Terminal blocks and tape

[electromonkey]

Morning all.

A straight forward question if I may.

When is it acceptable to use terminal blocks and electrical tape?

 

[keniff]

In the wild wild west

 

[mark80]

Never. Terminal blocks may be used if terminated into a suitable enclosure as to give additional protection from touching them. This joint will then have to be in an accessible location so the joint can be checked for inspection and testing. Tape is NOT classed as extra protection and in my opinion is a potential fire hazard. If you get a loose connection on a connector block and there is arcing, the tape melts and sets on fire along with the house. Your name on cert, your **** in jail.

 

[mogga]

simple answer Never

 

[electromonkey]

Right. You know when you see something that just isn't right, then you see it again and again and again and you start to think "have I got this wrong?"?

I've just completed a PIR on a hotel which has taken nearly 2 weeks. I think about 150 - 200 downlights have been connected in this way (half probably don't have tape, just blocks). They tell me there are no certs in relation to everything I've looked at, I wonder why?!

I now have to quote to get this right. A day rate and a boat load of JB's and chocboxes me thinks.

 

[keniff]

Best things are click plug system things, think they are called click flow google them bout a quid each if your buying that many!

 

[electromonkey]

Best things are click plug system things, think they are called click flow google them bout a quid each if your buying that many!

They look good!

I might test them out on a job next week. I'll try them on a small job first before ordering 200 to find I can't get on with them!

 

[keniff]

I personally love them, I normally first fix down lights with these, once the ceiling has been plastered go round plugging the lights in and pushing home, also good on low voltage to just unplug when a transformer goes wrong or to isolate on 500v test

 

[RWJ]

As already said never in a million years.... It looks more DIY than Tommy Walsh

 

[Octopus]

Right. You know when you see something that just isn't right, then you see it again and again and again and you start to think "have I got this wrong?"?

I've just completed a PIR on a hotel which has taken nearly 2 weeks. I think about 150 - 200 downlights have been connected in this way (half probably don't have tape, just blocks). They tell me there are no certs in relation to everything I've looked at, I wonder why?!

I now have to quote to get this right. A day rate and a boat load of JB's and chocboxes me thinks.

Code 4 me thinks, but more inportantly, and before you send an estimate/quote to do remedial try and do a few using the Clic flow at home first so you can assess the time these take to connect up. I always use them with downlighters.

 

[Dunc]

Why not just buy a load of choc boxes? I've started using the 30A Greenbrook ones which have a nice feature that allows you to thread a cable tie through instead of using the supplied cord grips. You can then just clamp them round the existing connectors and cable tie the cables to secure them. Second fixed a load of Halers downlights recently with them and Wago connectors. I was rattling through them at a rate of a downlight every 5mins which included getting the light out the box, stripping and making off the cable and shoving the whole assembly in to the ceiling.

Here's a link to the choc boxes: LINK

 

[Deleted member 26818]

If you do ever do this, use red tape, that way it will look like it's been there for ages.

 

[ezzzekiel]

yep agree the blocks look terrible much better to just twist together and use the tape.

 

[Electricalserv]

As already said never in a million years.... It looks more DIY than Tommy Walsh

Ey don't knock Tommy Walsh I'd love to have learnt of him! He knows his stuff!

 

[Amp David]

Best things are click plug system things, think they are called click flow google them bout a quid each if your buying that many!

No they are not, IMO they are a PITA.

A wago and a choch box are the easiest and cheapest solution!

 

[SirKit Breaker]

This is one of my biggest hates, and Mr DIY loves the stuff. What a pig it can be to get insulation tape off once something has been embalmed in the stuff, and it starts to go gooey.

 

[jenions]

1 word .... WAGO

 

[SirKit Breaker]

1 word .... WAGO

Heres another........Helacon

 

[cadspark]

2nd word BOX

 

[sparks_114]

In the wild wild west

You mean the Wide Wild West, and in the remit of the Yee Haa Builder Services Ltd. Lol.