The Gun Counter

We were hooking a machine up today, and I wondered how a large plant wires in machinery.

Ours are hooked in with wire nuts, inside junction boxes - which works well, and the powerloss isn't that noticeable at our usage.

But, in a large factory, I would think they'd want to solder their connections - is that how its done, or is it just not worried about.

I've used wire nuts up to connecting two 8 gauge wires... as long as the wires are clamped well going into the box, there should be no problems. Anything thicker and/or more than two 8 gauge I use lugs.

Soldered connections can melt if they get too hot. Large current connections usually have a terminal eye swaged onto the end of the cable, then it's bolted to a terminal block.

Catbird wrote:Soldered connections can melt if they get too hot. Large current connections usually have a terminal eye swaged onto the end of the cable, then it's bolted to a terminal block.

Soldered connections are actually illegal under UK wiring regulations. My mate had a job manufacturing and installing industrial wiring\switchgear and that was done exactly how you describe.

high enough normal force across contact area = gas tight joint = no problemo.