Electronics
Technical Information
Abbreviations & Acronyms
A-D: Analog to digital conversion CEN: European Committee for Standardization E: Symbol for voltage. Usually used to represent
ac: Alternating current CENELEC: European Committee for direct voltage or the effective (root-mean-square)
AC: Armored Cable, NEC Article 333 Cable Electrotechnical Standardization value of an alternating voltage
Designation CFC: Communications Flat Cable EFTS: Electronic funds transfer system
AC0: Analog Central Office ckt: Circuit EIA: Electronic Industries Association
ACR: Attenuation to Crosstalk Ratio CLT or CLOS: Closet EMF: Electromotive Force
ADO: Auxiliary Disconnect Outlet CL2: Class 2 Circuit Cable, NEC Article 725 Cable EMI: Electromagnetic Interference
AER: Aerial Designation EMT: Electric Metallic Tubing
AF: Audio frequency CL2P: Class 2 Circuit Plenum Cable, NEC Article EP: Entrance point
AIA: American Institute of Architects 725 Cable Designation EPDM: Ethylene-propylene-diene monomer rubber
ALPETH: An aerial telephone cable having an alu- CL2R: Class 2 Circuit Riser Cable, NEC Article 725 EPOS: Electronic Point-Of-Sale
minum shield and polyethylene jacket Cable Designation EPR: Ethylene-propylene rubber
ALS: A type of cable consisting of insulated con- CL2X: Class 2 Circuit Limited Use Cable, NEC ER: Equipment room
ductors enclosed in a continuous, closely fitting Article 725 Cable Designation ESS: Electronic Switching System
aluminum tube CL3: Class 3 Circuit Cable, NEC Article 725 Cable ESTA: Australian approval agency; Electricity Trust
ALVYN: An indoor, riser rated telephone cable hav- Designation of South Australia
ing an aluminum shield and vinyl jacket (PVC) CL3P: Class 3 Circuit Plenum Cable, NEC Article ETPC: Electrolytic Tough Pitch Copper
AM: Amplitude Modulation 725 Cable Designation
ETV: Educational Television
ANSI: American National Standards Institute CL3R: Class 3 Circuit Riser Cable, NEC Article 725
E/W: Equipped With
ARPANET: Advanced Research Projects Agency Cable Designation
EX or EXT: Extension
Network CL3X: Class 3 Circuit Limited Use Cable, NEC
Article 725 Cable Designation EXCH: Exchange
ASCII: American Standard Code for Information f: Frequency
Interchange CM: Communications Cable, NEC Article 800 Cable
Designation FAA: Federal Aeronautics Administration
ASME: American Society of Mechanical Engineers
CMA: Circular Mil Area FCC: (1) Federal Communications Commission (2)
ASP: A filled, direct burial telephone cable used in Flat Conductor Cable, NEC Article 328 Cable
areas subject to rodent attack. It consists of a CMP: Communication Cable Plenum, NEC Article
800 Cable Designation Designation
filled cable core, corrugated aluminum shield,
CMR: Communications Cable Riser, NEC Article FDDI: Fiber Distributed Data Interface
corrugated steel tape, flooding compound and
polyethylene jacket. 800 Cable Designation FDM: Frequency-Division Multiplexing
ASTA: United Kingdom approval agency CMX: Communications Limited Use Cable, NEC FDR: Feeder
ASTM: American Society for Testing and Materials Article 800 Cable Designation FEP: Fluorinated ethylene propylene
AWG: American Wire Gauge CO: Central Office FEXT: Far End Crosstalk
AWM: Appliance wiring material codec: Coder decoder FI: Approval agency of Finland; Electrical
COE: Central Office Equipment Inspectorate
B & S Gauge: See American Wire Gauge (AWG)
COS: Cooperation for Open Systems FIPS Pub: Federal Information Processing
B or BUR: Buried
COSINE: Cooperation for Open Systems Standard Publication
AWM: Appliance wiring material
Interconnection Network in Europe FM: Frequency modulation
BCF: Billion Conductor Feet
COT: Central Office Terminal FOCIS: Fiber Optic Connector Intermateability
BEF: Building Entrance Facility Standard
BER: Bit Error Rate CPC: Customer Premises Communication
CPE: (1) Chlorinated Polyethylene (2) Customer FOTP: Fiber Optic Test Procedure
