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Stripping for fun,or bending over

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wondering what’s being taught in college these days,to the apprentices.
Cause when they come on site,they certainly aint being taught like us seniors were.
Eg stripping of conductors,many use pliers or side cutters,they do not bend conductors over,up to 2.5mm.
Conduit skills to be admired from a distance.
 
wondering what’s being taught in college these days,to the apprentices.
Cause when they come on site,they certainly aint being taught like us seniors were.
Eg stripping of conductors,many use pliers or side cutters,they do not bend conductors over,up to 2.5mm.
Conduit skills to be admired from a distance.
Three words "Fast track training"or "Get Qualified quick"
 
Change of times I guess,always found if not bent over,they can break,especially 1.0mm,even before you screw the switch back.
As an extra: You have 2 stranded conductors, do you twist them together and connect, or twist them singly and connect or strip them and try and get the 2 stranded conductors connected, not talking about flex type conductors.
 
As an extra: You have 2 stranded conductors, do you twist them together and connect, or twist them singly and connect or strip them and try and get the 2 stranded conductors connected, not talking about flex type conductors.
Can't honestly see what there is to disagree with Baddegg, I simply asked three questions, can you explain the part you disagree with, Question 1,2 or 3?
 
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Never twist two conductors together. Makes it awkward when it comes to separating again for testing etc.

I still bend over conductors up to 2.5mm.
Single cores can break in screw connectors. WAGOs have to be single though.

And stripping cables? I thought the college tool boxes would have proper wire strippers. Using pliers, you can cut through too easily.
 
For me Pete I was taught method 2 for coarse stranded cable.
Method 1 for coarse stranded cable was likely to damage said cable.

I remember reading a study on termination methods for meter tails, obviously terminated Singly, and there was no difference in the effectiveness of the termination between twisting into a single conductor and not.
 
For me Pete I was taught method 2 for coarse stranded cable.
Method 1 for coarse stranded cable was likely to damage said cable.

I remember reading a study on termination methods for meter tails, obviously terminated Singly, and there was no difference in the effectiveness of the termination between twisting into a single conductor and not.
Me too, although as an Apprentice I was always told that twisting 2 stranded cable together made the CSA that much largerm thereby filling the terminal up thus making the connection better, soon ditched that method when I finished my Apprenticeship, some 5 years later.
 
I bend over single conductors up to 2.5mm.
I could've said "I'm a fan of bending over so the screw bites in better, using my favourite tool". But that would've sounded a bit strange, so I didn't.

IMG_1357.JPG
 
Me too, although as an Apprentice I was always told that twisting 2 stranded cable together made the CSA that much largerm thereby filling the terminal up thus making the connection better, soon ditched that method when I finished my Apprenticeship, some 5 years later.

On that note. 2 x 2.5mm conductors will carry more current than 1 x 5mm conductor.
 
Sorry my point wasn't clear.

The ccc of 2 x 2.5mm conductors is greater than 1 x 5mm conductor.
I knew Rob, jus
I prefer stripping with my cable croppers rather than pliers or side cutters.
I only double over fine stranded cables.
I prefer stripping with my cable croppers rather than pliers or side cutters.
I only double over fine stranded cables.
I always put a ferrule on fine stranded conductors
 
When I was an apprentice I learned all of these practical skills on site with my mentor, college was where we learned theory.
What sort of theory were you taught at college Dave just asking for a comparison from my time. I did Electro Technology ( from a book that was referred to as HUGHES by the lecturer, Regulations, Maths, Mechanical theory, crikey memories.
 
What sort of theory were you taught at college Dave just asking for a comparison from my time. I did Electro Technology ( from a book that was referred to as HUGHES by the lecturer, Regulations, Maths, Mechanical theory, crikey memories.

AC theory, three phase, basic motors and generators, cable calculations. Some regulations and suchlike. Basic fault finding and inspection and testing.
There was quite a bit if health and safety and some 'key skills' nonsense forced on us which was basically maths, English and computer skills.
 
I've been a bender for most of my career. I started off straight but got introduced to bending at quite a young age and never looked back. Now, as for cables, well that's a different story :eek::D:D

For fine stuff I usually stuff a ferrule on.
 
Fine stranded conductors must have a suitable ferrule, crimp or in a few specific applications tinned ends when terminating. There's specific regs stipulating that. So by just folding over you're not complying.

Only times they can be terminated "bare" is in dedicated spring clamp terminals that the manufacturer of has specified this can be done.
 
What sort of theory were you taught at college Dave just asking for a comparison from my time. I did Electro Technology ( from a book that was referred to as HUGHES by the lecturer, Regulations, Maths, Mechanical theory, crikey memories.

It's a good book that Hughes.
I'd recommend it to any trainee.
You can pick second hand copies for pennies (last time I looked).
 
There is no one correct method. It depends on the type of cable, the type of terminal and how the size of one compares with the size of another. A method that is ideal for a screw terminal with a wire protection spring might be unsuitable for one without, and vice versa.

There is a lot of detail in the craft of making connections that seems to get overlooked amongst all the complexity of modern electrical equipment. People have forgotten that a bad connection doesn't work, or overheats, just like it did a century ago. There's no magic technological solution to high-resistance joints.
 
There is a lot of detail in the craft of making connections that seems to get overlooked amongst all the complexity of modern electrical equipment. People have forgotten that a bad connection doesn't work, or overheats, just like it did a century ago. There's no magic technological solution to high-resistance joints.
Absolutely! First thing I teach my apprentices is how to correctly terminate, check for tightness & integrity and ensure the cables fold back neatly (sockets & switch plates... etc) a major cause of electrical fires are caused by poor connections.
 

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