Thermax | Glossary

Backshell Mold - A mold used to mold a covering over the backshell of a connector or plug after it is connected to a cable.

Balanced Line - A cable having two conductors which carry voltages opposite in polarity but equal in magnitude with respect to ground.

Balun - A device for matching an unbalanced coaxial transmission line to a balanced two line system. A balun can also provide impedance transformation.

Band Width - The frequency of electrical signals transmitted within a +/-3 dB attenuation range.

Beryllium - A metal lighter than aluminum, non-magnetic, and characterized by good electrical conductivity and high thermal conductivity. It is available in sheet, foil, and wire forms. Strong conductor wire can be made from beryllium for use in applications where light weight is critical. The most important use for beryllium is in alloys, especially beryllium-copper alloys. Beryllium may be hazardous to one’s health.

Binder - Spirally served tape or thread used for holding assembled cable components in place until additional manufacturing operations are performed.

Bond Strength - Amount of adhesion between bonded surfaces.

Bondable Wire - An insulated wire whose surface has been treated to facilitate adherence to other materials such as potting compounds.

Braid - Woven bare metallic or tinned copper wire used as shielding for wires and cables and as ground wire equipment. Also, a woven fibrous protective outer covering over a conductor or cable.

Braid Angle - The angle between the axis of the cable and axis of any one member or strand of the braid (also known as angle of advance). It is further the smaller of the two angles formed by the carrier and the longitudinal axis of the braid.

Braid Carrier - The spool or bobbin on a braiding machine which holds one group of strands or filaments consisting of a specific number of ends. The carrier revolves during the braiding operation.

Braid Ends - The strands used to make up one carrier. The strands are wound side by side on the carrier bobbin and lay parallel in the finished braid.

Breakdown Voltage - The voltage at which the insulation between two conductors will break down.

Breakout - The point at which a conductor or conductors break out from a multi-conductor cable to complete circuits at various points along the main cable. The remainder of the conductor continue on within the jacket.

Bunched Stranding - Term applied to group of strands twisted together in a random manner in the same direction in one operation without regard to geometric arrangement of specific strands.

Bus - Wire used to connect two terminals inside an electrical unit. A common point for electrical circuits to return. Can be bare, tinned, or insulated.

Butt - Joining of two conductors end-to-end, with no overlap and with their axes in line.

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