Unusual Buchanan Cover

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480sparky

480sparky

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Did a service call today in a dwelling to track down the cause of a breaker tripping.

I found these rubber covers over the Buchanans used during the original make-up.

DSC_2649a.jpg







I had to take 3 slices apart to isolate the offending cable. I stuck the caps in my pocket, and this evening I duplicated what I found in these photos: It appears, after the Buchanan was installed, that one part of the 'cap' was pulled over the splice:

DSC_2650a.jpg


The other cap was pulled between any number of the wires:

DSC_2651a.jpg


And pulled over the top of the first cap, to secure it:

DSC_2652a.jpg


I have never seen these before. Anyone know anything about them?
 
They were real popular in my area, the Twin Cities Metro, in the mid 1900s. I see them pretty regularly when working on splices made in that period. I think the boots were more popular, then, around here, than tape. . . but that is only my in the field informal observation.
 
Yep those Wrap Caps are still available in the Buchanan catalog. What I like more are the plastic Splice Cap Insulators but they are hard to find.

Makes for one heck of a strong connection if you need something stronger than a wirenut... like in a high vibration environment.

crimp_splice_cap_insulator.jpg
 
480sparky said:
Did a service call today in a dwelling to track down the cause of a breaker tripping.

I found these rubber covers over the Buchanans used during the original make-up.

DSC_2649a.jpg







I had to take 3 slices apart to isolate the offending cable. I stuck the caps in my pocket, and this evening I duplicated what I found in these photos: It appears, after the Buchanan was installed, that one part of the 'cap' was pulled over the splice:

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc172/480sparky/Construction%20methods/DSC_2650a.jpg

The other cap was pulled between any number of the wires:

[IMG]http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc172/480sparky/Construction%20methods/DSC_2651a.jpg

And pulled over the top of the first cap, to secure it:

[IMG]http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc172/480sparky/Construction%20methods/DSC_2652a.jpg

I have never seen these before. Anyone know anything about them?[/QUOTE]

A nickname for them is "Rubber Diaper".
Ideal* made them also, have a couple boxes ratholed.

* These predate Ideal's purchase of Buchanan.
Click to expand...
 
I don't see many of these type - but there was a time where I would have occassion to demo out another slightly older type - a simular rubber boot, with a twist-on back-a-lite cap. A kin to these (and I wish these would come back!) was a brass ferrel with a set-screw type connection, and a threaded bake-a-lite cap.
 
e57 said:
A kin to these (and I wish these would come back!) was a brass ferrel with a set-screw type connection, and a threaded bake-a-lite cap.
Click to expand...
I find these, in my area, in obviously DIY wiring. Easily 90% of the splices in them are loose.
 
e57 said:
I don't see many of these type - but there was a time where I would have occassion to demo out another slightly older type - a simular rubber boot, with a twist-on back-a-lite cap. A kin to these (and I wish these would come back!) was a brass ferrel with a set-screw type connection, and a threaded bake-a-lite cap.
Click to expand...

I find those once in a while, I agree, they seem like a decent designed product...
 
sacspark said:
they look ilke a crimp-on splice but its a two piece connection... you use a buchanan crimp and then slide the plastic cap over it. wont come off, it has one-way metal tabs that only let it slide on one way.
Click to expand...

I've seen them as one piece, and you crimp right through the plastic.
 
al hildenbrand said:
I find these, in my area, in obviously DIY wiring. Easily 90% of the splices in them are loose.
Click to expand...
With those - I rarely find any 'loose' - which is defined by what? (Yet to have found one that failed - i.e. had been arcing or intermittent) On the other hand - when I find Buchanan's of the crimp type I rarely find any done correctly - many of those are 'loose' by my definition of the term. Often where conductors could easily be pulled out, or had connections that held for 5-6 years - then started to arc, becoming intermittent. (I don't see them installed on circuit wiring any longer.*

IMO it is much like pre-twisting, or not pre-twisting in wire-nut applications. Again IMPO, that pre-twisting is far superior ('tighter') and is a much better connection - however not required by code, or by the manufactures themselves - but it is a 'tighter' connection than a 'looser' fit of not pre-twisting.

Is a Wago tight or loose? Depends on opinion I say. I would say they are loose....

*Are Buchanan's even allowed on circuit wiring any longer?
 
It's been a while......

It's been a while......

but I recall one of my mentors using these on small motor connections that were crimped. Haven't seen one in years and never had the ocassion to install one.
 
e57 said:
I don't see many of these type - but there was a time where I would have occassion to demo out another slightly older type - a simular rubber boot, with a twist-on back-a-lite cap. A kin to these (and I wish these would come back!) was a brass ferrel with a set-screw type connection, and a threaded bake-a-lite cap.
Click to expand...

In my area both the set screw with the twist-on bake-a-lite caps and the crimp-on with the rubber boot are very common in the older houses. 1940's - maybe 60's. The splices were twisted first then capped with one of those.

Unless they were soldered and then taped..... with the most horrific rubber tape covered by a cloth tape. The rubber tape left black goo on your hands for days.
 
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