BIC: Building Industry Consultant FOTS: Fiber Optics Transmission System
Premises Equipment or Customer Provided
BICSI: Building Industry Consulting Service FPL: Power Limited Fire Protective Signaling Circuit
Equipment
International Cable, NEC Article 760 Cable Designation
CPU: Central Processing Unit
BISDN: Broadband Integrated Services Digital FPLP: Power Limited Fire Protective Signaling
Network CRT: Cathode Ray Tube
CSMA/CD: Carrier Sense Multiple Access/ Circuit Plenum Cable, NEC Article 760 Cable
BTU: British Thermal Unit Designation
Collision Detection
CA: Cable FPLR: Power Limited Fire Protective Signaling
CSPE: Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene
CATV: (1) Community Antenna Television; Cable Circuit Riser Cable, NEC Article 760 Cable
Access Television (2) CATV Cable, NEC Article CTR: Certified Test Report
Designation
820 Cable Designation CV: Continuous vulcanization
FR-1: A flammability rating established by
CATVP: CATV Plenum Cable, NEC Article 820 Cable D-A: Digital to analog conversion Underwriter's Laboratories for wires and cables
Designation DAF: Dedicated Access Facility that pass a specially designed vertical flame test
CATVR: CATV Riser Cable, NEC Article 820 Cable dB: Decibel freq: Frequency
Designation DBS: Direct Broadcast Satellite FRICC: Federal Research Internet Coordinating
CATVX: CATV Limited Use Cable, NEC Article 820 dc: Direct current Committee (now FNC)
Cable Designation DCE: Data Circuit-Terminating Equipment FRPE: Flame Retardant Polyethylene
CB: Citizens band DCO: Digital Central Office ft: Foot
C-C: Conductor to conductor capacitance DCR: Direct Current Resistance FTP: Fire Transfer Protocol
CCITT: The International Telegraph and Telephone DD: Distribution Designer or Distribution Device ga: Gauge
Consultative Committee DEMARC: Demarcation point gHZ: Gigahertz
CCTV: Closed-circuit television DEMKO: Approval agency of Denmark grd: Ground
CDDI: Copper Distributed Data Interface DGM: Data Grade Medium GTO: Gas tube sign and oil-burner ignition cable.
CDF: Central Distribution Frame DISA: Defense Information Systems Agency 5,000V-15,000V.
CDO: Community Dial Office (formerly DCA) H: Designation for intensity of magnetic energy
CEBEC: Belgium approval agency; Commite DISI: Directory Information Services Infrastructure hc: Handset combination (single-line telephone)
Electrotechnique Belge Service de la Marque DIST: District HC: Horizontal cross-connect
CEE: European standards agency; International DRT: Plastic range and dryer cord (CSA) hck: Handset combination; key (six-button
Commission on Rules for the Approval of DTE: Data Terminal Equipment telephone)
Electrical Equipment
DVD: Digital Versatile Disc HDPE: High Density Polyethylene
DW: Distribution Wire HF: High Frequency
216
Technical Information Electronics
Abbreviations & Acronyms
hh: Handhole MDPE: Medium Density Polyethylene PABX: Private Automatic Branch Exchange
Hi-Pot: A test designed to determine the highest Meg or Mega: A numerical prefix denoting PAM: Pulse Amplitude Modulation
voltage that can be applied to a conductor 1,000,000 (106) PAP: A commonly used term for air core (unfilled)
without breaking through the insulation. M/G: Motor/Generator Set direct burial telephone cable with a corrugated
HPD: Rubber- and asbestos-insulated heater cord. MH: Manhole aluminum shield
No braid on individual conductors but with braid Mho: The unit of conductivity. The reciprocal of an PBX: Private Branch Exchange
overall. Also made with neoprene insulation and ohm. PC: Personal Computer
no asbestos or PVC/NBC. MHz: Megahertz PCB: Printed Circuit Board
HPN: Two-conductor, neoprene-insulated heater MI: Mineral Insulated Cable, NEC Article 330 P-FEP: General Cable proprietary dielectric
cord. Parallel construction. For use in damp Cable Designation material used injunction with FEP.
