Bristol International, Inc.Bristol Icon

×
Services
Network Security
Data Centers
Generator / UPS
Automation
Lighting Systems
CCTV / Security
Cannabis Systems
 
About Us
 
Contact
 
Privacy Policy
 
Resources
Electrical Glossary
Trade Terms
Fuse Chart
Motor Chart
Starter Chart
Transformer Chart
 
Menu Icon

ELECTRICAL | AUTOMATION
DESIGN/BUILD

GLOSSARY OF ELECTRICAL TERMS

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
 

Cabinet - An enclosure of adequate mechanical strength, composed entirely of noncombustible and absorption-resistant material, designed either for surface or flush mounting, and provided with a frame, mat, or trim, in which swinging doors are hung.

Cable Tray - A raceway consisting of troughing, and fittings therefore, so formed and constructed that insulated conductors and cables may be readily installed or removed after the cable tray has been completely installed, without injury either to conductors or their covering.

Ladder Cable Tray - A prefabricated structure consisting of two longitudinal side rail(s)connected by individual transverse members, with openings exceeding 50 mm in a longitudinal direction.

Nonventilated Cable Tray - A prefabricated structure without openings within the integral or separate longitudinal side rails.

Ventilated Cable Tray - A prefabricated structure consisting of a ventilated bottom within integral longitudinal side rails with no openings exceeding 50 mm in a longitudinal direction.

Capacitor - An electrical device used to store electrical energy, and to release it back into the power system when required.

Capacitor Bank - A collection of individual capacitor units grouped to form a particular Kvar and Voltage rating. "Banks" may be either pole mounted, substation mounted, or metal enclosed (pad mounted).

Cell - One of the hollow spaces, suitable for use as a raceway, of a cellular metal or cellular concrete floor, the axis of the cell being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the floor members.

Cellular Floor - An assembly of cellular metal or cellular concrete floor members, consisting of units with hollow spaces  (cells) suitable for use as raceways and, in some cases, non-cellular units.

Certification Test - Tests run on a regular periodic basis to verify that selected, key performance characteristics of a product or representative samples thereof have remained within performance specifications.

Circuit - that portion of a wiring installation which is connected to the load side terminals of an AC or DC system and forms a complete path(s) through which electrical current is normally intended to flow, including utilization equipment. For example, a cable connecting the load side terminals of a three-phase circuit breaker up to and including utilization equipment is generally considered to be a circuit, as would be a similar three-wire single-phase installation.

Circuit Breaker - a device which detects excessive power demands in a circuit and self-interrupts when they occur.

Instantaneous-Trip Circuit Breaker - A circuit breaker designed to trip only under short circuit conditions.

Communication Circuit - A circuit which is part of a communication system.

Communication System - An electrical system whereby voice, sound, or data may be received and/or transmitted, and includes telephone, telegraph, data communications, intercommunications, paging systems, wired music systems, and other systems of similar nature, but excludes alarm systems such as fire, smoke or intrusion, radio and television broadcast communication equipment, closed circuit television, or community antenna television systems.

Community Antenna Distribution System - A distribution system of coaxial cable together with any necessary amplifiers or other equipment, which is used to transmit television or radio frequency signals typical of a community antenna television (CATV) system.

Concealed - Rendered permanently inaccessible by the structure or finish of the building.

Conductor - A wire or cable, or other form of metal, installed for the purpose of conveying electric current from one piece of electrical equipment to another or to ground.

Conduit - A raceway of circular cross-section into which it is intended that conductors be drawn and the term includes rigid conduit (metal and nonmetallic) and flexible metal conduit:

Flexible metal conduit - A metal conduit which may be easily bent without the use of tools

Liquid-tight flexible conduit -
  (a) a flexible metal conduit having an outer liquid-tight jacket; or
  (b) a flexible liquid-tight nonmetallic conduit.

Rigid conduit - A rigid conduit of metal or a nonmetallic material.

