Re: Starter cable/"chocolate-block" trick

[Donald Wilkinson]

digitaldon hasta confess some confusion regarding these sometimes rather arcane brittisms. Wotinhell is a "chocolate block"? Could this be what we here in the colonies refer to as a wire nut? If so, this is a pretty slick idea. digitaldon always has a couple wire nuts in his pocket (one never knows), but only to deal with electrical events. This idea rocks. Don TC 7993 Hello Ian, The old plastic maquerading as a chocolate-block trick! That's pretty nifty, and a great get-you-home idea! Regards, David Lodge ----- ORIGINAL MESSAGE ----- From: "ian thomson" i.thomson@talk21.com> To: "Greg Garnett" garnetgl@muohio.edu>,mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] Starter cable Date: 25.4.2005 - 14:57:02

> > Depending on the amount of slack in the cable it is > often possible to gain the extra length for the inner > by shortening the outer by the half inch or so which > you need. If you do replace the cable, flexible > (bowden) cable will do. It is cheaper to buy it from > a cycle shop where it is used for brake cable. The > end can be unsoldered from the knob fairly easily and > the new cable soldered back in thus preserving > originality. Use silver (hard) solder - the softest > grade will do. If a quick fix is needed use an > elecrical connector block to extend the existing > cable. We call them "chocolate blocks". The plastic > can be stripped away from the metal insert and > existing and new extension can be secured by both > screws. I would not trust a soldered extension. > > Ian Thomson.

[ian thomson]

Well Don. If I knew what a "wirenut" was I could tell you if it was thew same as a "chocolate block". Ian ------- --- Donald Wilkinson digitaldon@hotmail.com> wrote:

> > digitaldon hasta confess some confusion regarding > these sometimes rather > arcane brittisms. Wotinhell is a "chocolate block"? > Could this be what we > here in the colonies refer to as a wire nut? If so, > this is a pretty slick > idea. digitaldon always has a couple wire nuts in > his pocket (one never > knows), but only to deal with electrical events. > This idea rocks. > > Don > TC 7993 > > > > Hello Ian, > > The old plastic maquerading as a chocolate-block > trick! That's > pretty nifty, and a great get-you-home idea! > > Regards, David Lodge > > > ----- ORIGINAL MESSAGE ----- > From: "ian thomson" > i.thomson@talk21.com> > To: "Greg Garnett" > garnetgl@muohio.edu>,mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com > Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] Starter cable > Date: 25.4.2005 - 14:57:02 > > > > > Depending on the amount of slack in the cable > it is > > often possible to gain the extra length for the > inner > > by shortening the outer by the half inch or so > which > > you need. If you do replace the cable, > flexible > > (bowden) cable will do. It is cheaper to buy > it from > > a cycle shop where it is used for brake cable. > The > > end can be unsoldered from the knob fairly > easily and > > the new cable soldered back in thus preserving > > originality. Use silver (hard) solder - the > softest > > grade will do. If a quick fix is needed use an > > elecrical connector block to extend the > existing > > cable. We call them "chocolate > blocks". The plastic > > can be stripped away from the metal insert and > > existing and new extension can be secured by > both > > screws. I would not trust a soldered > extension. > > > > Ian Thomson. > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > mg-tabc-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > > > > >

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[Donald Wilkinson]

Hey Peter, et all............ digitaldon LUVed the URL, plus other listers' explanations. Turns out to be just another commonality somewhat obscured by language differences. Ain't "English" a BLAST? Don TC 7993 Don, Nope, a chocolate block is not a wire nut. It's a strip of insulated terminals, thus called because the plastic was originally brown or chocolate coloured, used as a last resort when nothing else will do to join a pair of wires. If you'll excuse another Brittism it's a 'bodge'. If you really feel the need, follow the link to see a piccy: http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?ts=99919&id=17672 Regards analoguepete.

