I'll start it out, y'all guys and gals add some if you wish, and maybe the Webmaster can find some time to compile it if he so wishes...
Disco: disconnect (I believe sparky aka Steve came up with that one)
PoCo: Power Company (I think I started that one)
GC: general contractor
EC: electrical contractor
Rx: Romex (
not drugs!)
EGC: equipment grounding conductor
GEC: grounding electrode conductor
AHJ: (from the NEC) Authority Having Jurisdiction (Mr. Inspector, Sir...usually)
Please add more!
(I have to go weed-eat the lawn now)
[This message has been edited by sparky66wv (edited 06-16-2002).]
ok......
K&T: Knob and Tube (art 394)
BX: Armored cable w/o a ECG?...
( come to think of it, i really don't know the definition...?!) Ducky: (art 368..)Bussways...
Sparky and Sparky66
BX cable nicknamed for the Bronx where it was first made hence BX for short.
-Mark-
OCP overcurrent protection
The following are some local terms:
LD's liquidated damages for you contractor's out there
CT can current transformer enclosure used by the PoCo for metering
PT can Potential Transformer enclosure used by PoCo for metering
1900 box some people call it a 4s box or a 4" square box
333 box or a switch box
rabbit wire trimmings (taken to salvage and sold)
rabbit gun large wire cutters (some may be ratcheting type)
noodle neutral wire
Maybe more later,
Doc
sparky, how'd we overlook "noodle"?
That's one of my favorites!
Dikes: Diagonal Cutters
'Lectrician's Hammer: Lineman's pliers
'Lectrician's Chisel: Large Flat Screwdriver
Can: Meterbase, enclosure or box, usually metallic
Pig: Garbage Disposal (another one from Steve)
I'll be thinkin' of more!
On the same subject here's a pretty comprehensive glossary on electrical and electronic terminology:
http://www.amp.com/support/technical/glossary.stm
CB: Circuit Breaker
DMM: Digital Multimeter
ECN: The Electrical Contractor Network (here)
X-former: Transformer (fairly common slang)
Cool links too!
This one 's from sparky from another thread...
[This message has been edited by sparky66wv (edited 06-17-2002).]
A few odds ‘n’ ends…Pie axe or
axe—cable shears
Trailer—extension cord
Baloney—larger type W or G flexible supply cord
Dogs—channel∙lock pliers
Ship auger—wood boring drill bit
Kleins—Original 19th-century lineman’s pliers
Edison—just about anything electrical
Westinghoused—executed with alternating current
Minerallac—(1) bolt-through conduit of tubing clamp OR (2) non-contact neon-and-mirror circuit tester for industrial 2.4-4.8kV—arguable if safely useable on ungrounded systems.
Indenters—1950’s system of ½-1 inch “crimped” EMT connector/coupling of arguable ground continuity
GRC/RMC—Galvanized Rigid Conduit/Rigid Metal Conduit…enameled finish raceway evolved from black-iron gas pipe
Glass—fiber-optic cable
Sherardized—trade term for conduit anodizing
T/TW—“dangerous” thermoplastic/vinyl wire insulation; first threat to original “safe” rubber cable insulation
Deion—early principal arc-interruption/extinction method for AC circuit breakers
4w∆ terms for Bø (occasionally Cø) of higher voltage∙to∙‘neutral’/ground—
Stinger Leg Red Leg
Orange Leg Purple Leg
Power Leg Wild Leg
Bastard Leg High Leg
Aluminum Wire/Cable Code Names As Excel File As Word File [This message has been edited by Bjarney (edited 06-17-2002).]
BX cable nicknamed for the Bronx where it was first made hence BX for short.
no kiddin'....huh!
