharges and progresses through the stressed dielectric insulation, in a path resembling the branches of a tree.
SWER
Single Wire Earth Return
CBEL
Core Balance Earth Leakage - A protective system that operates as a result of leakage of current from electrical machines to earth. For electrical apparatus in mines, the usual method of leaking protection is known as the core balance system. This depends for its action on the balance of the currents in three phases. When a fault occurs, the balance is disturbed and the resulting magnetic effect in the transformer core induces a current in the secondary circuit, so energizing the tripping coil and operating the tripping mechanism on the circuit breaker. It may be operated by a leakage current as low as 5% of the full load current of the circuit.
MCB
Multiple Circuit Breaker
POS
Point Of Supply. Can be Underground, Surface, or Overhead
ELCB
Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker, the most common switchboard protection nowadays
SERF
Semi-Enclosable Rewirable Fuse
PTC Device
A Positive Temperature Coefficient or PTC Device, is a resettable overcurrent, circuit protection device. It is a series element, made of a conductive polymer that is placed in a circuit.
Varistor
A varistor is an electronic component with an electrical resistance that varies with the applied voltage
Spark Gap
A spark gap consists of an arrangement of two conducting electrodes separated by a gap usually filled with a gas such as air, designed to allow an electric spark to pass between the conductors.
Over-Voltage Protection
Over voltage protection is a power supply feature which shuts down the supply, or clamps the output, when the voltage exceeds a preset level.
Metal Oxide Varistor
A Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV) is a protection component used in power supply circuits that is powered directly from AC mains. It is used to protect the circuit from high voltage spikes by varying its resistance.
Mechanical Sensor
A mechanical sensor – when physical contact between the device to be protected and the head of the switch is made and movement of a few degrees occurs the contacts switch from normally open/closed to the opposite position.
Temperature Sensor
… Bi-Metallic
Pressure Sensor
…
Ribbon Cable
A ribbon cable (also known as multi-wire planar cable) is a cable with many conducting wires running parallel to each other on the same flat plane. As a result the cable is wide and flat. Its name comes from its resemblance to a piece of ribbon.
Screw Terminal Block
Non-fused terminal blocks are modular, screw-type electrical connectors used to connect two or more wires together. The wires are usually clamped down to the metal part by a screw. Terminal blocks allow more than one circuit to connect to another circuit.
Impulse Voltage
A unidirectional voltage that rapidly rises to a peak value and then drops to zero more or less rapidly. Also known as pulse voltage.
Ground/Earth Potential Rise
When a current-carrying conductor makes contact with the earth. Potentially causing a hazard.
Equipotential Bonding
The connecting together and earthing of exposed conductive elements, creating a path to the ground for current in the event of an electrical fault.
IPC or ITC
Insulation Piercing Connector
Breakdown Voltage
The breakdown voltage of an insulator is the minimum voltage that causes a portion of an insulator to become electrically conductive. For diodes, the breakdown voltage is the minimum reverse voltage that makes the diode conduct appreciably in reverse. Some devices also have a forward breakdown voltage.
Isolation Transformer
An isolation transformer is a transformer used to transfer electrical power from a source of alternating current (AC) power to some equipment or device while isolating the powered device from the power source, usually for safety reasons.
Bus Bar
In electric power distribution, a busbar is a metallic strip or bar, typically housed inside switchgear, panel boards, and busway enclosures for local high current power distribution. They are also used to connect high voltage equipment at electrical switchyards, and low voltage equipment in battery banks.
Types of insulation material
Elastomer, PVC, Polyethylene, Polyolefin, Silicone, Mineral Powder, Cellulose
Serving
Serving or protective coverings can be applied over cable insulation for mechanical, chemical, electrical requirements or all three. It is not unusual for a cable to have several types of protective coverings to meet the demands of a particular application.
Three Types of ELV:
SELV, PELV, FELV
Separated ELV
The ELV circuit is isolated from the ground, to prevent any unsafe voltages in the event that ‘high’ voltage passes through the ground.
Protected ELV
An ELV circuit featuring a safety device
Functional ELV
An ELV circuit which does not fall into either of the SELV or PELV categories.
