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Alloy - A metal formed by combining two or more different metals to obtain desirable properties.

Alpeth - Coated Aluminum Polyethylene.  Basic sheath.

Alternating Current (AC) - Electric current that continually reverses its direction; it is expressed in cycles per second (hertz or Hz).

Alternating Voltage - The voltage developed across a resistance or impedance through which alternating current is flowing.

Ambient Temperature - Any all encompassing temperature within a given area

Ampacity - The maximum current an insulated wire or cable can safely carry without exceeding either the insulation or jacket material limitations (Same as Current Carrying Ampacity).

Ampere - The unit of current. One ampere is the current flowing through one ohm of resistance at one volt potential

Ampere's Law - The magnetic intensity at any point near a current carrying conductor can be computed on the assumption that each infinitesimal length of the conductor produces at the point of an infinitesimal magnetic density The resulting magnetic intensity at the point is the vector sum of the contributions of all the elements of the conductor.

Anneal - Relief of mechanical stress through heat and gradual cooling Annealing copper renders it less brittle.

Annular Conductor - A number of wires stranded in three reversed concentric layers around a core

Anode - The electrode through which a direct current enters the liquid gas or other discrete part of an electrical circuit the positively charged pole of an electrochemical cell.