ground screw termination

[al hildenbrand]

A ground screw is not a terminal.

In my opinion the terminal is the device that connectes directly to the conductor. While screws can be terminals, the screws of a wiring device, I don't see this screw as a terminal, but if you were using it with solid wire it would become a terminal. Screws or bolts are often used to connect a terminal to a bus or other device, but those screws or bolts are not terminals.

"Terminal" is a somewhat vague, and broad, term, IMO.

The Authoritative Dictionary of IEEE Standards Terms has:

terminal (3) (terminal connector) A connector for attaching a conductor to electrical apparatus.

There are a total of ten different meanings from data terminals to semiconductors to substations. Very diverse.

When I join two conductors together, say, an insulated cable to a bus bar, I would consider the lug a "terminal". Most bus bar is in something readily thought of as apparatus. However, if the bus is inside busway, the distinction becomes less clear, IMO.

When I join two conductors together, say two insulated cables joined with a split bolt, I would consider the split bolt a "splice" or a "pressure connector", but not a "terminal".

When it comes to a 10/32 ground screw threaded into the wall of a 4" square steel junction box, one is usually connecting a wire EG conductor to the raceway system EGC. So one is connecting an EG conductor to another EG conductor, however, the junction box can be understood as apparatus, as the box is a part of a raceway system, while also being an EGC.

Apparatus is another nebulous term that has been a source of much opinion and debate on this Forum.

IMO, two ring terminals, as Ishium describes, under one 10/32 ground screw in the wall of a junction box, are not a Code problem.

 

[kwired]

I think the root word in terminal is same root word as in termination.

Where are places where we have terminals?

At a point where a transition is made from one conductive component to another. Each component may electrically be the same "conductor" as far as the basic layout of a circuit is concerned and usually is, but are often made of different material, and/or is a point of connection for external conductors to a piece of equipment.

 

[al hildenbrand]

Sheesh. I see I wrote "insulated cable" several times in post #21. Please substitute "insulated conductor" for each instance. -- (The edit time window has expired.)

 

[al hildenbrand]

Where are places where we have terminals?

We can't say where each of the places are unless we can agree upon what a terminal is.