Some "official" British terminology:
CPC = Circuit Protective Conductor (=EGC)
ECC = Earth Continuity Conductor (obsolete)
ELCB = Earth-Leakage Circuit Breaker
MCB = Miniature Circuit Breaker
PME = Protective Multiple Earthing
RCCB = Residual Current Circuit Breaker
RCD = Residual Current Device (=RCCB=GFI)
SWA = Steel Wire Armoured (cable)
TRS = Tough Rubber Sheath (obsolete)
consumer unit = distribution panel with main switch
earth/earthing/earthed = ground/grounding/grounded
isolator = disconnect
plate switch = combined switch/cover plate
plug top = cord cap
socket outlet = receptacle
twin socket = duplex receptacle
Some colloquial usage:
earth trip = ELCB or RCCB/RCD
live wire = phase conductor (equiv. to "hot")
T&E = "twin & earth", normal 2-cond. w/ground cable
And one I've invented since living here:
builder's screwdriver = big hammer!
K.O. = Knock Out
U/G = Underground
W/P = Weatherproof: See also W.P. = Wall Pack
XFMR = X-former
FNG = Recently Hired Personell
BFH = Sledge Hammer
Gut Truck = Job Site Catering Vehicle
Maggot Wagon= " " " "
So, Paul,
Since you've been on this side of the "pond" before, how difficult would you say it would be for you to start doing the sparky thing over here, or for one of us to go to England (U.K.?) and pick up the terms and differences there, and become proficent enough to be viable? From my past reading of your work and terms (very interesting, BTW) I'm not sure how easily I could pick up on the differences.
Dallas
MLO Main Lug only panel
MCB Main Circuit Breaker
Roach Coach Gut Truck = Job Site Catering Vehicle
Maggot Wagon= " " " "
"Drag Up" quit your job
Honey Wagon trucks that clean out the port-a-cans
Have a Honey of'a Day,
Doc
Doc, have you ever noticed what ever job your on, the honey wagon arrives and starts pumping right after the roach coach leaves and you have just taken a bite of your sandwich.
Roger
Of all the things to share terminology -- Some older locals around here talk about the "honey cart" that used to go round to empty the, um, outside facilities shall we say, before the days of indoor plumbing being widespread.
Dallas,
Interesting question. Some of your terminology and slang terms still make me stop and have to think a while, but at least I'd have a head start on most people in England who have little idea of U.S. power beyond "120V 60Hz and those funny flat-pin plugs."
In more general terms, each time I've been over there, after about a week I've felt more at home in the States than in the U.K.
How would you manage over here? Hmm, probably looks like a steep learning curve at first due to the different circuit arrangements, different fittings, different color codes, different cable sizing and type designations, etc. Then there's the IEE Wiring Regs. to get to grips with.
You might be surprised at just how many everyday things are harder to adjust to than the technical problems, like remembering that 1/7/02 means July 1, not January 7.
Or finding that driving on the left is real easy to adapt to, but remembering to look right first when crossing the street takes a lot longer.
I reckon we could start another thread on all the things that could spring from this question.
Roger,
You couldn't be more right. Sometimes I think the roach coaches and honey wagons are all working for the same company, just under different names. "Hey, the honey wagon's here.....must be break time....."
Happy smells...I mean....trails to all,
Doc
A few more:
5sq box = 4 11/16 inch box
bow ties = conduit support metal brace attached to box with multifunction clip and has conduit clips on each end
lopers = long handled cable cutters
lub juice = wire soap
batwings = k8's k12's
get me a box of watts! - I fell for that one only once.
[This message has been edited by electure (edited 10-21-2006).]
How about SDP?
Secondary Distribution Panel??
What about EXO?
BTW,
I have worked with several people who insist that diagonal cutters (dykes) are called side-cutters, which we all know are linesmans.
Does anyine else call dykes side-cutters?
They're often call side-cutters over here. Don't expect anyone to understand dikes/dykes either.
