TIL a retired lineman convinced me to stop hating gel-filled connectors for buried installs

3 comments

3 Comments

Those gel-filled connectors used to drive me crazy too until an old-timer walked me through why they're actually genius. Now I won't use anything else for buried lines.

knight.dylan11d agoMost Upvoted

I get what you're saying about them being genius, but what exactly did that old-timer tell you that changed your mind? Because my issue is still with those gel connectors not making great contact after a few years. I've pulled up splices where the gel looked fine on the outside but the copper inside was all corroded and green. Was it something about how he prepped the wires before pushing them in? Or maybe a specific brand or model that handles moisture better? I'm genuinely curious because I want to give them another shot on a big run I'm planning, but I don't want to dig it up again in five years.

hugoj129d ago

Old-timer showed me how to give the wires a GOOD twist before pushing them in so the gel fills all the gaps. Changed my whole view on those things.