using temporary gel crimps to connect his Test Phone, without cutting/snipping any wires.

Read what you've typed !! How can that be ?? How can you use 'temporary gel crimps' to connect wires without cutting or snipping ???

A BT Technician demonstrated to me about 9 months back, a type that had a "pass-through" arrangement for one of the wires; so that it did not have to be cut, in that respect similar to the ones available for car wiring many years back.

He mentioned that he found them particularly useful.

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Page 3 of this "3M" PDF shows two such connectors, the lower, Green one being a very distinct possibility as it is generally similar to those used by OR/BT, as illustrated elsewhere in that PDF.


http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/447443O/3mtm-scot...


The Red one on Page 1 is identical to the simple, non-pass-through type that i have a sample of. Must try to get some more.

With this Red one, I wonder if folding the wire, "kirby-grip fashion", would also allow it to be used, without cutting the wire?

Unfortunately, I think that I have not got a suitable wire to try this approach.

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Edit added

The UG Green connector on Page 9, complete with little connection diagram appears to be a good illustration; and the slot to accomodate the uncut wire is clear at the far side --

http://www.cablejoints.co.uk/upload/3M_Scotchlok_Cri...

Edited by deleted (Wed 25-Mar-15 14:37:42)

Yeah, yeah ..... 'no break' crimps.

He mentioned that he found them particularly useful.

Not much of a 'technician' then. Anyone worth their salt knows these crimps are pants, HR faults aplenty.

Forgot to mention in original post, on checking phone charges I have been charged 24p for a four second call to a dedicated HMRC number at the time the change over was happening.
I never make calls in the day time prefer to use mobile minutes until the evening free time.
No one at my address made this call.

How bizarre ! This must be some form of billing cock-up.

Interesting that you are actually aware of them; and as the 3M maker states, that series is actually IDC (Insulation Displacement Connectors) rather than true (Compression) Crimps.

Fortunately, they were only used temporarily on my upgrade, to connect the Test Phone; being removed when the original wiring was cut and removed, as the last significant action of my upgrade.

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You mention "HR faults aplenty", I wonder why - possibly the straight through, "no breaks" wire is not included in the gelling action?

If they are only used for that short, "5 minute" installation period, then completely removed, the "HR" situation really does not have any relevance.

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Ooops, thinking further, I wonder if those UG connectors were used on my FTTC links, which might be the explanation of my recent brief connection losses losses, which Andrew suggests are probably HR in nature.

Thanks for stimulating that thought.

Another visit to the PCP when the opportunity arises!

Edited by deleted (Wed 25-Mar-15 15:46:00)

Yes I agree, been watching the call log and nothing further. Strange that it happened at the time of change over but can't see how that would have anything to do with it.
The HMRC number was for probate issues, I definitely don't have any need for that!

Interesting that you are actually aware of them; and as the 3M maker states, that series is actually IDC (Insulation Displacement Connectors) rather than true (Compression) Crimps.

They are supposed to used for joint remakes, removing blue beans and the like. They are fiddly to use and don't take properly.
That's why they don't get used very often, do it once, and do it right, rather than faff around with these blighters.

All the gel crimps used by Openreach are IDC.

I really can see no need at all to use them to connect a test phone.

wire is not included in the gelling action?

The 'gelling action' ???

The enclosed IDC connections terminate the wires, the gel bit refers to the gel inside which is to help prevent damp ingress.

And at 4 seconds in duration, of no use to anyone else either ???

Maybe a misdial of the Eclipse test number by the installer ?

Thank you, I am well aware of the reason for the gel, having been one of the first users in the electronics industry of silicones and silicone grease, particularly on UHT connectors back in the 1950s. Also back then I experimented with true crimp joints, including sectioning them for examination as to the effectiveness of that form of connection.


Obviously, not being the technician involved, I can only describe what I saw being used etc - and I have got extensive experience in the electronics industry.


I suspect that the slot in the side of the UG "gel crimps" with the wire running right through, is not sealed to the same degree as the simpler "crimps", thus suspect that the gel may not form fully around that wire and/or leak.

Also, not being fully enclosed/supported, the wire/s may be more open to disturbance by later accesses to the PCP etc.