EKM Insulation Piercing Connector
View More
More information
Function: Tap a small wire off of a large wire
Primary Wire Size: #6 to 4/0 wire
Secondary Wire Size: 14 to 10 AWG
Model: EKM-IPC
A convenient and fast way to safely and securely tap off of an existing line. You can tap off of the middle a line that is from #6 gauge wire to 4/0 cable to feed a 14 AWG to #10 AWG wire. You do not have to cut or interrupt the main line.
Install with the power shut off to the main line.
This is not a required item for an Omnimeter installation. It is only used if you do not have a free breaker or convenient place to tap your voltage reference wires off of.
We have developed an alternative to this item called the Piercing Split Core Current Transformer. The Piercing CT, combines the functionality of the Insulation Piercing Connector, with a Current Transformer.
Offered as a convenience for our Omnimeter customers only. Please only purchase these if you are also buying other items.
For more information about our products and services, we encourage you to visit our online Knowledge Base, which provides spec sheets, videos, tutorials, FAQs, diagrams, and more.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Ask a Question-
Is this product UL or CSA listed?
No, this product does not have any such certifications.
-
During/post installation, is the nut used for clamping/piercing the wires electrically isolated from the piercing connection?
Yes, the nut is electrically isolated from the piercing portion of the Piercing Connector. It allows you to tap into existing electrical lines in order to get a voltage reference for our Omnimeters. Even though it is electrically isolated, the power should be turned of during installation.
-
Can I install one of these to meter a 240v subpanel without piercing the supply lines?
This particular product is designed to pierce wires to provide a tap off of the wire being pierced. It provides one way of getting a voltage reference but is not the only way. When metering with one of our Omnimeter models, you can also get a voltage reference by tapping off of the main lug in you breaker panel. This prevents you from needing to pierce any wire insulation. To meter a 120/240V system, the Omnimeter will need to be paired with 2 Current Transformers and will have 2 voltage references (one for each phase).
-
Is there any issue with the national electric code with using these on the hot side of a disconnect on the mains coming into a building (they would be after the meter and before the disconnect). I would assume I would need a fuse directly off of and as close as possible to the tap on my signal line. I wish to monitor the voltage on the power line even when the disconnect is off to make sure it is stable and in tolerance before I turn it back on. This is for a new electric service installation, where the meter has not been installed yet, so the lines are not energized yet, but they will be inspected and I want to make sure I don't fail the inspection due to a technicality in the building codes. My area only uses the national electric code and does not have any further codes of it's own.
If I'm understanding you correctly, you should be ok using these, according to This Page.
230.82 Equipment on the Supply Side.
Electrical equipment must not be connected to the supply side of the service disconnect enclosure, except:
(2) Meters rated not in excess of 600V.
(4) Tap conductors for legal and optional standby power systems, fire pump equipment, fire and sprinkler alarms, and load (energy) management devices
So it sounds to me like you will be fine to connect our meters, with these Piercing Connectors, before the service disconnect. -
On the insulation piercing connector there are no instruction where the main wire goes and what direction it needs to be, if any? The smaller wire goes inside the included rubber sleeve or outside?
The Piercing Connectors can be connected to your main wires in either direction, as the connections are intended to get a voltage reference and not a current reference like the CTs do. The main wire goes in the side that will accept the larger wire. The small wire goes inside the rubber sleeve. There are images above that show how the wires should be connected.
-
Do I need to strip the end of smaller wire before inserting it inside the rubber sleeve? My guess is yes but maybe both sides have piercing connectors?
You do not need to strip the insulation on the primary wire or on the secondary wire in most cases. Unless your wire insullation is super hard, the teeth on the primary side and the teeth on the secondary side should pierce the insulation very well.
-
Does it matter which side of the CT's these are installed?
No, it does not matter. Note that if you install it downstream from/after the CT, then the meter will also include the small amount of electricity used to power itself up in the total kWh read.
-
Can the EKM Insulation Piercing connector be used to tap into aluminum wire? I have 2 gauge aluminum service wire as the feeders to a sub-panel that I want to meter.
Yes, you can use the Insulation Piercing Connectors on either stranded copper wire or stranded aluminium wire. We do not recommend using the Insulation Piercing Connectors on solid wire.