Nylon Connectors

Don,

There are applications where they work well and I use them. I strip the wire by habit, never checking if the terminal screw was pointed. Is it?

I strip the wire. Better and I think intended.

Terminations are only as good as the total surface area of contact.  The more surface area of contact between the conductor and the termination, the better.  Other consideration, is tightness/tension/compression.  A loose termination can also be a problem.  Best to move the wire back and forth after tightening the screw, you will be able to get at least another 1/2 turn.   

Commercial termination, high amperage, many times, you will see Double barrel (Twice as long), Double set screw/ Lug hole connectors.  Silicone Bronze bolts/screws or Stainless with lock washer are used to complete the termination. .  A torque wrench is used to assure the correct tension.   There are also compression tools used for one time application of terminals, tension/compression is well beyond a screw driver/set screw.   Even new switchgear from the factory is double checked for buss bar bolt tension, with a torque wrench, before being powered. 

Mike CT

I strip the wire for these, I don't count on the screw piercing the insulation.

Strip the insulation back . 

Thanks for the comments, I too have been stripping them out of habit  But was thinking how the conductors would flare out and thinking possibly the insulation would provide additional tension on the mechanical connection.  Thanks again.

Don(Cerritos) posted:

Thanks for the comments, I too have been stripping them out of habit  But was thinking how the conductors would flare out and thinking possibly the insulation would provide additional tension on the mechanical connection.  Thanks again.

Sometimes if the wire is small in comparison to the size of the barrel connection, I double the wire over and twist, the additional conductor in the barrel allows for a better connection, IMO. 

Mike CT

I strip them back myself. 

Mike, I've been doing the same esp for 20 or 22 awg.  The whole reason it came to my attention is, I had put a wire too far into the connector and it still had electrical contact.   Which was made by the set screw going through the insulation.  Think I will just continue to strip them.

I strip the wires, too.  On the euro style blocks I buy from digitech, the screws press down on a clamp and don't directly touch the wires (no piercing).