locations.
Micro: A numerical prefix denoting one-millionth PCM: Pulse Code Modulation
HSJ: Same as type HS but with #18, #16 and #14 (106) PCP: A commonly used term for air core (unfilled)
conductors and differing thickness of jacket.
MIL STD: Military Standard direct burial cable with a corrugated copper
HVAC: Heating, ventilation and air conditioning shield
MILNET: Military Network
Hz: Hertz PE: Polyethylene
MLT: Multi-Level Threshold
i: Symbol used to designate current pf: Picofarad
mm: Millimeter
IC: Intermediate cross-connect PFA: Polyfluoroalkoxy
Modem: Modulator demodulator
ICEA: Insulated Cable Engineers Association PIC: A general term for any type of plastic
MTT: Main Telephone Terminal
IDC: Insulation Displacement Connector insulated telephone cable
MTW: Machine Tool Wire
IEC: Internation Electrotechnical Commission Pico: A numerical prefix denoting one-millionth of
MV: Medium Voltage Cable, NEC Article 326
IEEE: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Cable Designation one-millionth (10-12)
Engineers PL: Private Lines
MW: Radio hookup wire with polyvinyl insulation
IGS: Integrated Gas Spacer Cable, NEC Article and plain or nylon jacket or braid, or shield, PLSJ: All-rubber, parallel-jacketed, two-
325 Cable Designation 1000V conductor, light-duty cord for pendant or
IMSA: International Municipal Signal Association N: Newton portable use in damp locations. 300V.
in: Inch NAIC: Network Applications and Information PLT: (1) Plant (2) Same as PLSJ except thermo-
IRSG: Internet Research Steering Group Center plastic insulation
IRTF: Internet Research Task Force NASA: National Aeronautics and Space PLTC: Power Limited Tray Cable, NEC Article 725
IS: International Standard Administration Cable Designation
ISA: Instrument Society of America NBR: Natural butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymer PM: Phase Modulation
ISDN: Integrated Services Digital Network rubber POI: Point Of Interface
ISO: International Organization for Standardization NBS: National Bureau of Standards (now NIST) POSJ: All-rubber, parallel, light duty rip-cord for
ISOC: Internet Society NEC: National Electrical Code use on lamps and small appliances, 300V, 60C
ITCO: Independent Telephone Company NEMA: National Electrical Manufacturers POT: Thermoplastic, parallel, light duty rip-cord.
ITU-T: International Telecommunications Union - Association 300V, 60C to 105C.
