Insulation tape on connector blocks

[Jako13!]

Is it necessary to cover the connector block in insulation tape when live connections have been made into a connector block?

 

[Pete999]

Is it necessary to cover the connector block in insulation tape when live connections have been made into a connector block?

Buffalo Bill job imo

 

[Dustydazzler]

Absolutely love a taped joint connector block

 

[telectrix]

nope. block should be enclosed in a suitable enclosure such as a wagobox, with the outer sheath inside said enclosure. i.e.no basic insulation outside.

 

[Dan]

Testing

 

[telectrix]

dan has morphed into a buzz clone

 

[JBW175]

nope. block should be enclosed in a suitable enclosure such as a wagobox, with the outer sheath inside said enclosure. i.e.no basic insulation outside.

Is it ok though as long as they’re stuffed inside a disused knockout box and tiled over? Found on a recent kitchen rewrire. ??

 

[telectrix]

Is it ok though as long as they’re stuffed inside a disused knockout box and tiled over? Found on a recent kitchen rewrire. ??

View attachment 61258View attachment 61259

definitely not OK. how could anyone know there was a cable vertical from that box, once it had bee tiled over.

 

[JBW175]

definitely not OK. how could anyone know there was a cable vertical from that box, once it had bee tiled over.

I know mate, and that wasn’t the worst of what I found. There was all sorts going on.

 

[Baddegg]

Is it ok though as long as they’re stuffed inside a disused knockout box and tiled over? Found on a recent kitchen rewrire. ??

View attachment 61258View attachment 61259

I had that a couple of years back, except they’d skimmed over it and left the live touching the back box so every time the poor woman washed the walls she got a belt...

 

[JBW175]

I had that a couple of years back, except they’d skimmed over it and left the live touching the back box so every time the poor woman washed the walls she got a belt...

Bloody Hell, that can’t have been pleasant for her, it’s madness what some people do.

 

[Dustydazzler]

definitely not OK. how could anyone know there was a cable vertical from that box, once it had bee tiled over.

I would also question their logic of tiling over it in the first place ...

Could have just stuck a double socket on it and had an extra power point

 

[JBW175]

I would also question their logic of tiling over it in the first place ...

Could have just stuck a double socket on it and had an extra power point

It was probably the same logic they used when they decided to run sockets off a 5amp lighting circuit.

That flex attached to the T&E in the picture (did) eventually end up at an outside socket. No RCD protection, old wooden framed rewireable wylex board too.

 

[ipf]

A Picasso....

 

[Baddegg]

A Picasso....

View attachment 61264

That takes a special degree of ineptitude ?

 

[pirate]

I think you meant "style"!

 

[Jako13!]

If it’s easily accessible I thought a cocky block was acceptable? I just wasn’t sure the reason we tape over the terminal block as all live conductors are terminated and the block is plastic?

 

[James]

If it’s easily accessible I thought a cocky block was acceptable? I just wasn’t sure the reason we tape over the terminal block as all live conductors are terminated and the block is plastic?

If it is accessible then yes, a chock block or “cocky block?!!” Is just fine.
Tape is not required in my opinion

 

[Jako13!]

If it is accessible then yes, a chock block or “cocky block?!!” Is just fine.
Tape is not required in my opinion

Thank you

 

[Lucien Nunes]

If a terminal block is not adequately enclosed to provide the necessary protection, a bit of PVC tape is not sufficient to complete the job. OTOH if it is adequately enclosed, the tape won't add anything. FWIW there are very few places where PVC insulating tape is actually useful for insulating. It's useful for all sorts of other things though.

 

[Grant1987]

If a terminal block is not adequately enclosed to provide the necessary protection, a bit of PVC tape is not sufficient to complete the job. OTOH if it is adequately enclosed, the tape won't add anything. FWIW there are very few places where PVC insulating tape is actually useful for insulating. It's useful for all sorts of other things though.

It’s good to tie the Mrs up very robust and strong 5 tight wraps and she’s going nowhere ??

 

[telectrix]

It’s good to tie the Mrs up very robust and strong 5 tight wraps and she’s going nowhere ??

you need wider tape for the mouth though. duct tape .

 

[Jako13!]

If a terminal block is not adequately enclosed to provide the necessary protection, a bit of PVC tape is not sufficient to complete the job. OTOH if it is adequately enclosed, the tape won't add anything. FWIW there are very few places where PVC insulating tape is actually useful for insulating. It's useful for all sorts of other things though.

Enclosed in a jb or electrical panel?

 

[Lucien Nunes]

Yes, you can't just leave it lying about. It's got to be in an enclosure with suitable IP rating for the environment, that provides strain-relief for the cables. Ideally the terminal block should be fixed to the enclosure and, if the enclosure is metal, of such a design as to provide adequate creepage and clearance distances from the terminals.

 

[Diytim]

choc blocks are screw connections and such should be accessible for maintenance & testing in the future. Do not bury in the wall where nobody will know they are there. All cable runs must run horizontal or vertical from accessories to accessory.

 

[Jako13!]

choc blocks are screw connections and such should be accessible for maintenance & testing in the future. Do not bury in the wall where nobody will know they are there. All cable runs must run horizontal or vertical from accessories to accessory.

So what is the reason people tape them just a question. I work On industrial equipment i.e motors and starters. Modifications are common and are made in the electrical panels but I had someone mention to me about taping all chick block connections but don’t see the point if they are in an enclosure.

 

[nicebutdim]

I'd hazard a guess that the tradition of taping dates back to times when they were routinely left swinging in the wind or buried in plaster. Old habits die hard and all that...

 

[Diytim]

So what is the reason people tape them just a question. I work On industrial equipment i.e motors and starters. Modifications are common and are made in the electrical panels but I had someone mention to me about taping all chick block connections but don’t see the point if they are in an enclosure.

You are right! I think it’s belt & braces just an extra layer of protection in case some odd wire may touch one of the screw terminals or to hold the cable in place with the missing cable grip.

 

[DPG]

So what is the reason people tape them just a question. I work On industrial equipment i.e motors and starters. Modifications are common and are made in the electrical panels but I had someone mention to me about taping all chick block connections but don’t see the point if they are in an enclosure.

Well, we've had cocky blocks and chick blocks now. Don't remember those in the regs!

 

[Dartlec]

If a terminal block is not adequately enclosed to provide the necessary protection, a bit of PVC tape is not sufficient to complete the job. OTOH if it is adequately enclosed, the tape won't add anything. FWIW there are very few places where PVC insulating tape is actually useful for insulating. It's useful for all sorts of other things though.

OOI, what cases are there where it can actually be used for insulation? Seems like a name change might help a little with the common misconception. I do see it called Electrical tape in some places, though not sure that helps much.