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We always aim to keep things clear and simple, so in this blog, we’ve put together a full glossary of the terms you’re most likely to hear.
The world of bespoke wiring and custom electrical solutions is full of technical terms, and if you’re new to wiring assemblies, harnesses, control panels or electrical builds, the language can feel a little overwhelming.
This guide covers the priority wiring terms used across the sectors we support, including automotive, aerospace, defence, renewables, medical, industrial machinery, agricultural equipment, telecoms, construction and OEM manufacturing to name a few. The aim is to give anyone new to bespoke wiring a practical reference that explains the parts, processes and tooling involved in modern wiring builds.
If you’re unsure about a term or process, please ask - we’re here to explain things in simple, easy to understand language, so your project delivers exactly what you need.
Glossary of terms: Bespoke wiring solutions
A complete wiring solution that includes cables or wires, connectors, shielding and protective coverings built to specific requirements.
Also known as: Cable assembly, wiring assembly
Applications: Aerospace, defence, medical, telecoms
Automated bagging system for fast, consistent packaging of wiring kits and components.
Applications: Volume cable and kitting orders
Cables engineered for high-voltage and battery systems, designed for durability and safe power transfer.
Also known as: Battery leads, HV wiring
Applications: Electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, industrial machinery
Industrial crimping press used to terminate battery lugs and heavy-duty battery cable assemblies.
Also known as: Battery lug crimper, heavy-duty crimp press
Applications: Automotive, marine, industrial battery cabling
Packaging tailored to specific wiring builds or customer requirements.
Applications: Retail kits, branded harnesses
Custom wiring or control projects built to a defined specification for unique machinery or equipment.
Applications: OEM machinery, R&D products
A woven metal shield that protects cables from electromagnetic interference and mechanical stress.
Also known as: Braided shield
Applications: High-flex cables, mobile equipment
A manufacturing method where wiring assemblies or control solutions are built exactly to customer drawings. Tec-Stop supports build-to-print requests while adding engineering input, process optimisation, quality controls and full traceability.
Also known as: Drawing-based build
Applications: Custom electrical solutions, control boxes
Connectors used to join two wires end-to-end in a secure, permanent termination.
Also known as: Butt splice, inline crimp
Applications: Automotive, industrial wiring, OEM builds
Customisable cable bundles with connectors designed for specific electrical or signal applications.
Also known as: Cable bundles
Applications: Medical devices, robotics, renewable systems
Precision cutting of cables to length for wiring harnesses and assemblies.
Applications: Assembly preparation, workshop builds
Wearable control units used for portable machinery control interfaces.
Applications: Industrial maintenance, service teams, portable equipment
Terminals, connectors, housings, grommets and other individual parts used in wiring assemblies.
Also known as: Electrical parts, wiring accessories
Applications: OEM builds, control panels, automotive, renewables
Cutting and opening conduit for cable routing and protection.
Applications: Harsh environments and protected wiring routes
Precision machine used to cut conduit to specified lengths for cable protection.
Also known as: Conduit cutter
Applications: Outdoor equipment, mobile machinery
A component that joins wires or cables to enable power or signal transfer.
Also known as: Plug, socket
Applications: All wiring solutions
Compact electrical enclosures built for machine control, automation and portable equipment. Also known as: Control unit, electrical box
Applications: Industrial machinery, mobile equipment
An enclosure housing relays, fuses, PLCs, terminals and other components for machine or system control.
Also known as: Electrical panel, control board
Applications: Automation, manufacturing equipment, HVAC, building controls
Rugged, sealed electrical connectors designed for harsh or outdoor conditions.
Also known as: DT connectors, sealed connectors
Applications: Automotive, agricultural, marine, off-highway equipment
Cutting mounting rails for securing components inside panels and enclosures.
Also known as: Top-hat rail cutting
Applications: Control panels, circuit enclosures
Conductive straps used to ground electrical systems and prevent faults.
Also known as: Grounding straps, bonding straps
Applications: Vehicles, equipment panels, agricultural machinery
Electronic Control Units used to operate and monitor machine or vehicle systems.
Also known as: Control modules
Applications: Automotive, machinery, OEM control systems
High-performance cables designed for electric vehicle power transfer and charging systems.
Applications: Electric cars, forklifts, charging stations, energy storage
A foil wrap around cables that protects against electromagnetic interference.
Also known as: EMI shielding
Applications: Signal-critical cable assemblies
Pre-configured wiring harnesses for broad or universal use.
Also known as: Universal harnesses
Applications: Plant machinery, trailers
Standard, non-specialised wiring for power or signal transfer.
Also known as: Standard wiring
Applications: OEM builds, workshops, machinery internals
Bundled wires secured with tape, conduit or sleeving, usually with connectors for quick installation.
Also known as: Wiring harness, cable harness
Applications: Vehicles, machinery, control systems
Machine for cutting heatshrink tubing used for insulation and protective sealing.
Also known as: Heatshrink cutting machine
Applications: Harnesses, assemblies, wiring repairs
Cutting insulating tubing to length before installation.
Applications: Moisture protection, strain relief
Industrial crimping equipment designed for strong, repeatable terminations.
Applications: High-vibration machinery
Global industry standards for wiring and electronics manufacturing.
