Just adding to what Rich has said below about methods. The double crimp (or insulation crimp) is probably the best method because both crimps are made with the same tool at the same time so there is no manufacturing cost penalty, and several vendors supply the parts and I don't believe that there is any appreciable cost penalty for the parts. Simpler solutions are available if needed. You can tie one wire to the next with a wire tie for example. The first attachment point is the wire to connector pin, the second retention method then is the wire tie which is anchoring the wire itself to an adjacent pin, standoff or whatever. I prefer the first method for several reasons but wanted to point out the next most common, in my experience, method. Gary
-----Original Message----- From: Rich Nute [mailto:ri...@sdd.hp.com] Sent: Tuesday, September 19, 2000 4:08 PM To: andy.v...@mts.com Cc: emc-p...@majordomo.ieee.org Subject: Re: Double Retention Hi Andy: > I have been told that either "double crimp" terminals (fast-ons, ring, > spade) must be used for insulated wire, or a secondary method must be used > to secure the wire's insulation near the point of connection. I have not > seen this described in the standards I have read or in the archived emails > on the RCIC database - where should I look? At this point, I don't even > know if this is a UL or a LVD thing. This is a long-standing, traditional, and semi-secret safety requirement. In my experience, it has been applied by both CSA and UL. The requirement is based on the concept that safety must be provided both for normal conditions and in the event of a fault. Where a wire could come loose and bridge a safety insulation, then that wire must have a second mechanical scheme that prevents the wire from bridging the insulation. The requirement is stated in IEC 60950 and its clones in Sub-clause 3.3.4 for power supply cord wires. This same requirement MAY be applied to other wires at hazardous voltage by the many different certification engineers, each of whom has a different reason for doing so. There is a similar requirement for containment of strands of stranded wire. See Sub-clause 3.3.9. You didn't ask what are the secondary methods. Any secondary method that keeps the wire from bridging a safety insulation is generally acceptable. The "double crimp" is acceptable because the first crimp is to the wire, and the second crimp is to the insulation. Two, more-or-less independent fixings. Best regards, Rich ------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. To cancel your subscription, send mail to: majord...@ieee.org with the single line: unsubscribe emc-pstc For help, send mail to the list administrators: Jim Bacher: jim_bac...@mail.monarch.com Michael Garretson: pstc_ad...@garretson.org For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: ri...@ieee.org ------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. To cancel your subscription, send mail to: majord...@ieee.org with the single line: unsubscribe emc-pstc For help, send mail to the list administrators: Jim Bacher: jim_bac...@mail.monarch.com Michael Garretson: pstc_ad...@garretson.org For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: ri...@ieee.org