COLD BEND - Generally refers to a test to determine cable or wire characteristics at low temperatures.The test specimen and a specified mandrel are cooled in a low temperature box to the specified temperature. The wire specimen is then wound around the mandrel after which it is examined for cracks or other defects caused by bending at low temperatures.
COLD FLOW - Permanent deformation of the insulation due to mechanical force or pressure (not due to heat softening).
COLD TEST - Tests performed on cables to check their performance at a specified low temperature as outlined in various specifications.
COLOR CODE - Color code is the use of different colored insulated wires for purposes of identification in a multi-conductor cable.
COMMON AXIS CABLING - In multiple cable constructions, a twisting of all conductors around a “common axis” with two conductor groups then selected as pairs. This method yields smaller diameter constructions than does a separate axis construction, but tends to yield greater susceptible to EMI and ESI.
COMMUNITY TV CABLE - Community TV cables are coaxial cables that are used to transmit television signals from a master antenna to a group of receivers in a community. RG 17/U is used as the primary lead-in, RG 11/U as the secondary lead-in, and RG 59/U as the tap-off lead-in.
COMPACT CONDUCTOR - Refers to a stranded conductor which is rolled to deform the round wires to fill the normal interstices between the wires in a strand.
COMPOSITE CABLE - A cable consisting of two or more different types or sizes of wire and/or cable.
COMPOUND - An insulating or jacketing material made by the chemical union of two or more ingredients.
CONCENTRIC STRANDING - A central wire or core surrounded by one or more layers of helically wound strands in a fixed round geometric arrangement. Generally each layer, after the first, has six more strands than the preceding layer and is applied in a direction opposite to that of the layer under it.
CONCENTRICITY - In a wire or cable, the measurement of the location of the center of the conductor with respect to the geometric center of the surrounding insulation.
CONCENTRICLAYCONDUCTOR - A single conductor composed of a central core surrounded by one or more helically laid wires. Each of these succeeding layers is applied with an opposite direction twist. The number of wires laid up the center wire is six, and each succeeding layer consists of six additional wires so that the number of wires in the strands are 7, 19, 37,61, etc.
