[mculik5]

Hi. New to this forum and looking for some help regarding wire end ferrules.

I'm doing a lot of rewiring in my old house using a lot of stranded wire in EMT and FMC.

I'm trying to come up with a good way to terminate the stranded wire for use with screws (not pressure plate/back-wire). Not really worried about cost - just want SAFE, durable, neat terminations.

Since this is most first post, I can't post links. I'll post a follow-up with links to the products I'm referring to.

I purchased a crimping tool and some insulated spade terminals. This setup works OK, but the spade terminals are long, and overall depth can become an issue in shallower boxes. Also, spade terminals are expensive (though I'm OK with that if it's the best approach).

I did a little more searching around and came across a hex crimping tool which crimps these wire end ferrules.

From what I was able to read about wire end ferrules, apparently they are more common in Europe/Asia, and on machinery. It seems they are used with "set screws," and I saw several references to "terminal blocks" in my research.

Anyone have any experience using these in residential wiring? The crimp tool makes a nice hex crimp that would site nicely between the bottom of a screw and the backing plate of a receptacle/switch, but the lack of wrapping it around the screw concerns me a bit.

What do you think? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[mculik5]

OK...having trouble posting links.

If you google "wire-end ferrules," you'll see what I'm talking about.

 

[Ron6519]

Why are you using stranded wires? Now you have two connections to deal with. The wire to the connector and the connector to the outlet or switch.
Something I'd use for speakers, not for wiring a house for line voltage.

 

[Jim Port]

Just use back wired devices with the clamps. You can also strip and wind the conductors counterclockwise before bending for the screw loop.

 

[rjniles]

+1 on the back wired devices.

 

[joed]

If you are referring to something like this, then I say no. It leaves an end of uninsulated wire hanging out of the screw.

 

[joed]

Something like this won't work either, because the screws in devices will not completely come out of the devices.

 

[Smokeshow]

We use sta-kon fork terminal connectors for screw terminal devices and stranded wire.

 

[samjg1]

We use sta-kon fork terminal connectors for screw terminal devices and stranded wire.

Are sta-cons legal for 120v home wiring? I was under the impression that they were not code compliant.
I have nothing to back that up, just something that was told to me years ago.

 

[Smokeshow]

Are sta-cons legal for 120v home wiring? I was under the impression that they were not code compliant.
I have nothing to back that up, just something that was told to me years ago.

There's no rule against them. We use them lots in industrial. As long as they are UL listed, you're ok. The cheap ones at harbor freight likely aren't listed.

 

[Syberia]

These are what I use. They come in packs of either 50 or 100, and are UL listed for up to 600 volts. Fit perfectly under the screw terminals of an outlet or switch.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Gardner-Bender-Spade-Terminal-75-116/202522603

 

[Premium08]

I think he's referring to these. Work good as long as you have a good crimper, but I can't see them being good for home use. Mostly used on terminal blocks in industrial applications

 

[mculik5]

Thanks for all the replies. Yes, I'm referring to what Premium08 showed. When used with the proper crimper, that circular metal part turns into a square or hexagon, and allegedly works great under a screw.

Like I said though, I'm a little hesitant to try it given that it doesn't wrap around the screw. Definitely saw the industrial terminal block stuff when I was researching, and it makes tons of sense there, but this is residential.

The spade terminals that Syberia posted a link to are what I've been using. They work well, and are easy to do with the proper crimper, which I have. However, as I mentioned, they add depth to whatever it is you're wiring. In my old house, with old, shallow boxes, this can be a problem.

That said, it sounds like for a crimped terminal, spades are the only decent option for residential wiring.

 

[Syberia]

If you're not worried about cost, why not just use pressure plate/back wired devices? If you're worried about added depth using back wiring, they make devices with pressure plates under the side screws that will accept stranded wire without an issue.

 

[hueco]

I use spade lugs and a crimper. Lesson learned: Use only solid conductor THHN. A little harder to pull, but worth it.