Socket Spur Wires Too Thick for Terminal

grumbler

Solid wires don't need twisting. Separate them and make straight with pliers.
The stranded wire looks odd. I've never seen a power cable with tinned cores. And the colour is too bright. Anyway, if you are sure it's the correct cable for the job, untwist it, straighten the wires and then twist them back neatly with pliers.

Eldi_Dos

You get marine grade stranded wire which is tinned.

dil1976

grumbler said:

Solid wires don't need twisting. Separate them and make straight with pliers.

You shouldn't do anything like that to the twisted solid conductors as that will just weaken them more than they are and potentially snap in the terminal. That cable needs remaking off properly again

grumbler

dil1976 said:

grumbler said:

Solid wires don't need twisting. Separate them and make straight with pliers.

You shouldn't do anything like that to the twisted solid conductors as that will just weaken them more than they are and potentially snap in the terminal. That cable needs remaking off properly again

I've done this many times. Copper wires don't break easily - only if you keep doing this many times. Remaking only because they aren't straight? Easier said than done.

Ben1989

Update:

I snapped the neutral of the ring main so had to bring carpet and boards up to see if I had slack which I had plenty of. It also allowed me to have fresh copper which ended up working so all good and working now.

The clip in sockets seemed 'OK' but I didn't like the idea of turning the socket and putting it in the backbox and being unable to see if the connections had held.

shiraz99

Ben1989 said:

Update:

I snapped the neutral of the ring main so had to bring carpet and boards up to see if I had slack which I had plenty of. It also allowed me to have fresh copper which ended up working so all good and working now.

The clip in sockets seemed 'OK' but I didn't like the idea of turning the socket and putting it in the backbox and being unable to see if the connections had held.

That's why you should always use a good socket tester.

fenwick458

shiraz99 said:

Ben1989 said:

Update:

I snapped the neutral of the ring main so had to bring carpet and boards up to see if I had slack which I had plenty of. It also allowed me to have fresh copper which ended up working so all good and working now.

The clip in sockets seemed 'OK' but I didn't like the idea of turning the socket and putting it in the backbox and being unable to see if the connections had held.

That's why you should always use a good socket tester.

or just use normal sockets. I've removed loads of the new sockets with lever terminals to find cables dropping out the back as it is pulled forward slightly. 2.5mm solid strand is way too stiff for them, these things should be banned