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

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

From Seattle Times • Nov. 30, 2021

Ignoring at first the pilot relay and the pilot lamp, it will be seen that each of the tip-spring anvils of the jacks is connected to a common wire 1 which is grounded.

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

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 McMeen, Samuel

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 Zerbe, James Slough

One, seemingly in charge, held a weapon in his hand, a slender tube no thicker than a common wire; and ending in a cylinder within the creature's hand.

From Astounding Stories of Super-Science, November, 1930 by Various