Articles By Syndicated Columnist
Dan Thomas
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Improvement Inside And Out
How To
Hook Up A Wire To An Electrical Terminal
First, it’s important to ensure that the power is off, then use
long-nose pliers to strip and bend the wire. Use either
long-nose pliers
or a wire-bending screwdriver to form a near-loop with an opening just
wide enough to slip over the threads of a terminal screw. Then squeeze the
loop around the screw and wrap electrical tape around the body of the
device. Connect the wire to a 240-volt receptacle by loosening the
setscrew, poking the wire into the hole, and then tightening the screw.
Before you start, contact your municipal building department.
Step 1
START A LOOP
Start a loop. Check that power is shut off. Strip about 3/4 inch of
insulation from a wire end. Using long-nose pliers or the tip of a pair of
wire strippers, grab the wire just above the insulation and bend it back
at about a 45-degree angle. Move the pliers up about 1/4 inch beyond the
insulation and bend again in the opposite direction, about 90 degrees.
Step 2
BEND
A QUESTION MARK
Bend a question mark. Use a long-nose pliers to form a near-loop with
an opening just
wide enough to slip over the threads of a terminal screw.
Move the pliers another 1/4
inch away from the insulation, and bend again
to form a shape that looks like a question
mark.
Step 3
SQUEEZE LOOP AROUND THE SCREW
Squeeze the loop around the screw. Make sure the terminal screw is
unscrewed enough to become hard to turn. Slip the loop over the screw
threads, with the loop running clockwise. Use long-nose pliers or wire
strippers to squeeze the loop around the terminal, then tighten the screw.
Install the switch
Step 4
WRAP OUTLET DEVICE WITH TAPE
Some electricians
wrap electrician's tape around the body of the device to cover the screw
heads and exposed wires. The thinking is to not only ensure the wires stay
attached, but to also keep the terminals from touching the box. However,
some inspectors do not like this practice since they cannot see your work.
Before using tape check with the inspector.
