Sockets with big terminals!

[EFLImpudence]

OK, I have purchased some MK double sockets and to be honest the terminal holes don't look overly big (But I haven't tried them yet).

Well, they're big enough.

*If* I need to put terminal blocks in there, as Sparkwright suggests, what would people recommend? Personally, I don't like the nylon "chocolate block" type of connectors as they just feel a bit cheap and wrong, somehow.

Just use the normal ones, for goodness sake.

Can anyone recommend any quality terminals, small enough to push into a single socket mounting box, that comply with all current legislation?

Yes, the normal ones.

Would 30A ceramic terminal blocks be suitable, eg: http://cpc.farnell.com/1/3/hylec-ceramic-terminal-block

Depends what you mean by suitable - unnecessary, definitely.


Oh, of course you could just connect wires to the socket.

 

[Calmore]

OK, I have purchased some MK double sockets and to be honest the terminal holes don't look overly big (But I haven't tried them yet).

Well, they're big enough.

*If* I need to put terminal blocks in there, as Sparkwright suggests, what would people recommend? Personally, I don't like the nylon "chocolate block" type of connectors as they just feel a bit cheap and wrong, somehow.

Just use the normal ones, for goodness sake.

Can anyone recommend any quality terminals, small enough to push into a single socket mounting box, that comply with all current legislation?

Yes, the normal ones.

Would 30A ceramic terminal blocks be suitable, eg: http://cpc.farnell.com/1/3/hylec-ceramic-terminal-block

Depends what you mean by suitable - unnecessary, definitely.

Oh, of course you could just connect wires to the socket.

Actually, just checked and the holes in the back of the MK sockets are not quite big enough.

I'm suspicious of the nylon terminal blocks as they are unmarked and I was under the impression these things should be stamped as complying to a certain British Standard?

 

[JohnW2]

*If* I need to put terminal blocks in there, as Sparkwright suggests, what would people recommend? Personally, I don't like the nylon "chocolate block" type of connectors as they just feel a bit cheap and wrong, somehow. Can anyone recommend any quality terminals, small enough to push into a single socket mounting box, that comply with all current legislation? Would 30A ceramic terminal blocks be suitable, eg:...

Just because they are cheap and simple, there's nothing wrong which 'chock blocks' - goodness knows how many millions of them must be in service. There is really no point in considering (brittle) ceramic ones unless one is talking about a potentially high temperature environment. They are also likely to be quite bulky.

Kind Regards, John

 

[kai]

30Amp Chock Blocks are fine to use inside a socket box, as in your case. They only pose a problem if they are left exposed, i.e. not fitted within a socket type back box.

 

[sparkwright]

The way to tell if a 30 amp connector block is no good is if the screw goes round and round and doesn't tighten up.

OR, if when tightened, the brass block 'cracks' or 'splits'. Usually you can hear this.

These are the problems with cheap ones.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Would 30A ceramic terminal blocks be suitable, eg: http://cpc.farnell.com/1/3/hylec-ceramic-terminal-block

Depends what you mean by suitable - unnecessary, definitely.

And at risk of breaking due to mechanical stress.

 

[333rocky333]

Try Bakelite connecters, usually better quality than nylon ones but less bulky than ceramic ones