To Bend or not to Bend

[Burnt Fingers]

Is it current practice to bend the bare copper back on itself when making a connection to a screw terminal, eg in light fittings or 13A sockets?

It is in Network connections where a POTS Cable is terminated to a screw fitting NTE 5, but I thought this was to encourage breakage and later a call to BT. ooo sarcastic.

 

[Amp David]

I do if its a single conductor say in a switch or a socket. Have also always doubled the CPC over too even if there are more than one, as its gives the screw more copper to bite onto.

 

[davelerave]

i was told to bend back the solid conductor -less damage and it fills the terminal

 

[Guest123]

One of the first things they told us in college was to fold over a single conductor at a termination.

 

[Hawk81]

i was taught to bend the solid conductor ovet and still do

 

[Sparky Ninja]

Bend solid conductors and never twist.

Fill the terminal. Rule #1.

 

[High Tower]

Multiple conductors then No

Single such as light switch then Yes

Single tail such as lighting radial terminated in a 6amp mcb then No the mcb is more of a clamp and I can't see that bending will help

 

[davelerave]

i prefer to bend solid single for an mcb

 

[Amp David]

i prefer to bend solid single for an mcb

Me too. More habbit I think

 

[High Tower]

I'll start doing it then

 

[Burnt Fingers]

Least its not just me then, thank you all

 

[alarm man]

at college we were taught to bend,and nip together with pliers not cutters

 

[pushrod]

Bend solid conductors and never twist.

Fill the terminal. Rule #1.

The guy who taught us in the workshop said on a ring it was fine to twist the conductors, as if they came out at least you still had continuity

At least we were told to "fill the terminal"

 

[Sparky Ninja]

The guy who taught us in the workshop said on a ring it was fine to twist the conductors, as if they came out at least you still had continuity

That's nonsense. And technically bad practice.
What say you carried out an installation in this way, and the cable popped out of the terminal. When you do the required initial verification to commission the installation, this fault will not become apparent. Of course it would show up if you were to go around every point and carry out a polarity test, however that is not a requirement at the moment.

On a side note.... When you twist a solid conductor you will need to use a tool (pliers for example). In doing this, the twisting action will result in straining of the solid conductor and also stretching. This will furthermore cause a slight reduction in the conductors csa at this point..... This is exactly what I remember my old tutor telling me about this subject.

 

[nickblake]

I bend and in sert i hate twisted cables drive me mad especiall when the earths are twisted to gether in the board and you need to open them to test so my thoughts are never twist always sleeve individual earths never share the same earth sleeve and single wires always bend into the terminals