H-Tap Question

[Divemaster]

Hadn't heard this before a contractor working for me told me this. An H-tap, squeeze on, or your a typical Blackburn 159 isn't a copper to copper connector. I guess it might make sense since it is aluminum alloy. But the only time we've had problems with copper to copper in these connections is if one conductor is solid. Just asking what you all do, hopefully this isn't a repost question!

[Volcom]

Bugs or split bolt clamps, we used to get copper am pacts for high line

[gumbo]

I've worked a couple of REA right of ways in Iowa the last few years, that's all they buy. They use them for every connection no matter what the metal is or where it's at. Got to watch out and not do it when you go on MidAm property or you'll be changing it.

[lineman]

Personally, with 4/0 cu str feeders, I feel a lot better looking at two bronse split bolts rather than two silver squeeze ons.

I know that the split bolts will not burn up.

The key element in any connection is the wire brush liberally applied followed by some penetrox..

Your connection should be able to burn down the wire without failing.

[Pootnaigle]

Ummmmmmm we only used split bolts or kearneys to join Cu/Cu. On Cu/Al we used those h taps or parallell groove clamps. We were told to always place the aluminum on the top of the connector and the cu at the bottom. On solid Cu I have seen a great many of them fail regardless of where the Cu was.If memory serves me right the larger the wire the less failures we exxperienced.

[Lineman North Florida]

As others have said on copper to copper connections we use kearneys, two bolt clamps, TLD and TLS lugs, all other types of connections are exactly as Poot said they did them.

[Divemaster]

Thanks for the feedback! At our muni I've seen guys do connections in just about every manner and they change their minds as to how things should be done every time. Just tryin to get them all to do things in a more standard way. Thanks again.

[HookinAintEasy]

Just used 159s today on a new underground build bonding the elbows together, im new to this out fit other places we used kearneys, bugs!

[rob8210]

A lot of places here have gone away from h-taps, insulinks, split bolts , etc and gone to nothing but Ampacts. The reasons I have heard all have to do with too many trouble calls. Now as for aluminum on top of a connection with copper, its because when copper gets wet the chemical reaction gives off a corrosive product that will eat up aluminum.