TECHNICAL GUIDE
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
2. Definitions of Oversight or Regulating Bodies
3. Related Code
4. NEMA Ratings and IP Ratings
5. UL Hazardous Locations Definitions
8. Temperature Conversion Chart
AC (Alternating Current) An electrical current that harmonically reverses direction in an electrical circuit at regular intervals (frequency), such as normal household current.
AED
Association of Equipment Distributors
Adapter
An accessory used for interconnecting non-mating devices or converting an
existing device to a new or modified use.
ALCI
(Appliance Leakage Current Interrupter)
- An ALCI is a device intended to be used in conjunction with an electrical
appliance. Its function is to
interrupt both conductors of an electrical circuit to a load when a fault
current to ground exceeds 6mA which is much less than that required to operate
the overcurrent protection device (breaker or fuse) of a circuit.
The ALCI is intended to be used only in a circuit that has a solid
grounded neutral conductor. ALCIs
are considered personal protection devices and can function with reversed
polarity.
Ampacity
The current in amperes that a conductor can carry continuously under
electrical use without exceeding its performance rating or design limitations.
Ampere
The unit of measure for electrical current.
One ampere is the current flowing through one ohm of resistance at one
volt potential.
ANCE
National Association of Normalization and Certification of the Electrical
Sector
Angle
Cord Connector
An electrical connector that allows an attached flexible cord to exit at
right angles to the connector face.
ANSI
American National Standard Institute
Attachment
Plug
A Male contact device that provides a readily detachable connection of a
flexible cord or cable to receptacles, connectors and/or flanged equipment power
outlets.
ARA
American Rental Association
Auto Reset GFCI/ELCI that powers-up automatically upon plug-in or after power restoration in the absence of a ground-fault condition. However, user must press the reset button in the event of a ground-fault to restore power regardless of the reset type selected (see Manual Reset).
AWG
(American Wire Gauge)
A relative system for the designation of wire diameter.
CEC
Canadian
Electric Code
CEMRA
Canadian Electrical Manufacturers Representative Association
Circuit
(Electric)
The complete path of an electrical circuit.
When the continuity is broken, it is called an open circuit; when
continuity is maintained, it is called a closed circuit.
Conductor
The uninsulated portion of a conductive wire suitable for carrying electrical
current.
Contacts
The part of the electrical connectors that carry electrical current and are
mated (or contacted) together or separated to control electrical current flow.
Continuity Check A test to determine whether electrical current flows continuously throughout the length of a single wire, individual wires in a cable, or an electrical circuit.
Cord
A flexible insulated cable of one or more conductors used to carry electrical
current.
Cord
Connector
A female contact device used in making a detachable electrical connection to
an electrical attachment plug or a flanged electrical power inlet.
Cord Grip Means by which the flexible cord entering a device is gripped or secured in order to relieve stress on the electrical terminals from mechanical tension applied to the cord during use.
CSA
Canadian Standards Association
cUL
Underwriters Laboratories Listing to Canadian Standards
Current Carrying Capacity The maximum current an insulated conductor can safely carry without exceeding its insulation, dielectric rating and/or jacket temperature limitations.
DC
(Direct Current)
An electric current that flows in one direction from high potential to low
potential through a circuit such as a battery.
Dielectric
Strength
The voltage that an insulation material can withstand before electrical
breakdown (shorting) occurs. Usually
expressed as a voltage gradient (such as volts per mil).
ECOC
Electrical Contractors of Canada
ELCI
(Equipment Leakage Current Interrupter) -
A device intended to provide leakage current protection in appliances and
utilization equipment. The
devices function is to interrupt all ungrounded conductors of a supply
circuit to electrical equipment in the event a fault-current (in excess of the
fault-trip current) occurs between live parts and the grounded enclosure or
other ground parts. An ELCI is not
intended to be used in place of a GFCI, ALCI or IDCI and may have a fault-trip
current value greater then a personal-protection level of 6mA.
The use of an ELCI is not intended to replace or supersede the protection
requirements concerning trip-current and trip-time of a GFCI.
ELCIs are considered equipment protection devices, not personnel
protection devices.
FM
Factory Mutual
Flame
Resistant
The ability of a material not to propagate a flame once the heat source is
removed.
Flanged
Inlet
A plug which is intended for flush mounting on an appliance or equipment and
which serves to connect utilization equipment to a cord connector.
Flanged
Receptacle
A receptacle which is intended for flush mounting on an appliance or on
equipment which is intended to establish electrical connection with an inserted
plug.
Frequency
The rate of voltage oscillation (reversing) within an alternating current
(AC) power source. U.S. typically
is 60 Hz or 60 oscillations/sec.
Gauge
A term used to denote the physical size of a wire (see AWG).
GFCI
(Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) -
also known as a GFI. A device
intended for the protection of personnel as well as equipment.
It de-energizes a circuit within an established period of time (25mS)
when a current to ground (ground-fault leakage) exceeds some predetermined value
(6 mA, for Class A GFCI) which is less than that required to operate the
overcurrent (overload) protection device (breaker or fuse) of the supply
circuit.
