Effect of connector design on the performance of service entrance power connectors

The work reported describes the results of laboratory tests carried out on aluminum-to-copper service entrance connectors. The laboratory performance tests were carried out on insulation piercing, bolted, wedge and compression types of service entrance connectors subjected to current-cycling tests in a saline environment. The current-cycling tests were carried out in accordance with a modified testing procedure. The results showed that insulation piercing and wedge connectors passed the current cycling tests whereas the compression and bolted type connectors failed the current-cycling tests. These results showed that insulation piercing and wedge connectors provide the best protection of the conductor-connector interface since neither the current-cycling nor the exposure to a saline environment produced significant deterioration in their performance.