Frequently Asked Question
Why does the breaker not hold the wire tight?
Last Updated 6 years ago
On the MNEPV and MNEAC series circuit breaker by CBI we have had a few complaints of the clamp not holding the wire even after it seems to be tight enough.
We suspect forming oil may be on the inside of the saddle that pulls the wire up to the terminal allowing the wire to slip out and not be gripped tight. This should have been cleaned off at the factory during assembly. Use a Q-Tip dipped in Lacquer Thinner or rubbing alcohol and spin it in the hole with the saddle all the way open. For #10 AWG and smaller I would strip a little extra insulation off the wire and double it over to make it twice as thick and try that. You might want to cut the wire back and re-strip it because if it was oil then it may still be on the bare copper that was slipping out.
Remember to re-torque the connection within the next 24 hours.
We suspect forming oil may be on the inside of the saddle that pulls the wire up to the terminal allowing the wire to slip out and not be gripped tight. This should have been cleaned off at the factory during assembly. Use a Q-Tip dipped in Lacquer Thinner or rubbing alcohol and spin it in the hole with the saddle all the way open. For #10 AWG and smaller I would strip a little extra insulation off the wire and double it over to make it twice as thick and try that. You might want to cut the wire back and re-strip it because if it was oil then it may still be on the bare copper that was slipping out.
Remember to re-torque the connection within the next 24 hours.