Is it just me having trouble terminating cables?

M

Mr Curnow

When it comes to 3 cables in one terminal, for example the earth wire, I find it really hard. I'm at college at the moment, with my practical exam, I have gone overtime because of this. I have two cables in then I put the last one in, then screw it in but there is usually one that falls out. Also it's really annoying when you are trying to terminate the thin single cables, it just crumbles.

Can someone give me some advice on this, it took me quite a while to terminate some cables. :32:
 
It depends on the socket / Spur etc Some cheaper ones are dreadful, the new Denmans Curve range is pretty rubbish if you wish to terminate more than 2 cables.
Crabtree recently changed their cable "cages" back to the rounded ones after loads of complaints about cables falling out
 
Personally with single's i strip down to bare copper then twist all the stands together.
 
James.taffinder said:
Personally with single's i strip down to bare copper then twist all the stands together.
Click to expand...

Yeah I do that too, but still it crumbles. People have said at college it's bad cable but is there a way around this?
I want to know all the tricks you professionals use.
 
Mr Curnow said:
Yeah I do that too, but still it crumbles. People have said at college it's bad cable but is there a way around this?
I want to know all the tricks you professionals use.
Click to expand...

Can't say I've ever had this problem.... We use Prysmian cables 95% of the time.... If that helps at all?
 
Mr Curnow said:
Yeah I do that too, but still it crumbles. People have said at college it's bad cable but is there a way around this?
I want to know all the tricks you professionals use.
Click to expand...
With singles you can tin the ends with solder, shouldn't really be necessary but will prob help for singles.
 
Mr Curnow said:
Yeah I do that too, but still it crumbles. People have said at college it's bad cable but is there a way around this?
I want to know all the tricks you professionals use.
Click to expand...


Please tell me that you don't twist CABLES together - thats a no no. Practice makes perfect son.
 
They don't have any soldering irons in college, Nor can I choose the cables, i've got to use what I am given.
 
Two single core wires twisted together is a recipe for trouble...the terminal screw will tend to push down between the twist and separate the wires,at which point they are highly inclined to snap off when any pressure is put on them...like when pushing back a socket. Three single core wires twist into a solid core,and rarely give trouble.
Care is needed when stripping wires,as any scoring is a weak point,and can result in snapping or loss of strands when terminating.
I've loss count of the number of times someones said to me,"How come you make that look so easy?" when stripping wires,well I've been doing it for 30 yrs...as already said,practice makes perfect.When I started I was hopeless.


Edit.....slightly serious spelling mistake.....(left the 'O' out of count!)....now corrected before I get a ban.:66:
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Edit.....slightly serious spelling mistake.....(left the 'O' out of count!)....now corrected before I get a ban.:66:[/QUOTE]


Widdler, disgusting; and you being a Teacher!!!
 
paul.m said:
Widdler, disgusting; and you being a Teacher!!!
Click to expand...
Ken it wasn't Widdler, it was wirepuller. Is time to go to specsavers mate ;).[/QUOTE]


Widdler my apologies sir. Paul thank you for pointing that out. The rest of you, I think thats its time for a nice glass of red.
 
I strip each one twice as long as it needs to be, give it a twist, then fold it over on itself, then push them both in side by side, never had a problem yet.

Cheers...........Howard
 
topquark said:
With singles you can tin the ends with solder, shouldn't really be necessary but will prob help for singles.
Click to expand...
How does that work with:

"526.8.3
Soldering (tinning) of the whole conductor end of multiwire, fine wire and very fine wire conductors is not permitted if screw terminals are used."?
 
Have you tried using "boot lace ferrules"
cse-distributors.co.uk/cabmgmt/bootlace.htm
Worth thier weight in gold at times
 
Your probably scoring the conductors slightly when stripping the outer sheath, even when it's only tiny indents one twist and they break that's why I use auto strippers. I never twist conductors together As for bootlaces perfect for fine flexible conductors but I wouldn't have thought needed for singles.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I thought thats what bootlace ferrules were for. Can also be used for a tidy professional job.
 
For fine flex or tri rated cable no need on singles as the cores are bigger and more robust. Bootlaces are to give added strength to the fine strands to stop the terminal screw breaking the strands and to keep all the strands together. They Look the dogs do das your right.
 
