I guess some things in the trade don't change where ever you are

Kent,

Thanks,
It's a bit different from boxes We have around here, but the violation is easy to spot. Is that piece in the middle of the box for conductor arrangement or are those Grounding posts? It's a little difficult to see what they are or could be used for.

Bill

Looks very similar to some Briish weatherproof junctions, except for the design of the terminal posts.

Bill
Sorry for answering a bit late. The 4 screw connections in the middle are terminal posts. The grounding posts is located at the edge of the box between the holes (it’s hard to see it on the photo).

Kent,

Ahhh, so the posts are used for splicing? That's why you were asking about wirenuts. What happens when you have more than 4 conductors to splice in a box like this, what do you use to make the splice?

Bill

Our British junction boxes for internal use with PVC-sheathed cable are also round plastic boxes fitted with terminal posts (different design though). The boxes have entry points for up to 4 cables, and the commonest types have 3 or 4 terminals.

The 3-way boxes are normally used on circuits for feeding sockets etc. where there's only line, neutral, and earth to connect together.

The 4-way types are most often used on lighting circuits, the extra terminal being used for the switched feed to the light. The 4-cable capacity of the box provides for power in, cable to switch, cable to light, and power out to the next light or junction.

It's also possible to get 6-terminal boxes, which are commonly used for 2-way (American: 3-way) light switching.

What happens when you have more than 4 conductors to splice in a box like this, what do you use to make the splice?

If you must splice more than 4 (5 if you count the ground) you have to use some sort of wirenut and make a splice beside the terminal posts. Remember, this is a pretty old model of junction box so we don’t use it everyday.

Have a pic (I provides you with a lot of extra work Bill)of a more modern waterproof box made of plastic. This one has 6 terminal screws and if you like (I do) you remove the terminal posts and use wirenuts instead. I prefer the “ Screwless spring pressure” models from the Wago Corp (the small pictures to the right). Very easy to use and never any problems with bad connections which sometimes could be the case with the twist on wirenut. Do you use Wago over there?
http://kenthager.tripod.com/pic/plasticbox.jpg

Then we have other boxes for domestic indoor use. They look a bit nicer and are only half the size.

Kent,

Thanks, those pictures seem to work ok if you provide a link like that.

I haven't seen anything like your Wagos over here. They look like they take up a lot of space. Are they reusable? I assume they can only be used on solid wire and only certain sizes?

Bill

Bill

The Wago corp. Have an online product brochure. Make a visit at this address (you need Acrobat Reader).
http://www.wago.com/wagoweb/usa/eng/news/news/wall.pdf

I thought we determined that WAGO's were comparable to back-plugging recepts and switches? Now they're OK???

I have had one failed WAGO in a recessed light. It was a service call after the bulb refused to come on when replaced.

Use wire nuts and tighten them until your wrist cracks.

Remember folks...

Loose wires cause fires...

(Well, loose terminals, but it doesn't rhyme as nicely!)

One of these days I'm gonna buy a Megger and test all these suckers myself... (I don't trust UL, I've seen to many weird things with a label...)

[This message has been edited by sparky66wv (edited 08-26-2001).]

Sparky66wv

thought we determined that WAGO's were comparable to back-plugging recepts and switches? Now they're OK???

Sorry, I must have missed that discussion.

Use wire nuts and tighten them until your wrist cracks.

What do you think about the combination, wire nuts and solid conductors. Or if you mix solid conductors with wires consisting of several?

It seems the trade is this way for wire nuts:
Orange: Rarely
Yellow: Sometimes
Red: Always
Grey: Never (see Red)
Blue: When you absolutely can't fit it in a Red.
This is sick, all they need to do is read the box.

Wagos
I Don't Trust 'Em

electure has a point, even wire nuts can be bad if not used within their instruction, to emphasize again...

They must be connecting the size and number of wires that they are designed for, and they must be tightened much more than mere fingers can tighten... I use a wrench from Ideal (more like a large socket) that is used for the original Ideal Wire Nuts. Sans this wrench, use your lineman's pliers, get them tight.

(B-Caps seem really cheap to me...I've seen a few of those melt down too... When I say Wire Nuts, I mean the Ideal brand Wire Nuts...accept no substitute) Sorry I'll get off my soapbox now...

I hope I didn't offend you kent, it was Bill's response that threw me... (sorry Bill, you seemed a little too eager to give Wago's a try at the time... after rereading your post I see that you were just curious...my bad as the kids say!)

I could just be stuck in my ways... They'd have to be proven superior to Wire Nuts if I were to use them.

I do like the terminal screw idea however!

[This message has been edited by sparky66wv (edited 08-26-2001).]

Bill:

Just had a thought.

I have a catalog here from one of our suppliers which isn't too big and bulky, but has some fairly clear color photos of some of our common fittings and wiring accessories.

I'd be happy to send you a copy via snail-mail if you're want, then if you are able to scan it you can post anything that you think might be of interest.

Kent, (& Virgil)

I don't think I would ever use the Wagos except in lightly loaded circumstances. They also seem very bulky. I have much more confidence in the wirenuts that we use for the majority of connections.

'66,

I don't know as I agree with 'Cranking them' though as I think the internal spring can get deformed somehow and possibly have some negative effects. (I agree they should be tight, but I'm not sure how tight you mean) Do the instructions have a torque recommendation? I always thought the tools that were made for this were to make it easier on the fingers and not so they could be tightened more. Anybody know?

Paul,

If you wouldn't mind sending it I'd be happy to pick out some interesting pictures. I'll send you my address.

Bill

Thanks Bill. Package on its way to you.