10/3 SO cord termination no

N

nizak

Senior Member
I need to connect 10/3 SO cord into a termination strip on a sauna controller.

The strip has set screw type compression terminations.

I noticed that the factory provided cable that comes with the unit heater that attaches to the load side of the strip has ends attached to the stranded wire allowing for a flat solid surface for set screw to seat against.

There are no specifications for the type of end required on the field wiring ( SO) cord I will be providing.

Would it be satisfactory to tightly twist the stranded conductor and place it under the set set screw type compression.

I cannot see what the make up is of the screw end ( pointed, flat, etc.) or what the inside of the termination cavity is. It’s a plastic body type strip and unable to be removed for any type of inspection.

The load is 24A @ 240v

Thanks
 
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OR.........twist and 'tin' with solder.........BUT............be aware that the solder is softer than the wire and may.....MAY.....'flow' out from under the set screw and may need to be re-tightened at intervals

if you don't have the 'bootlace ferrule' mentioned above, a regular butt splice crimp, with the wire passed all the way through, then crimped and trimmed, MIGHT work
 
curt swartz said:
Is the unit listed for cord connection? I doubt it. If it is the manufacture should offer a listed cord assembly.
Click to expand...
Here is the extent of the instructions for supplying power.

Connect the building power supply 2-#10 AWG and Ground to the lower supply block.
Note* Building supply wire not furnished.
 
curt swartz said:
Is the unit listed for cord connection? I doubt it. If it is the manufacture should offer a listed cord assembly.
Click to expand...
You peaked my curiosity when you mentioned the listing for cord connection.

I spoke with Co. tech support and they verified that it can either be cord connected or hardwired.

Both are acceptable means as long as the proper gauge wire and circuit breaker are used.

Up until recently a cord assembly was available from the Mfgr . There was little demand for purchasing it with the unit so they quit offering it.
 
OldBroadcastTech said:
OR.........twist and 'tin' with solder.........BUT............be aware that the solder is softer than the wire and may.....MAY.....'flow' out from under the set screw and may need to be re-tightened at intervals

if you don't have the 'bootlace ferrule' mentioned above, a regular butt splice crimp, with the wire passed all the way through, then crimped and trimmed, MIGHT work
Click to expand...
Don't ever rely on tinned conductors under setscrew or cage clamp terminals. The solder will creep over time, and the termination will burn up when it goes hi-resistance from loss of contact pressure. I believe tinned conductors are expressly prohibited for fire alarm systems fr this reason (I forget the code reference). We stopped using the tinned ends of the power supply tails on Mean Well HLG-series power supplies years ago, and our failure rate for bad connections dropped to zero.


SceneryDriver
 
Just don't solder the strands together. Not necessary and provides another point if failure. If you insisted on doing something a ferrule or fork terminal as appropriate is ok.
 
SceneryDriver said:
Don't ever rely on tinned conductors under setscrew or cage clamp terminals. The solder will creep over time, and the termination will burn up when it goes hi-resistance from loss of contact pressure. I believe tinned conductors are expressly prohibited for fire alarm systems fr this reason (I forget the code reference). We stopped using the tinned ends of the power supply tails on Mean Well HLG-series power supplies years ago, and our failure rate for bad connections dropped to zero.


SceneryDriver
Click to expand...
I agree that tinning is not the way to go, but I have seen plenty of factory equipment tinned and then landed under standard set screws and the like, so not sure if I believe this.
 
Strip a piece of solid #18 bell wire and wrap the strands of the SO conductors. Sure to make desk jockeys pucker, but a perfectly cromulent method
 
CoolWill said:
Strip a piece of solid #18 bell wire and wrap the strands of the SO conductors. Sure to make desk jockeys pucker, but a perfectly cromulent method
Click to expand...
I never tried that, but I do carry sheets of thin fine brass to cut with scissors and wrap fine strands of type W for large applications. I'm pretty sure I could fit it into a #10 terminal as well if my eyes can see it.
 
Solder-tinned wire ends under screw terminals is bad news.
Tin Clad Copper wire strands are good.
* * * * * * * * * * *
I have solder-tinned the very end of fine strand wire. Then stripped more insulation, so I could put bare wire under the terminal.
* * * * * * * * * * *
ferrules are great:
like these
www.ferrulesdirect.com

Ferrule Collections

Insulated Ferrules, Non-Insulated Ferrules, Terminals, Wire Ducts, Crimping Tools, Cable Accessories, Terminal Blocks, Push Buttons, Heat Shrink, Compression Lugs, Automotive Products, Wire Cutters, Wire Strippers
www.ferrulesdirect.com www.ferrulesdirect.com
 
It would appear based on 400.10 & 400.12 IF you use cord it would need to be cod and plug.
 
Birken Vogt said:
400.10 has exceptions big enough to drive a Mack truck through
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There is only one exception in 400.10 and it is in 400.10(B) and it relates to 368.56 for busways.

It does have 11 different conditions where flexible cord is permitted to be used and people tend to try to push any limitations that are mentioned there to things that actually do not comply with any limitations that are mentioned.
 
Some of the more applicable ones from 400.10(A)

(3) Connection of portable luminaires, portable and mobile signs, or appliances.
(6) Connection of utilization equipment to facilitate frequent interchange.
(7) Prevention of the transmission of noise or vibration.
(8) Appliances where the fastening means and mechanical connections are specifically designed to permit ready removal for maintenance and repair, and the appliance is intended or identified for flexible cord connection.
(9) Connection of moving parts.
 
Birken Vogt said:
Some of the more applicable ones from 400.10(A)

(3) Connection of portable luminaires, portable and mobile signs, or appliances.
(6) Connection of utilization equipment to facilitate frequent interchange.
(7) Prevention of the transmission of noise or vibration.
(8) Appliances where the fastening means and mechanical connections are specifically designed to permit ready removal for maintenance and repair, and the appliance is intended or identified for flexible cord connection.
(9) Connection of moving parts.
Click to expand...
All the ones that would be used to push limitations on what may be allowed here. Most those conditions are not typical to the equipment mentioned in OP.
How many sauna's are considered portable, are frequently interchanged, have transmission of vibration issues or have moving parts?
 
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