terminals
- Thread starter rosie06
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Pierre C Belarge
Senior Member
- Location
- Westchester County, New York
Stranded conductors terminated on the binding screws is not restricted by the NEC.
110.3(B) - listing is where you will find this info. Check the manufacturer to make sure the one you are using is not restricted by the manufacturer.
110.3(B) - listing is where you will find this info. Check the manufacturer to make sure the one you are using is not restricted by the manufacturer.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Rosie, welcome to the forum! 
Some suggest leaving a bit of insulation on the tip of the wire, some suggest reverse strand twisting, and some even suggest pigtailing with solid.
I find pinching the loop closed with needle-nose pliers while tightening the screw works just fine. Back-wired clamp-type terminals are the best bet.
This has been discussed at length here before, and as expected, opinions vary widely. Yes, it's perfectly legal to use stranded on screw terminals.
Some suggest leaving a bit of insulation on the tip of the wire, some suggest reverse strand twisting, and some even suggest pigtailing with solid.
I find pinching the loop closed with needle-nose pliers while tightening the screw works just fine. Back-wired clamp-type terminals are the best bet.
I'd always terminate the wire with a compression type lug.
Terminating bare wires under a screw terminal wouldn't impress our customers.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
You mean like a StaKon?
bobsherwood
Senior Member
- Location
- Dallas TX
I've gotten used to reversing the twist of the strands. Makes it look like solid wire with lines in it.
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Occupation
- PE (Retired) - Power Systems
If the device is UL listed it must accept stranded wire.
From the UL White Book RTRT for receptacles:
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I'm not familiar with Sta Kon products.
This for kind of thing small wiring:
For larger conductors we use compression lugs like these and sleeve them with heatshrink to identify phases.
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Occupation
- PE (Retired) - Power Systems
StaKon is a brand name, from Thomas & Betts, for the devices you pictured.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Dem's de ones.This for kind of thing small wiring:
I've always wondered whether it's "stake on" or "stay con(nected)".
Pierre C Belarge
Senior Member
- Location
- Westchester County, New York
I'm not familiar with Sta Kon products.
This for kind of thing small wiring:
For larger conductors we use compression lugs like these and sleeve them with heatshrink to identify phases.
Most all devices that I am aware of are listed as suitable for stranded conductors.
Only 1 that I am aware of is listed as suitable for the use of Stakons for termination on the wirebinding screw.
The rest are not.
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Occupation
- PE (Retired) - Power Systems
I always thought STAy KONnected.
Many we use are also suitable for bare wire.
But our customers don't like it. Often, their specifications categorically proscribe it.
I don't like it either. The crimped joint is just so much neater. And, I think, better. All our crimp tools are tested and certified regularly on a rig that applies tension (at least 20kg) to a number of joints the tool makes. I'm not sure that bare wire connections would routinely pass such a test.
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