Library
Glossary
A term of cable construction
The terms the cable type pages use to describe a construction, explained briefly.
Key data
- All terms
- 12
- Cable types
- 9
- Coaxial cable
- A cable with two conductors on the same axis: the center conductor in the middle, the shield on the outside and the dielectric between them. The shield is the return conductor as well and keeps interference out. Coaxial cables carry radio-frequency signals.
- Center conductor
- The conductor in the middle of a coaxial cable, also called the inner conductor. It is either solid, a single wire, or stranded from several wires.
- Dielectric
- The insulating material between the center conductor and the shield of a coaxial cable. Its material and the ratio of its diameter to that of the center conductor set the cable's characteristic impedance.
- Characteristic impedance
- A property of lines for radio-frequency and data signals, given in ohms. It follows from the construction of the line and does not depend on its length. Cable, connectors and devices along a run need the same characteristic impedance, or part of the signal is reflected.
- Braided shield
- A shield of thin wires braided into a tube. It surrounds the conductors, keeps electrical interference out and tolerates movement. In the designation of data cables it is written as S.
- Foil shield
- A shield made of a thin metal foil, usually aluminum on a plastic backing. It surrounds a pair or all conductors without gaps. In the designation of data cables it is written as F.
- Jacket
- The outer covering of a cable, also called the sheath. It protects the construction against mechanical stress and the environment and usually carries the printed type designation.
- Stranded conductor
- A conductor made of several thin wires instead of one solid wire. A stranded conductor is more flexible and tolerates movement better.
- AWG
- American Wire Gauge: a number for the diameter of a conductor. The larger the number, the thinner the conductor. A designation such as AWG 26/7 also gives the number of individual wires.
- Twisted pair
- Two insulated conductors twisted around each other. Because of the twist, interference acts on both conductors alike and cancels out at the receiver. In the designation of data cables it is written as TP.
- Stranding
- Twisting insulated conductors or pairs around one another, also called cabling. The distance over which one element makes a full turn is the lay length.
- Star quad
- Four insulated conductors twisted together around a common center. The conductors opposite each other form a pair.
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