R
Ryan Evans
- Jan 1, 1970
- 0
Is it ok to terminate stranded wire around the screws of a device?
RE
RE
It won't pass UL/CSA/VDE or any other code. Terminate the wire byIs it ok to terminate stranded wire around the screws of a device?
RE
That would be surprising to U/L.
Reading from the U/L white book ... Receptacles For Attachment Plugs and Plugs
(RTRT)
"Terminals for the wire-binding screw, setscrew, or screw actuated backwiring
clamping types are suitable for use with both solid and stranded building
wire."
Thus it is also OK with the National Electrical Code.
Where do people come up with these urban legends about things that are
"illegal"?
"Terminal" in electric code language is anywhere a wire terminates. I assure
you they don't mean a crimped/soldered "ring/spade" terminal.
EEng said:No sir, you're misinterpreting what the quote you sited says.
No sir, he is not. It is as he said. To verify this
for yourself, disassemble a UL listed floor or table
lamp. The stranded lamp cord terminates at the socket
terminals, and the stranded conductors are wrapped
around the screws there with no ring/spade/whatever
connectors.
<snip>
No sir, he is not. It is as he said. To verify this
for yourself, disassemble a UL listed floor or table
lamp. The stranded lamp cord terminates at the socket
terminals, and the stranded conductors are wrapped
around the screws there with no ring/spade/whatever
connectors.
<snip>
No sir, he is not. It is as he said. To verify this
for yourself, disassemble a UL listed floor or table
lamp. The stranded lamp cord terminates at the socket
terminals, and the stranded conductors are wrapped
around the screws there with no ring/spade/whatever
connectors.
<snip>
news.ops.worldnet.att.net>, [email protected]
says...
The *only* thing I do this with is speaker cable. 16AWG zipcord,
stripped, looped, and tinned. Of course if I were a true
audiophool, worried about the "purity" of the high frequencies,
I'd have used silver solder.
I'll see that and raise you two. I assume it's three raises and
table-stakes here.
EEng said:Well, I have three of those, and each are terminated to a wire binding
screw, which is a terminal, not a device screw. That little tab of
metal that is upturned, is to prevent wires from spreading/slipping
out from under the screw head. It's still a terminal.
Funny you should say that....That's how I prepared the wires on my speakersKeith R. Williams said:news.ops.worldnet.att.net>, [email protected]
says...
The *only* thing I do this with is speaker cable. 16AWG zipcord,
stripped, looped, and tinned. Of course if I were a true
audiophool, worried about the "purity" of the high frequencies,
I'd have used silver solder.
I'll see that and raise you two. I assume it's three raises and
table-stakes here.
Do we have some poker players here???.....EEng said:No limit
I see that Greg, you and seem to be in agreement. Stranded
wire can be wrapped around a screw. The UL white book does
not prohibit such a connection. The screw must be part of one
of the device's terminals. The difference is that you want
the more complete description "terminal screw" (which I see
as obvious by the question). Do I properly understand you?
EEng said:Sheesh I've never seen anyone fight so hard to be wrong. A screw
actuated terminal is one in which the screw is used to hold the wire
in place against a constraint that prevents slippage such as a clamp,
an upturned tab, etc. A mere screw used in the assembly of an
enclosure is none of these and cannot be used to terminate a wire
merely by wrapping it around the threads of said screw. UL is very
specific about using the terminology TERMINAL. If it had meant screw
by itself, it would have said screw by itself.
It is very clear nobody here who thinks a "terminal" is anything other than the
screw on the side of a device has never worked in a commercial electrical
project where they pull a lot of stranded wire through raceway systems.
I suppose the hundreds of buildings I have inspected are ALL wrong but it would
be a huge surprise the the electricians and other inspectors who work there.
The trick is simply craftsmanship. You tightly twist the wire and properly
tighten the screw.
If you want to crimp on a spade terminal with the correct tool and use that or
tin the wire, by all means do so but you will never see either of them on a
commercial wireman's tool cart.
Greg said:It is very clear nobody here who thinks a "terminal" is anything other than the
screw on the side of a device has never worked in a commercial electrical
project where they pull a lot of stranded wire through raceway systems.
I suppose the hundreds of buildings I have inspected are ALL wrong but it would
be a huge surprise the the electricians and other inspectors who work there.
The trick is simply craftsmanship. You tightly twist the wire and properly
tighten the screw.
If you want to crimp on a spade terminal with the correct tool and use that or
tin the wire, by all means do so but you will never see either of them on a
commercial wireman's tool cart.
The
key here is that I hired these folks and am not the code expert...
You can say it is just being cheap but it is NEC code and it is within the U/L
listing for the standard switches and receptacles used in residential or
commercial wiring. Just because that is not how people do it at DoD does not
mean it is not legal. Those are the guys who buy $800 hammers.
EEng said:I suggest you take a much closer look at those switches and
receptacles. Where the wire goes, there is a small upturned tab. It
might look like just a screw but its not...its a screw actuated
terminal because of that little tab, whose sole function is to prevent
the wire from slipping out from under the head of the screw. That's
why they're usually so hard to put a wire to, because that tab gets in
the way. Also consider that UL, NEC and other codes are written for
one purpose ONLY. It is not for standardization, it is to satisfy
SAFETY requirements that would otherwise result in lawsuits, etc.
All the manufacturing codes, installation codes, etc, are written for
safety. Now, do you honestly believe that with all the safety issues
addressed in these codes, that they would say its okay to simply wrap
a wire around just any old screw? THINK. It's obvious you don't
recognize a terminal when you see one if you believe that the screw on
receptacles and switches is just a screw.