Help ASAP Splitting Wire for 2 Terminals

[jamesguy10]

Im at a job right now and they sent me a main breaker wire terminals for parallell 250's I have a single run of 500's? is it acceptable to skin the jacket and "split" the wire into two smaller ones and then tape the split?

 

[iwire]

No.

Order the correct lugs for the breaker.

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

No, it is not acceptable.

Working late tonight?

 

[jamesguy10]

Yeah, working late. what do you suggest, POCO will be here at 9:00

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

Thats a tough spot to be in. Overnight shutdowns really take good planning or great access to supply houses after hours. Some luck as well.

Maybe you can install a Jbox and splice two smaller conductors sized to fit the lugs and carry the load. You may even have room in the disconnect enclosure itself???

 

[jamesguy10]

can i somehow "convert" the 500 into 2 250's?
if i re run it with 250's how do i lug them to the meter?

 

[480sparky]

No, it is not acceptable.

Working late tonight?

Maybe he's getting ready for a Friday STV pix....:grin:

 

[jamesguy10]

Thats a tough spot to be in.

Maybe you can install a Jbox and splice two smaller conductors sized to fit the lugs and carry the load. You may even have room in the disconnect enclosure itself???

Splice with bugs? (a bug big enough for a 500 and 2 250's?)

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

Maybe he's getting ready for a Friday STV pix....:grin:

Well....it is Friday isn't it.

 

[jamesguy10]

Maybe he's getting ready for a Friday STV pix....:grin:

hillarious

 

[iwire]

Splice with bugs? (a bug big enough for a 500 and 2 250's?)

That would work temporary but you will not find a split bolt rated for one 500 and two 250s.

I did not realize this was a 'now' thing, that sucks.

 

[jamesguy10]

what do i use then?

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

What size is the overcurrent device?
What is your load?

You may not need to use 250s, you may be able to use smaller conductors.

A Polaris tap of something of that type for taps will work.

 

[480sparky]

what do i use then?

The correct lugs, or breaker. Would Polaris or Ilsco have something that would work?

Even if the 500s could be split into two parallel conductors, would it be legal (wire space & bending taken into consideration)?

 

[brother]

Yeah, working late. what do you suggest, POCO will be here at 9:00

Im not sure if I am calling them correctly, but we call them 'reducing crimps' . basically you crimp them on the larger wire to fit it under a smaller lug, and they are rated/listed for this practice.

 

[jamesguy10]

its a 400 amp service.
4 500kcmil conductors going from a meter to a main breaker panel
the 3 ungrounded conductors dont fit the top of the breaker
when i got the panel i didnt realiaze this, i just thought that it had two sets of lugs incase you needed to jump to another panel or something

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

Only because of your time frame, it is a very tough spot to be in.


Do you have access to a supply house this late?

 

[480sparky]

Im not sure if I am calling them correctly, but we call them 'reducing crimps' . basically you crimp them on the larger wire to fit it under a smaller lug, and they are rated/listed for this practice.

Pin terminals?

Problem could be, would one terminal be rated for the entire load?

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

Pin terminals?

Problem could be, would one terminal be rated for the entire load?

I do not think it is a good idea, especially if there is a substantial load.

 

[480sparky]

I do not think it is a good idea, especially if there is a substantial load.

It's something I just thought of. Sounds like the breaker was engineered and installed for parallel conductors, so half the load would be impressed on each lug. If the wire doesn't fit in the lug, maybe it's not rated for the load the wire can carry.