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.
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
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.
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
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
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
Living the dream.
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.
BigDaddyMy 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
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
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
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.
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
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Mark R.re-use them ? I won't even USE them in the first place.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
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.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
I used them professionally and would never reuse one.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
I remember a video that David Popp answered this question. You could reuse them a second time. After that the connection wouldn't work.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
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.
Or how do you pry that metal slide up?