Wire inserter tool

Aren't the the ones you open with a small screwdriver blade and inset the wire?

Bob

Could you explain that a bit more please?

Sorry, a couple of typos crept in. It should have read:-

Aren't they the ones you open with a small screwdriver blade and then insert the wire?

n.b. push fit connectors are usually designed for solid core wire not stranded.

Bob

Does it not also have backstabs (holes to push the conductors into)? As someone else said, these are all designed for solid core equipment wiring nowadays. The IDC connector part is designed for pre-wired luminaires with contactless plugs to punchdown all the connections at once. However, most luminaires aren't wired like this, so most ballasts also have connections for individual stripped wires.

It's solid core wiring, fortunately. I'll take the light apart again and check it out, but I didn't see any connectors on the ballast apart from the v-shaped punchdown connectors. I left the wire unstripped (well, cut off the stripped bit actually) and pushed it into the v as best I could, but once assembled the tube connected to that ballast did not light.

It does not sound like the type I was referring to. Could you file a slot in the tip of an old screwdriver to press down either side of the wire without distorting the V cutter.

Bob

Once you've inserted the *bare* wire, pull it out - or rather try to. That will tighten the gripper. Although I've never needed to do this.

That's the problem. They're not insulation piercing types. And they work fine on flex too.

Ah, okay! I'll try what you suggested. If it's stripped AND I can't pull it out, it must be making a decent connection. :-)