How to Strip Twin and Earth Cable’s - Electricians’ Knife vs Twin and Earth Cable Strippers
In this video I look at stripping and terminating twin and CPC (twin and earth) cables. I look at the benefit and weaknesses of use modern mechanical cable strippers and the advantage as disadvantages of using an electricians knife and the reality of learners using a pair side cutters. I strip both the outer PVC mechanical protection and the conductor insulation using the tools and compare them.
How to strip twin and earth cables using a knife, side cutters and wire strippers... which one do you use...?
== 🕐 Time Stamps - Cut to the action 🕕 ==
00:00 - Stripping twin and earth cable
00:31 - Price difference
01:13 - Demonstration of twin and earth cable strippers
01:39 - Disadvantages of twin and earth cable strippers
02:38 - Stripping twin and earth cable using an electricians fixed blade knife
03:18 - Why I don't pull the CPC (earth) up the cable when stripping
04:23 - Will using an electricians' knife weaken the copper conductors
05:29 - Stripping twin and earth cable using side cutters
07:14 - Feedback required on twin and earth cable strippers
🔵 Terminating PVC/PVC Twin and CPC Cables (How To Terminate Twin and Earth Cables) • Terminating PVC/PVC Tw...
Videos are training aids for City and Guilds (C and G) and EAL courses Level 1, 2, 3 plus AM2, AM2S and AM2E.
You can follow me day by day on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok lookout for "GSH Electrical”.
▶️ FACEBOOK / gshelectrical
▶️ INSTAGRAM / brihzmraygdtmjmdb9lunq...
▶️ TWITTER / gsh_electrical
▶️ TikTok vm.tiktok.com/ZMRBLFdhe/
#GSHElectrical #Electricaltrainingvideos
== 🕐 Time Stamps - Cut to the action 🕕 == 00:07 - Introduction why do I teach people to use a knife when stripping twin and earth cable (twin and cpc) cables 00:46 - Price difference 01:20 - Demonstration of twin and earth cable strippers 01:46 - Disadvantages of twin and earth cable strippers 02:45 - Stripping twin and earth cable using an electricians fixed blade knife 03:25 - Why I don't pull the cpc (earth) up the cable when stripping 04:30 - Will using an electricians' knife weaken the copper conductors 05:36 - Stripping twin and earth cable using side cutters 07:21 - Feedback required on twin and earth cable strippers
Great you teach safe use of simple and sharp tools. I've only ever used a knife. You've just persuaded me not to bother with the fancy tools. Keep up the good work.
Thanks for the support and great comment 👍
Hello Gary, I'm not an electrician but do take great pleasure watching your vids as do I learning anything and everything even at the tender age of 61. I was an HGV technician for 30 years and sadly I now drive 'em and not fix em. I absolutely agree with you with regard to hand to eye coordination. The finest tools a tradesman can have is his hands but unlike an over the counter tool the hands have to be honed into those magnificent tools that will last a lifetime and not let you down. Once honed, they are versatile, will do things no other tool will ever do. So, learn the basics with the basic of tools and when the over priced fancy gear let's you down you can still do a first class job while the cowboys make a dash to CEF for a new tool. Give a plasterer a crappy trowel and he'll still give you a perfect wall. Give him a marshalltown trowel and I'll give you a happy plasterer. 🤣😂🤣😂 Thanx for your time and effort giving us priceless knowledge ✌️👍😎🇬🇧
Thanks Alec for your fantastic comment and the time you have taken to add such detail. 👍Gaz
Absolutely brilliant. Those strippers fail so fast. Also, on site, you tend to use a combination of everything you have said. No tools last very long and it's better to learn the simple knife as we all use it along the way. Thanks for the video's
Thanks for the great comment 🦾
Great video 👍, brought cable stripper's because of the video you done. Game changer. I use a knife as well👌
Personally I dont use a knife for T&E, I rarely work with it anyway being industrial based but I have always used the tearing method for speed. As you said nobody sees the PVC once its in a box! However when I was an apprentice I was showed how to use a knife, how to use strippers and how to do it several other ways as well. And although I only do it the one way personally I think its important to know multiple ways to achieve the same goal as sometimes for whatever reason your normal way wont work or cant be done. And sometimes as you say it wont work for the individual student. (Never had a apprentice pull the CPC out personally but I will keep that in mind in future!!) Everyone is different and at the end of the day, as long as the method works for you then its the correct method to use.
Thanks for sharing it with us
👍
We were only taught the side cutter way. Ordering a knife now!
Whatever works 🦾
excellent tutorial
Thanks very much 👍
Exellent demo😊
Thanks 👍🏻
Makes sense Gary 👍
Thanks 🦾
Forward defensive first. Then move on later to fancy reverse sweeps. Always great viewing for any stage of the trade.
