AL/MY - Abbreviation for Aluminum Mylar®. Sometimes called out as ALMY. Mylar® is a trademark of the DuPont de Nemours Co.
ALKALI - A soluble salt obtained from the ashes of plants and consisting largely of potassium or sodium carbonate.
ALLOY - A metal made by the fusion of two or more metals.
ALLRUBBER CABLE - A cable in which all voids between conductors are filled with a rubber compound. This construction gives greater resistance to impact, adds strength, and reduces the tendency to kink. It also reduces flexibility.
ALS - A type of cable consisting of insulated conductors enclosed in a continuous, closely fitting aluminum tube.
ALTERNATING CURRENT - An alternating current is one where the direction of current is reversed at regular intervals. The rate at which reversals occur is expressed in cycles per second (Hertz or Hz). Abbreviated as AC or ac.
ALUMEL® - An alloy used for thermocouple and thermocouple extension wire. Alumel® is a trademark of the Hoskins Mfg. Co.
ALUMINUM CONDUCTOR - A wire or group of wires of aluminum, not insulated from each other, suitable for carrying electrical current.
am - Abbreviation for amplitude modulation. Also abbreviated as AM.
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE - The temperature of a medium (gas or liquid) surrounding an object.
AMERICAN WIRE GAUGE - Abbreviated AWG. See AWG.
AMP - Abbreviation for ampere. See Ampere.
