Emergency MICC Termination

Pete999 · Jul 29, 2014

I was thinking back to my youth, or more correctly my early days as a Sparky after completing my Apprenticeship, and having to carry out a MICC termination without the requisite MICC tooling, I had to do one end,only a small one, can't recall the exact size but it was on a lighting circuit. Any way scoured the sheath very carefully I might add with a pen knife, stripped back the sheathing with a pair of side cutters, screwed the pot on and crimped the seal with a couple of mole grips, not ideal you may say, but it got me out of a hole, another Sparky went back a few days later to remake the end off properly. Just wondering if anyone else has had the unfortunate experience of having to make an end off without the right tools?:wheelchair:

Andy78 · Jul 29, 2014

I've worked with older guys whose preffered method is snips and pliers.
Done it once myself due to a joistripper failure... Took me more than one go I will admit.

Engineer54 · Jul 29, 2014

Pete999 said:
I was thinking back to my youth, or more correctly my early days as a Sparky after completing my Apprenticeship, and having to carry out a MICC termination without the requisite MICC tooling, I had to do one end,only a small one, can't recall the exact size but it was on a lighting circuit. Any way scoured the sheath very carefully I might add with a pen knife, stripped back the sheathing with a pair of side cutters, screwed the pot on and crimped the seal with a couple of mole grips, not ideal you may say, but it got me out of a hole, another Sparky went back a few days later to remake the end off properly. Just wondering if anyone else has had the unfortunate experience of having to make an end off without the right tools?:wheelchair:

Quite a few times Pete, i used to crimp the pot seal with a large pair of 10'' side cutters to make the indents. I scoured the sheath with a shaped stripping knife. I don't think anyone ever went back to remake the ends either. Sometimes i used an old bit of rebar and cut a slot in it to strip the sheath or i used the same pair of side cutters that i sealed the pot with.

Diddy · Jul 29, 2014

Yep strip with side cutters and seal with mole grips or gland pliers. Had to strip with side cutters quite a few times due to joy stripper needing cleaned/blade gone ect. Nothing worse than a blunt joy stripper grrr.

davesparks · Jul 29, 2014

I was taught to strip with side cutters, and I never have got on with the stripping tools. For bigger ones a slot in the end of a cheap screwdriver and unwind the sheath like a tin of sardines.

malcolmsanford · Jul 29, 2014

Being left handed never could use a stripping tool so always used side cutters. Even when making tails into a board had to use them as i would have been shot if I let any part of the pot go into the board
Many time use a pair of footprints to seal the wedge into the pot

snowhead · Jul 29, 2014

Sidecutters originally for me.
Did try the bar with a slot in it but was quicker with small headed side cutters.

jimmymac · Jul 29, 2014

You should all change your name to MacGyver :stooge_curly:

7029 dave · Jul 29, 2014

I always stripped MICC with side cutters, ringing tool and crimper (potting tool) that's all I needed.

amckay · Jul 29, 2014

I've never worked with micc but learnt a little bit in 2011 when I did my 2330. I'd love the opportunity to work with it and be able to do it properly!

dingledong · Jul 29, 2014

Pups the lot of you .i Used to just use my teeth
You kids !!!!#

Lucien Nunes · Jul 30, 2014

never have got on with the stripping tools

I used to think the same until I spent some quality time with my ZSU. I learnt to work MI when I was about 12 and couldn't justify the cost of specialised tools. My mentor gave me a 20mm crimp tool and I used side cutters to strip and pipe grips to fit the pot. So I got quite handy with the cutters, made a fork and a bending iron, never really saw the point of the rotary stripper and couldn't make it play ball when I first got one. But then we had this bonding session where I resolved to learn just how to adjust and wield it and it rewarded me with a quick and easy spiral strip. Now we're best friends!

shanky887614 · Jul 30, 2014

Andy78 said:
I've worked with older guys whose preffered method is snips and pliers.
Done it once myself due to a joistripper failure... Took me more than one go I will admit.

i had a joistripper fail.

neigh bother, 4mm pins and nuts and back to it.

always cut the micc with a junior first or if will be a struggle to start.

a lot of people make that mistake