TECHNICAL INFORMATION Click here for Table of Contents 9. Technical Information Click the BICC logo above to return to the Section Index TECHNICAL INFORMATION 9.i BICC Cables has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information provided in this catalog, however, we cannot be responsible for errors, omissions, or changes due to obsolescence. All data herein is subject to change without notice. Data and suggestions made in this catalog are not to be construed as recommendations to use any product in violation of any government law or regulations relating to any material or its use. EFFECTIVE 1998-09-30 TABLE OF CONTENTS 9. Technical Information Glossary..........................................................................................9.01-9.07 Reference Standards........................................................................9.08-9.16 Cable Handling and Storage ...........................................................9.17-9.20 Cable Pre-Installation..............................................................................9.21 Cable Installation............................................................................9.22-9.28 Cable Testing ..................................................................................9.29-9.32 Common Color Sequence........................................................................9.33 Metric Conversion ..................................................................................9.34 Copper Short Circuit Currents................................................................9.35 Conductors For General Wiring......................................................9.36-9.37 Click the Jacket and Insulation Materials ......................................................9.38-9.39 item that you wish to view, Checklist for Specification.......................................................................9.40 and then to return to this Conductors For General Wiring – Ampacities.................................9.41-9.59 Table of Contents click the High Temp Lead Wire Ampacities ..................................................9.60-9.61 BICC logo Click the BICC logo above to return to the Section Index 9.ii TECHNICAL INFORMATION BICC Cables has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information provided in this catalog, however, we cannot be responsible for errors, omissions, or changes due to obsolescence. All data herein is subject to change without notice. Data and suggestions made in this catalog are not to be construed as recommendations to use any product in violation of any government law or regulations relating to any material or its use. EFFECTIVE 1998-09-30 CABLE GLOSSARY Abrasion Resistance. Ability of a wire, cable or material to Band Marking. A continuous circumferential band applied resist surface wear. to a conductor at regular intervals for identification. Accelerated Aging. A test in which voltage, temperature, Bandwidth. (1) The difference between the upper and etc. are increased above normal operating values to obtain lower limits of a given band of frequencies. Expressed in observable deterioration in a relatively short period of Hertz. (2) A measure of the maximum frequency range time. The plotted results give expected service life under over which light intensity exiting a waveguide one kilo- normal conditions. meter in length can be varied before the attenuation varies ACM. Aluminum conductor material. 3dB from the mean. The greater the bandwidth, the greater the information carrying capacity. Bandwidth is expressed Accelerator. A chemical additive that hastens a chemical in Megahertz (MHZ)–Kilometer (km). reaction under specific conditions. Bending Radius. Radius of curvature that a cable can be Admittance. The measure of the ease with which an alternat- safely bent without any adverse effects. ing current flows in a circuit. The reciprocal of impedance. Binder. A spirally served tape used for holding assembled AEIC. Association of Edison Illuminating Companies cable components in place awaiting subsequent manufac- Aerial Cable. A cable suspended in the air on poles or turing operations. another overhead structure. Bonding Conductor. An insulated or uninsulated conductor Aging. The change in properties of a material with time forming part of the cable assembly which is used for the under specific conditions. purpose of connecting non-current carrying parts of electri- cal equipment to a system grounding conductor. AIA. Aluminum Interlocked Armor. Braid. A fibrous or metallic group of filaments interwoven Alloy. A metal formed by combining two or more different in cylindrical shape to form a covering over one or more metals to obtain desirable properties. wires. Alternating Current. Electric current that continually Braid Angle. The smaller of the two angles formed by the reverses its direction. It is expressed in cycles per second shielding strand and the axis of the cable being shielded. (hertz or Hz). Braid Carrier. A spool or bobbin on a braider that holds one Ambient Temperature. The temperature of the medium group of strands or filaments consisting of a specific number surrounding an object. Generally a lower temperature than the temperature at which the cable is operating. of ends. The carrier revolves during braiding operations. American Wire Gauge (AWG). A standard North American Braid Ends. The number of strands used to make up one system for designating wire diameter. carrier. The strands are wound side-by-side on the carrier bobbin and lie parallel in the finished braid. Ampacity. See Current Carrying Capacity. Breakdown Voltage. The voltage at which the insulation Ampere. The unit of current. One ampere is the current between two conductors breaks down. flowing through one ohm of resistance at one volt potential. B & S Gauge. The same as American Wire Gauge (AWG). Analog. A data format using continuous physical variables such as voltage amplitude or frequency variations. Buffer. A protective coating over an optical fiber. Anneal (Soften). Relief of mechanical stress through heat Building Wire. A general term used for light and power and gradual cooling. Annealing copper renders it less brittle. wiring products, 1000 volts or less. Armor. A protective metal covering commonly in the form Bunch Stranding. A group of wires of the same diameter of flexible interlocking aluminum or steel tape, steel wires, twisted together without a predetermined pattern. Used in or aluminum sheath. flexible cords and cables. ASTM. American Society for Testing and Materials. Buried Cable. A cable installed directly in the earth without use of underground conduit. Also called “direct burial cable”. Attenuation. The general term used to denote the decrease of power from one point to another. In fiber optics, the Butyl Rubber. A synthetic rubber with good insulating optical power loss per unit length is expressed logarithmical- properties (i.e. low voltage cords). ly in decibels per kilometer (dB/km) at a specific wavelength. Cable. An insulated conductor, or group of individually Audio Frequency. The range of frequencies audible to the insulated conductors in one assembly. human ear. Usually 20-20,000 Hz. Cabling. The twisting together of two or more insulated AWM. Designation for appliance wiring material. conductors to form a cable. Balanced Circuit. One utilizing cables having two or more Capacitance. The ratio of the electrostatic charge on a con- identical conductors with the same electromagnetic charac- ductor to the potential difference between the conductors teristics in relation to each other and to ground. required to maintain that charge. Units expressed in Farads. GLOSSARY 9.01 BICC Cables has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information provided in this catalog, however, we cannot be responsible for errors, omissions, or changes due to obsolescence. All data herein is subject to change without notice. Data and suggestions made in this catalog are not to be construed as recommendations to use any product in violation of any government law or regulations relating to any material or its use. EFFECTIVE 1998-09-30 CABLE GLOSSARY Capacitive Coupling. Electrical interaction between two Conductivity. The capacity of a material to carry electrical conductors caused by the capacitance between them. current—usually expressed as a percentage of copper con- ductivity (copper being 100%). Capacitive Reactance (Xc). The opposition to alternating current due to the capacitance of the cable or circuit. Conductor. An uninsulated wire suitable for carrying Measured in ohms. electrical current. CE Code, CEC. Canadian Electrical Code Conductor Shield. An extrusion of black semi-conducting thermoses material over the conductor to provide a smooth Certified Test Report (CTR). A report providing actual test interface with the insulation for even distribution of electri- data on a cable. Tests are normally conducted by the cal stress. Quality Control Department to confirm that the product being shipped conforms to specifications. Conduit (Electrical Raceway). A tube or pipe in which insulated wires and cables are run. Characteristic Impedance. The impedance that, when con- nected to the output terminals of a transmission line of any Connector. A device used to physically and electrically length, makes the line appear infinitely long. The ratio of connect two or more conductors. Also used to physically voltage to current at every point along a transmission line connect cable to equipment. on which there are no standing waves.