[David Lodge]

Hello Digital Don, Not quite! Wire nuts, "Marrettes"in Canada (the trade name ) I don't think will work on Bowden cable. A "chocolate block" is a small rectangular piece of plastic with four (or more) screws that act as a junction block for joining various wires. Oh cripes! I'm not explaining this very well! Help, someone! Regards, David Lodge ----- ORIGINAL MESSAGE ----- From: "ian thomson" i.thomson@talk21.com> To: "Donald Wilkinson" digitaldon@hotmail.com>,archie_ponsonby@post.cz,garnetgl@muohio.edu,mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] Starter cable/"chocolate-block" Date: 26.4.2005 - 12:30:56

> Well Don. If I knew what a "wirenut" was I could tell > you if it was thew same as a "chocolate block". > > Ian > > ------- > > --- Donald Wilkinson digitaldon@hotmail.com> wrote: > > > > digitaldon hasta confess some confusion regarding > > these sometimes rather > > arcane brittisms. Wotinhell is a "chocolate block"? > > Could this be what we > > here in the colonies refer to as a wire nut? If so, > > this is a pretty slick > > idea. digitaldon always has a couple wire nuts in > > his pocket (one never > > knows), but only to deal with electrical events. > > This idea rocks. > > > > Don > > TC 7993 > > > > > > > > Hello Ian, > > > > The old plastic maquerading as a chocolate-block > > trick! That's > > pretty nifty, and a great get-you-home idea! > > > > Regards, David Lodge > > > > > > ----- ORIGINAL MESSAGE ----- > > From: "ian thomson" > > i.thomson@talk21.com> > > To: "Greg Garnett" > > garnetgl@muohio.edu>,mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com > > Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] Starter cable > > Date: 25.4.2005 - 14:57:02 > > > > > > > > Depending on the amount of slack in the cable > > it is > > > often possible to gain the extra length for the > > inner > > > by shortening the outer by the half inch or so > > which > > > you need. If you do replace the cable, > > flexible > > > (bowden) cable will do. It is cheaper to buy > > it from > > > a cycle shop where it is used for brake cable. > > The > > > end can be unsoldered from the knob fairly > > easily and > > > the new cable soldered back in thus preserving > > > originality. Use silver (hard) solder - the > > softest > > > grade will do. If a quick fix is needed use an > > > elecrical connector block to extend the > > existing > > > cable. We call them "chocolate > > blocks". The plastic > > > can be stripped away from the metal insert and > > > existing and new extension can be secured by > > both > > > screws. I would not trust a soldered > > extension. > > > > > > Ian Thomson. > > > > > > > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > mg-tabc-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Send instant messages to your online friends > http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com >

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[Donald Wilkinson]

ENLIGHTENMENT!!!!!!!!!!! Analoguepete hipped digitaldon what's it all about (Alfie); eh? (as the Canucks say) http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?ts=99919&id=17672 Don TC 7993

[Paroor]

Hi David Lodge, Are we discussing about the terminal block for wires ? For the electrical system these terminals, only with screws are out dated since last twenty five years or more. It is not safe enough. The copper or aluminium conductors will get heated and it will expand a bit and diameter will increase. (There are some poor countries using aluminium conductors for the domestic use.) Imagine a screw connection on the terminal block. When the conductor get heated and the block and screw will not expand at the same rate like the loaded conductor. Now there will be a impression or making at the expanded area of the conductor. But after cooling down the conductor will not have a rigid contact to the screws in the terminal block. In other words there is a loose contact. These loose contact may lead to excessive heating and then eventually to some dangerous spark. This can cause fire and other dangerous electrical problems. So in the terminal block we have spring loaded connections. Look at all those new cars wirings. They are all spring loaded or it is designed to match the expansion and contractions. In Germany " Wago " is one of the pioneer in this sector. But new there are so many other new brand names. Is " Bowden " a brand name ? Best regards Madhu -----Urspr ngliche Nachricht----- Von: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com [mailto:mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com]Im Auftrag von David Lodge Gesendet: Mittwoch, 27. April 2005 05:39 Hello Digital Don, Not quite! Wire nuts, "Marrettes"in Canada (the trade name ) I don't think will work on Bowden cable. A "chocolate block" is a small rectangular piece of plastic with four (or more) screws that act as a junction block for joining various wires. Oh cripes! I'm not explaining this very well! Help, someone! Regards, David Lodge