Telecommunications Standardization Section NEMKO: Approval agency of Norway POTS: Plain Old Telephone Service (colloquial)
IW (C): Inside Wiring (cable) NESC: National Electrical Safety Code PP: Polypropylene
J: Joule NEXT: Near End Crosstalk PR: Pair
kcmil: One thousand circular mils nf: Nanofarad PTFE: Polytetrafluoroethylene
KEMA KEUR: Approval agency of the Netherlands NFPA: National Fire Protection Association PTSS: Passive Transmission Sub-System
kft: An abbreviation for 1000 ft. NI: Network Interface PVC: Polyvinyl Chloride
kHz: Kilohertz NID: Network Interface Device PVDF: Polyvinylidene Fluoride
Kilo: A numerical prefix denoting 1000 (103) NIST: National Institute of Standards and R: Symbol for resistance
km: Kilometer Technology (formerly NBS) R-F: Radio-frequency
KTS: Key Telephone Service NIU: Network Interface Unit RCDD: Registered Communication Distribution
kV: Kilovolt nm: Nanometer Designer
kVA: Kilovolt Ampere NM & NMC: Non Metallic Sheathed Cable, NEC REA: Rural Electrification Administration
kW: Kilowatt Article 336 Cable Designation REP: Repair
LAN: Local Area Network NPLF: Non Power-Limited Fire Protective RFQ: Request for Quote
LASER: Light Amplification by Stimulated Signaling Circuit Cable, NEC Article 760 Cable RG/U: General utility grade military coaxial cable
Emission of Radiation Designation RH: Relative humidity
LATA: Local Access Transport Area NPLFP: Non Power-Limited Fire Protective RJ-45: A specific pin-point assignment for an eight
Signaling Circuit Plenum Cable, NEC Article 760 position modular telecommunications
lbf: Pound force
Cable Designation connector.
LBO: Line Buildout
NPLFR: Non Power-Limited Fire Protective RMS: (1) rack mount space (2) Root Mean
LDPE: Low Density Polyethylene Signaling Circuit Plenum Cable, NEC Article 760 Squares
LEC: Local Exchange Carrier Cable Designation RoHS: Restriction on Hazardous Substances
LED: Light-Emitting Diode NRZ: Non Return to Zero S: Heavy-duty, rubber-insulated portable cord.
LLDPE: Linear Low Density Polyethylene NRZI: Non Return to Zero Inverted Stranded copper conductors with separator and
LOCA: Loss of Coolant Accident OC: Optical Carrier individual rubber insulation. Two or more color-
locap: Low-capacitance, low-loss paired cable ODC: Ozone Depleting Chemical coded conductors cabled with filler, wrapped with
MAC: Moves, Adds and Changes OP: Outside Plant separator and rubber jacketed overall, 600 Volts.
MAP: Manufacturing Automation Protocol OPE: Outside Plant Engineer SAE: Society of Automotive Engineers
MATV: Master Antenna Television OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health SANZ: Standards Association of New Zealand
Mbps: Megabits per second Administration SBR: Styrene Butadiene Rubber
MC: (1) main cross-connect (2) Metal Clad Cable, OSI: Open Systems Interconnection ScTP: Screened Twisted Pair
NEC Article 334 Cable Designation OVE: Approval agency of West Germany; SDN: Switched Digital Network
MCM: One thousand circular mils Oesterreichischer Verband fur Elektrotechnik
MDF: Main Distribution Frame
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Electronics Technical Information
Abbreviations & Acronyms
SE: Service Entrance Cable, NEC Article 338 SWR: Standing Wave Ratio
Cable Designation SYS: System
SEMKO: Approval agency for Sweden TC: (1) Power and Control Tray Cable, NEC Article
SFTP: Simple File Transfer Protocol 340 Cable Designation (2) Telecommunications
SI: System Internationale Closet
SJ: Junior hard-service, rubber-insulated pendant or TCP: Transmission Control Protocol
portable cord. Same construction as type S, TDM: Time-Division Multiplexing
but 300V. Jacket thickness different. TEL: Telephone
SJO: Same as SJ, but carolprene, oil-resistant com- TELCO: Telephone Company
pound outer jacket. Can also be made "water- TERM: Terminal or termination
resistant." 300V, 60C. TEW: Canadian Standard Association type
SJT: Junior hard service thermoplastic or rubber- appliance wires. Solid or stranded single
insulated conductors with overall thermoplastic conductor, plastic-insulated, 600V, 105C.
jacket, 300V, 60C to 105C. TF: Fixture wire, thermoplastic-covered solid or
SJTO: Same as SJT but oil-resistant thermo- seven strands. 60C.
plastic outer jacket. 60C. TFE: Tetrafluoroethylene
SMTP: Simple Mail Transfer Protocol TFF: Same as TF but flexible stranding. 60C.
