Terminal blocks in sockets

[amfisted]

Is it permissible to use terminal blocks to extend cable within sockets, if the cables are too short to reach the terminals? Question prompted by replacement of a socket, behind which the cables were almost (but not quite) too short to reach the terminals on the new socket.

Or is there another, better, perhaps safer method which falls short of replacing an entire run of cable? This is a house with solid floors.

Thanks in advance.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Perfectly alright. Any similar connectors will do.

 

[winston1]

Or is there another, better, perhaps safer method which falls short of replacing an entire run of cable? This is a house with solid floors.


Soldering, then covering the joint with heat shrink or self amalgamating tape.

 

[amfisted]

Many thanks for the responses. Why, oh why were electricians so mean with cable back in the 1970s?

 

[Careful_Bodger]

Or is there another, better, perhaps safer method which falls short of replacing an entire run of cable?.

Butt crimps? Assuming you can get the nose of the crimp tool into the space available, and you can still achieve the cable bend radius needed.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/insulated-crimp-red-butt-pack-of-100/94616

 

[fluorescence]

I have read conflicting reports as to whether crimping of solid cable is allowable or not, I would try to avoid it personally. As said above, soldering and heat-shrink would be the method I'd use, that or appropriately rated Wago connectors.

Edit: You would want blue crimps for 2.5mm cable. Also you need a bit of skill to make a decent solder joint with 2x 2.5mm solid cables. So probably the best solution would be the Wago connectors, they're quick and easy to fit and take out any uncertainty as to the quality of the connection.

 

[JohnW2]

I have read conflicting reports as to whether crimping of solid cable is allowable or not, I would try to avoid it personally. As said above, soldering and heat-shrink would be the method I'd use, that or appropriately rated Wago connectors.

I was certainly brought up to believe that solid conductors should tonot be crimped and, as discussed here before, at least one set of Standards/'rules' (those applicable to NASA) says that, but I'm not personally aware of any rules/regulations applicable to UK electrical installations which actually 'forbid' it.

Personally speaking, I'm not totally comfortable with the practice - but that's just me!

Kind Regards, John
Edit: typo corrected

 

[EFLImpudence]

I was certainly brought up to believe that solid conductors should to be crimped and,

I think you spelt not wrongly.

 

[JohnW2]

I think you spelt not wrongly.

That weren't me, m'lud, 'twas my typing fingers

Now corrected. Thanks!

Kind Regards, John

 

[amfisted]

Butt crimps? Assuming you can get the nose of the crimp tool into the space available, and you can still achieve the cable bend radius needed.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/insulated-crimp-red-butt-pack-of-100/94616

Not something I've ever come across to be honest, but an interesting alternative, certainly.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Solid cores should not be crimped with those rubbish squash flat crimps.
They are unsuitable and pointless for what you want to do.

You can, of course join the cables of the ring together along with one other cable to the socket.

That is just three terminal blocks or wagos or whatever you choose.

 

[amfisted]

Could you just clarify that further please, EFL? Not sure I can visualise what you're suggesting.

 

[aptsys]

Properly crimped with a decent tool, there is no issue with solid core cable. Copper is soft, and the correct crimp tool will deform the copper to fill the shape of the die.

When TE came for a crimp course at work, they said there were no issues with their crimps.

Attached is an image I took of a 1mm conductor in a red crimp, you can hopefully see the copper has filled the terminal.

 

[rsgaz]

Not sure I can visualise what

 

[Taylortwocities]

Where's your grommets, Gaz!