Well understood
Thanks 👍
I used to be a chef I am quite happy with the knife LOL. Thank you great video!
Thanks for commenting 👍
This is how we did it in college doing electronics many years ago,and how I did it as an electronics assembler before I went to college.
I've never used a knife and never seen anyone on site using a knife. I didn't even see a knife in college back in the day. 90% use side cutters, I myself use 150mm croppers.
Thanks for commenting 👍
Found this interesting. I’m looking for a way to save sore hands stripping about 100 times during a diy downlighting upgrade. I think the auto stripper is fine for my task as I don’t do it often and not worried if the blade has blunted by the end.
i think using a knife is a good idea .. gets the students to adapt to doing a neat and tidy job to start with, i'm sure they will find there own way once they leave , but at least you taught them to do a good job in the beginning.. take pride in what you do mate, sod what others say
Thanks torchy 💕🦾💕
Thank you for teaching that ripping using the earth wire (sorry, i am old) is okay.... my colleague makes me carry a set of those silly strippers he gave me... i haven't used them in 4 yrs, knife and sidies every time!
👍
When I use to fit electric meters the auditors use to always fail people if they saw any inner insulation showing on the meter tails or even the customers own equipment. Because we call it inner insulation there is an obvious assumption that Meter tails are double insulated but they are just sheathed like twin and Earth. What I would like to know is, is there any regulations being broken by having inner insulation showing? Most sparks always leave some showing and some cut off huge peices of the mechanical protection to use as polarity markers. Always found it irritating that a less qualified meter worker had to redo Electrician's work because it was sub standard. Or is it?
Using the t&e strippers infrequently they lasted me about 10 months.
Thanks for the feedback 👍
Jokari do a model that will strip up to 16mm. There is one major advantage of the flat profile automatic stripping tools , and that is safety . On the back of this channel I have just bought the Knipex precistrip , there was no mention of any work hardening of conductors within that video (promotion). GSH and EFIXX have made a huge difference to the industry for learners , and I do believe that the traditional skills should not be lost . However, in much the same way that the channel welcomes innovations such as wireless switching then anything that cuts down time and contributes to safety should also be appreciated.
Massive thanks for your lovely comment it is very much appreciated 👍
Can I come to Tresham college gaz? We don't even do 90% of the stuff you've shown on video at mine. 😇🤣
Glad your enjoying our content Tim 👍
The 1st time shown how to strip twin and earth I was shown to use a knife and cut down to size. Strip down towards CPC with trying to cut towards insulation of wires
I wasn’t able to use T&E cables in college but I was taught on my apprenticeship pulling the earth
I talk about that in the video 👍
I was taught in college not to pull the earth as it reduces the cross sectional area of the earth in the force required to pull through the insulation. All though in real world terms this rarely seen as it remains almost! the same length as the line and neutral. Getting a nice finish at the point where the cables exits above the grommet especially if 2 cables enter was allways hit and miss.
Hi Gary. I can definitely agree with you that the insulated knife is a lot better for learners, it helps them understand pressure etc. And I can also understand it due to underfunding within the education sector. The only thing I could think is if learners wanted to bring their own tools in for practical lessons, this would save the college money for those more comfortable with their own tools. Would you be happy for this to happen or is that another risk?
Totally agree - learners can bring in their own tools once we have assessed the safety of them 👍. Great comment Cuffy. Gaz
Most big sites don’t permit the use of fixed blade knifes, preferring the self retractable ones instead… its a bit nanny state but saves on paperwork and potentially RIDORS if there is a major incident
Thanks for that update 👍🏻
Kids When doing a DB with T/E I always taped the earth sleeving to the sheath Saves a lot of mucking about
Great tip 👍
Hi gary i just started my electrical course but it online and alot of reading. Some time it hard to find time for the reading because of my job and my kids. Do you have any advice.
I occasionally use the CK auto brand strippers... no blade on this type as aswall, also, your video on efix .. the knipex version..strippers cables up to 16mm? But understand your teaching aspect for learners
The replacement blades on those strippers are surprisingly hard to source. Jokari 29030 and Knipex 12-69-31 both out of stock.