Hey Sparky66, I hope no one mistakes your can for the outhouse! LOL
Roach Coach = Lunch truck
Gaggin Wagon = "" ""
Round House = Black/Red/Blue/White/Green
Full Boat = "" "" "" "" ""
TSP = Twisted Shielded Pair
Nipple on a Stick = Running Thread
Cub = Apprentice
Jake = Flex Connector
I think the GC's coordinate the lunch truck with the honey truck to end lunch ASAP!
[This message has been edited by Webmaster (edited 01-18-2004).]
road dogAn electrician that quits his five day a week job, that he can only make it to work four days, to go on the road for the overtime. (six or seven day weeks) also known as road whore
( This is not true of all road dogs, some just like seeing the world, and are responsible people)
ratchet jaw Tells the same stories continuosly. Even to people he does'nt know on his way to the gang box or at the supply house. In other words actually slows everybody else down besides not working his or herself.
Roger
[This message has been edited by Roger (edited 06-18-2002).]
I hi-jacked this link from the Mike Holt site.
Though it would add to this thread some.
http://www.tradeslang.com/ Wirewiz
GC: grounded conductor
GE: grounding electrode
More?
Since this thread was recently resurrected...
Goof Plugs (AKA Goof fillers, Oopsies) = K.O. sealing caps
Reeler = the welded metal stand you feed 500' wire spools from when pulling wire - they look like an upside down "U" with 4 crossarms.
Roller = either a 4' fold up or 6' break down scaffold with wheels on the bottom. Don't ask... it's not OSHA compliance that got it this name
can (alt.) = a recessed lighiting fixture.
tell-tale = a non-contact voltage detector, indicates by visual, audio, or both.
stick = conduit, either singular or plural.
Eandrew:
"get me a box of watts! - I fell for that one only once."
Heh we used to send our Apprentice's for either a *Long weight* or a *Can of welding Sparks*
They tried to catch me with a Sky hook .. was'ent biting that day though
Shaine~
Ever been caught by the question.
"Go get me 20 20mm elbows,left-hand only".
Take all the right-hand ones back and get the right ones!, boy!.
Bump
Add as you please!
(Someone requested this in another thread)
[This message has been edited by electure (edited 04-07-2005).]
Volt-tick, ticker = non-contact voltage detectors.
reeler = spooler, stand
KO fillers = "snap ins" (also used for breaker space fillers)
Have sent several e-mails to the folks over @ tradeslang - great site, but their picture of "dikes" looks amazingly like a set of Klein linesman pliers... as I said in my e-mail "If I'd handed those to my foreman when he asked me for dikes, I'd woulda caught 'em in the head!"
Doc - we call 4" x 4" x 1 1/2" boxes "1900's" up here in the Chicago area too. The 2 1/2" deep ones are, of course, "deep 1900's".
A few I used today
Cub
Bat Wing
The "District"
just get urrr done.
[This message has been edited by electure (edited 10-21-2006).]
1G = 1 Gang Box or arrangement
2G = 2 Gang Box...
3G = 3 Gang Box...
4G = 4 Gang Box...
Ect...
Does anyone know what "RS" and "FS" mean as far as saying "RS box" or "FS cover" etc? Someone told me it stood for "flush-" or "raised-surface" but that doesn't seem to make a lot of sense.
11B box - 4X11/16" box
Hot stick - Non-contact voltage sensor
Red eye - Anti-short bushing
Fluoresent tube bender - What you tell someone to go find if you want them out of your hair for a while.
I know most people use these two interchangably, but how I had it explained:
BX - Not manufactured anymore; an old style cable assembly with a steel jacket, no EGC and conductors insulated with varnished cambric.
AC - Todays armored cable with THHN insulated conductors, bonding wire, and aluminum or steel jacket.
-John
[This message has been edited by BigJohn (edited 04-10-2005).]
I'm pretty sure that RS in "RS cover" stands for russell-stoll who was an old-time electrical manufacturer.They're still around today too.
[This message has been edited by andyp95 (edited 04-10-2005).]
SMIDGEN: how much too short the wire you need to connect is
GUTFULL: How much rubbish you tolerate before calling it a day.
