Proper Name for Terminal Box and Supply Chain 4

[Lost_Case]

Hello,

I am looking for the proper name of this electric motor terminal box in the the attached picture.

In doing research this box has been referred to as the following:

*Peckerhead
*Conduit Box
*Connector Box
*Terminal Box
*Thermal Block Box

Which one is the proper term?

Also can any of you refer me to a company or supply chain that would have these boxes? I have only found one company so far.

Thanks in advance for your time!

 

[controlsdude]

i would think below link would get you closer to something off the shelf?

https://hubbell.dcatalog.com/v/Hubbell-Wiring-Device-Kellems-Catalog

 

[Lost_Case]

I did not locate any of what I am looking for there. Thank you for the suggestion. I did find some other useful things though.

 

[waross]

Motor terminal box
or
Peckerhead (not politically correct)

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[jraef]

All of the above (except Thermal Block Box... no idea what that means). There is no "proper" name that I've been able to determine, everyone calls it whatever they heard the first time.

At the risk of repeating my stories, I was once challenged by my HR department on the use of the term "motor peckerhead" in a training presentation. Someone complained about my use of "inappropriate terminology" because apparently someone was under the impression that the name was derived from a not-so-genteel anatomical reference. I countered that it was a commonly used industry term and had no such connotation other than in the minds of some people, so they (HR) wanted me to prove it. After a lot of research, I could not find an officially sanctioned source of the term, and in fact found a lot more references to the inappropriate meaning. I did find however a reference to the term possibly being a derivation of the term "picker box", which was apparently something used in fruit picking that had a similar appearance. But because I could not find a solid reference to the term peckerhead having another meaning, I had to change it on my training presentations. I used the term "motor termination box". I found out however in that process, that there is no "official" term for it anywhere, even in NEMA MG1 specifications where they use both "terminal box" and "conduit box" interchangeably (never peckerhead or connection box however). So from that you could narrow it down to those two terms I suppose.

As to a resource for replacements, generally these are something that the motor mfrs make themselves. I have had to order replacements for rusted out ones and never found a 3rd party supplier. But I would order them from whomever would sell them to me, they all tend to use common mounting hole patterns so one from a Baldor motor worked on a GE motor of the same frame size. The NEMA MG1 specifications dictate the minimum size, orientation and mounting of them.


" We are all here on earth to help others; what on earth the others are here for I don't know." -- W. H. Auden

 

[Compositepro]

I have always assumed that the term peckerhead came from the resemblance of the profile to the head of birds such as wood pecker.

 

[Lost_Case]

I loving calling around asking for electric motor parts. Most shops know it as a peckerhead but do not list it as such and that is where getting the correct industrial name is important.

 

[petronila]

Hi Lost Case

I.M.O. the most accepted term for this "box" is Terminal box but depending of the slang you can hear:

Outlet box
Conduit box
Junction box
Connection box

Even in countries like GB, Australia, Jamaica, etc. they can refer to the terminal box in different terminology.

Thanks

Petronila

 

[FreddyNurk]

Compositepro, that's a much better option than the obvious alternatives...

EDMS Australia

 

[Lost_Case]

Now that we have established common names, do any of you have a list of suppliers for these boxes?

 

[itsmoked]

There are none.
You have to find them at the motor's manufacturer.

OR

Go to your local motor repair shop and ask for one.

Keith Cress
kcress -

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[Lost_Case]

Thank you itsmoked! The original motor manufacturer is out of business but will consult with a metal shop to recreate the specs I need.

 

[dArsonval]

As jraef wrote, there is no "Proper Name" for the two piece metal stamping shown.

Petronila noted earlier, "terminal box". That's a good name to begin with because the [box] houses the motor's terminals.
It's a term used by General Electric in their catalogs as far back as 1915ish.

Nearly a hundred years ago, Westinghouse referred to the box as a "Conduit Box" on their motors.
(attached photo from 1925 Westinghouse catalog)

Quite awhile back in this forum, we discussed whether the "box" is even a part of the motor.
(It's not.)

The OP is likely needing a URL like this one:

https://www.jenkinselectric.com/product-category/electric-motor-parts/terminal-boxes/

Obviously, the prices can not possibly be correct as shown at the site... "but" at least it nudges 'ya a little closer to the item.

If you could manage to find a motor repair shop not hell bent on "house keeping"... they likely
have an assortment of boxes laying around for "cheap".

John

 

[petronila]

Lost Case

If you conduct a search in Google with " electric motor terminal box suppliers" you will find several providers, click on "Conduit Boxes | Electric Motor Accessories...."
This provider in particular is located in The US and have available different options, depending of the motor brand. Note they named that accessories with different names: Conduit box, junction box, terminal box.

However, if you can´t find the right spare part for your motor, you can manufacture it (any work shop with right tools and equipment will be able to manufacture that accessories) obviously, this option is expensive.

Petronila

 

[oldfieldguy]

"MTB" - Motor terminal box.

I worked in a facility at the time that the first females started showing up in the field as clerks to the maintenance department. "Peckerhead" in a work description didn't last long after that.

old field guy

 

[Lost_Case]

I found a reliable source in Long Island, New York with Relay & Control Inc. They had in their parts listing the exact size I needed!

 

[itsmoked]

Excellent and thanks for reporting back!

Keith Cress
kcress -

http://www.flaminsystems.com