Thanks for the update 👍
Replacement parts or a new unit to sell, it's all about the bottom line, The American management mantra has destroyed Engineering and is basically short term gain for the upper management to the detriment of the company and industry,
I have said enough about the knife. So as not to put Gaz down or to be disrespectful to him , I think the electricians knife is a good tool when your first learning is your first year at college but after that you should be able to and aloud to use side cutters or a wire stripper . How many go on to work as sparks and continue to use a knife to strip TW&E ? Very very view, the only time I use a knife is when I am installing TW&E 10mm2 and for the SWA , I have an folding electricians knife my brother gave me when I first started my college course back in 1987 , it very wearily comes out of my tool bag these days . Gaz is a fantastic teacher and teaches his students as per the C&Gs curriculum . My real dislike of the knife is the ridiculously high price, £ 27-£40 just because it has a fancy colour handle and name , Fantastic video as always Gaz 👍👍👍❤️
Our college does not give us knifs. We should of had a tool box but still no joy. My tutor said I'm not aloud to use automatically strippers for my practice lesson is that true?
Hi, each college have different rules - I have been informed that when carrying out AM2 you can only use a knife or side cutters so automatic strippers. Thanks for commenting. Gaz 👍
Iam old school use teeth🦷 but in reality CK cutters, Side cutters and knife. It just something you pick up after a while knowing how much to squeeze or put pressure on without damaging the copper.
Which flat wire striper you prefer to buy the jokari or quickwire ?
I am sure they are all made in the same factory 👍
@@GSHElectrical which one would you buy ? Thank you
@@BK-it6te whichever's cheapest, my knipex and jokari are basically the same. The jokari were about half the price. Ideal and a a few others have rebranded the same tool.
Gaz i done a year of my apprenticeship when I was a teen. Do you think 39 is to old to go through training?
100% no - go for it 👍
_did_ not done. ;)
The one that doesn't look pretty in a box.... oddly enough its the method that allows the sleeving to push right up under the outer PVC 😮
Not pretty, but safe and efficient, plus the one that allows you to strip the sheething back the furthest.
So there is no good stripper to get into the box with I think nymj is better for that reason
I learned in the 70's to flip the side cutters for stripping. the way you demonstrate is for cutting, then flip the tool to strip. Far fewer cut-throughs.
I wish Chelmsford college wouldn’t have a new teacher every week and that we go in workshop more than 1 day a week
Gutted for you - keep working hard it has its rewards 👍
You're doing good by following this chap. He's awesome. (this from a guy who's been 30 yrs in the field and had decent tutors in college)
@@TheChipmunk2008 yeah true thanks for that man appreciate it
Side cutters, clip the end and drag the earth wire to split the outer sheath, been doing it for 40years 😬
The issue we have doing that when training is that the cable lengths are short and learners can pull the CPC out of the cable with your method 👍🏻
Can you change than blade in the knife, seams like a lot of waste to bin the whole body when it’s blunt
No but they can be sharpened 👍. Thanks for commenting and watching. Gaz
Leads us to the next debate hacksaw or armourslice 🤑🤑🤔🤔🤔
Good question
I’m 33 and wanting to pick up the trade. I see a lot of young ens in the trade, am I too old?
Your are not to old 👍
@@GSHElectrical too
Love your vids but it's weird that you wouldn't teach these kids how it's actually done on site. Snip down the middle, pull cpc up to wherever you want the outer sheath to sit in your box and then snip off the outer sheath. If they're pulling out the cpc why not show them how to do it properly?
Hi - I have been teaching 19 years and in my experiences if they pull the CPC remembering some of our cable runs will be under half a metre… they sometimes pull it out 🤦🏻♂️ #startagain Thanks for watching and commenting. All the best Gaz
What about IPX4 on the box😰😂
Lighting Circuit Connections Explained in a 3 Plate Loop in Method and RCD’s now Required BS 7671 kzhead.info/sun/nJWlj92Qb6eKrK8/bejne.html I think I cover that in the video above - all my learners know about it 🦾👍
Ck cutter for everything 🤣
😃
I think it would be an idea to show this in the 'real world situation' on your knees, cold building site, metal backbox flushed into wall. Doing it flat on a bench is not a real representation.....just saying
Alot of students sadly are not getting real world experience as you said 😔😔😔 City and Guilds still teach outdated wiring sucj as micc and nott FP200 although college is not real world it teaches the basics
Great teachers are such a boon, you can give a man a fish or can teach him to..... Which he shall be giving blessings, when feeding himself and family, Always support a good teacher, in this woke, sjw, feminist, critical race theory times, it's impossible to teach well and walking the tight rope of the aforementioned social engineering,
College funding or lack of 💷💷💷💷💷💷
Torque screw drives are awful.Would never trust them
Thanks for commenting
Most people don't know how to use them, that's the problem. As with any torque tool, the fastener should be TURNING when the torque is triggered, otherwise, you are leaving the fastening too loose because you are including the static friction in what you believe is the tightened-to setting.
Nice video but knife 🔪 great risk of cutting hands and inner cables, About pretty I would be more concerned my woman to be pretty instead of the cable
Learning hand eye coordination 👍. Thanks for commenting and watching. Gaz