[This message has been edited by electure (edited 10-21-2006).]
***FYI***We have a compiled list of commonly used terms, abbreviations and Acronyms used here at ECN.
It is located in the Technical Reference Section under the Topic:
ECN Glossary Click the above link to view it.
It may also be embedded to this thread.
Scott35
linked page - in bland text:
https://www.electrical-contractor.net/ubb/Forum15/HTML/000089.html
Can a "Can" be a meter "Can", a recessed lighting "Can", a former employee (ie, I had to "Can" him), or a place you go to read the newspaper? (ie, can I to go to the "Can")
Blessings, Mark
COWBOY (UK) - a hack, does lousy work, pays no tax & charges a lot, a person who plugs (!) you and disappears into the sunset, with your money, never to be seen again...
"Fluoresent tube bender - What you tell someone to go find if you want them out of your hair for a while.
" Was that intended as advice???
Scott35:
Please tell me you didn't hand type even half of those! My hands hurt looking at all of those letters.
"Can a "Can" be a meter "Can", a recessed lighting "Can", a former employee (ie, I had to "Can" him), or a place you go to read the newspaper? (ie, can I to go to the "Can")"
I think it can be any of those!
[This message has been edited by Theelectrikid (edited 04-23-2005).]
Theelectrikid,
Scott35:
Please tell me you didn't hand type even half of those! My hands hurt looking at all of those letters.
Yep, typed it all!!!
Naw, I pasted most of the text from members' submissions via E-mail - but it took some time to compile the list logistically, and that wasn't a copy/paste task (text editor task big time!)
"Fluoresent tube bender - What you tell someone to go find if you want them out of your hair for a while. " Was that intended as advice???
Some time ago (back in the day - 1980s) a person asked me what a Fluorescent Tube Bender looked like.
So I went to my Van, grabbed a ¾" Hickey, brought it back to the guy and said (with a sarcastic tone) "Would This Be One???"
Never got an answer to that one, so I (in my smart-alec state of mind) asked which of these three is an approved wire stretching device:
<OL TYPE=1>
[*] Heavy Duty Pickup Truck,
[*] Scissor Lift,
[*] 20 Mule Team
</OL>
After that we got along great - and became good friends!
Scott35
[This message has been edited by electure (edited 10-21-2006).]
BX stands for biaxial cable, and yes it is different from AC (armored cable).
battleships= Hold-Its for supporting old work boxes
sniffer= a non-contact voltage detector
from-to= a fitting to change from emt to flex
silly putty- they the wad of rubbery stuff that you put around the wires in a service>
floater - 1900 box that the carpenter attaches to the whip of a double oven, then attaches another whip from same 1900 box(floater) to the building wiring for feed. Whole assembly gets stuffed behind the appliance for a nice finished look.
Nuke Test/Smoke Test = Bringing a Service or Equipment on line.
Customers love to here the electrician yell out "everybody clear, Nuke Test!"
Rob
"Pot" = transformer
"hot" = energized
"Shotgun" = insulated stick used to attach grounds
"Coming hot" = anytime you are about to energize some equipment
"Fuzzing the line" = the technique of holding an insulated stick up close to a high voltage line and listening for the static buzz to see if it's hot. Thankfully, not needed anymore with the advent of voltage detectors.
"door" = the fuse barrel of distribution line fuse. Also called a cut-out.
Let's bump this one. The subject of slang has come up again.
Add your stuff!
I've seen the term "bucket" used around here before. I think it was in reference to a piece of switchgear. Can someone elaborate a little bit for me
?
Mike (mamills)
Just how does "biaxial cable" differ from metal clad? It is all called BX in these parts and is only available with an insulated ground.
1900 boxes and 8B are old Steel City or Appleton p/n's for 4-S and 4-O, respectively.
I learned the trade when the old timers called lead anchors, " A-J's" presumably after the Ackerman Johnson company that is one of the mfgs. of those type anchors. The new installation tool sold by Greenlee is called a "flush setter" in the NWA market.
