21 replies to this topic

[Terry Soloman]

OK Guys and Gals, dug this up this morning and I'm stumped. It's brass and about 2" long..

[Goldfinger]

I've seen something like that but can't recall what it was off of. Am sure someone will chime in.

Steve

[Rimshot]

Wild guess. Electrical lug for connecting two large wires together.

Rim

[grubstake]

Yep, its a cable or wire clamp! Grubstake

[Au Seeker]

Wild guess. Electrical lug for connecting two large wires together.

Rim

That is exactly what it is, one that big is use for connecting 2 feed wires and or for ground wires connections.


Skip

[Rimshot]

They come in real handy when you need 20 ft of wire but only have 2/10 ft sections. Slap some rubber tape on it and you're good to go.

Rim

[Johnno]

Yep agree with all the above have a few around here

[Terry Soloman]

Thank you so much Rimshot and all - Fantastic!

[homefire]

Ground connection to a Ground Rod. Used many a many of them doing satellites systems and stuff.

[Rimshot]

Homefire,

Ground rod connectors usually have either one or two bolts that you tighten up.

Terry's find looks more like this....

http://www.bing.com/...61663BA&first=1

It's used for connecting two large wires together.

If you go to an electrical supply house and ask for a ground wire clamp for a ground rod, they will never hand you a wire connector that looks like Terry's.

Sorry.

Rim

PS-Terry. That's actually made out of copper.

[homefire]

The outfit I worked must have been cheap because we used ones just like that Around the Ground Rod and wire pinched in.

[mth308]

i think its an old one though, new ones are aluminum

[Terry Soloman]

Homefire,

Ground rod connectors usually have either one or two bolts that you tighten up.

Terry's find looks more like this....

http://www.bing.com/...61663BA&first=1

It's used for connecting two large wires together.

If you go to an electrical supply house and ask for a ground wire clamp for a ground rod, they will never hand you a wire connector that looks like Terry's.

Sorry.

Rim

PS-Terry. That's actually made out of copper.

OK, I think it is a "Split Bolt Connector," it is made of Brass. http://www.meetindus...ors_Linetap.htm

[Rimshot]

Terry,

If you read your link again, the brass is European and middle east standard.

Then you'll see the copper one a little lower on left which is American standard. http://www.meetindus...ification4.html

Not sure if it really matters which one you buy though.

mth308, Yup alluminum too. http://www.elecdirec...d0e60cfa85.aspx

Rim

PS- Terry, I watched your video on youtube this morning. Is that your gold or someone elses? Nice stuff!

[Terry Soloman]

Terry,

If you read your link again, the brass is European and middle east standard.

Then you'll see the copper one a little lower on left which is American standard. http://www.meetindus...ification4.html

Not sure if it really matters which one you buy though.

mth308, Yup alluminum too. http://www.elecdirec...d0e60cfa85.aspx

Rim

PS- Terry, I watched your video on youtube this morning. Is that your gold or someone elses? Nice stuff!

Yeah, I saw that the brass ones were like "Austrian" Standard or something. It's brass, so maybe there are Austrians splicing stuff here in New York! A couple of pieces are - like the one I was holding, but most are finds by forum members here and on others I belong to, as well as the well known nuggets I have photographed at shows and exhibits. I call it "Gold Porn."

[mth308]

brass is kinda surprising, I didnt think it would conduct electricity very well.........I remember old electricians talking about silver wiring.......now it conducts!

[El Dorado]

Homey
That is also what it is used for, especially when you see the v on one end. I have built many homes and that is what we used

[Rimshot]

Well guys after doing more research on this subject I finally came across one mentioning there use to be an old style ground rod that used a split bolt connector to secure the ground wires to the rod. But no matter where I dig for a picture of this type of ground rod, I can't find it. I did find another link that said the old style ground rod was used up until the 1960's. So at some time in the past the split bolt connector was used to do the job.

[Mike Furness]

<sub>yup ... You guys are all 'almost' right ... you are right they are used to connect house wiring (and many other electrical devices such as antenas, solar panels, lightning rods etc) to a driven 6-8' typically 5/8" diameter ground rod which is driven into the ground near the electric service meter (or other electrical device) and usually found on the the outside of homes in the ground very near to the foundation. I have installed many of them over the years and just recently replaced on on the service entrance to my garage. They are still used today and are bronze not brass in most cases. They are made in the USA by Penn-Union.

Mike F</sub>

[Rimshot]

hey Mike,

These are the ground rod clamps made by Penn-Union.

http://www.penn-unio...c-6665-ceb.aspx

I don't see any that say ground rod split bolt clamps.

Rim