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

Both eagles were firmly caught in these snares of rolled and twisted sinews, which, although not much thicker than common wire, were sufficiently strong to hold them.

From Winter Adventures of Three Boys by Laughlin, J. E.

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

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 Morris, Lucy Leavenworth Wilder

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