Preformed Dead End: Frequently Asked Questions

Short, direct answers to the questions buyers actually ask before ordering preformed dead ends — collected from the specification, pricing and inspection questions that come up in real enquiries. Where an answer depends on your site conditions, the condition is stated rather than hidden.

Product questions

How do I stop the wrong size being fitted on site?

Insist on colour coding by conductor size and have the sets bagged per structure. It costs the supplier almost nothing and it removes the most common installation error on helical products.

Ordering questions

What is the typical minimum order and lead time for preformed dead end?

The usual minimum is 500 sets, and repeat specifications run 20–30 days. First orders with new tooling or custom colours sit at the long end of that range; stock configurations sit at the short end.

How should preformed dead end be packed for export?

25 sets per bundle, colour coded and labelled. If your shipment routes through humid climates or long storage, say so in the RFQ — packing upgrades are cheap at the factory and expensive as a claim.

Which quality tests should accompany a preformed dead end shipment?

At minimum: hold test to rated tension; helix pitch check; salt spray 480 h; rod end inspection. Type-test certificates qualify the design; ask additionally for per-batch routine records, which are what tell you what actually shipped.

What goes wrong in the field with cheap preformed dead end?

The recurring failure modes are: grip slipping on the conductor; mix-ups on site. None of them are visible at goods-in, which is why the specification and the batch records matter more than the sample.

A note on honest specifications

Every answer above comes from the same product data behind the specification guide and the inspection checklist for this product. If your question is not answered here, put it in the quotation request — a supplier who answers an awkward question narrowly and honestly is worth more than one who answers everything with “yes, no problem”.

When this is the wrong product

Preformed dead ends are the right tool when terminating conductors at dead-end structures; optical cable dead ends. If your situation is closer to “repair of damaged terminations” — or you are not sure — read the category guide first and check whether a sibling product fits better before you price the wrong one.