Re: Installalation Tips and Tools

[Frank Olson <Use_the_email_links@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Robert L Bass wrote:
>>I can remember my first tech tip way back in junior high school electric
>>shop.  It was wrapping a stripped wire properly around a screw terminal.
>>An old time shop teacher that made sure we had good basic install skills.
>>A very nice and basic tip.  While this seems obvious to many of us techs,
>>you would be surprised how many wires I see wrapped the wrong way.
>
>
> I like to use stranded cable for transformers.  It doesn't break like solid
> core cable can if the wire is flexed a bunch of times.  Also, if I have some
> in the tool kit I crimp spade lugs on the wires rather than wrap bare wires
> around the screw terminals.  This isn't entirely necessary but it makes a
> good, solid connection and there's no chance of a stray strand shorting the
> adjacent terminal.
>


Why would the wire "flex" a "bunch of times"?  I realize that you guys
int he US really like those screw-in "wall warts", but isn't the screw
supposed to discourage the customer from unplugging it?  And wouldn't
you use a plug that was "out of the way" and not prone to occasional
use?  Our contract stipulates that we must have a dedicated unburdened
circuit for the panel.  Around these parts we use a wire in transformer,
and all solid core wires.