Cutting long barrel lugs

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Pitt123

Senior Member
Is there any code or reason why you should not cut long barallel lugs if they are too long and providing a space or clearance issue.

For instance if I had a (2) hole long barallel lug and I cut it to only use one of the holes, would this be a violation of any code?
 
qcroanoke

qcroanoke

Sometimes I don't know if I'm the boxer or the bag
Location
Roanoke, VA.
Occupation
Sorta retired........
Pitt123 said:
Is there any code or reason why you should not cut long barallel lugs if they are too long and providing a space or clearance issue.

For instance if I had a (2) hole long barallel lug and I cut it to only use one of the holes, would this be a violation of any code?
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Other than voiding the UL listing of the lug I would also say you have taken away the needed contact area of the lug for carrying the load.
 
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wireguy8169

Senior Member
Location
Southern Maine
Maybe 110.3 (B), was probably tested in the form you bought not at a cut length. Could always call the manufacture the may tell you. I am thinking (could be wrong) that the amount of metal used to make the lug was engineered to carry the current for conductor range its good for. Hope that helps
 
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markstg

Senior Member
Location
Big Easy
qcroanoke said:
Other than voiding the UL listing of the lug I would also say you have taken away the needed contact area of the lug for carrying the load.
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I have never purchased a compression lug based on current rating, always cable size, and for the same cable size the lugs come in 1 or 2 hole versions.

If I need to bend the lug to 45 degrees for better fit to a bus bar, can I bend a staight connector or do I have to buy a 45 deg.
 
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wireguy8169

Senior Member
Location
Southern Maine
markstg said:
I have never purchased a compression lug based on current rating, always cable size, and for the same cable size the lugs come in 1 or 2 hole versions.

If I need to bend the lug to 45 degrees for better fit to a bus bar, can I bend a staight connector or do I have to buy a 45 deg.
Click to expand...

And the cable size is based on the load typically, so even though you do not buy a 100amp lug, its possible that if you buy a lug for use with a #3 cu conductor max. it may be able to handle the same load as the conductor. Again not sure of tolerances or whatever, but I would say buy the correct lug this the way to go. And remember when you bend something metal it changes the properties some, might develop a hot spot. Do not know for sure but seems reasonable to me from what I remember about physics :D
 
walkerj

walkerj

Senior Member
Location
Baton Rouge
We recently did a 4000a service change/generator install that required POCO to mount the ct's in their pad-mount transformer.

It was saturday and the bushings they had were too long so they borrowed my bandsaw and cut two spaces off!

I wouldn't do it for a current carrying conductor, but I wouldn't hesitate to do it for a ground lug if I was in a bind:cool:
 
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