Restructuring and Review of Strategic Alternatives and Operational Structure (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 28, 2014	Apr. 03, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Oct. 23, 2014
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Pre-tax profit attributable to the Company	$ 6,200,000
Interest in PDP and PDEP [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on divestiture of interest in joint venture	10,400,000	(1,400,000)
Dominion Wire and Cables (Fiji) [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Interest in joint venture, percent sold			51.00%
Proceeds from divestiture of interest in joint venture			9,300,000
Keystone Electric Wire and Cable (Keystone) [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Interest in joint venture, percent sold			20.00%
Proceeds from divestiture of interest in joint venture			11,000,000
Africa/Asia Pacific [Member] | Phelps Dodge International Philippines, Inc. (PDP) and Phelps Dodge Philippines Energy Products Corporation (PDEP) [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Proceeds from divestiture of interest in joint venture		67,100,000
Gain (loss) on divestiture of interest in joint venture		(2,300,000)
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member] | Interest in PDP and PDEP [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on divestiture of interest in joint venture				17,600,000
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member] | Dominion Wire and Cables (Fiji) [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on divestiture of interest in joint venture			(2,600,000)
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member] | Keystone Electric Wire and Cable (Keystone) [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on divestiture of interest in joint venture			3,600,000
July 2014 Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring charge	225,000,000		225,000,000	225,000,000
Restructuring charges			15,500,000
July 2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | North America [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring charge			27,000,000
Cost incurred to date			10,700,000
Restructuring charges			3,900,000
July 2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Europe [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring charge			145,000,000
Cost incurred to date			124,700,000
Restructuring charges			9,100,000
July 2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Latin America [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring charge			38,000,000
Cost incurred to date			31,600,000
Restructuring charges			2,900,000
July 2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Africa/Asia Pacific [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring charge			15,000,000
Cost incurred to date			14,800,000
Restructuring charges			(400,000)
July 2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Employee Separation Costs [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring charge	70,000,000			70,000,000
Cost incurred to date			9,600,000
Restructuring charges			9,600,000
Number of employees			1,130
Number of manufacturing employees			915
Number of non-manufacturing employees			215
July 2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Employee Separation Costs [Member] | North America [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges			3,700,000
July 2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Employee Separation Costs [Member] | Europe [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges			5,000,000
July 2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Employee Separation Costs [Member] | Latin America [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges			800,000
July 2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Employee Separation Costs [Member] | Africa/Asia Pacific [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges			100,000
July 2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Asset-Related Costs [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring charge	125,000,000			125,000,000
Cost incurred to date			1,200,000
Restructuring charges			1,200,000
July 2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Asset-Related Costs [Member] | Latin America [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Cost incurred to date			1,800,000
July 2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Other Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring charge	30,000,000			30,000,000
Restructuring charges			4,700,000
July 2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Other Restructuring [Member] | North America [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges			200,000
July 2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Other Restructuring [Member] | Europe [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges			4,700,000
July 2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Other Restructuring [Member] | Latin America [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges			300,000
July 2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Other Restructuring [Member] | Africa/Asia Pacific [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges			(500,000)
July 2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges			8,600,000
July 2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges			6,900,000
October 2014 Review of Strategic Alternatives and Operational Structure [Member] | North America [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring charge					$ 14,000,000