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Glossary
| Flat Wire | |
| SPT | Stranded, Parallel, Thermoplastic. This is always followed by a -1, -2, or -3, signifying insulation thickness for different applications. |
| HPN | Heater, Parallel, Neoprene. Required for heater type applications, such as irons, toasters, etc. |
| Jacketed Wire | |
| S | Stranded (or service wire) |
| J | Junior Service (300 volts). If no "J" is in the wire type, then it is hard service (600 volts). |
| T | Thermoplastic. If no "T" is in the wire type, then it has a rubber jacket. |
| O | Oil resistant compound |
| W | CSA approved outdoor use (weather) |
| W-A | UL approved outdoor use (weather and atmosphere) |
| V | Vacuum - as in vacuum cleaner. This is a small O.D. jacketed wire, very flexible and initially used for vacuum cleaners. It is now used on many different types of end products. Available only in 18 AWG. |
| Common Codes | |
|---|---|
| HPD | Thermoset insulated heater cord with cotton braid overall. |
| HPN | Neoprene insulated heater cord. |
| MTW | Thermoplastic insulated machine tool wire. |
| NM | Non-metallic sheathed cable, multi-conductor building wire. |
| R, RH | Rubber insulated wire. Building wire used for construction |
| S | Extra hard service flexible cord for general use at 600 volts, rated at 60 C. Rubber insulated and jacketed. |
| SE | Extra hard service flexible cord for general use at 600 volts, rated at -58 F to +221F. TPE thermoplastic elastomer insulated and jacketed. |
| SEO | Type SE, but also rated oil resistant. |
| SEOW | Type SEO, but also rated for outdoor use at -58F. |
| SEW | Type SE, but additionally rated for outdoor use at -58 F. |
| SJ | Hard service cord for general use at 300 volts, rated at 60 C, rubber insulated and jacketed. |
| SJE | Hard service cord for general use at 300 volts, rated at -58 F to +221 F, TPE thermoplastic elastomer insulated and jacketed. |
| SJEO | Type SJE, but rated as oil resistant. |
| SJEOW | Type SJEO, but rated for outdoor use at -58 F. |
| SJEW | Type SJE, but rated for outdoor use at -58 F. |
| SJO | Type SJ, but rated oil resistant. |
| SJOW | Type SJO, but rated for outdoor use at -30 F. |
| SJT | Hard service cord for general use at 300 volts, rated -4 F to +140 F, PVC thermoplastic insulated and jacketed. |
| SJTO | Type SJT, but also rated oil resistant. |
| SJTOW | Type SJTO, but rated for outdoor use at -31 F. |
| SJTW | Type SJT, but rated or outdoor use at -31 F. |
| SO | Type S, but also rated oil resistant. |
| HSJO | Rubber insulated and jacketed. |
| SPT-1 | Thermoplastic parallel cord for light duty, 300 volts. |
| SPT-2 | Type SPT-1, but heavier construction, 300 volts. |
| SPT-3 | Type SPT-2, but heavier construction, 300 volts. |
| ST | Extra hard service cord for general use at 600 volts, rated at -4 F to +140 F, PVC thermoplastic insulated and jacketed. |
| STO | Type ST, but also rated oil resistant. |
| STOW | Type STO, but rated for outdoor use at -31F. |
| STW | Type ST, but rated for outdoor use at -31 F. |
| SVT | Vacuum cleaner cord, PVC thermoplastic insulated and jacketed rated 300 volts, 18 AWG and 16 AWG only, two conductors. |
| T, TW, THN, THHN, THWN | Thermoplastic insulated wires. Building wires used for construction. |
| UF | Thermoplastic underground feeder and branch circuit cable. Also used for submersible pump cable |
O.D Range
| Gauge | Conductors | Types of Wire | O.D Range |
| 18 | 2 | sv,svt,svo | .220-.255 |
| 18 | 3 | sv,svt,svo | .230-.265 |
| 18 | 4 | sv,svt,svo | .250-.285 |
| 18 | 2 | sj, sjt,sjo,sjto | .280-.315 |
| 18 | 3 | sj, sjt,sjo,sjto | .300-.335 |
| 18 | 4 | sj, sjt,sjo,sjto | .325-.365 |
| 16 | 2 | sj, sjt,sjo,sjto | .305-.340 |
| 16 | 3 | sj, sjt,sjo,sjto | .325-.360 |
| 16 | 4 | sj, sjt,sjo,sjto | .350-.395 |
| 14 | 2 | sj, sjt,sjo,sjto | .335-.375 |
| 14 | 3 | sj, sjt,sjo,sjto | .360-.395 |
| 14 | 4 | sj, sjt,sjo,sjto | .390-.435 |
| 12 | 2 | sj, sjt,sjo,sjto | .405-.445 |
| 12 | 3 | sj, sjt,sjo,sjto | .425-.475 |
| 12 | 4 | sj, sjt,sjo,sjto | .465-.520 |
| 10 | 2 | sj, sjt,sjo,sjto | .540-.605 |
| 10 | 3 | sj, sjt,sjo,sjto | .565-.635 |
| 18 | 2 | s,st,so,sto | .345-.385 |
| 18 | 3 | s,st,so,sto | .360-.400 |
| 18 | 4 | s,st,so,sto | .385-.430 |
| 16 | 2 | s,st,so,sto | .365-.410 |
| 16 | 3 | s,st,so,sto | .385-.430 |
| 16 | 4 | s,st,so,sto | .410-.460 |
| 14 | 2 | s,st,so,sto | .495-.550 |
| 14 | 3 | s,st,so,sto | .520-.575 |
| 14 | 4 | s,st,so,sto | .560-.620 |
| 12 | 2 | s,st,so,sto | .565-.625 |
| 12 | 3 | s,st,so,sto | .590-.655 |
| 12 | 4 | s,st,so,sto | .640-.710 |
| 10 | 2 | s,st,so,sto | .615-.685 |
| 10 | 3 | s,st,so,sto | .650-.720 |
| 10 | 4 | s,st,so,sto | .700-.775 |
| 8 | 2 | s,st,so,sto | .780-.880 |
| 8 | 3 | s,st,so,sto | .830-.930 |