Is it just me having trouble terminating cables?

[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:

 

[RWJ]

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

 

[James.taffinder]

Personally with single's i strip down to bare copper then twist all the stands together.

 

[Mr Curnow]

Personally with single's i strip down to bare copper then twist all the stands together.

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.

 

[RWJ]

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.

Can't say I've ever had this problem.... We use Prysmian cables 95% of the time.... If that helps at all?

 

[topquark]

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.

With singles you can tin the ends with solder, shouldn't really be necessary but will prob help for singles.

 

[millwall ken]

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.

Please tell me that you don't twist CABLES together - thats a no no. Practice makes perfect son.

 

[Mr Curnow]

They don't have any soldering irons in college, Nor can I choose the cables, i've got to use what I am given.

 

[1shortcircuit]

Please tell me that you don't twist CABLES together - thats a no no. Practice makes perfect son.

I think you may have overlooked post 3

Personally with single's i strip down to bare copper then twist all the stands together.

 

[Mr Curnow]

Please tell me that you don't twist CABLES together - thats a no no. Practice makes perfect son.

I don't twist the cables together. I twist the inner copper cores.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

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:

 

[JUD]

With singles you can tin the ends with solder, shouldn't really be necessary but will prob help for singles.

They don't have any soldering irons in college, Nor can I choose the cables, i've got to use what I am given.

How about bootlace ferrules :wink_smile:

 

[millwall ken]

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!!!

 

[millwall ken]

I don't twist the cables together. I twist the inner copper cores.

Just clarifying mate.

 

[Paul.M]

Edit.....slightly serious spelling mistake.....(left the 'O' out of count!)....now corrected before I get a ban.:66:

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