Hi all, it's not meant to be a silly question.
What's the best way of wiring a screw-terminal plug with flex?
I don't think solid-core flex exists - in any case all the flex I've come across has conductors composed of multiple small strands of copper wire. How best should they be used in a plug with the standard hole in the pin with a grub screw to screw down?
Some commercially supplied equipment has plugs where the end of the conductors is tinned, which makes it easy to insert in the hole in the pins, then seems* to provide a good connection when the grub screw is tightened up.
(* I say seems, as there is some debate about the dissimilar metal interface providing a good, long-lasting contact)
If I don't tin the conductors, then what is the best way?
1) Stuff the stranded core into the hole in the pin, and tighten up the grubscrew? 2) Twist the stranded core, put in the hole and tighten up the grubscrew? 3) Twist the stranded core, fold back on itself and re-twist, place in hole and tighten up grubscrew? 4) Use some other method?I ask because I'll be wiring up a lot of screw terminals in the near future and I'd like to do a good job that I don't have to come back to.
I did know an American at university, now a high power lawyer, who approached the unfamiliar English electrical system in an interesting way. Having bared the conductors, the flex was stuffed into the plug and wiggled about until 'it worked', then left alone. I was speechless, but then spent a brief period rewiring all the plugs in the said lawyer's rooms.
Many thanks,
Sid