ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Twisting SEU neutral wires.

Anyone have a good idea on how to better twist SEU neutrals? With the upper end (for a mast service) I've always formed the end into a "Z" shape and cranked it tight. With the meter pan end, that's not usually possible. I guess I'm getting more "energy efficient" in my old age. Pete

Try sticking them (the neutral weave) all into a big blue wire nut.

Fan the two hots to the left and right.

Then wind the neutral with your cordless drill and a nut driver tip.

http://www.licensedelectrician.com/Store/RT/Nut-Blaster.htm

The big blue wire nut grabs the stranded wires sweetly, the drill provides the revolutions. The wire nut is backed off/ clipped off before the neutral is landed the usual way.

The drill motor should be pulsed -- for torque and control.

With practice, you should be able to perfectly create a stranded conductor in the field.

This gambit saves on the wrists, too.

(Omitting the big blue wire nut means trying to stuff all of the strands into your chuck. Good luck with that.)

If you zip tie them together first, it is easier to stuff them right into the chuck. Just "milk" them down from the insulation end to get them aligned a little better before you twist them up.

Thanks, I'll give that a try on my next service change.

And for all those years I used to twist them by hand!!

One of the "ol' timers" gave me lessons. I don't know if I remember the steps now.

John...

You'll be shocked as to how quick and pretty a drill motor can twist up the strands.

I put my tools away almost 9 years ago!

Thanks for those tips. The drill works great. Makes my work look almost professional!