[tony goodall]

Plastic terminal blocks (chocolate blocks) are small rectangular blocks of plastic which are connected together in a strip and individual or pairs of blocks can be snapped off as required. They are available at almost every DIY store in the UK. Each block has a brass insert consisting of a barrel with small threaded fixing holes for 2 tiny bolts which screw down to secure the inserted wire. They are clumsy and untidy and I always wrap them with insulating cable if I ever use them. The point Ian was making, however, is that you cut the plastic off and leave only the brass barrel which is the essentially the brass tube with 2 screw fixings at right angles to the two parts of the starter cable which are inserted into the barrel from each end, thus providing a quite neat extension. Phew - that was hard! Tony TC9825

On 27 Apr 2005, at 04:39, David Lodge wrote: > > Hello Digital Don, > > Not quite! Wire nuts, "Marrettes"in Canada (the trade name ) I > don't think will work on Bowden cable. A "chocolate block" is a > small rectangular piece of plastic with four (or more) screws > that act as a junction block for joining various wires. Oh > cripes! I'm not explaining this very well! Help, someone! > > Regards, David Lodge > > > ----- ORIGINAL MESSAGE ----- > From: "ian thomson" i.thomson@talk21.com> > To: "Donald Wilkinson" > digitaldon@hotmail.com>,archie_ponsonby@post.cz,garnetgl@muohio.edu,mg > -tabc@yahoogroups.com > Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] Starter cable/"chocolate-block" > Date: 26.4.2005 - 12:30:56 > >> Well Don. If I knew what a "wirenut" was I could tell >> you if it was thew same as a "chocolate block". >> >> Ian >> >> ------- >> >> --- Donald Wilkinson digitaldon@hotmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> digitaldon hasta confess some confusion regarding >>> these sometimes rather >>> arcane brittisms. Wotinhell is a "chocolate block"? >>> Could this be what we >>> here in the colonies refer to as a wire nut? If so, >>> this is a pretty slick >>> idea. digitaldon always has a couple wire nuts in >>> his pocket (one never >>> knows), but only to deal with electrical events. >>> This idea rocks. >>> >>> Don >>> TC 7993 >>> >>> >>> >>> Hello Ian, >>> >>> The old plastic maquerading as a chocolate-block >>> trick! That's >>> pretty nifty, and a great get-you-home idea! >>> >>> Regards, David Lodge >>> >>> >>> ----- ORIGINAL MESSAGE ----- >>> From: "ian thomson" >>> i.thomson@talk21.com> >>> To: "Greg Garnett" >>> garnetgl@muohio.edu>,mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com >>> Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] Starter cable >>> Date: 25.4.2005 - 14:57:02 >>> >>> > >>> > Depending on the amount of slack in the cable >>> it is >>> > often possible to gain the extra length for the >>> inner >>> > by shortening the outer by the half inch or so >>> which >>> > you need. If you do replace the cable, >>> flexible >>> > (bowden) cable will do. It is cheaper to buy >>> it from >>> > a cycle shop where it is used for brake cable. >>> The >>> > end can be unsoldered from the knob fairly >>> easily and >>> > the new cable soldered back in thus preserving >>> > originality. Use silver (hard) solder - the >>> softest >>> > grade will do. If a quick fix is needed use an >>> > elecrical connector block to extend the >>> existing >>> > cable. We call them "chocolate >>> blocks". The plastic >>> > can be stripped away from the metal insert and >>> > existing and new extension can be secured by >>> both >>> > screws. I would not trust a soldered >>> extension. >>> > >>> > Ian Thomson. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Yahoo! Groups Links >>> >>> >>> mg-tabc-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >> >> Send instant messages to your online friends >> http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com >> > > > -- > Ochrana proti p esm rov n na drah linky. Ji dn vysok ty! > VOLN internet alarm - je t bezpe n j surfov n ! > Sta en i pou v n je ZDARMA na http://alarm.volny.cz > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > >

