Re: Starter cable/"chocolate-block" trick

[Donald Wilkinson]

Affirmative, Ian. digitaldon digs (finally), that we're speaking here of stripping out the brass guts of the terminal/"chocolate" blocks. As to "wire nuts", they are perfectly acceptable by current National Fire Protection Codes in most, if not all of the states here in the admitedly backward colonies. As to "Bowden" cable, what we have here in the aforesaid backward colonies has solid core, and is readily available everywhere, both in carbon steel for (mostly) vintage car use, and in stainless for marine use. Don TC 7993 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.

[candahill@worldnet.att.net]

They are still used on parking brakes and hood releases. Charles Hill -------------- Original message from "Donald Wilkinson" digitaldon@hotmail.com>: --------------

> > Affirmative, Ian. digitaldon digs (finally), that we're speaking here of > stripping out the brass guts of the terminal/"chocolate" blocks. As to > "wire nuts", they are perfectly acceptable by current National Fire > Protection Codes in most, if not all of the states here in the admitedly > backward colonies. As to "Bowden" cable, what we have here in the aforesaid > backward colonies has solid core, and is readily available everywhere, both > in carbon steel for (mostly) vintage car use, and in stainless for marine > use. > > Don > TC 7993 > > > > 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. > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > >

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[DOUGLAS CROFT]

DOUGLAS CROFT d.j.croft@btinternet.com> wrote:Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2005 20:17:26 +0100 (BST) From: DOUGLAS CROFT d.j.croft@btinternet.com> Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] Starter cable/"chocolate-block" trick To: David Lodge archie_ponsonby@post.cz> Hello all, I believe the " wire nuts" referred to are known as "solderless nipples" in the uk. Simple a tiny cylinder of brass or other metal with a lateral threaded hole. The 2 wires to be joined are pushed into the opposite ends of the cylinder and are held in place by a screw in the threaded portion. I have used one recently, it was supplied as part of the universal clutch cable kit which I used in an emergency on my James bike. "no untoward comments please" Doug tc 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" To: "Donald Wilkinson" ,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 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 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Chip Old]

On Wed, 27 Apr 2005 20:34 +0100, DOUGLAS CROFT wrote:

> I believe the " wire nuts" referred to are known as "solderless nipples" > in the uk. Simple a tiny cylinder of brass or other metal with a lateral > threaded hole. The 2 wires to be joined are pushed into the opposite > ends of the cylinder and are held in place by a screw in the threaded > portion. I have used one recently, it was supplied as part of the > universal clutch cable kit which I used in an emergency on my James > bike. "no untoward comments please"

Not the same thing. A US-style wire nut is made of plastic in the shape of a sewing thimble (a sort of truncated cone). The outside is knurled for easy finger grip. It's hollow inside, with a conical spiral-wound wire insert something like a Heli-Coil thread repair insert. To use, you strip about 1/2 inch to 1 inch (depending on wire gauge) of insulation off the ends of the wires to be joined, hold them side by side, and screw on the wire nut. The conical insert clamps the bared ends together, and the action of twisting the nut on tends to twist the wire ends together. -- Chip Old 1948 M.G. TC TC6710 XPAG7430 NEMGTR #2271 Cub Hill, Maryland fold@bcpl.net

[Joe Gates]

Fred writes I have always called them "terminal blocks". And here I am, in all innocence, thinking that this was what happened when bypass surgery failed?! Joe

[DOUGLAS CROFT]

Hi Chip, I know what you mean. I have come across them made of ceramic and years ago were used to make electric cable connections in household wiring but I could not imagine they would be effective in joining a push pull connection. Doug Chip Old fold@bcpl.net> wrote:

On Wed, 27 Apr 2005 20:34 +0100, DOUGLAS CROFT wrote: > I believe the " wire nuts" referred to are known as "solderless nipples" > in the uk. Simple a tiny cylinder of brass or other metal with a lateral > threaded hole. The 2 wires to be joined are pushed into the opposite > ends of the cylinder and are held in place by a screw in the threaded > portion. I have used one recently, it was supplied as part of the > universal clutch cable kit which I used in an emergency on my James > bike. "no untoward comments please" Not the same thing. A US-style wire nut is made of plastic in the shape of a sewing thimble (a sort of truncated cone). The outside is knurled for easy finger grip. It's hollow inside, with a conical spiral-wound wire insert something like a Heli-Coil thread repair insert. To use, you strip about 1/2 inch to 1 inch (depending on wire gauge) of insulation off the ends of the wires to be joined, hold them side by side, and screw on the wire nut. The conical insert clamps the bared ends together, and the action of twisting the nut on tends to twist the wire ends together. -- Chip Old 1948 M.G. TC TC6710 XPAG7430 NEMGTR #2271 Cub Hill, Maryland fold@bcpl.net Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Paroor]

Hi Joe, Technically talking both are the same. In the first case you are connecting electrical conductors, and in the other case you are connecting blood vessels. Madhu -----Urspr ngliche Nachricht----- Von: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com [mailto:mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com]Im Auftrag von Joe Gates Gesendet: Mittwoch, 27. April 2005 22:59 An: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com Betreff: Re: [mg-tabc] Starter cable/"chocolate-block" trick Fred writes I have always called them "terminal blocks". And here I am, in all innocence, thinking that this was what happened when bypass surgery failed?! Joe

[Peter Ross]

And Bowden cables will be found as throttle controls on lawn mowers and other garden implements. In fact I use an old lawn mower throttle control as the choke cable on the TC. It's mounted on the steering column support. Its advantage is that it has enough friction to hold it open at the desired position until the engine is warm. Gone are the clothes pegs (pins) clipped under the pulled-out choke knob. You can still keep the original choke knob in position (for the OP) and coil the unused cable up under the dash. Peter Ross TC 8892 Bolton, Massachusetts

> ----- Original Message ----- > From: candahill@worldnet.att.net> > To: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com> > Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2005 11:28 AM > Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] Starter cable/"chocolate-block" trick > > > > > > They are still used on parking brakes and hood releases. > > > > Charles Hill > > > > -------------- Original message from "Donald Wilkinson" > digitaldon@hotmail.com>: -------------- > > > > > > > > > > Affirmative, Ian. digitaldon digs (finally), that we're speaking here

of

> > > stripping out the brass guts of the terminal/"chocolate" blocks. As to > > > "wire nuts", they are perfectly acceptable by current National Fire > > > Protection Codes in most, if not all of the states here in the

admitedly

> > > backward colonies. As to "Bowden" cable, what we have here in the > aforesaid > > > backward colonies has solid core, and is readily available everywhere, > both > > > in carbon steel for (mostly) vintage car use, and in stainless for > marine > > > use. > > > > > > Don > > > TC 7993 > > > > > > > > > > > > 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. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

[David Lodge]

Hello Madhu, Aluminium (aluminum) wiring was used as domestic wiring in Canada up to about 25 years ago. These "chocolate-block" terminal blocks are quite common in some car wiring set-ups, particularly after market sound systems. I think "Bowden" is a trade name for the inner choke and starter cables, and brakes on pedal cycles! Regards, David Lodge ---- ORIGINAL MESSAGE ----- From: "Paroor" Paroor@t-online.de> To: "David Lodge" archie_ponsonby@post.cz>,mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com Subject: AW: [mg-tabc] Starter cable/"chocolate-block" Date: 27.4.2005 - 8:47:06

> 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 > > >

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[David Lodge]

Yes! That's what I meant! regards, David Lodge ----- ORIGINAL MESSAGE ----- From: "tony goodall" tonygoodall@blueyonder.co.uk> To: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] Starter cable/"chocolate-block" Date: 27.4.2005 - 9:57:40

> > 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 pr esme rov n na drah linky. Jiz z dn > > vysok c ty! > > VOLNY internet alarm - jes te bezpec ne js surfov n ! > > Staz en i pouz v n je ZDARMA na > > http://alarm.volny.cz > > > > > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > >

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