Piercing connector for continuous flexible bus

A piercing connector comprising:

• a first block associated with a first circuit conductor lug having a plurality of first piercing contacts;
• a second block;
• and
• bolts connecting the first block to the second block, the bolts configured, when tightened, to cause the plurality of first piercing contacts to make and maintain electrical contact with a conductor placed between the first block and the second block wherein the bolts are configured, when tightened, to further cause the plurality of first piercing contacts to pierce an armor around the conductor, to pass through a jacket around the conductor, and to pass through insulation around the conductor before making and maintaining electrical contact with the conductor placed between the first block and the second block wherein the plurality of first piercing contacts are insulated in such a way that the plurality of first piercing contacts only make and maintain electrical contact with the conductor and do not make and maintain electrical contact with the armor around the conductor.

A continuous flexible bus comprising:

• a flexible metal cladding containing a plurality of electrical conductors;
• a switch;
• and
• at least one piercing connector configured to
• pierce the flexible metal cladding and
• to cause an electrical connection between a one of the plurality of electrical conductors in the pierced flexible metal cladding and the switch, wherein the piercing connector comprises;
• a first block associated with a first circuit conductor lug having a plurality of first piercing contacts;
• a second block;
• and
• at least one fastener connecting the first block to the second block, the at least one fastener configured to cause the plurality of first piercing contacts to make and maintain electrical contact with the one of the plurality of electrical conductors in the flexible metal cladding placed between the first block and the second block wherein the plurality of first piercing contacts are insulated in such a way that the plurality of first piercing contacts only make and maintain electrical contact with the one of the plurality of electrical conductors and do not make and maintain electrical contact with the flexible metal cladding once the fastener is completely fastened.

A piercing connector comprising:

• a first block associated with a first circuit conductor lug having a plurality of first piercing contacts;
• a second block;
• and
• bolts connecting the first block to the second block, the bolts configured, when tightened, to cause the plurality of first piercing contacts to make and maintain electrical contact with a conductor placed between the first block and the second block wherein the first block is associated with a first ground conductor lug wherein the bolts are configured, when tightened, to further cause the first ground conductor lug to contact an armor around the conductor.

A piercing connector comprising:

• a first block associated with a first circuit conductor lug having a plurality of first piercing contacts;
• a second block;
• and
• bolts connecting the first block to the second block, the bolts configured, when tightened, to cause the plurality of first piercing contacts to make and maintain electrical contact with a conductor placed between the first block and the second block wherein the second block is associated with a second circuit conductor lug having a plurality of second piercing contacts wherein the bolts connecting the first block to the second block are configured, when tightened, to cause the plurality of second piercing contacts to make and maintain electrical contact with the conductor placed between the first block and the second block.

A piercing connector comprising:

• a first block associated with a first circuit conductor lug having a plurality of first piercing contacts;
• a second block;
• and
• bolts connecting the first block to the second block, the bolts configured, when tightened, to cause the plurality of first piercing contacts to make and maintain electrical contact with a conductor placed between the first block and the second block wherein the second block is associated with a second ground conductor lug wherein the bolts are configured, when tightened, to further cause the second ground conductor lug to contact an armor around the conductor.

A piercing connector comprising:

• a first block associated with a first circuit conductor lug having a plurality of first piercing contacts;
• a second block;
• and
• bolts connecting the first block to the second block, the bolts configured, when tightened, to cause the plurality of first piercing contacts to make and maintain electrical contact with a conductor placed between the first block and the second block wherein the plurality of first piercing contacts further comprise a first tab exterior to the piercing connector and in electrical connection with the plurality of first piercing contacts.