Maintence-free joint twixt 2.5 t&e and 3-core flexible cable

[Andrew]

I have a double socket in the inside of the front wall of my
1976 house next to the BT master socket.

I added the power socket and it is a spur from the ring main
in the bedroom above but because I later applied 80mm of celotex
to the inside of this wall (50 all over and taped+30 infilled
between the battens surface fitted on the 50mm sheets with
frame anchors), it is fed from a fused spur with a 10A fuse
so that I don't have to downgrade the whole ring. The spur
2.5 cable is inside oval conduit clipped to the original wall
so it is buried under 80mm of PIR.

From the window cill down I have used up some unused B&Q 18mm t&g
vertically cladded from skirting up to cill. There is only the
50mm of celotex behind this and gap of about 20mm between it and
the cladding.

The socket backbox is fixed to the original wall inside a cutout
in the celotex with a topless and bottomless box of 15mm fermacell
around it.

I have glued 4 of the 18mm t&g strips into a single panel that holds
the BT master socket, the double socket and a spare backbox for CAT5/6.
This section can thus be removed or hinged forward after a little bit
of unscrewing which involves disconnecting the power socket.

What I want to do is joint the 2.5 t&e to a flying lead of 3-core
immersion-type cable which is connected to the socket to avoid having
to do this. This requires a joint between solid-core flat twin and
3-core stranded so a wago is obvious, but I only want one !.

I have a ratchet crimp so I could do it that way but I am not sure if
the usual blue/red/yellow crimps are intended for this. Anyone know ?

Andrew

[Theo]

Post by Andrew
What I want to do is joint the 2.5 t&e to a flying lead of 3-core
immersion-type cable which is connected to the socket to avoid having
to do this. This requires a joint between solid-core flat twin and
3-core stranded so a wago is obvious, but I only want one !.
I have a ratchet crimp so I could do it that way but I am not sure if
the usual blue/red/yellow crimps are intended for this. Anyone know ?

I very much doubt those crimps are rated for 250Vac.

For a '3 in 1' wago-style connector there's:
https://www.toolstation.com/in-line-spring-lever-connectors/p78346

but it's a no-brand without a spec and not clear about whether they're ok
for stranded cable. I've used them for lighting but I perhaps wouldn't
trust them on a socket circuit where you could be pulling chunky currents.

Wago make inline connectors:
https://www.wago.com/gb/electrical-interconnections/discover-installation-terminal-blocks-and-connectors/221/221-inline-splicing-connector
but it seems they really want you to buy 3 connectors where one would do.
However 3 inlines would get you a properly specced connection that I'd trust
for pulling the rated current through.

Theo

[Andrew]

Post by Theo

Post by Andrew
What I want to do is joint the 2.5 t&e to a flying lead of 3-core
immersion-type cable which is connected to the socket to avoid having
to do this. This requires a joint between solid-core flat twin and
3-core stranded so a wago is obvious, but I only want one !.
I have a ratchet crimp so I could do it that way but I am not sure if
the usual blue/red/yellow crimps are intended for this. Anyone know ?

I very much doubt those crimps are rated for 250Vac.
https://www.toolstation.com/in-line-spring-lever-connectors/p78346
but it's a no-brand without a spec and not clear about whether they're ok
for stranded cable. I've used them for lighting but I perhaps wouldn't
trust them on a socket circuit where you could be pulling chunky currents.
https://www.wago.com/gb/electrical-interconnections/discover-installation-terminal-blocks-and-connectors/221/221-inline-splicing-connector
but it seems they really want you to buy 3 connectors where one would do.
However 3 inlines would get you a properly specced connection that I'd trust
for pulling the rated current through.
Theo

Yes three of those clipped onto the integrated strain relief
would be perfect. Trouble is that's all I want and there will
be a minimum order of a lot more.

[Theo]

Post by Andrew
Yes three of those clipped onto the integrated strain relief
would be perfect. Trouble is that's all I want and there will
be a minimum order of a lot more.

ebay is your friend:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/405377418039

Pack of 5, £2.99 including delivery.
(other sellers cost more for 3 or 4)

There's also a mounting carrier for keeping them in position:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285913598609

Theo

[Roger Mills]

Post by Andrew

Post by Theo

Post by Andrew
What I want to do is joint the 2.5 t&e to a flying lead of 3-core
immersion-type cable which is connected to the socket to avoid having
to do this. This requires a joint between solid-core flat twin and
3-core stranded so a wago is obvious, but I only want one !.
I have a ratchet crimp so I could do it that way but I am not sure if
the usual blue/red/yellow crimps are intended for this. Anyone know ?

I very much doubt those crimps are rated for 250Vac.
https://www.toolstation.com/in-line-spring-lever-connectors/p78346
but it's a no-brand without a spec and not clear about whether they're ok
for stranded cable.  I've used them for lighting but I perhaps wouldn't
trust them on a socket circuit where you could be pulling chunky currents.
https://www.wago.com/gb/electrical-interconnections/discover-
installation-terminal-blocks-and-connectors/221/221-inline-splicing-
connector
but it seems they really want you to buy 3 connectors where one would do.
However 3 inlines would get you a properly specced connection that I'd trust
for pulling the rated current through.
Theo

Yes three of those clipped onto the integrated strain relief
would be perfect. Trouble is that's all I want and there will
be a minimum order of a lot more.

You can buy small quantities on Ebay -
e.g. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/276745088624

[Andy Burns]

Post by Andrew
I have a ratchet crimp so I could do it that way but I am not sure if
the usual blue/red/yellow crimps are intended for this. Anyone know ?

The crimps are fine, but they ought to be within an enclosure with
strain relief on the cable/flex.