Bit : A binary digit, smallest element of
information in binary system.
Bit rate : The number of bits of data transmitted
over a phone line per second.
Breakdown Voltage : The voltage at which the
insulation between two conductors will break down.
Building Wire : Insulated wires used in building for light and power, 600 volts or less, usually not exposed to outdoor environment.
Bandwidth : The maximum amount of data that a connection can transmit in a given period of time, generally measured as bits per second (bit/s). A digital telephone line has a bandwidth of 64000 bits per second(64 kbit/s). An analogue telephone line has a bandwidth equivalent to 9600 bits per second. However, the effective bandwidth of an analogue line can be increased by the attachment of a modem employing data compression.
Bending radius : minimum radius a cable can be bent without permanent damage.

Bunch Stranding : A group of wires of the same diameter twisted together without a predetermined pattern.
Buried cable : A cable installed directly in the earth without use of underground conduit. Also called “ direct burial cable.”
Braid : A group of textile or metallic flaments interwoven to form a tubular structure which may be applied over one or more wires.

C
Cable : Multicore stranded insulated wires under protective sheath to conduct electrical energy e.g.power cable, telecommunication cable, installation cable, data cable etc.
Cable core : the portion of an insulated cable lying under the protective covering.
Capacitance : Tat property of a system of conductors and a dielectric which permits the storage of electricity when potential difference exists between the conductors. A capacitance value is always positive.
Capacitive Coupling – Electrical interaction between two conductors caused by the capacitance between them.
CEE : European standards agency ; International commission on Rules for the Approval of Electrical Equipment.
Cellular insulation – Insulating material in foamed or sponge form with the cells closed or interconnected.
CENELEC : European standards agency ; European committee for Electrotechnical Norms.

Circular Mill (CM) : Used to defne cross-sectional areas of conductors. Area of a circle 1/1000 inches in a diameter.
1 mil (0.001 inch) is equal to square mil x 0.78540 Coaxial Cable : A cable consisting of two cylindrical conductors wit a common axis, separated by a dielectric. The outer conductor or shield is commonly used to prevent external radiation from affecting the current fowing in the
inner conductor.
Color Code : A system of identifying different insulated cores by means of colours, numbers, printing etc.
Concentric lay : Cable core composed of a central core surrounded by one or more layers of helically laid insulated wires or cores.

Conductor – A material capable of easily carrying an electrical conductivity . A wire or combination of wire not insulated from one another , suitable for carrying electric current.
Control Cable : A multi – conductor cable made for operation in control of signal circuits.
Copper weld – Copper cover steel wire. Copper and steel welded together. The trade name of Flexo Wire Division (Copper weld Steel Corp.)For their copper-clad steel conductors.
Cord : A small, fexible insulated cable.
Core : In cables, a component or assembly of components over which other materials are applied, such as additional components, shield, sheath, or armour.
Corona : A discharge due to ionization of air around a conductor with a potential gradient exceeding a certain critical value. A high voltage electrical discharge that attacks insulation.
Cross-Linked : Setting up the chemical links between the molecular chains. A from of polyethylene material whose moleculars are more closely linked to produce a greater balance of physical and electrical properties. (XLPE – compound)

Crosstalk : Interference caused by audio frequencies. Undesired electrical currents in conductors caused by electromagnetic electrostatic coupling from other conductors or from external sources. Also leakage of optical power from one optical conductor to another.
Current : Flow of electricity measured in amperes. Practical unit is the ampere which represents the transfer of one coulomb per second.
Current rating : The maximum continuous electrical fow of current recommended by a given wire in a given situation, expressed in amperes.
CCTV : closed circuit television, commonly used for security.
Cable TV : Previously called Community Antenna Television.
CATV : A communications system which distributes broadcast programs and original programs and services by means of coaxial cable.
Conduit : A channel for holding and protecting conductors and cables made of metal or an insulating material, usually circular in cross section, as in pipe.
Continuity Check : A test to determine whether electrical current fows continuously through out the length of a single wire or individual wires in a cable .
Cross-Sectional Area : The area of a conductor exposed by cutting the conductor perpendicular to its longitudinal plane, expressed in circular mils, square inches, or square millimetres.