Also known as: IPC or WHMA-A-620
Applications: All wiring assemblies
Recognised standard for quality management systems and consistent manufacturing processes.
Also known as: ISO certified, quality management system
Applications: All wiring builds
Precision cutting tool for DIN mounting rails.
Also known as: DIN rail cutter, mounting rail cutter
Applications: Control panels, switchgear, enclosures
Pre-laid wiring routes designed for repeatable production or tight routing.
Also known as: Cable looms
Applications: OEM builds, engine bays, electrical panels
Measuring voltage, resistance or continuity during electrical testing and QC.
Also known as: Electrical testing
Applications: Final QC for panels and assemblies
A protective, moulded layer over connectors or cable joints for durability and sealing.
Also known as: Moulded strain relief
Applications: Aerospace, medical, defence, harsh environments
Adding customer branding to wiring, assemblies or packaging.
Applications: OEM resellers, white-label products
Design and wiring of complete electrical control panels.
Applications: Automation, smart buildings, factories
Internal wiring of electrical control panels.
Also known as: Control panel wiring
Applications: Automation systems, industrial enclosures
Physical board used during loom production for accurate routing.
Also known as: Loom board
Applications: Consistent loom manufacturing
Reducing supplier complexity by consolidating wiring supply into one trusted provider.
Applications: Procurement and cost-saving strategies
Preparation of protective tubing for insulation and wire sealing.
Applications: Protective sleeving, wire sealing
Fast-turnaround sample assemblies for trials or development.
Applications: Product development, testing environments
Handheld or fixed units for machine or equipment control.
Also known as: Controller packs
Applications: Industrial equipment, vehicle-mounted controls
Rebuilding discontinued or legacy wiring systems.
Applications: Classic vehicles, older machinery
Programmable machine for cutting and stripping a wide range of cables.
Also known as: Programmable cable cutter and stripper
Applications: Automotive, aerospace, industrial sectors
Automated machine that strips insulation and crimps terminals in one cycle.
Also known as: Strip and crimp machine
Applications: High-volume harness production
Connectors with built-in sealing to prevent moisture and dust ingress.
Also known as: Waterproof connectors
Applications: Outdoor, marine, automotive, harsh environments
Joining or removing wire connections using solder.
Applications: Repairs, component installation
Workstation used for soldering wires and components.
Also known as: Soldering station
Applications: Cable assembly, PCB work
Machines that remove insulation from wires without damaging the conductor.
Also known as: Wire stripping machines
Applications: Harness production, repairs
Wire preparation processes used to attach terminals or connectors.
Applications: Assembly lines, machinery wiring
Ultrasonic welding machine that bonds wires with high-frequency vibration.
Also known as: Ultrasonic welder, TS3
Applications: Automotive, aerospace, industrial wiring
Prepared wire ends used for connectors or component interfaces.
Also known as: Wire ends, contacts
Applications: Looms, harnesses, assemblies
Tracking each component and process step throughout production for full build history.
Applications: Regulated sectors such as aerospace and medical
Joining wires using high-frequency vibration rather than solder.
Applications: Automotive, aerospace
Organised bundles of wires designed for efficient installation.
Also known as: Cable harnesses
Applications: Automotive, aerospace, agriculture
Marking wires for identification, traceability and maintenance.
Also known as: Wire ID
Applications: Troubleshooting, maintenance, quality assurance
Wire preparation, including cutting, stripping, crimping and labelling.
Also known as: Wire prep, cable processing
Applications: All wiring builds
Pre-laid wiring routes created for repeatable production or defined routing paths.
Also known as: Cable looms
Applications: OEM builds, engine bays, electrical panels
Contact us today to discuss your requirements.
If you’re unsure about a term or process, please ask - we’re here to explain things in simple, easy to understand language, so your project delivers exactly what you need.
A wiring harness groups several wires into one organised bundle for fast installation. A cable assembly includes wires or cables with connectors, shielding and protective coverings for defined electrical or signal requirements.
Build to print means the wiring solution is manufactured exactly to the customer’s drawings and specifications. At Tec-Stop we support build to print projects - but add much more value touchpoints to our clients and projects, with engineering improvements, process control and full traceability, to name but a few.
A wiring loom is a pre laid routing of wires used to create consistent harnesses for repeat builds or tight installation spaces. It keeps wiring uniform across multiple units.
Wire processing covers cutting, stripping, crimping and labelling. It prepares each wire to the correct length and specification for harnesses, assemblies and control panels.
Sealed connectors prevent moisture, dust and contaminants from entering the connection point. They are used in marine, automotive, outdoor and harsh environments.
Braid screening is a woven metal shield around a cable that protects against electromagnetic interference and mechanical stress. It is used in high flex and high noise environments.
Traceability tracks every component and process step throughout production. It supports quality control and is essential for regulated sectors such as aerospace and medical.
Ultrasonic welding uses high frequency vibration to bond wires without solder. It creates strong, reliable joins for automotive, aerospace and industrial wiring.
If you need support with a wiring project or want guidance on the right assembly, harness or control solution for your equipment, we’re here to help. We keep things clear and simple - from first conversation to final build.
Tec-Stop
Unit 87a
Blackpole West Trading Estate
Worcester
WR3 8TJ
