HD AC cable connectors Junk.

E

Eddie702

Licensed Electrician
Location
Western Massachusetts
Occupation
Electrician
Doing some wiring in a 100 year old house. Still has 6 or 7 circuits with BX cable some of it the old cloth type. The insulation in some boxes is bad. I stripped back the AC cable and most is in good looks excellent shape its just at the terminations from what I have found. Light fixtures that have been over lamped is always a bad thing. Found some bare wire in two of them

I picked up a box of Halex Ac able connectors the saddle type at HD.

The first two I used the locknuts don't want to bite they spin around. Since its BX I insist on the connectors being tight at we all know that's the ground.
When you tighten the locknut past hand tight the locknuts jump a thread and are crooked on the connector. Die cast crap. I have some steel locknuts I have saved going to try those or return the connectors its that bad. And I am just getting them tight not over tightening. China crap I am sure.
 
Eddie702 said:
Doing some wiring in a 100 year old house. Still has 6 or 7 circuits with BX cable some of it the old cloth type. The insulation in some boxes is bad. I stripped back the AC cable and most is in good looks excellent shape its just at the terminations from what I have found. Light fixtures that have been over lamped is always a bad thing. Found some bare wire in two of them

I picked up a box of Halex Ac able connectors the saddle type at HD.

The first two I used the locknuts don't want to bite they spin around. Since its BX I insist on the connectors being tight at we all know that's the ground.
When you tighten the locknut past hand tight the locknuts jump a thread and are crooked on the connector. Die cast crap. I have some steel locknuts I have saved going to try those or return the connectors its that bad. And I am just getting them tight not over tightening. China crap I am sure.
Click to expand...
That's the problem.
 
I had the same trouble. I go out of my way to not use due cast fittings. Got spoiled years ago when my company only purchased all steel T & B real deal fittings. More then once after I made connections went over locknuts to make sure they were all tight & cracked a die cast locknut. While running 1/2 & 3/4" aluminum heavy wall we ordered T & B aluminum locknuts. Big mistake.Found the best way to snug them up was with Channelocks rather then a screwdriver .
 
For old steeel type AC I prefer the single screw connectors that have been around for 100 years over the saddle type.
 
I like the saddle type they clamp the armor tight. The squeeze type that looks like a 2 screw Romex connector are ok as well. I don't buy the single screw that can pierce aluminum amour, and I never know when I will run into aluminum.
 
Still have a few best ever T & B AC connectors with a clear insulating throat from when my first company closed up. Maybe the same blind testing agencies that gave approval for years on 50 amp receptacles for EV'S that burnt out within a year approved some of these horrible fittings. A few years ago we had several boxes of garbage die cast AC duplex AC connectors made in India. Not one box had a list for what size cable they were approved for. Supply houses and others should not be allowed to sell such unmarked products.
 
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