Welcome! In my years of teaching, I’ve seen many students and apprentices find technical standards intimidating. This guide is designed to help with that. We will walk through the essential vocabulary used in the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard 183, which is the “Guide to the selection of high-voltage cables.” By the end of this short guide, you’ll have a clear and solid foundation for understanding the core voltage ratings and system characteristics that determine how high-voltage cables are specified.