Rigid HFT conduit - A rigid nonmetallic conduit of halogen-free thermoplastic.

Rigid metal conduit - A rigid conduit of metal made to the same dimensions as standard pipe and suitable for threading with standard pipe threads.

Rigid nonmetallic conduit - A rigid conduit of nonmetallic material which is not permitted to be threaded.

Rigid PVC conduit - A rigid nonmetallic conduit of unplasticized polyvinyl chloride.

Rigid RE conduit - A rigid nonmetallic conduit of reinforced thermoset material suitable for direct burial or encasement in concrete.

Rigid Type DB2/ES2 PVC conduit - A rigid nonmetallic conduit of PVC for direct burial or encasement in concrete or masonry.

Rigid Type EB1 PVC conduit - A rigid nonmetallic conduit of PVC for encasement in concrete or masonry.

Connector -

Box connector - A device for securing a cable, via its sheath or armour, where it enters an enclosure such as an outlet box.

Wire connector - A device which connects two or more conductors together or one or more conductors to a terminal point for the purpose of connecting electrical circuits.

Continuous Duty - see definition for Duty.

Continuous Rating - The constant load which a device can carry at rated primary voltage and frequency without damaging and/or adversely effecting it characteristics.

Control Circuit - The circuit which carries the electric signals directing the performance of a control device, but does not carry the power which the device controls.

Controller - A device or a group of devices for controlling in some predetermined manner the electric power delivered to the apparatus to which it is connected.

Coordination - The process of selecting fuses and/or breakers or reclosers with specific time current characteristics, so a fault will be cleared by the downline (protecting) device before the upline (protected) can melt or lockout; the act or state of providing harmonious adjustment of functioning devices.

Cord Set - An assembly consisting of a suitable length of flexible cord or power supply cable provided with an attachment plug at one end and a cord connector at the other end.

Corona - A phenomenon associated with high voltage. Appears as a bluish-purple glow on the surface of and adjacent to a conductor when the voltage gradient exceeds a certain critical value, producing light, audible noise and ozone (O3).

Correlation - Selection of the proper transformer fuse; the process of selecting fuses having specific characteristics in accordance with specific protection or load criteria.

Creep - Continued deformation of material under stress.

Creepage - The travel of electrolyte up the surface of the electrode or other parts of the cell above the level of the main body of electrolyte.

Creepage Distance - The shortest distance between two conducting parts measured along the surface or joints of the insulating material between them.

Crest Value - The maximum value attained by the peak of a wave, surge or impulse.

CSA - Canadian Standards Association.

CU - Copper.

Current - The movement of electrons through a conductor, measured in amperes.

Current Interrupter - Any device that will open a circuit after sensing an abnormal high-circuit condition; a general name given to all types of fuses, reclosers and breakers.

Current-Limiting Fuse, Back-up - A current-limiting fuse capable of interrupting all currents from its rated maximum interrupting current down to its rated minimum interrupting current as specified by the manufacturer.

Current-Limiting Fuse, Full Range - A current-limiting fuse capable of interrupting all currents from the maximum rated interrupting current down to the minimum continuous current that causes melting or the fusible element(s), when the fuse is applied at maximum ambient temperature specified by the fuse manufacturer.

Current-Limiting Fuse, General Purpose - A current-limiting fuse capable of interrupting all currents from its rated maximum interrupting current down to that current which causes melting or the fusible element in one hour.

Current-Permit - Written permission from the inspection department to a supply authority to the effect that electric energy may be supplied to a particular installation.

Cutout Box - An enclosure of adequate mechanical strength, composed entirely of noncombustible and absorption-resistant material, designed for surface mounting, and having swinging doors or covers secured directly to, and telescoping with, the walls of the box proper.

 
Source: Canadian Electrical Code and National Electrical Code
 
Bristol Inc on Linkedin Bristol Inc on Facebook Contact Email
© 2024 Bristol International, Inc.