Final answer:
A water-tight flexible electrical cable connecting a system's disconnect to the condensing unit is known as a flexible electrical cable or whip. It includes safety features like a GFCI and a three-wire system to protect from environmental factors and electrical hazards.
Step-by-step explanation:
The component you're referring to is commonly known as a flexible electrical cable or whip that is used to provide a water-tight connection between the system's disconnect and the condensing unit. This flexible conduit is designed to protect the electrical wires from water and other environmental factors, and it often includes features such as a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) for safety. The GFCI is crucial as it helps to prevent shock by detecting loss of current to unintended paths. Moreover, the use of a three-wire system that includes live/hot, neutral, and ground wires, further secures the system against thermal and shock hazards by ensuring that both the neutral wire and the case of the appliance are grounded.