Anything special about converting VAX 11/780 to single phase?

From: Pat Finnegan <pat_at_purdueriots.com>
Date: Mon May 13 21:00:02 2002

On Tue, 14 May 2002, Tony Duell wrote:

> > NOOOOOOO!!!!! Go spend another $10 and get a few extra feet of wire, a
> > small propane torch, some solder and a couple wire nuts. Cut and twist
> > all three wires, solder them together, and put the wire nut on, secure
> > with electical tape. If you want, you could skip the soldering part. But
> > dont, DONT use a T-splice on 120V/240V. It's OK on ground wires, but
> > that's all the stuff is meant for.
>
> IMHO the ground wire should be the best connection of the lot, for 2
> reasons :

I'd agree. I'm assuming he meant split-blots, which are really meant for
ground wires. The point is that it's much harder to properly insulate a
split bolt than a wire nut.

> Over here, we don't solder mains distribution wiring (or at least, I
> can't think of a time when you do). We get 'junction boxes' -- round
> plastic boxes with (normally) 4 screw terminals inside. I've seen them in
> up to 30A rating. Those are what is generally used to take a 'spur' off a
> power cable.

Typically you don't do that here either, but it does a good job of
guaranteeing that crappy wire-nuts dont fall off and let the wires come
apart.

We don't seem to have the junction boxes with a terminal strip in them
here. The closest thing would be to buy a couple of ground bars (the ones
with screws that you would put in a mains panel) stuck into a garden
variety junction box with appropriate insulating standoffs.

> >
> > All I've gotta say is spend the extra couple dollars to do it right now.
> > The NEC was written by analyzing electrical fires. You don't really want
>
> And for some odd reason it still approves of the use of those infernal
> 'wire nuts'....

Which are best used on soldered wires :). At least you should tightly
twist and then tape the wires before putting the nut on. Preferably,
solder them together.

> -tony
>
Received on Mon May 13 2002 - 21:00:02 BST