A Question for Real Electricians ?

[Ian French]

Occassionally after removing a 13 A socket form a wall, to replace with a new one, I have come across the problem that the end of the cable breaks off just where it was gripped by the screw, usually this happens with the earth wire.

Sometimes when I go to refit the socket I find that the wire is now too short to allow the fitting to go back in the back box without being stretched like a bango string !

Usually when this happens the cable cannot be pulled through the conduit (some hope, its buried in the plaster).

What is an acceptable fix for this situation, I have been tempted to extend the earth wire inside the box with a single section of a connector block (chocolate block), and tucking the block away where it can come to no harm. This seems a bit of a bodge, but is it acceptable ?

Ian.

[George]

This is uk.d-i-y we dont have real electricians on here.

This is perfectly acceptable...what are you supposed to do chase the wall and refit a new lenght of cable because 1/2" has broken off the old cable in the box.

ps whats a real electrician?

[The Medway Handyman]

I think an inline crimp is the answer, but IANAE. Someone much more knowledgeable will be along shortly....

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Yes - it's simply another screw connection like all the others on the ring.

[George]

Oh! dear and I thought you was a good handyman? crimping a cable actually cuts into the conducter and weakens it.

[The Medway Handyman]

Bollox.

[Bill]

In message , George writes

Oh dear, some one here may disagree with that.

>

[dennis]

Not as much as screwing it up. I prefer crimps, they are quicker to start with as well as being more reliable.

>

[John Rumm]

Nonsense. In this circumstance any of the wiring regs approved cable jointing methods would be acceptable (Screwed connections, crimped, soldered, or welded). The most practical being screw terminal or crimps.

Personally I would crimp, it since it leave more room in the backbox and there is no danger of the connection working lose.

[tony sayer]

Crimp!..

But make sure you use decent crimps and the PROPER crimping pliers;!...

[The Medway Handyman]

I learned about crimps from people on this group, more knowledgeable than I was. I asked questions, they were good enough to reply, I took their advice. I invested the money in a proper ratchet crimper & used it as instructed - I'm now a better handyman.

It's an excellent solution to short cables.

[Tim S]

George coughed up some electrons that declared:

Erm, crimping is recognised by the IEE Wiring Regs and is preferred over screw terminals in inaccessible locations.

Done properly with correctly sized crimps and a decent (ie ratchet) crimper of course...

Cheers

Tim

[Ed Sirett]

Succinctly put. A /proper/ crimper is the best way to join wires.

[Derek Geldard]

No, merely better informed (and equipped).

Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry, Couldn't resist it.

It is.

Derek.

[<me9]

And a proper crimp for the job. We had a problem on largeish (IIRC aluminium) cables where the crimp was slightly oversize. Crimping stretched the cable leading to early failure.

[Frank Erskine]

No it doesn't (or shouldn't). Personally I don't really like crimps, but they don't cut into a conductor, rather they deform it to compress it against either the crimp or another conductor.

Just like a choc block but rather more consistent if it's done correctly.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Well /a very good way indeed, and one sanctioned by TPTB for use in uingettattable ares/ anyway...

[Pete C ukdiy]

With choc blocks in less accessible places I try to have each solid core going under both screws.

Then there is some redundancy and the cores are also in direct contact with each other.

cheers, Pete.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Good practice even in accessible areas.

[Ed Sirett]

Crimping Ally is way beyond my expertise except. I would treat ally conductors with great respect.