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Difficulty: MediumElectrical Hand Tools

An electrician is preparing to connect a solid copper conductor to a standard screw terminal. Arrange the following steps in the correct operational sequence using the proper electrical hand tools.

  1. 1Strip the specified length of insulation from the conductor using the matching gauge notch on a wire stripper without nicking the copper.
  2. 2Bend the exposed solid copper into a semi-circular hook using the tip of needle-nose pliers.
  3. 3Place the formed wire hook around the terminal screw shank in a clockwise direction.
  4. 4Tighten the terminal screw securely against the conductor using a properly sized insulated screwdriver.

Answer

1. Strip the conductor using a wire stripper. 2. Form a loop in the bare copper with needle-nose pliers. 3. Hook the wire clockwise around the screw post. 4. Tighten the terminal screw with a screwdriver.
The correct operational sequence begins by using wire strippers with the proper gauge notch to cleanly remove insulation without nicking the conductor. Needle-nose pliers are then used to bend the bare copper into a hook. The hook is placed clockwise around the screw post so that tightening rotation draws the wire inward. Finally, an appropriately sized screwdriver fastens the terminal screw securely.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Use the correctly sized gauge notch of a wire stripper to strip insulation from the conductor end.
Exposes undamaged, bare solid copper wire.
Proper notch selection prevents nicking, which can weaken the solid wire.
2
Grip the bare conductor end with needle-nose pliers and form a 3/4-circle loop.
Produces a clean hook sized to fit the terminal screw diameter.
Needle-nose pliers allow precise shaping without distorting or scarring the copper.
3
Position the hook around the terminal screw post facing clockwise.
The loop opening aligns with the clockwise tightening rotation of the screw.
Clockwise placement ensures rotational friction from the screw draws the wire tighter around the shank.
4
Drive the screw down firmly using a matching insulated screwdriver.
Creates a secure, low-resistance electrical connection.
Proper screwdriver sizing ensures adequate torque without camming out or damaging the screw head.

Key Concept

Standard hand-tool procedure for terminating solid conductors under screw terminals, including tool selection and clockwise loop orientation.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Electrical Hand Tools

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