Mamills;
the word "bucket" that refered to the draw out large breaker enclosure this is common on larger switchboard installment area.
typically they are rated over 1200 amp or larger [ 600v or less ] and med and high voltage will be in any ampacity size as well.
the common way the large breaker come out just like desk drawer go out of desk and bucket set up will have bussbar clips [ this part you have to be becarefull to get in correct phase other wise see you in somewhere in space ]
merci , marc
Fried I am not sure I have ever seen brand name BX but usually that refers to type AC type products. MC is somewhat different since it has a plastic inner wrap instead of paper and it is usually "wet location" rated but you couldn't bond (ground) your system with the armor. The armor of AC is rated as a bonding conductor (EGC) since it has that little strip in it.
What is old becomes new again and MC is now getting an internal bonding wire that will allow MC to be rated for bonding via the armor. The new stuff uses a big conductor for bonding tho.
[This message has been edited by gfretwell (edited 10-19-2006).]
A few New Zealand ones which just come to mind.
Most are the same as for the UK which Pauluk already described before,
but here are a few local Auckland ones
MEN = Multiple Earthed Neutral.
Pilots = control wires for street lights and hotwater circuits.
Tail and Charley = the way strings of relays and contactors are wired up in the POCO system.
MDI = Maximum Demand Indicator.
Screwing the relay = a way of holding a relay or contactor in with a square headed screw.
Grants Hot Box a box with various MCB's ( 6, 10, 16, 20 and 32 Amps ) in it to test overhead streetlight circuits.
Cheers Raymond RODALCO
The new installation tool sold by Greenlee is called a "flush setter"
around here they are called block sets,
as in ......cinder block...
How come I don't see BUG?
We all use this term to refer to the split-bolt connector a.k.a as a Burndy or a Kearney, after the manufacturers East or West.
How about EMPTY (em-t) for EMT?
Greenfield or flex for FMC?
Sealtight for LFMT
OR, SMURF tube for ENT? (for the color of blue it comes in, matches the cartoon critters from the 70s)
Some off the top of my head are:
Goof Plate - oversized receptacle/switch plates
Stat - Thermostat
Lube - Wire-pulling lubricant
Ring it out - Check for continuity
Fart Fan - bathroom exhaust fan
[This message has been edited by electure (edited 10-21-2006).]
My college professor always said the more buzzwords in a profession the more money you'll make in it.
AJ --Ackerman Johnson (lead anchor)
Bucket -- A draw out motor starter in a MCC
MCC Motor control center
VFD/ASD --variable frequency drive/adjustable speed drive
Smurf tube --blue electrical nonmetallic conduit
Hickey -- rigid (not one-shot) hand bender
452 --Red wirenut
451 --Yellow wirenut
Wirenut -- wire connector
Buchannon --wire connector
Whip --flex to light fixture or other end use device
minny --mineralac type of pipe hanger
doogle switch --two switches built into a 1 gang switch
gutter --wireway
bait bucket --lunch bucket
i hear a man calling his dog -- i gotta go to the bathroom
wiggy -- SW D wigens voltmeter (still made but not sure why)
[This message has been edited by PE&Master (edited 10-21-2006).]
"clamp" - measure the current
"drop the load" - power outage
Let's see what did I hear recently.
"Tong" something or "Put the tongs on" is to check current with your clamp-on meter.
"Camel poo" = Ductseal
A.D
[This message has been edited by electure (edited 10-23-2006).]
What is meant by the term "Brown out" ? Used in an earlier thread
Brown out? Is that not what happens within an hour of eating off the "roach coach"?
Sorry, had to say it!
Brown out Is a reduction in voltage, usually by the PoCo during an extremely high demand in order to reduce the load.
OR:
It could also include ( I think don't quote me) when the demand on the PoCo is so high the supplied voltage actually starts to drop close to or past the allowed minimum voltage level required to be supplied by the PoCo.