Ground
An electrical term meaning to connect to the earth or other large conducting
body to serve as an earth.
Grounded
Neutral
A GFCI will automatically trip if the neutral conductor is grounded on the
load side of the device (after sensor). If
the load side neutral is shorted to ground and a ground fault occurs
simultaneously, some of the fault current would flow through the neutral wire to
the sensor while some current would flow through the inadvertent ground path.
If such a grounded connection occurred, it would be possible for a person
to contact the ground and receive an electrical shock.
IAEI
International Association of Electrical Inspectors
IDA
Industrial Distributor Association
IEC
International Electrotechnical Commission
IECA
Independent Electrical Contractors Association
IEEE
Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
Incandescent
Lampholder
Lampholders of the threaded screw shell types for use with standard sizes of
incandescent bulbs, having threaded bases.
In-Line
A device that can be attached to a length of cord or cable to control or
monitor utilization equipment.
Isolated
Ground
A grounding-type receptacle in which the equipment ground contact and
terminal is electrically isolated from the receptacle mounting means.
Lampholder
A device with contacts that establishes mechanical and electrical connection
to an inserted lamp.
Line
Side
Primary side or power supply side of an electrical device.
Locking
Connector
A connector designed to lock an inserted plug in place when the plug is
rotated in a clockwise direction. The
plug can then only be removed when turned in a counter-clockwise direction.
Load
Side
- Secondary side or power load side of an electrical device.
Manual
Reset
GFCI/ELCI that requires the user to press the reset button upon plug-in or
primary power restoration to prevent accidental equipment start-ups (also called
safe-start). This requirement is
necessary after each and every occurrence of primary power restoration (see Auto
Reset).
Molded-on
Adapter
An adapter that is factory molded to a length of flexible cord.
Multiple
Adapter
An adapter that is attached to a power cord for equipment that provides an
additional receptacle opening at the top of the adapter.
NAED
National Association of Electrical Distributors
NAW
National Association of Wholesalers
NEC
- National Electric Code
NECA
National
Electrical Contractor Association
NEMA
National Electrical Manufactures Association
NEMRA
National Electrical Manufacturers Representatives Association
NFPA
National Fire Protection Association
NRTL
Nationally Recognized (by OSHA) Testing Laboratory
Nuisance
Trip
GFCI/ELCI fault-trip caused by conditions other than those for which the
device is intended to respond.
Open
Neutral Protection
A GFCI/ELCI fault-trip upon loss of the neutral connection.
When the neutral connection is open, this creates an unsafe condition
where the available current has lost its normal return flow path, thus
increasing the potential for the current to flow elsewhere (as in an inadvertent
shock).
OSHA
(Occupational Safety and Health Act)
Specifically, the Williams-Steiger Law passed in 1970 covering all factors
relating to safety in places of employment.
Pin
and Sleeve
A receptacle or plug with round-pin or sleeve-type contacts.
Plug
A device with male contacts which, when inserted into a receptacle,
establishes connection between the conductors of the attached flexible cord and
the conductors connected to the receptacle.
Primary
The line (power source) side of a device.
Rated
Voltage
The maximum voltage at which an electrical component can operate for
extended periods without undue degradation of its insulation properties or the
creation of a safety hazard.
Receptacle
A device with female contacts which is primarily installed at a structure or
in a piece of equipment and is intended to establish electrical connection with
an inserted plug.
Reverse
Polarity
Condition where the Hot and Neutral connections are reversed.
SAE
Society of Automotive Engineers
Secondary
The load (equipment) side of a device.
SEDA
Safety Equipment Distributor Association
SME
Society of Manufacturing Engineers
Switch
A device for making, breaking, or changing the connections in an electrical
circuit.
STAFDA
Specialty Tool and Fastener Distribution Association
Trip
Denotes automatic or response interruption by the GFCI/ELCI or other device
of an electrical circuit.
Trip
time
The elapsed interval between the time when the ground-fault current is first
applied and the time when the circuit is interrupted.
U.L.
Abbreviation for Underwriters Laboratories, a non-profit independent
organization that operates a listing service for electrical and electronic
materials and equipment.
U.L.
Listed
Indicates an item has been tested and approved to the safety standards
established by Underwriters Laboratories.
U.L.
Recognized
Refers to products that have been tested and approved to the safety
standards established by Underwriters Laboratories and are typically used as
components of a final assembly.
VRMS
Voltage (root mean square)
Voltage
The term most often used in place of electromotive force, potential,
potential difference, or voltage drop to designate the electrical pressure that
exists between two points which is capable of producing a current when a closed
circuit is connected between the two points.
Weatherproof
Connector
- A connector constructed or protected so that exposure to weather will not
interfere with successful operation.
Weatherproof
Plug
A plug constructed or protected so that exposure to weather will not
interfere with successful operation.
Weatherproof
Receptacle -
A receptacle constructed or protected so that exposure to weather will not
interfere with successful operation.
W-Type
Adapter
An adapter in the form of a W having three cord connectors on one end
and one male plug on the other end (base of W).
Y-Type Adapter An adapter in the form of a Y having two cord connectors on one end and one male plug on the other end (base of Y).