BS1363 Plugs, should ferules always be used with them or is it just a nicety?

[eveares]

So like many people of my generation, I was taught how to wire a typic UK plug falling under the BS1363 standard when I was younger and have seen so many people wire/re-wire the typical UK plugs over the years, yet very few if any use ferules with the wire cores, whether it be the uninsulated or insulted variety of ferule; yet pre-wired plugs normally have ferules or crimps on the wire cores, which I believe may be a requirement to get CE certification.

So my question is, should/must ferules or crimps be used when wiring a typical UK plug, or is it just a nicety and not a requirement under BS1363, BS7671 or any other standard?

Regards: Elliott.

 

[Sureitsoff?]

But how many people who do rewire plugs have ferrules and a crimper? You are not going to spend money on a crimp tool and crimps just to do one plug occasionally. Twisting the cable and folding it over so that it fills the hole is just as good.

 

[bernardgreen]

I use ferrules when ever possible but not all plugs accept ferrules

Museum of Plugs and Sockets: British BS 1363 plugs and sockets

Annotated display of various types of British BS 1363 plugs and sockets

www.plugsocketmuseum.nl

 

[Sureitsoff?]

That MK plug is my go to plug of choice and the toughplug version gives even more room to fit cables

 

[EFLImpudence]

So my question is, should/must ferules or crimps be used when wiring a typical UK plug,

No.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

So my question is, should/must ferules or crimps be used when wiring a typical UK plug, or is it just a nicety and not a requirement under BS1363, BS7671 or any other standard?

A nicety only. The only time I customarily used to use crimps and ferules, was inside control panels.

 

[bernardgreen]

The reason I use ferrules is to ensure all strands have good contact to the terminal, both mechanical and electrical.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

The reason I use ferrules is to ensure all strands have good contact to the terminal, both mechanical and electrical.

You can help ensure that, with a good tight twist of the multi-stranded conductors.

 

[bernardgreen]

a good tight twist

can become untwisted as the dome on the end of the screw pushes into the bunch and displaces some strands sideways and away from the contact area.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

can become untwisted as the dome on the end of the screw pushes into the bunch and displaces some strands sideways and away from the contact area.

Which is the point of a tight twist - to resist that, plus the doubling over, to fill the terminal.

 

[Gigagator]

I use ferrules when ever possible but not all plugs accept ferrules

View attachment 358277

Museum of Plugs and Sockets: British BS 1363 plugs and sockets

Annotated display of various types of British BS 1363 plugs and sockets

www.plugsocketmuseum.nl

Not a big fan of this type of plug and never understood the fuss around it.

Always thought the cord grip was absolutely terrible on it.
Working in a school with a lot of old accessories around, if I encounter one of these there's always a strong chance the individual cores of the flex will be showing as the outer sheath has slipped out of the cord grip!

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Always thought the cord grip was absolutely terrible on it.

Better than most - the tighter the cord is pulled, the tighter it grips.

The terminals, offered a much bigger area of contact, if properly fitted, than the usual hole and screw, plus less damage to the individual wires. Always a favourite, when the appliance demand, was close to the 13amp limit.

 

[SUNRAY]

Better than most - the tighter the cord is pulled, the tighter it grips.

The terminals, offered a much bigger area of contact, if properly fitted, than the usual hole and screw, plus less damage to the individual wires. Always a favourite, when the appliance demand, was close to the 13amp limit.

I've never found them to be more reliable than other good makes and have never been happy with the unreliable cord grip arrangement.

 

[333rocky333]

Dependant on the type of flex used, its been in the regs since the 17th edition that ferrules should be used on certain types of fine or multistrand wire