Service entrance crimper?

[bbe]

Hey guys as usual got a question. Been wanting a crimper so when doing upgrades I can use crimps instead of split bolts to hook power back up. Any way I bought a Greenlee K425BG crimper I found at a pawn shop in good shape problem is have never used one and dont know what type crimps I need to do this. The tool has a BG and d3 crimp made in and the d3 you can buy different dies to go in, what do I use? Also will these crimp a 4/0 to a #2 which is usually what I need to do after a upgrade? Thanks

 

[mdshunk]

The crimper you use depends on whether you're using sleeves or H Taps. For H Taps, you'll need a tool that has the "O" press in the nose and the "D" (or D3) press further back. For sleeves, you'll most of the time need the "BG" (bonding grid) die, which is essentially the same as the 5/8" die some guys use. For the insulated sleeves (insulinks), I forget the number of the die... I think it's 824 or 847.

The Greenlee tool you have is a copy of the Burndy MD6. It takes the W-series dies (wing dies) in the D cavity. Everything is identical, and you can use the Greenlee or the Burndy dies.

I use the Burndy MD6-8, which has the O in the nose, and the D3 further back, since I use mostly H taps. I have a couple W-series dies for "BG" and 8xx for the insulinks, but I use them infrequently. Greenlee also has a press equivalent ot the MD6-8. Kearney makes similar crimpers too, except the dies are specific to Kearney crimpers.

 

[iwire]

This may help, http://65.36.183.19/greenlee/im/99937573rev03.pdf

 

[bbe]

Since mine has the BG die what type of sleeve would I need to ask for at the supply house? Also are these pretty reliable , dont want one coming loose. Will these sleeves connect a 4/0 to a # 2 wire. Thanks

 

[mdshunk]

Since mine has the BG die what type of sleeve would I need to ask for at the supply house? Also are these pretty reliable , dont want one coming loose. Will these sleeves connect a 4/0 to a # 2 wire. Thanks

BBE, I'd highly recommend that you get an "O" die for your crimper, and use H taps. The reason I recommend H taps is because the fewest number of different H Taps do the most combination of conductors. With sleeves, there's an infinate number. With H Taps, only 7 connectors connect everything to everything (#6 through 4/0)

 

[bbe]

By the way MD you wouldnt happen to have any pics of your crimper an taps maybe a walk through of using it hehe. But seriously never used one everyone around here just uses split bolts or polaris bugs so I kinda need to know what I need to order at supply house. Thanks

 

[iwire]

bbe, that link I posted is the instructions for your tool, download it and print it.

 

[mdshunk]

By the way MD you wouldnt happen to have any pics of your crimper an taps maybe a walk through of using it hehe. But seriously never used one everyone around here just uses split bolts or polaris bugs so I kinda need to know what I need to order at supply house. Thanks

Yeah, but they're not very good:

 

[mdshunk]

In the pictures above, I used a Burndy MD6-8, but in this picture I'm holding a Kearney crimper. I forget what I was using it for, but I normally only use it for insulated sleeves:

 

[bbe]

Thanks for the instructions Iwire and thanks MD for the pics. Looks like Ill be looking for a O die. So when ordering htaps I just tell them what range of wires ill be crimping correct. Thanks

 

[ceb58]

Hey guys as usual got a question. Been wanting a crimper so when doing upgrades I can use crimps instead of split bolts to hook power back up.

BBE,
Why are you concerned with hooking the power back up? The poco takes care of that after the "inspection" of the upgrade. Every poco I have worked around consider the lines their property. They cut loose, they hook back up.

 

[mdshunk]

BBE,
Why are you concerned with hooking the power back up? The poco takes care of that after the "inspection" of the upgrade. Every poco I have worked around consider the lines their property. They cut loose, they hook back up.

That's not always the case everywhere.

 

[ceb58]

That's not always the case everywhere.

Marc,
BBE and I are in NC. All I am saying is I have never worked in a poco's territory that did not do their on cutout and connects. Some get pissed if you do it.

 

[robwire]

That ain't the case here either.I've been doing this for 15 years now and have always done my connect/disconnects on residential services.The only exception is undergrounds.I try to turn down underground upgrades and changes because the power company is such a PITA to deal with.

 

[LarryFine]

I usually leave the original meter base and load cable intact, and use the new meter's load terminals as clamps by getting the old #2 in the lugs with the new #4-0.

 

[mdshunk]

Marc,
BBE and I are in NC. All I am saying is I have never worked in a poco's territory that did not do their on cutout and connects. Some get pissed if you do it.

A "service entrance crimper" can be used for much more than service entrances. Gutter taps, GEC taps, extensions, customer owned aerial, underground repairs, etc.

 

[bbe]

ceb58 dont know where your located in nc but if I had to wait for the poco to do disconnects and reconnects plus inspection i'd be on the job for a week atleast. When I do an upgrade i cut it loose do my thing and temp it back in, then call for inspect if i catch them in time they will inspect it next day or the next. Then they call it in for the permanent tie in, which could be a day or as much as 2 weeks. But Ill admit most sparkys here dont cut them loose they just tear meter off wall put new one on an run a jumper wire from load off old meter to line of new meter. And put some #4 copper jumpers in new meter then tie old meter to something to keep it from swinging. In some instances Ill do that but it depends on the circumstances . My mentor who I worked with an learned alot from always cut them an tied them back in so thats what i do. Never forget the first time i seen him get up there and cut the lines , I thought he was crazy as h#$#. After awhile he let me do it man i was sweating bullets nervous hehe, so thats how I came to doing it. The end result looks better, less liability ( leaving that swinging meter), not having to come back and removing the old meter and service wire.

 

[ceb58]

BBE,
I understand your situation. I am luckier than you I can get a cut out, inspection, cut in on same day. Helps to know some of the line guys and have there cell number:grin:

 

[mtnelectrical]

wire trough connections

wire trough connections

Sorry I posted in the wrong place