On Thursday, 5 September 2019 08:35:09 UTC+1, Graeme wrote:
In message , "Archibald
Tarquin Blenkinsopp ESQ [IRL]" writes
On Thu, 5 Sep 2019 07:43:13 +0100, Graeme
wrote:

Non electrical multi strand cables? Are they really hawsers?

To avoid confusion they should all be called leads

Hadn't thought about leads. A lead contains multiple wires, all multi
core (?) so a lead is the same as a flex or cable - or is a lead a cable
with connectors fitted?

We use 4mm leads & 2mm leads which are a single conductor in an insulator, we also have test leads on our meters, and we have BNC leads (single core+ screen) , and IEC leads we used to have phono leads too, all have insulation.

I tend to use the term cable for a piece of multicore wire that isn't terminated by a connector of any type. Which nicely means I can buy a reel of cable, or a reel of wire which is single conductor.

But we do have extention leads and extention cable, but no extention wires.
But I do have USB leads and USB cables.

Our problems come when we have to describe the differnce between solder with lead and a lead, and why our 4mm leads measure longer than 4mm in lenght.
And then the differnce between bolts and screws, and roundheads, cheeseheads, countersunk, hex, allen, torx, star washers, shakeproof washers.
I've heard some people use the word lead for the thing they put around their dog to take it for walks.
Some nick lead off of church rooves too.

The most recent problem was last week when a research student asked me for some magnet wire. Apparently this in the new name for what I've been calling enameled copper wire. I was then asked is that the same as transformer wire.
He then asked me (looking at the label on the 35+ year old spool[1] of wire
why don't they put the diameter of the wire on the label and what does 38 swg mean.

[1] it's not a reel it's a spool ;-)