TERMINOLOGY

Wire terms can be confusing. Be an expert with this glossary of terminology.

Ampacity

A measure of the current carrying ability of a conductor, in amps.

It is important not to exceed the ampacity of a given conductor to avoid damage to the conductor.

Copper Rod

The first component in drawing copper conductors, commonly available as 5/16 inch rod.

Gauge

Refers to the copper conductor size, according to the American Wire Gauge, based on the conductor’s circular mil area. Gauge numbers decrease as wire size increases, e.g. #8 is smaller than #6, etc.

Jacket

Refers to the insulation extruded around the copper conductor.

• EPDM: Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer, a synthetic rubber jacket. Flex-A-Prene is our brand name for our EPDM jacketed cable.
• TPE: ThermoPlastic Elastomer, a plastic jacket. Veri-Flex is our brand name for our TPE jacketed cable.

NEMA

National Electrical Manufacturer’s Association, the leading trade association in the U.S. representing the interests of electroindustry manufacturers of products used in the generation, transmission and distribution, control, and end-use of electricity.

SAE

Society of Automotive Engineers, dedicated to advancing the engineering of mobility systems. SAE maintains technical standards for automotive engineering.