splitbolt vs polaris vs guttertap for for splice in exterior jbox

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coop3339

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NJ
Hi Everyone,

I am looking for opinions on what method is best to splice 3 #2THHN CU together in an exterior J-box, split-bolt vs Polaris tap vs gutter-tap. The splice will carry about 80Amps continuously. I am leaning toward split-bolt.

Thanks
 
After using the Ilsco version of the Polaris connector, I will take them any day over a split bolt.

Split bolts have gone up in price, and are far more labor intensive than a Polaris type. The Polaris types also look better.

And you can do one conductor at a time. That makes things easier, too.
 
Sorry, I didn't explain it correctly i should have said a #2 tapped to a #2. So it will be just 2 wires in the bug.
 
I wouldn't think of using anything but a Polaris type of connector for this. That being said, split bolts still have a place, namely splicing conductors that do not need to be insulated.
 
I think some attention should be paid to the future. If this is a facility that will undergo a lot of equipment changes, movement and/or additions, the bussed gutter may be a better option in the long run. Otherwise, the Polaris makes more sense, and I'm an old split bolt guy.

That said, another issue that popped in my mind is if the main run is already there. The Polaris type means cutting it and having enough slack to strip and bend to insert into the connectors. A split bolt tap off can be added to an existing cable without cutting it.
 
K8MHZ said:
After using the Ilsco version of the Polaris connector, I will take them any day over a split bolt.

Split bolts have gone up in price, and are far more labor intensive than a Polaris type. The Polaris types also look better.

And you can do one conductor at a time. That makes things easier, too.
Click to expand...
Yup, and split-bolts can be a bear to get back into, if whoever put it together ran out of cambric tape:(! Can be a bear anyway if the rubber tapes thick (as it should be)!
 
Jraef said:
... The Polaris type means cutting it and having enough slack to strip and bend to insert into the connectors. A split bolt tap off can be added to an existing cable without cutting it.
Click to expand...
GutterTaps, a Burndy product, and similar competitor models can be installed without cutting the run conductor.

597875-ProductImageURL.jpg
 
Okay, I didn't know about GutterTaps. That actually looks like it might be the best product for a situation where you don't have enough slack for a Polaris.
 
jaggedben said:
Okay, I didn't know about GutterTaps. That actually looks like it might be the best product for a situation where you don't have enough slack for a Polaris.
Click to expand...
The pictured item is not a GutterTap, but a similarly functioning tap connector made by NSI, I believe.
 
dionysius said:
Is this tape acceptable to cover a metal split nut splice on a 500 kcmil 480/277 feeder????
http://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-...729+8717630+8730567+8733466+3294355634&rt=rud
Click to expand...

yeah, it's 33+ that is more cold weather tolerant.

if i'm doing split bolts, i use varnished cambric,
scotchfil, and 33+.

my preference is burndy C crimps for hypress.
while they are a grounding device rated for concrete
encasement, they work *really* well as a direct
replacement for split bolts.

they aren't coming loose, and there aren't any flanges
of the split bolt sticking up and pokey.
 
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