Featured Terms
Electrical Slang
What do a "bug" and a "cherry" have in common?
They are both electrical slang terms!
Curious about what these and other slang terms mean?
Scroll through our collection of slang terminology used in the electrical industry!
Whether you are an electrician, contractor, or just someone trying to understand what your local electrician is jabbering about, use the glossary to learn trade slang and electrical jargon.
Baffled by a term you just overheard?
Type it in the search box at the top and flip the switch!
6/24/2018
Split bolt connector (looks like someone taped over a bug) used to mechanically join two or more wires together.
Hey Jim-Bob I need three #6 bugs right quick.
6/24/2018
This is an 8-1/2" deep sleeve that is put into place by the electrician prior to the concrete being poured and it comes in varying widths. After the concrete sets, conduit is run through the sleeve to run risers from deck to deck. If a pour is deeper than 8-1/2", then the user will use two or more stacked together to do the job. They are made from a slippery plastic and are usually a forest green color. You would order them in sizes from 1-1/2" through 6". A 4" Crete sleeve would allow a 3" pipe to fit inside.
6/24/2018
A flexible package consisting of an armor jacket wrapped around wire conductors forming an easily installable wiring system. Similar to MC, AC has an overall Mylar wrapping over all the wires to provide protection and therefore doesn't require the use of Anti-Short Bushings.
6/24/2018
This tool looks like a screwdriver but is used on hex head nuts. There is a different tool for each nut size. Although the part number shown below is for fractional sizes, it is also available for metric.
6/24/2018
Basket type pulling grip where wire mesh tightens over wire when pulled.
6/24/2018
The "No-Dog" is a hand tool that eliminates "dog-legs" in offsets and saddles. It is a lightweight aluminum level measuring 1/2" by 1" by 2" that is clipped to the end of the conduit when making bends.You would use an offset bend to avoid an obstacle or to make the pipe conform closely to the surface it is being installed onto. This makes it easier to securely fasten the pipe and makes for a cleaner, more professional job. A dog leg is when the opposite bends are out of alignment with each other. If the pipe was laid on its side. It wouldn’t lie flat. The NO-DOG level helps prevent this.
