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Are suitcase connectors reusable?

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Are suitcase connectors reusable?
Posted by BigDaddy on Sunday, January 28, 2018 4:56 PM

Or how do you pry that metal slide up?

 

 

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by josephbw on Sunday, January 28, 2018 5:18 PM

I've reused them 30+ years ago. If I remember right I used a small blade screwdriver and pried up on one of the slots where the wire goes until you can reinsert a new wire. Like I said it's been a long time ago, and I don't know if they are designed the same as they were back then.

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Posted by angelob6660 on Sunday, January 28, 2018 9:26 PM

I remember a video that David Popp answered this question. You could reuse them a second time. After that the connection wouldn't work. 

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Posted by richg1998 on Sunday, January 28, 2018 9:55 PM

 

I used them professionally and would never reuse one.

 

Rich

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Posted by Mark R. on Sunday, January 28, 2018 10:34 PM

This will probably start another heated debate, but .... re-use them ? I won't even USE them in the first place. I (personally) don't care for mechancal connections for electricity if I can avoid it.

Mark.

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Posted by hon30critter on Monday, January 29, 2018 1:10 AM

Mark R.
re-use them ? I won't even USE them in the first place.

Yes

Dave

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Posted by tstage on Monday, January 29, 2018 6:25 AM

They worked just fine for me for attaching feeder wires to power bus.  I would skip trying to reuse them though and just purchase more good-quality IDCs like 3M Scotchlok.

Tom

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Posted by UNCLEBUTCH on Monday, January 29, 2018 9:24 AM

I would think; by the time you get the spade pryed up, the unit would be mangled, and the spade distorted.

I question what little money saved would equal time spent.

Used them for years,hobby and mostly auto. The only failures were my fault. mostly not haveing the 2nd wire in far enuff.

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Posted by BigDaddy on Monday, January 29, 2018 6:03 PM

I've inherited a few on a used turntable I bought off Ebay. 

My depression era parents made me ask the question if they were reuseable. 

 

Henry

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Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by UNCLEBUTCH on Monday, January 29, 2018 6:46 PM

BigDaddy
My depression era parents made me ask the question if they were reuseable

I also remember grandpa spending 4$ on a roll of tape to try to fix a 2$ handle

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Posted by IRONROOSTER on Monday, January 29, 2018 7:05 PM

I use the ones with 2 blades.  I tried prying it off the wires, but gave it up when I realized that I was mangling it in the process.  The good news though is I learned these are really tight when put on.

Paul

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Monday, January 29, 2018 7:30 PM

We use these at work all of the time. They are wonderful when used correctly.

.

I will second the thought that they should never be reused. Once and done should be the policy.

.

-Kevin

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Posted by peahrens on Monday, January 29, 2018 8:56 PM

Be sure not to buy the knock-offs with similar names.  If the real thing costs 30 cents each and you find some for 8 cents, they are fake (even though listed as slightly mis-spelled Scotch-Lok, etc.

Paul

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Posted by Gaucho on Monday, January 29, 2018 10:19 PM

If I'm not mistaking all your electrical connections on you home are mechanical connections. Similarly  every  time you use a screw on a wire on your layout is a mechanical connection.

BTW I think this off-topic anyhow.

Moe

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Posted by Gaucho on Monday, January 29, 2018 10:21 PM

Mark R.

There is no need to start a debate. If I'm not mistaking all your electrical connections on you home are mechanical connections. Similarly  every  time you use a screw on a wire on your layout is a mechanical connection.

BTW I think this off-topic anyhow.

Moe

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Posted by Gaucho on Monday, January 29, 2018 10:30 PM

The suit case connectors are not designed to be reusable, however yuo can if you are careful in ensuring that the connections are sound. Just as athought, if you have doubts about  reusing a connector, you may need to evaluate the cost of a new connector vs. the time expended to reuse it and the risk of malfunction.

On accacions I reuse  them when I made a mistake in connecting a wire and I had no problems. If the connecting plate was deformed I just used a new one.

Moe.

Moe.

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