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Idea for a new hand tool: Automatic Wire Twisting Pliers

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Re: Idea for a new hand tool: Automatic Wire Twisting Pliers

#11
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Earths are to be connected to a single point, not multiple terminals of a Wago block or similar, in the UK at least. Twisting is not afaik a requirement, but it's common, and adds to the security of it. (At least, as long as the solid core hasn't been twisted and untwisted repeatedly and near the point of breaking.) OP appears to be doing it to make a fatter gauge cable out of smaller ones though?

You mean that the earth cable should run uninterrupted as a single wire from the connector of the device to the power cabinet?

Take a ceiling rose light fitting for example; you have:

    - twin core & Earth line
    - twin core & Earth to next fitting (or back to cabinet to complete the ring)
    - live to switch & switched live return
    - flex live & neutral (+ Earth if not double insulated) to light fitting
those 2-3 Earths obviously need to be electrically connected, and that is not supposed to be done with a multipoint terminal block. They are supposed to be under a single screw in the light fitting say, or twisted together & sleeved.

I believe it's thought that it reduces the chance of failure - one connection to check vs. a terminal block of three 'connections' where it's easy with solid core to think that they're secure when actually the middle one isn't, it's just roughly prevented from slipping out by the stiffness of the others, and potentially isn't a good electrical connection.

Re: Idea for a new hand tool: Automatic Wire Twisting Pliers

#12
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You mean that the earth cable should run uninterrupted as a single wire from the connector of the device to the power cabinet?

Take a ceiling rose light fitting for example; you have: - twin core & Earth line - twin core & Earth to next fitting (or back to cabinet to complete the ring) - live to switch & switched live return - flex live & neutral (+ Earth if not double insulated) to light fitting those 2-3 Earths obviously need to be electrically connected, and that is not supposed to be done with a multipoint terminal block. They are suppos…

The UK electric code is wild.

A ceiling rose light fixture in Finland has three wires: - Earth - Neutral - Live

Re: Idea for a new hand tool: Automatic Wire Twisting Pliers

#13
Maybe use a small rebar wire twister with the hook replaced by pliers. Something similar to this

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ExFB-mbvt9k

These things need to be fast because it's usually done by piece workers.

There are smaller versions used to tie up sacks also.

Re: Idea for a new hand tool: Automatic Wire Twisting Pliers

#16
post #12
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Take a ceiling rose light fitting for example; you have: - twin core & Earth line - twin core & Earth to next fitting (or back to cabinet to complete the ring) - live to switch & switched live return - flex live & neutral (+ Earth if not double insulated) to light fitting those 2-3 Earths obviously need to be electrically connected, and that is not supposed to be done with a multipoint terminal block. They are suppos…

The UK electric code is wild. A ceiling rose light fixture in Finland has three wires: - Earth - Neutral - Live

It can be like that, it's not a requirement, but once you know what's going on it's actually quite convenient to have the chaining. Not if you're trying to stuff it all in a small fitting that wasn't designed for it, but otherwise.

I suspect Finnish spotlights are similar - they run in a chain not all individually to the switch? So only the last one has just the feed and nowhere to go?

Difference is in the UK we have 'ring' circuits, where the 'end' as it were goes back to the consumer unit (power cabinet). It's mostly a post-war hangover: if the load is assumed fairly even then it means you can use half the wire diameter vs. not having the return, which was thought with typical and logical layout would mean less cable overall, since the 'end' would already be back around the other side close to the CU again. It has some safety advantage too, but AIUI it's slowly fading out of vogue for new installations and it will likely end eventually. (Some critique it that with modern patchy load distribution it actually now ironically requires more copper than the equivalent radial circuit, and probably not post-war level but copper's expensive again.)

Re: Idea for a new hand tool: Automatic Wire Twisting Pliers

#17
This seems to basically already exist. The safety wire twister pliers probably won't have enough leverage for solid core household wiring especially compared to a cordless drill.

Drill Powered Wire Twister and Stripper That Has Gone Viral

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxyTou4pMqQ

Re: Idea for a new hand tool: Automatic Wire Twisting Pliers

#19

I would advise against using this for electrical work. See the internet for "wago vs twisting". Chicken wire, crafting, etc. sure.

You're not twisting electrical wires together to make an electrical connection, it's just to keep a bundle of wires together.

Re: Idea for a new hand tool: Automatic Wire Twisting Pliers

#20
post #5

A modified version of a wire wrapping gun might work: https://uk.farnell.com/metcal/g200-r3278/wire-wrap-tool-manu...

Great idea, this is the closest thing I've seen yet! I've seen wire wrap circuits before but never seen this particular tool.
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