A new twist on earth connections
Do you ever wish you could make a neat, secure earth wire connection without an earth lug? Tony Webster shows how quick and easy it can be once you know how.
After stripping about 15mm of wire, Tony suggests dividing the wire strands into 2 groups (making a V shape like a snake’s tongue) then twist each group together, maintaining the ‘V’. Put a screwdriver shaft (about the same diameter as the terminal screw) between the wire pairs, then bring the two wire pairs around the shaft and twist the ends together. Remove the screwdriver, trim off any excess strands and you will have made a neat wire ‘lug’ that should fit snug around the screw terminal, will never separate and actually locks tighter together under pressure. Should work for most bare wire screw connections.
Congratulations Tony, you have just twisted your fingers around a neat $250 cheque from the OLEX Cable Guy!
Contributor: Tony Webster, Goonellabah NSW
IMPORTANT! All tests and procedures should be checked and followed before any suggestion from The Cable Guy is put into practice. Electrical safety rules can vary from state to state. Every electrician should check with their local electricity authority to verify compliance.