163 Electronics Technical Information Outlet/Connector, Telecommunications: A connecting device in the work area on which horizontal cable terminates. Overall Diameter: Finished diameter over wire or cable. Overcoat Conductor: A stranded conductor made from individual strands of tin-coated wire stranded together, and then given an overall tin coat. Overlap: The amount the trailing edge laps over the leading edge of a spiral tape wrap. Oxygen Index: Percentage of oxygen necessary to support combustion in a gas mixture. Ozone: Reactive form of oxygen, typically found around electrical discharges and present in the atmosphere in small quantities. Packing Fraction: (fiber optic) The ratio of active cross-sectional area of fiber core, or cores, to the total end surface of the fiber, or fiber bundle. Pair: Two insulated wires of a single circuit associated together, also known as a “balance” transmission line. Parallel Pair: A duplex construction of two insulated conductors laid parallel and then covered overall with a braid or jacket. Parallel Stripe: A stripe applied longitudinally on a wire or cable parallel to the axis of the conductor. Patch Cord: A length of cable with connectors on one or both ends used to join telecommunications links/circuits at the cross-connect. Patch Cord Cable: Bulk cable used in the manufacture of patch cords. Patch Panel: A cross-connect system of mateable connectors that facilitates administration. Pathway: A facility for the placement of telecommunications cable. Synonym: Raceway. Pay-Off: The process of feeding a cable or wire from a bobbin, reel or other package. Percent Plating: Quantity of plating on a conductor expressed as a percentage by weight. Percentage Conductivity: Conductivity of a material expressed as a percentage of that of copper. Periodicity: The uniformly spaced variations in the insulation diameter of a transmission cable that result in reflections of a signal, when its wavelength or a multiple thereof is equal to the distance between two diameter variations. Permittivity: See Dielectric Constant. Phase: An angular relationship between waves. Phase Shift: A change in the phase relationship between two alternating quantities. Photodetector (Receiver): Converts light energy to electrical energy. Pick: Distance between two adjacent crossover points of braid filaments. The measurement in picks per inch indicates the degree of coverage. Picofarad: One-millionth of one-millionth of a farad. A micromicrofarad or picofarad (abbreviation pf). (See mm F). Pigtail Wire: Fine-stranded, extra-flexible, rope- lay lead wire attached to a shield for terminating purposes. Pitch: In flat cable, the nominal distance between the index edges of two adjacent conductors. Pitch Diameter: Diameter of a circle passing through the center of the conductors in any layer of a multiconductor cable. Plain Conductor: A conductor consisting of only one metal. Plain Weave: A weave used on woven cables. Threads between the wires act as binders and give the cable lateral stiffness and linear flexibility. Also called Standard and Square Weave. Planetary Cabler: A cabler capable of laying down any number of shielded, overbraided or jacketed singles, pairs, called groups, or any combination of them in sequence. Planetary Twister: A twisting machine whose payoff spools are mounted in rotating cradles that hold the axis of the spool in a fixed direction as the spools are revolved so no twist is built up in each wire. Plastic Deformation: Change in dimensions under load that is not recovered when the load is removed. Plasticizer: A chemical agent added to plastics to make them softer and more pliable. Plenum: The air return path of a central air handling system, either ductwork or open space over a suspended ceiling. Plenum Cable: Cable approved by a recognized agency such as UL for installation in plenums without the need for conduit. Plug: The part of the two mating halves of a connector which is moveable when not fastened to the other mating half. Ply: The number of individual strands or filaments twisted together to form a single thread. Point-to-Point: A type of connection established between two specific locations, as between two buildings. Point-to-Point Wiring: An interconnecting technique wherein the connections between components are made by wires routed between connecting points. Polarization: The orientation of a flat cable or a rectangular connector. Polishing: (fiber optic) Act of smoothing ends of fibers to an ‘optically smooth’ finish, generally using abrasive. Polyester: Polyethylene terephthalate, used extensively as a moisture-resistant cable core wrap. Polyethylene: A thermoplastic material having excellent electrical properties. Polyhalocarbon: A general name for polymers containing halogen atoms. The halogens are fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine. Polymer: A material of high molecular weight formed by the chemical union of monomers. Polyolefin: Any of the polymers and copolymers of the ethylene family of hydrocarbons. Polypropylene: A thermoplastic similar to polyethylene but stiffer and having higher softening point (temperature); excellent electrical properties. Polyurethane: Class of polymers known for good abrasion and solvent resistance (may be applied in solid or cellular form). Porosity: Multiple voids in an insulation cross- section. Potting: The sealing of a cable termination or other component with a liquid which thermosets into an elastomer. Power Cables: Cables of various sizes, construction and insulation, single or multi- conductor designed to distribute primary power to various types of equipment. Power Factor: The ratio of resistance to impedance. The ratio of the actual power of an alternating current to apparent power. Mathematically, the cosine of the angle between the voltage applied and the current resulting. Pre-Bond: Stranded wire which has been fused, topcoat-tinned or overcoat-tinned. Prewiring: Wiring installed • Before walls are enclosed or finished. • In anticipation of future use or need. Primary: The transformer winding which receives the energy from a supply circuit. Primary Insulation: The first layer of non- conductive material applied over a conductor, whose prime function is to act as electrical insulation. Primary Protection: The minimum protection required on all exposed facilities to comply with NEC requirements. Primary Wiring: A printed circuit intended to provide point-to-point electrical connections. Programming: Ability to select various circuit patterns by interconnecting appropriate contacts on one side of a connector plug or panel. Propagation Delay: Time delay between input and output of signal. Propagation Time: Time required for a wave to travel between two points on a transmission line. Protocol: A set of rules for communicating. Proximity Effect: Nonuniform current distribution over the cross-section of a conductor caused by the variation of the current in a neighboring conductor. Pull Box: A device to access a raceway used to facilitate placing of wire or cables. Pull Cord/Pull Wire: Cord or wire placed within a raceway and used to pull wire and cable through the raceway. Pull Strength: See Pull Tension. Pull Tension: The maximum pulling force that can be safely applied to a cable without damage. Pulling Eye: A device used to pull cable into or from a duct. Pulse: Energy which changes abruptly from an intensity to another. May be light energy or electrical energy. Pulse Cable: A type of coaxial cable constructed to transmit repeated high-voltage pulses without degradation. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): A general-purpose thermoplastic widely used for wire and cable insulations and jackets. Quad: A series of four separately insulated conductors, generally twisted together in pairs. Also, a series-parallel combination of transistors with increased reliability because failure of one transistor will not disable the entire circuit. Quadders: Three-bay machines which can twist four wires together and cable braided and shielded wires with varying lay lengths. Raceway: Any channel designed for holding wires or cables, e.g. conduit, electrical metallic tubing, sleeves, slots, underfloor raceways, cellular floors, surface raceways, lighting fixture raceways, wireways, cable troughs, busways, auxiliary gutters and ventilated flexible cableways. Synonym: Pathway. Rack: See: Cable Rack. Radio Frequency: The frequencies in the electromagnetic spectrum that are used for radio communications. Glossary
