On 05/09/2019 07:43, Graeme wrote:

An ongoing thread elsewhere is discussing wires and cables, and which is
which.Â* To me, the mains flex on a table lamp or the T&E behind the wall
are cables, both containing two, three or more wires.Â* Correct?

But that introduces flex.Â* Perhaps a cable containing multi strand wires
is a flex, not a cable whereas a cable containing single strand wires
really is a cable?Â* So a telephone cable really is a cable, as is
standard T&E.

What about figure of eight profile bell wire?Â* Two multi strand wires,
moulded together, a flex, or is flex really only an abbreviation of
flexible cable?

Non electrical multi strand cables?Â* Are they really hawsers?

You might be over thinking this :-)

The terms are generally too generic to have a precise meaning without
further qualification.

So for example, a cable might be stranded, wound round a winch, and have
a hook on the end. Or it might be electrical, have multiple conductors
and insulation.

A flex is indeed a shortening of flexible cable or flexible wire, and
normally implies a stranded construction. However a 6mm^2 T&E cable is
also stranded.

A "lead" normally implies a made up length of something with
terminations on the ends. But you would you could for example ask for a
TOSlink lead which has no electrical conductors. It would also be fair
to talk about a HDMI cable, or cord, or wire.



--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/