crimp on terminals for stranded wire

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jetlag

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Is it a code violation to use crimp on terminals to connect stranded wire to a recep or switch ? Thats the best way I know to get a good connection especially with # 10 stranded. I saw the post on different way to get the strand wire to hold on grounding screw, but no one mentioned the crimp on terminals.
 
Or you can just buy backwired devices. Not the cheap residential kind but with the screw pressure terminal. They only cost a little more if you are using all stranded wire and they terminate much faster than "sta-kons" or wrapping stranded around a terminal.
 
jetlag said:
Is it a code violation to use crimp on terminals to connect stranded wire to a recep or switch ? Thats the best way I know to get a good connection especially with # 10 stranded. I saw the post on different way to get the strand wire to hold on grounding screw, but no one mentioned the crimp on terminals.
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I saw this comment on another thread and I will reiterate my opinion, The crimped terminals with a ring or flange is what I use. A properly crimped terminal is highly reliable and easy. It's all I use for stranded.
 
Thanks for feedback

Thanks for feedback

Glad the crimp ons pass code. I cant seem to find the hook end in a #10 so I get the ring type and cut a slot and spread then compress around screw. The open end fork type dont hold well at all. Yes Im familiar with the compression back wire recep. , and I keep some for special times like when wires are to short to get around side screws easily or when need heavy duty 15 or 20 amp. These are quite expensive in $ 3 range so can get whole pack of crimp ons for that
 
jetlag said:
Glad the crimp ons pass code. I cant seem to find the hook end in a #10 so I get the ring type and cut a slot and spread then compress around screw. The open end fork type dont hold well at all. Yes Im familiar with the compression back wire recep. , and I keep some for special times like when wires are to short to get around side screws easily or when need heavy duty 15 or 20 amp. These are quite expensive in $ 3 range so can get whole pack of crimp ons for that
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I use the open-end forks that have the ends of the forks bent to provide a good grip. They don't slip off.

Go to http://order.waytekwire.com and type in part number 32720 in the search box to see what I'm talking about.
 
I thought the code said you had to use crimp-on connectors on stranded wire, but I have been looking and I have not found it yet.
 
guschash said:
I thought the code said you had to use crimp-on connectors on stranded wire, but I have been looking and I have not found it yet.
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You won't find it. Device terminations types are listed by the manufacturer. Typically any device binding screw can terminate up to a solid or stranded #10 AWG conductor.
 
Crimp on solid ?

Crimp on solid ?

infinity said:
You won't find it. Device terminations types are listed by the manufacturer. Typically any device binding screw can terminate up to a solid or stranded #10 AWG conductor.
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Had another electrician to tell me cant use crimp on terminals on solid wire, and I didnt doubt him because they dont hold well at all , can twist terminal around easily after crimping, so I only use crimp on on stranded wire , they hold very well
 
Crimp On Terminals

Crimp On Terminals

Your concern about the code should extend to the fact that you are cutting the ring terminals, spreading them, and then putting them under the screw.
I would bet that you do not have an approved connection after modifying the ring terminal in the manner that you are.
They are tested and listed as rings without modifications.
 
jetlag said:
Had another electrician to tell me cant use crimp on terminals on solid wire, and I didnt doubt him because they dont hold well at all , can twist terminal around easily after crimping, so I only use crimp on on stranded wire , they hold very well
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Again this would go back to the listing of the product. I just looked at a few boxes of T&B crimp on connectors and ones for sizes #12 and smaller had no restrictions for solid conductors. The ones that were listed for #12 and #10 conductors said:

UL listed for 12 AWG CU Wire
UL listed for 10 STR CU Wire.
 
Crimps

Crimps

I do a lot of POCO substation work. We use SIS wire with 61 strands in #10. We always use ring type crimps. We do this because we want the reliability. Small crimps are not designed by the manufacturer to work on solid wire and thus are not permissible.
 
beanland said:
Small crimps are not designed by the manufacturer to work on solid wire and thus are not permissible.
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I'm curious as to where you're getting this information from? The box of T&B STA-KON terminals on my desk says: UL LISTED 12 AWG CU WIRE It doesn't say anything about solid or stranded conductors being prohibited.
 
Crimps for Solid

Crimps for Solid

I did some digging. If the barrel is solid (not split), its use on solid conductors may be permitted by manufacturer. Molex says their small crimps are for stranded wire only. Burndy lists compression lugs for #8 and larger solid wires. The manufacturers also list UL486 which appears to relate to the pull out strength when used with stranded wire. So, unless the manufactuer says "#12 AWG solid" I would not believe it is applicable.

Can you find any listing that specifically states "for #12 solid conductor"?
 
beanland said:
Can you find any listing that specifically states "for #12 solid conductor"?
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If we go back to an earlier post I listed the information as it appears on the box:

UL listed for 12 AWG CU Wire
UL listed for 10 STR CU Wire
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I see a limitation for #10 stranded only but none for #12. If I stick any #12 CU conductor in the fork terminal and crimp it I have not violated the listing information on the box.
 
solid wont hold

solid wont hold

infinity said:
If we go back to an earlier post I listed the information as it appears on the box:



I see a limitation for #10 stranded only but none for #12. If I stick any #12 CU conductor in the fork terminal and crimp it I have not violated the listing information on the box.
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I wont use the solid wire with a crimp on, regardless of info on package .For one thing there is no reason because the solid is no problem on device screw, the other reason after crimping the terminal will twist on the wire and become loose when you push device in box and strain gets on joint.
 
Non Solid Crimps

Non Solid Crimps

I agree. IMHO I would never use crimps on small (#10 and smaller) solid conductors. In my experience, they do not hold. I would also be concerned about thermal cycling stess eventually causing the terminal to loosen or the wire to break. But, this is just IMHO.
 
jetlag said:
Had another electrician to tell me cant use crimp on terminals on solid wire, and I didnt doubt him because they dont hold well at all , can twist terminal around easily after crimping, so I only use crimp on on stranded wire , they hold very well
Click to expand...

If you look at the spec page of some crimp terminals they do not allow use of solid wire. I have come across this on 3M terminals and others. When I personally work a job and use a crimp terminal on solid I always solder it after the crimp. It's the only thing that gives me peace of mind. I had seen several solids pulled right out of a crimp terminal.
 
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3M Stranded

3M Stranded

Good call. I checked out some of the specs for the 3M crimps and they all refer to stranded wire.

Once upon a time, when soldering was popular, it was common practice to solder crimps. On stranded wire it can cause problems because of solder flow up the strands, removing the flexibility of the wire. But, on solid wire, I have seen an uninsulated soldered crimp look like the best connection possible.
 
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