Am I just a weakling? 4/O-2 2/O-1 SE cable, I never seem to be able to bend the stuff sharp enough, especially when inside the meter box I can never seem to bend it at all. Like when you cut it to length inside the meter box, it’s usually so short that to try and bend it into shape inside the box so that it rests snugly into the wire clamp holder. I always need to be able to bend it in the shape of like a conduit offset to get it to fit just right. But doing that is agonizing.
I just have to ask for my own sanity sake…..is there some neat trick to forcing this stuff to bend more easily? For as many as these as I’ve done don’t ask me why I”m finally asking, I just had a fight with a cable today that made me say and think things I’m better off not saying or thinking.
Replies
I've only done a few meters, but yes, I'm with you on how hard that stuff can be. 4/0 is like bending pipe.
Scott.
Always remember those first immortal words that Adam said to Eve, “You’d better stand back, I don’t know how big this thing’s going to get.”
This sounds like a job for BendAll. Nifty little gadget from RackATiers.com. [Spelling may be wrong]. Made in Canada and shipped from Phoenix. Cost me $27 + shipping. You have to send Ken an e-mail message.
Basically, it's a chunk of machined aluminum 1/2" by 1" by 4" with two posts [1/2" dia by 1" high on either end. In the center is a 1/2" hole for a 1/2" ratchet driver or extension. It should work. My only field test insinuated that a solid head ratchet would be better than a flex head ratchet.
Edit: try this link:
http://www.electrical-contractor.net/The_Store/RT/Bend_All.htm
~Peter
Why didn't President Cheney stop the Tacoma-Seattle earthquake?
Edited 1/23/2006 11:40 pm ET by pm22
Yes, use this little tool. I recomend a flex head bar, not a ratchet head. With it you can bend 4/0 aluminum wire inside small areas. Eat your wheaties too.Frank DuValYou can never make something foolproof because fools are so ingenious.
If you slip a box wrench over it you can get some leverage on it. Careful not to knick the cover though.
Joe H
Didn't see your post before I put mine in. I put a couple of layers of duck tape around the part of the wrench that contacted the cable to keep it from digging in.
Once you get the cable into the panel or meter can why would you need to bend it as a unit. Far easier to strip the jacket and work the conductors individually.
I usually try to bring it in and form a relatively large loop in each conductor before landing them on a lug. It makes aligning the conductor with the lug easier. It also gives useful slack. If the cable gets yanked the slack saves the connection to the lug. If the lug or connection at the lug goes bad the extra 6" or so of slack makes replacement or retermination easy and simple.
If your really having a lot of difficulty bending the cable, and really need to, you may be bending it too tight. Work it enough and you get Popeye forearms. Electricians have good grips. Single electricians doubly so. Comes with the territory. But why work harder than necessary.
4: Pls see my post under this same heading about size of wire connecting meter base & service panel. Need help. Got stupid answer from county inspector yesterday. Just found my copy of Cauldwell's book on wiringt a house. Maybe he will answer for me.DonDon Reinhard
The Glass Masterworks
"If it scratches, I etch it!"
4: Well, answered that question. Rex doesn't addreess the master cutoff outside w/ 4 wires penetrating the wall to the service panel.DonDon Reinhard
The Glass Masterworks
"If it scratches, I etch it!"
while you are waiting for 4LORN,......
what are you talking about?
Foaming Mouthed Puppy: See my post #68668.1 for details of my meter base challenge. I'm not allowed problems!DonDon Reinhard
The Glass Masterworks
"If it scratches, I etch it!"
You lightweight ;) You should see the guys on my projects who have to pull multiple sets of 750 MCM cable into 2,500-4,000A switchgear- you think you've got problems? lol
Bob
Those guys are the real lightweights. They use power pullers and sit around drinking joe and waiting for the wire to come in.
I got used to the power FEEDER real fast, now I can sip coffee and feed at the same time
......Wheaties.......Is this copper ?
aren't the lugs angled in the meter ? why are you bending the wire?
have you tried to form the wire before cutting it? that's normally what we do when trimming out larger wire.....it really makes things easier ......leave the whole SE tail long enough to work with !
Chocolatier: Don't feel bad - I was wondering the same thing. Then I realized that the man I had helping me wire my original meter - service panel connection had arms like the village smithy! Popeye wouldn't have arm-wrestled him on a bet. I recently had to remove the 4/0 cable to re-do the connection because the code changed while I was fiddling. Culture shock to say the least. I need to stay away from the beach till I take a Charles Atlas course. I hate to eat sand.
Don
The Glass Masterworks
"If it scratches, I etch it!"
You think that's tough? I had to cram 250kcm USE cable into my meter box last year. I ended up slipping it through a 1 1/2" box wrench to get some leverage...
For breakfast switch from Fluffernutters to Wheates. The day may come when you have to feed some 750 or 1000 mcm and you need to be ready. It makes 4/0 seem like speaker wire.