Ferrules might help, yes, and as far as I'm concerned they should be used more often particularly with flex, but neither ferrules nor ferrule crimps would be issued to the OP in the exam.
My advice would be to keep the strands as straight as possible, leave as long as possible without showing copper outside the terminal, tightening up, wiggling the cables slightly then tightening again before giving the 'tug test'.
 
It could be that the screw terminals that you are using are worn. I noticed that when I was at college. It tends to happen because every student is tightening the life out of the terminal screw! Don't be afraid to ask your tutor for a new fitting if you think this is the case.
 
Mr Curnow said:
When it comes to 3 cables in one terminal, for example the earth wire, I find it really hard. I'm at college at the moment, with my practical exam, I have gone overtime because of this. I have two cables in then I put the last one in, then screw it in but there is usually one that falls out. Also it's really annoying when you are trying to terminate the thin single cables, it just crumbles.

Can someone give me some advice on this, it took me quite a while to terminate some cables. :32:
Click to expand...

All good advice on here, though I don't like twisting cables together to be honest.

I was taught if your terminating 3 cables into a termination put the 2 in and use a pair of long nose pliers when inserting the 3rd. Once all the cables are in, hold all 3 cables with the long nose and tighten. Once you have nipped them then tighten as you normally would.
 
i always start with the 2 and the almost slide the 3rd in on top. almost like a triangle

.o
o o
like this
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Agree with caged animal about arranging them in a pyramid - then put the single one to the screw, tighten and then give a tug to check - the assessor will tug on them to check so make sure you have always done it first.
 
I was thinking of this thread today whilst lying under a baby grand piano, removing a double socket to replace a spurred cable of that ring circuit.

So, I'd say practice it lying on your side with only about 2-3 inches of exposed cables to put in and limited movement for your body, once you get the hang of that, your normal practical assessment will be a doddle. :)
 
Mr Curnow said:
When it comes to 3 cables in one terminal, for example the earth wire, I find it really hard. I'm at college at the moment, with my practical exam, I have gone overtime because of this. I have two cables in then I put the last one in, then screw it in but there is usually one that falls out. Also it's really annoying when you are trying to terminate the thin single cables, it just crumbles.

Can someone give me some advice on this, it took me quite a while to terminate some cables. :32:
Click to expand...

I had this trouble at first too, Particularly with the cpc. I found it difficult because holding the 3 cables tightly whilst it was in 'loose' earth sleeving was tricky.

I found that holding the three cables in with thin nose pliers and tightening the screw up helped alot. Afterwards I would give the cables a tweak with the pliers to ensure they was in securely.

Hope this helps
 
I don't think twisting the cables together is very good practice in all honesty.
As most people have said practice really does make perfect, and if your to heavy handed with the pliers or snips you will more than likeley nick the cable and that will cause the cable to snap when the lecturer is testing your connection.
 
I twist each cable seperatly then put the in together in a triangle shape works every time no problem. I did find when we switched to using Deta gear they would slip out. So could be down to the gear your using.
 

Similar threads

M
Is cable really that expensive?
Replies
1
Views
210
brianmoooore
B
T
SWA cable Terminating or not??
Replies
8
Views
995
westward10
westward10

OFFICIAL SPONSORS

Electrical Goods - Electrical Tools - Brand Names Electrician Courses Green Electrical Goods PCB Way Green 2 Go Pushfit Wire Connectors Electric Underfloor Heating Electrician Courses Heating 2 Go Electrician Workwear Supplier
These Official Forum Sponsors May Provide Discounts to Regular Forum Members - If you would like to sponsor us then CLICK HERE and post a thread with who you are, and we'll send you some stats etc

Advert

YOUR Unread Posts

Daily, weekly or monthly email

Receive a daily, weekly, or monthly email containing a digest of new and recently updated threads.

Thread Information

Title
Is it just me having trouble terminating cables?
Prefix
N/A
Forum
Electrical Wiring, Theories and Regulations
Start date
Last reply date
Replies
34

Thread Tags

Tags Tags
cables electricians' talk having trouble

Advert

Thread statistics

Created
Mr Curnow,
Last reply from
Superspark23,
Replies
34
Views
5,884

Advert

TrueNAS JBOD Storage Server

Tilers | UK Tiling Forum | Tilers Forums | Find a Tiler
UK Tiling Forum by Tilers Forums UK
Plumbers Forums | Plumbing Advice | Gas Forum
Outside Play
Back
Top