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?
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6/15/2026
An adaptor used to affix a lighting fixture directly to an electric box when the fixture and electrical box mounting holes do not line up, (see also 'Fixture Bar').
6/15/2026
This is an open bottomed octagon ring that gets cemented into the building floor (deck) after being nailed to the wood sub flooring. By using back plates and covers, it becomes a complete deck box and is available in depths from 2" to 6" with knockouts from 1/2" to 1". It is called a concrete ring when it is extending an existing mud box and it can be called a mud box when it has a back plate and serves as a mud box. A classic mud box, however, comes as one unit with the back plate welded in place.
Those boxes are too far back. You'll need to use some goof rings.
6/15/2026
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.
6/15/2026
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.
6/15/2026
Typically though of as the goo used in compression and split-bolt connections where aluminum wire is used, the PENETROX product is an oxide-inhibiting grease designed to create an air-tight and moisture resistant joint. The goal is to prevent the oxidation or corrosion of the metal products used in the electrical connection. Depending upon the type of metals found in the joint, you would use a specific version of the product containing suspended particles designed for that metal. Type "A" contains Copper particles and is used for Aluminum to Copper or Aluminum to Conduit (Steel). Type "B" contains Zinc particles and is used where the metals are all aluminum. It has found favor in a number of industries, such as Ham Radio operators, where the grease acts as a lubricant for threaded connections and reduces the chance of them seizing down the road.
6/15/2026
As its name suggests, the "No-Bolt" fixture stud is used without bolting the stud to the bottom of the box. You just insert the 3/8" or 1/2" stud into the back of the box and tighten down the locknut. This design gives you a strong fixture support without taking space from inside the box.