A.D
Left hand rule: Rule stating that when preparing to close a breaker, disco, or bucket, stand to the left the equipment, using your left hand to operate the switch. That way if something goes terribly wrong, say and arc flash or explosion..you will only sustian injuries to your left hand.
Also the term chico, referring to the putty used in sealoffs.
Hmm, it appears we have
UG-Underground, now how about,
OH- Overhead.
Ian (Watch someone find OH in this thread) A.
CB - Circuit Breaker
MCP - Motor Circuit Protector
OL - Overload
TM - Thermal-magnetic circuit breaker
AIC - Ampere Interrupting Capacity
V - Volt
VM - Voltmeter
A - Ampere
AM - Ammeter
WHM - Watt Hour Meter
Hz - Hertz
BX CABLE: Term comes from the old Bronx Cable Company. When electricians back in the day used to order armored cable, it came in a crate marked "Bx Cable." It was short for Bronx Cable. This was the explanation given in a Thomson Delmar Electrical Training book and I believe it.
Whoa, Brown outs is badddd news. I work for a POCO and a brown out is most likely going to be a prelude to an outage. Low voltage will damage equipment in a heck of a hurry and needs to be corrected quickly. As the voltage drops, the current of course rises rapidly to maintain load.
The sound of an air conditioner or refrigerator running under voltage is enough to make me run to unplug/turn it off before the motor smokes.
Modern dispatch systems will warn of these conditions and it has become quite rare (around here anyway) to have a brown out last more than a few seconds.
Nuke Test/Smoke Test = Bringing a Service or Equipment on line.
Customers love to here the electrician yell out "everybody clear, Nuke Test!"
Rob
OK, lemme ask, where/how did you (or whoever) come up with "Nuke Test?"
Ian A.
[This message has been edited by Theelectrikid (edited 11-19-2006).]
So much lingo in electrical work…
Carflex – Liquidtite flexible nonmetallic conduit
Jake – 90-degree conduit “inspection elbow”
Acorn – Ground rod clamp for direct burial
1/4 Bend – 90-degree sweep
1/8 Bend – 45-degree sweep
FA – Female adaptor
MA – Male adaptor
NM-B - Romex
Stacker – Plastic spacer and support for multiple NM-B cables
T&B – Plastic Romex connectors (Also a major manufacturer)
SER – Service entrance cable assembly with L-L-N-G conductors
SEU – Service entrance cable assembly with L-L-(NG)
ATS – Automatic Transfer Switch
AFCI – Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter
Keyless – Simple porcelain or plastic lamp holder
Twins – Tandem circuit breakers
GDO – Garage Door Opener
Rock Wool – Fireblocking insulation “Roxul”
Fantech – Remotely mounted exhaust (bath) fans
Hotbox – Electric heater used to bend PVC conduit
Unibit – Any variation of a step-drill
Faceless – Single gang GFCI device without receptacle outlets
Soap – Pulling lubricant
Nolox – Aluminum oxide inhibitor
E-Y – Potable conduit fitting
Jiffy Clips – 3/8 Trade size straps
Handy Box – Small, single-gang metal device box
Mouse – Foam Sponge used to vacuum or blow a pull line through conduit
B-Caps – Wire nuts
PLC – Programmable Logic Controller
HID – High Intensity Discharge
MCR – Master Control Relay
PIR – Passive Infrared
CO – Carbon Monoxide Detector (or Certificate of Occupancy)
UPS – Uninterruptible Power Supply
UTP – Unshielded Twisted Pair (Cat5e, Cat6)
RG6 Quad – Common “Radio Guide” cable (cable television, satellite)
Duct Seal – Nonhardening putty, usually grey
RTV – Silicone sealant “Room Temperature Vulcanizing”
Tapcon – Self tapping concrete anchors
[This message has been edited by Matt Barrett (edited 11-21-2006).]