[ian thomson]

No Don they don't seem to be the same. In fact I have not seen your wire nuts over here for at least 40 years. I think they were banned by our (overzealous) electrical regulations a long time ago. I am sure you have the things I am talking about though. They come in strips which can be separated into the required number of connectors much like breaking a bar of chocolate into chunks. The two wires to be connected are inserted into each end of a single connector where they are secured by small screws. They are surrounded by insulation which can be stripped off to use them for extending broken cables as a get you home measure. Every tool box should have some. Regards Ian Thomson. ---------- David Lodge archie_ponsonby@post.cz> wrote:

> > Hello Digital Don, > > Not quite! Wire nuts, "Marrettes"in Canada (the > trade name ) I > don't think will work on Bowden cable. A "chocolate > block" is a > small rectangular piece of plastic with four (or > more) screws > that act as a junction block for joining various > wires. Oh > cripes! I'm not explaining this very well! Help, > someone! > > Regards, David Lodge > > > ----- ORIGINAL MESSAGE ----- > From: "ian thomson" i.thomson@talk21.com> > To: "Donald Wilkinson" >

digitaldon@hotmail.com>,archie_ponsonby@post.cz,garnetgl@muohio.edu,mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com

> Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] Starter > cable/"chocolate-block" > Date: 26.4.2005 - 12:30:56 > > > Well Don. If I knew what a "wirenut" was I could > tell > > you if it was thew same as a "chocolate block". > > > > Ian > > > > ------- > > > > --- Donald Wilkinson digitaldon@hotmail.com> > wrote: > > > > > > digitaldon hasta confess some confusion > regarding > > > these sometimes rather > > > arcane brittisms. Wotinhell is a "chocolate > block"? > > > Could this be what we > > > here in the colonies refer to as a wire nut? If > so, > > > this is a pretty slick > > > idea. digitaldon always has a couple wire nuts > in > > > his pocket (one never > > > knows), but only to deal with electrical events. > > > > This idea rocks. > > > > > > Don > > > TC 7993 > > > > > > > > > > > > Hello Ian, > > > > > > The old plastic maquerading as a chocolate-block > > > trick! That's > > > pretty nifty, and a great get-you-home idea! > > > > > > Regards, David Lodge > > > > > > > > > ----- ORIGINAL MESSAGE ----- > > > From: "ian thomson" > > > i.thomson@talk21.com> > > > To: "Greg Garnett" > > > > garnetgl@muohio.edu>,mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com > > > Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] Starter cable > > > Date: 25.4.2005 - 14:57:02 > > > > > > > > > > > Depending on the amount of slack in the > cable > > > it is > > > > often possible to gain the extra length for > the > > > inner > > > > by shortening the outer by the half inch or > so > > > which > > > > you need. If you do replace the cable, > > > flexible > > > > (bowden) cable will do. It is cheaper to > buy > > > it from > > > > a cycle shop where it is used for brake > cable. > > > The > > > > end can be unsoldered from the knob fairly > > > easily and > > > > the new cable soldered back in thus > preserving > > > > originality. Use silver (hard) solder - > the > > > softest > > > > grade will do. If a quick fix is needed > use an > > > > elecrical connector block to extend the > > > existing > > > > cable. We call them "chocolate > > > blocks". The plastic > > > > can be stripped away from the metal insert > and > > > > existing and new extension can be secured > by > > > both > > > > screws. I would not trust a soldered > > > extension. > > > > > > > > Ian Thomson. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > mg-tabc-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Send instant messages to your online friends > > http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com > > > > > -- > Ochrana proti p esm rov n na drah linky. Ji dn > vysok ty! > VOLN internet alarm - je t bezpe n j surfov n ! > Sta en i pou v n je ZDARMA na > http://alarm.volny.cz > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > mg-tabc-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > > > > >

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[ian thomson]

Hi Madhu. I believe that "Bowden" is a brand name. Or should I say was a brand name. It refers to a specific type of multi-stranded woven wire cable which was often used for it's high strength to weight ratio. You never hear the name nowadays so I am probably just showing my age here. Ian Thomson ------------>

> Is " Bowden " a brand name ? > > Best regards > Madhu > > > >

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[fnitz]

I have always called them "terminal blocks". Fred TC1353 -----Original Message----- From: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com [mailto:mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of David Lodge Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2005 8:39 PM To: i.thomson@talk21.com; digitaldon@hotmail.com; garnetgl@muohio.edu; mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] Starter cable/"chocolate-block" trick Hello Digital Don, Not quite! Wire nuts, "Marrettes"in Canada (the trade name ) I don't think will work on Bowden cable. A "chocolate block" is a small rectangular piece of plastic with four (or more) screws that act as a junction block for joining various wires. Oh cripes! I'm not explaining this very well! Help, someone! Regards, David Lodge ----- ORIGINAL MESSAGE ----- From: "ian thomson" i.thomson@talk21.com> To: "Donald Wilkinson" digitaldon@hotmail.com>,archie_ponsonby@post.cz,garnetgl@muohio.edu,mg-tabc @yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] Starter cable/"chocolate-block" Date: 26.4.2005 - 12:30:56

> Well Don. If I knew what a "wirenut" was I could tell > you if it was thew same as a "chocolate block". > > Ian > > ------- > > --- Donald Wilkinson digitaldon@hotmail.com> wrote: > > > > digitaldon hasta confess some confusion regarding > > these sometimes rather > > arcane brittisms. Wotinhell is a "chocolate block"? > > Could this be what we > > here in the colonies refer to as a wire nut? If so, > > this is a pretty slick > > idea. digitaldon always has a couple wire nuts in > > his pocket (one never > > knows), but only to deal with electrical events. > > This idea rocks. > > > > Don > > TC 7993 > > > > > > > > Hello Ian, > > > > The old plastic maquerading as a chocolate-block > > trick! That's > > pretty nifty, and a great get-you-home idea! > > > > Regards, David Lodge > > > > > > ----- ORIGINAL MESSAGE ----- > > From: "ian thomson" > > i.thomson@talk21.com> > > To: "Greg Garnett" > > garnetgl@muohio.edu>,mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com > > Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] Starter cable > > Date: 25.4.2005 - 14:57:02 > > > > > > > > Depending on the amount of slack in the cable > > it is > > > often possible to gain the extra length for the > > inner > > > by shortening the outer by the half inch or so > > which > > > you need. If you do replace the cable, > > flexible > > > (bowden) cable will do. It is cheaper to buy > > it from > > > a cycle shop where it is used for brake cable. > > The > > > end can be unsoldered from the knob fairly > > easily and > > > the new cable soldered back in thus preserving > > > originality. Use silver (hard) solder - the > > softest > > > grade will do. If a quick fix is needed use an > > > elecrical connector block to extend the > > existing > > > cable. We call them "chocolate > > blocks". The plastic > > > can be stripped away from the metal insert and > > > existing and new extension can be secured by > > both > > > screws. I would not trust a soldered > > extension. > > > > > > Ian Thomson. > > > > > > > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > mg-tabc-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Send instant messages to your online friends > http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com >

-- Ochrana proti p esm rov n na drah linky. Ji dn vysok ty! VOLN internet alarm - je t bezpe n j surfov n ! Sta en i pou v n je ZDARMA na http://alarm.volny.cz Yahoo! Groups Links