mhernandez
Member
- Location
- Chicago
Link for examples (pics) for these types of bonding methods.
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Irreversible Compression Connector
- Thread starter mhernandez
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
Burndy makes them but you need a special tool. Do a search for irreversible compression connectorsLink for examples (pics) for these types of bonding methods.
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LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
While it may be a bit extreme, exothermic welding also qualifies.
Although exothermic is pretty much irreversible, I don't think it qualifies as a compression connector.
Roger
Cow
Senior Member
- Location
- Eastern Oregon
- Occupation
- Electrician
I've used these before. Our supply house evens loans us the tool to crimp 'em if we need it.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Um, yeah.
stars13bars2
Senior Member
If you are going to compress exothermic, you better let it cool first.
A/A Fuel GTX
Senior Member
- Location
- WI & AZ
- Occupation
- Electrician
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Okay, now I'm getting picked on.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Any connector that uses physical force to crush the connector into the conductor is an irreversible connection.
busman
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern Virginia
- Occupation
- Master Electrician / Electrical Engineer
Actually, Don, I would disagree. I would say it's only irreversible if the metals cold weld together. See this link for a descriptions http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_welding.
Especially the following quote: "electron microscope investigations of contact points reveal that an actual welding of the two surfaces takes place after which it is impossible to discern the former asperitic interface"
When I crimp a buchanan sleeve, there isn't enough pressure to weld the metals and we all know we can give the sleeve a few squeezes with the Kleins and remove the sleeve and separate the wires. On the other hand, I sawed open an used H-tap once and I couldn't tell where the conductor/tap interface was by visual inspection.
Just my opinion,
Mark
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Mark,
You may have a point, but my understanding is that an "irreversible" connection is one that cannot be removed without damage and cannot be reused. A reversible one is one that you can remove from the conductor and reuse (set screw type).
That being said, I guess my real point is that there are compression connectors other than the H type that are irreversible, even using your definition.
You may have a point, but my understanding is that an "irreversible" connection is one that cannot be removed without damage and cannot be reused. A reversible one is one that you can remove from the conductor and reuse (set screw type).
That being said, I guess my real point is that there are compression connectors other than the H type that are irreversible, even using your definition.
busman
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern Virginia
- Occupation
- Master Electrician / Electrical Engineer
Don, I don't know if there IS a right answer. The reason I cut open the H-tap in the first place was due to curiosity. I wondered why the very thin "flap" on the outside of the tap (it has a very thin area where you bend it over) didn't just fall off or easily peel off after it's crimped. When I cut it in half (cross-section), I found that this metal seemed to have joined to the rest of the tap and the conductors. That's when I started looking on the internet to see how this might work.
Just thinking.
Mark
Just thinking.
Mark
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