SNA: Systems Network Architecture THHN: 90C, 600V nylon jacketed building wire
SNM: Shielded Non Metallic Sheathed Cable, NEC THW: Thermoplastic vinyl-insulated building wire.
Article 337 Cable Designation Flame-retardant, moisture- and heat-resistant.
SNMP: Simple Network Management Protocol 75C. Dry and wet locations.
SNR: Signal to Noise Ratio THWN: Same as THW but with nylon jacket
SO: Hard-service cord, same construction as type overall. 75C.
S except oil-resistant carolprene jacket, 600V, TIA: Telecommunications Industry Association
60 to 90C. TOC: Tin Overcoat
SONET: Synchronous Optical Network TP: Transport Protocol
SP-1: All rubber, parallel-jacketed, two-conductor TP-PMD: Twisted Pair-Physical Medium Dependent
light-duty cord for pendant or portable use in
TPDDI: Twisted Pair Distributed Data Interface
damp locations. 300V.
TSB: Telecommunications System Bulletin
SP-2: Same as SP-1, but heavier construction,
with or without third conductor for grounding TT: Telephone Terminal
purposes. 300V. TTB: Telephone Terminal Board
SP-3: Same as SP-23, but heavier construction for TTY: Text Telephones
refrigerators or room air conditioners. 300V. TW: Thermoplastic vinyl-jacketed building wire,
SPC: Stored Program Control moisture-resistant. 60C.
SPG: Single Point Ground UCC: Uniform Code Council
SPT-1: Same as SP-1, except all-thermoplastic. UF: Thermoplastic underground feeder and
300V. With or without third conductor for branch circuit cable
grounding. UF: Underground Feeder and Branch Circuit
SPT-2: Same as SP-2, except all-thermoplastic. Cable, NEC Article 339 Cable Designation
300V. With or without third conductor for UG: Underground
grounding. UHF: Ultra High Frequency, 300 to 3,000 MHz
SPT-3: Same as SP-3, except all-thermoplastic. UL: Underwriter's Laboratories, Inc.
300V. With or without third conductor for m: Micron or micrometer
grounding. UPC: Universal Packaging Code
SRD: Portable range or dryer cable. Three or four UPS: Uninterruptible Power Supply
rubber-insulated conductors with rubber or USE: Underground Service Entrance Cable, NEC
neoprene jacket, flat or round construction. Article 338 Cable Designation
300V, 60C.
UTE: Approval agency for France; Union
SRDT: Same as SRD, except all-thermoplastic Technique de l'Electricite
with a maximum temperature of 90C.
UTP: Unshielded twisted-pair
SRL: Structural return loss
V: Volt
ST: Hard-service cord, jacketed, same as type S
VDE: West Germany approval agency
except all-plastic construction, 600V, 60C to
105C. VHF: Very High Frequency, 30 to 300 MHz
STA: Station VP: Velocity of Propagation
STO: Same as ST but with oil-resistant thermo- VSWR: Volume Standing Wave Radio
plastic outer jacket. 600V, 60C. VW-1: A flammability rating established by
STP: Shielded twisted pair Underwriters Laboratories for wires and cables
that pass a specially designed vertical flame
SV: Vacuum cleaner cord, two or three-conductor,
test, (formerly designated FR-1)
rubber-insulated. Overall rubber jacket. For light-
duty in damp locations. 300V, 60C. W: Symbol for watt or wattage
SVO: Same as SV except carolprene jacket, 300V, WA: Work area
60C. WP: Waterproof Outlet
SVT: Same as SV except all-plastic construction. X: Cross-connect
With or without third conductor for grounding XLPE: Crosslinked polyethylene
purposes only. 300V, 60C to 90C. Z: Symbol for impedance
SW: Station Wire
SWB: Switchboard
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