SE cable neutral twisting technique

[SegDog]

Recently, I watched a guy braiding the bare neutral in a new 200A CB panel. It's far more strenuous than my simple smooth and twist style with a vise-grip. Also, it shortened-up the length quite a bit. I asked him, and he said that's the way he was taught. Anyone else do this?

 

[mdshunk]

I've seen lots of braided neutral on older SE cable installs. I've never done it or known of anyone who has. Actually, I tried it once, but it takes too long. I generally just chuck the bundle up in the cordless drill and give the trigger a squeeze.

 

[mikeames]

Sometimes when I have extra cable I give myself extra wire and chuck it up in the drill. I twist it up in 5 seconds, unchuck it and cut to length. Some times it difficult to get all the strands in. If I can tget them in, I just leave them out, they usually twist up with the others.

 

[mikeames]

I've seen lots of braided neutral on older SE cable installs. I've never done it or known of anyone who has. Actually, I tried it once, but it takes too long. I generally just chuck the bundle up in the cordless drill and give the trigger a squeeze.

Damm you beat me to it but a few seconds.

 

[mdshunk]

Damm you beat me to it but a few seconds.

I can just exactly get 4/0 chucked up in the 1/2" chuck of my Milwaukee when it's completely open. No room to spare, and it has to be neat, but it's the only way I'll twist the long tails hanging out of a weatherhead.

 

[roger]

I just take all the strands in the crotch of my side cutters and spin, I can do this in less time than it takes to use a drill motor.

Roger

 

[mikeames]

I can just exactly get 4/0 chucked up in the 1/2" chuck of my Milwaukee when it's completely open. No room to spare, and it has to be neat, but it's the only way I'll twist the long tails hanging out of a weatherhead.

Ditto! Same drill and all.

 

[mdshunk]

I just take all the strands in the crotch of my side cutters and spin, I can do this in less time than it takes to use a drill motor.

Roger

My sidecutters don't have a crotch. I think I got gypped. I've got worn out hands, so using something other than brute force is more and more appealing to me as time passes.

 

[roger]

My sidecutters don't have a crotch. I think I got gypped. I've got worn out hands, so using something other than brute force is more and more appealing to me as time passes.

Well, I'll just have to use one of your words then, whever.

Roger

 

[mdshunk]

Well, I'll just have to use one of your words then, whever.

Roger

Yeah, I forgot the apostrophe. Should be wh'ever.

 

[peter d]

I've always just bent the end 90 degrees and twisted it up by hand. I guess I'll have to try the drill technique next time.

 

[peter d]

Yeah, I forgot the apostrophe. Should be wh'ever.

Spoken with a "Valley Girl" accent of course.

 

[electricalperson]

i seperate the strands into 2 equal groups and i twist them both up and it comes out looking like a braid

 

[mdshunk]

i seperate the strands into 2 equal groups and i twist them both up and it comes out looking like a braid

man, that sounds like a really bad approach.

 

[electricalperson]

man, that sounds like a really bad approach.

why? they are tight as anything and that was the way i was taught

 

[mdshunk]

why? they are tight as anything and that was the way i was taught

just sounds like parallel conductors, is all.

 

[electricalperson]

just sounds like parallel conductors, is all.

well whats the difference between braiding it like the OP said or twisting it like you do or twisting it like i do? i dont think its paralelled because they seperate as soon as it enters the cable anyway. is twisting up all those strands putting them in paralell?

 

[stickboy1375]

I dont twist or braid, just stick them all under the lug and torque.

 

[mdshunk]

I dont twist or braid, just stick them all under the lug and torque.

oh, so you're "that guy".

 

[peter d]

I just cut all the strands off, save for one of them, and stick that under the lug. It's much easier that way.