A device used by
electricians to join wires together without
soldering.
'Chocolate block' is a row of copper connectors, each of which has a screw in each end to hold a wire. The entire row is covered in plastic
insulation, and can be cut to size. It gets its name from the resemblance to a bar of
chocolate (or possibly a
toblerone) the pattern of insulation over the screws forms.
A chocolate block looks like this:
from above:
| <--- wire
|
_ | _ _
|o|_|o|_|o|_|o|
| |_| |o| |_| | <---- Chocolate block
|o| |o| |o| |o|
|
|
|
from the side:
|| || || || || ||
|__||__||__||__||__||__|
The insulator has a series of '
chimneys' to allow the screws to be tightened with a thin
screwdriver, but prevent the
conductor being accidentally touched. Chocolate block can be screwed down to a surface, through a series of screw holes between the conductors. While more fiddly to use than twist-on connectors, chocolate block holds the wire more securely, and provides safer insulation. It also prevents wires from
tangling together.
For a more unorthodox use of chocolate block, have a look at http://homepages.enterprise.net/jayjay/sheddy.htm