Tips for meter box wiring

[Mikegh]

Hi guys

I've a practical test soon for work as a smart meter installer

Looking for any tips on working with 16/25 stranded singles .Could be a mix of pvc only and sheathed, 7 strand

Im going to make a dummy board and practice moving things around and connecting to improve my profiency

Any techniques for working fast and getting the bends right and the job looking right

TIA

 

[Dustydazzler]

Decent set of croppers is essential and a sharp cable stripping knife

 

[telectrix]

strip the cables a little more than you's expect.then when you bend them into position, you find the ends are uneven, so then trim to correct length.

 

[7029 dave]

Step the insulation from the outer sheathing about 5mm

 

[Mikegh]

Step the insulation from the outer sheathing about 5mm

Thanks I was wondering about that one

 

[telectrix]

and always wriggle and re-tighten terminals once the strands have settled down.

 

[brianmoooore]

and always wriggle and re-tighten terminals once the strands have settled down.

Especially this!!
Local church, several years ago, had a meter change. Installer had tightly twisted the ends of the tails, pushed them into the meter, and tightened the screws. I came along a few days later to add circuits, discovered this, gave the tails a slight anti clockwise twist, and out they all came. Phone call to the DNO wasn't particularly polite.

 

[Mikegh]

What's the best way to cut straight links and connect them in , do you cut piece slightly long so when it fits in there's a slight bow ?

Also if you're making a link that's straight but has to right angle in at both ends , what's the best way to shape it ? Curve it like a bow ?

Hope the last one makes sense

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

Make it longer than you need : ie have the straight bit as you require but the 2 bits beyond the 90 degree bend make much longer. Then trim/strip accordingly.
The added length will make bending easier. Trying to bend 25mm tails with just a few inches to work with will hurt your hands and fingers.
Should add that given the price of 25mm tails these days dont have too much waste!!

 

[brianmoooore]

Make it longer than you need : ie have the straight bit as you require but the 2 bits beyond the 90 degree bend make much longer. Then trim/strip accordingly.
The added length will make bending easier. Trying to bend 25mm tails with just a few inches to work with will hurt your hands and fingers.
Should add that given the price of 25mm tails these days dont have too much waste!!

In short, do all the bending, before cutting the ends of the tails square.

 

[7029 dave]

Thanks I was wondering about that one

Just remember, you dont want any inner insulation showing when terminating.

 

[Mikegh]

Just remember, you dont want any inner insulation showing when terminating.

What do you mean by that ?

Does the 5mm of inner not show after terminating ?


Do you twist the strands or just push them straight in after cutting, I thought twisting would give a dodgy connection

Or do you twist then terminate and give them a jiggle and retighten?

Bit confused on that one ^ and thanks for all the replies , very helpful

 

[pc1966]

What do you mean by that ?

There should not be any primary insulation visible outside of any equipment once the covers, etc, are installed.

So if you have stripped the secondary sheath further back to reveal a sliver of the primary colour (a good idea) then that has to be small enough, copper length not too long, etc, so once all is in place you don't see it outside.

 

[pc1966]

Do you twist the strands or just push them straight in after cutting, I thought twisting would give a dodgy connection

Or do you twist then terminate and give them a jiggle and retighten?

You should not need to twist them (really hard to do with 25mm 7-strand anyway), but giving it a good wiggle and re-checking the torque after everything is connected and before the covers finally go on is a very good idea!

 

[brianmoooore]

Do you twist the strands or just push them straight in after cutting, I thought twisting would give a dodgy connection

See my post #7