Rules and Guidelines
Want to participate in the discussions? Please read our Community Rules and Guidelines. Need some help? Visit Support and Answers.

  • State Not Answered
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 45 replies
  • Subscribers 32 subscribers
  • Views 6967 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
You may also be interested in
This discussion has been locked.
You can no longer post new replies to this discussion. If you have a question you can start a new discussion

60 Amp Junction Box.

Zoomup
Mornin' All,

                      I came upon a burnt out terminal on a Crabtree ceiling 50 Amp. shower cord switch yesterday. The cables had become so hot after 3 years of use that the line P.V.C. had completely fallen off the conductor and had left a horrible black smelly sticky mess.


I had to replace the shower cord switch, but the damaged cable was then too short after removing the softened copper and damaged insulation.


So I had to make a trap in the room upstairs, which turned out to be wooden boards over other wooden boards to access the cable below with a view to lengthening one cable. I used a new 60 Amp junction box as it allows two large conductors to overlap and be secured by 4 screws. It is solid and of good quality.


It is this item.....

https://www.toolstation.com/60a-junction-box/p98775?store=N2&utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=googleshoppingfeed&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIufLP1ZD25gIVybTtCh2YWAeiEAQYASABEgJZkvD_BwE


Z.
  • 0

    The cable ends are not fluxed



    No need - the solder contains flux (rosin).

      - Andy.
  • 0

    alanblaby:




    Zoomup:




    Sparkingchip:

    How much free space is there inside a correctly crimp terminal for solder?


    Andy B 




    The crimp lug can be partially crimped to hold it onto the conductor and the solder wire fed in through the small breather hole found in many lugs near to the ring. Pre-fluxing is possible.


    Z.


     




    I would suggest that you have a read of BS7609, as doing what you suggest would not give a satisfactory joint.


     




     

    If the crimped termination is gas tight, how can you run any solder into it?


    Andy B
  • 0


    Do not confuse a crimp lug with a solder lug - you can use one as the other, in that you can solder wire into an oversized crimp lug,  though some solder lugs are wrap round and  could never be crimped, but you should not really mix the techniques.

    There are some rather nice solder paste filled connection tubes that can be used with a very hot heat gun. this sort of thing  They are a step up on twisting the wires with a swizzle of solder wire inside some aluminium foil and heating it with your lighter, as the heat-shrink insulation is part of the design.


    Better on PTFE wire than PVC or polythene, which tend to melt and run away from the heat, so probably better for aircraft repairs than domestic wiring.


    5a3b054be41dc0375daeff469c86d33b-huge-soldersleeve.png
  • 0

    alanblaby:




    Zoomup:




    Sparkingchip:

    How much free space is there inside a correctly crimp terminal for solder?


    Andy B 




    The crimp lug can be partially crimped to hold it onto the conductor and the solder wire fed in through the small breather hole found in many lugs near to the ring. Pre-fluxing is possible.


    Z.


     




    I would suggest that you have a read of BS7609, as doing what you suggest would not give a satisfactory joint.


     




    This sort of thing seems to work for those over the pond. The terminal lug is filled with solder.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R9SjG5fiyo


    Z.

  • 0

    Zoomup:




    Sparkingchip:

    How much free space is there inside a correctly crimp terminal for solder?


    Andy B 




    The crimp lug can be partially crimped to hold it onto the conductor and the solder wire fed in through the small breather hole found in many lugs near to the ring. Pre-fluxing is possible.


    Z.


     




    I would suggest that you have a read of BS7609, as doing what you suggest would not give a satisfactory joint.

  • 0
    I don't like these efforts. The cable ends are not fluxed and also appear not to be heated sufficiently. One lug does not get filled with sufficient solder. What do others think?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXGleTFkb3c


    Z.
  • 0
    It is amazing just how many main installation electricity cut outs and meters use screw terminals with no problems.  Admittedly they do have double screw terminals though.


    Z.
  • 0

    Sparkingchip:

    How much free space is there inside a correctly crimp terminal for solder?


    Andy B 




    The crimp lug can be partially crimped to hold it onto the conductor and the solder wire fed in through the small breather hole found in many lugs near to the ring. Pre-fluxing is possible.


    Z.

  • 0

    Sparkingchip:

    How much free space is there inside a correctly crimp terminal for solder?

     




    There should be virtually no space at the lug entrance. Properly crimped  cables do not need to be soldered, the lug/joint should be near as possible to air tight. Indeed,solder may even accelerate the demise of the cable, as it loses some elasticity, so can break easier.

  • 0
    I feel happier with the crimp then solder routine.

    I also blame a lot on the single screw mentality of recent years too.

    Screw threads quality and domed shape point of contact are not what they used to be either these days.


    Added - a square peg in a round hole is not near as bad as a round peg in a square hole (actuall two flat plates really). round terminals for round conductors woul be a good start

Community Rules & Guidelines