common wire

American  

[kom-uhn wahy^uhr] / ˈkɒm ən ˌwaɪər /

noun

Electricity.

1. a separate or extra wire serving to supply a smart thermostat with continuous power from a heating or cooling system, without interfering with the signals that alert the system to turn the heating or cooling on or off.

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Etymology

Origin of common wire

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

common wire

The most common wire gauges used in U.S. residential buildings are 14, 12 and 10.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 30, 2021

The ringing buttons at each station are connected between the tip of the plug at that station and the upper common wire.

From Cyclopedia of Telephony and Telegraphy, Vol. 2 A General Reference Work on Telephony, etc. etc. by Samuel McMeen

Thermo-Electric Couples.—Any number of these couples may be put together and joined at each end to a common wire and a fairly large flow of current obtained thereby.

From Electricity for Boys by James Slough Zerbe

When all the hooks are down, each call bell is connected between the lower common wire and the tip side of the talking circuit individual to the corresponding station.

From Cyclopedia of Telephony and Telegraphy, Vol. 2 A General Reference Work on Telephony, etc. etc. by Samuel McMeen

A little two year old tot had his ears pierced from top to bottom and common wire with three cornered pieces of shiny tin run through all the places.

From Old Rail Fence Corners The A. B. C's. of Minnesota History by Lucy Leavenworth Wilder Morris