Tips on wiring 2-prong?

[Tomas N]

I've recently switch from bayonet plugs to 2-prongs. My question deals with wiring the blade. When I'm wiring the socket, I loosen the "bolt" (or whatever you would call it), thread the wire through the hole that's on the base of the 2-prong connector and then attach the wire by tightening the bolt (I screw it in and hold the nut steady with a wrench). The wire ends up being on the "top" part of the socket unit. OK, so my problem is that because I'm turning the bolt with a screwdriver, the entire top part rotates, and it is a pain to keep the wire wrapped around the bolt. It keeps popping out. Any tips for making this easier? I suspect that tightening the nut while keeping the bolt steady would keep the wire from popping out, but I can't do that easily, unless I attach the wire prior to attaching the grip.

Rereading this, I realize I may not have made any sense, so I'll just ask the question this way...what's the procedure by which you attach the wire to a 2-prong socket?

[sallearmourer]

If you have a pair of vise grip you grip the nut then tighten or you find what size is nut and buy the right wrench for it. The nut can range in size from 7mm to 9 mm. By doing this it keep the bottom nut in place also what i do as tighten the nut I hold the insulated in place with my finger


Tim

[neevel]

Pick up a set of metric ignition wrenches from an auto parts store- they're the right size range and have the right bend in them to get in beneath the socket to hold the nut in place while you tighten. A small pair of bent-nose pliers will also do the job.

Wrap the wire around the bolt in the same direction as you'll be turning when you tighten it. I find it helps to leave the stripped wire longer than needed, so that you can grab the extra length to wrap it more securely, and to keep it in place when tightening.
After it's tight, clip off the excess length with end-nippers.

-Dave

[Purple Fencer]

Sounds like a German socket. I have had the same problem. My solution?

After threading the wire through the hold in the guard and the base of the socket, go through the small hole in the socket (the one between where the body cords plugs in) from the TOP. Wrap the wire around the post between the hex nut and the washer (only once...you do not need to wrap it 18 times...the wire might cut itself when you crank the nut tight), tighten by hand, throw the wrench on the nut (8mm for me), and tighten the top with the correct screwdriver.

Unlike Tim, I've never had any luck simply holding hte wire in place with my finger. However, recently I've taken to wrapping the excess wire around the bracket after looping it around the post, just to hold it in place. The excess is gonna tossed anyway.

This way the assembly get nice & tight, but the wire doesn't get hauled around the post. Works for French sockets, too, but it's more difficult to tighten because the top nut tends to be a little narrow and hard to grab.

[sallearmourer]

Sam it's called 30 years of experience. Like I said depends on the socket any where from 7 to 9 mm. I saw one at 10 mm


Tim

[mfp]

Has anyone experimented with various types of connector spades?

[Tomas N]

Thanks for the suggestions folks. I do need to pick up the proper wrenches. Sam, you're right. I should have mentioned that it's a German. For some reason I assumed that I couldn't do it in the direction that you're suggesting. Attaching the wire to the side where the bolt is seems like it will be the easiest thing for my less-than nimble (certainly less nimble than Tim's) fingers.

Tomas

[attila]

Just why did you ever switch from a bayonet to a 2 prong? All you need for a bayonnet is a small screwdriver. Personal bias notwithstanding but i've used bayonets happily for the last 20 years and some of my Leon Paul hardware is this old-only the wire has changed..........