Examkin

Question

Difficulty: EasyElectrical Hand Tools

An electrician needs to terminate a solid copper conductor onto a standard screw terminal. What is the correct sequence of steps to complete this operation using manual hand tools?

  1. 1Strip approximately 3/4 inch of insulation from the wire using properly sized wire strippers.
  2. 2Bend the exposed bare copper into a clockwise U-shaped hook using needle-nose pliers.
  3. 3Place the open loop clockwise around the terminal screw shank.
  4. 4Tighten the terminal screw firmly using an insulated screwdriver.

Answer

Strip the insulation using wire strippers, bend the bare conductor into a clockwise loop using needle-nose pliers, place the loop clockwise around the screw shank, and tighten the screw securely with an insulated screwdriver.
The proper sequence begins by using wire strippers to expose bare conductor. Next, needle-nose pliers are used to bend the wire into a clockwise hook. The hook is then seated around the screw post in the direction of rotation, and finally, an insulated screwdriver tightens the screw to secure the termination.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Select the correct gauge notch on manual wire strippers and remove approximately 3/4 inch of insulation from the solid conductor.
The bare copper conductor is exposed cleanly without nicks or damage.
Insulation must be removed prior to shaping or establishing electrical contact.
2
Grip the tip of the exposed copper wire with needle-nose pliers and form a smooth, clockwise U-shaped bend.
A terminal loop sized to fit around the screw post is created.
Needle-nose pliers provide the leverage and precision required to form an exact loop.
3
Hook the wire loop clockwise around the screw post under the screw head.
The loop is positioned so that standard clockwise screw rotation pulls the wire tighter instead of pushing it out.
Orienting the loop in the tightening direction prevents the wire from spreading open.
4
Drive and tighten the screw firmly against the conductor using an appropriately sized insulated screwdriver.
A mechanically stable, low-resistance electrical connection is completed.
The screwdriver clamps the wire tightly between the screw head and the contact plate.

Key Concept

Standard operating procedure for preparing and terminating a conductor onto a screw terminal using hand tools.
Rate this question

Topics

Electrical Hand Tools

More questions from this topic