Modular wiring systems

• US 4,399,371 A
• Filed: 08/28/1981
• Issued: 08/16/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sentinel Lighting Wiring Systems, Inc. (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Dual-Lite, Inc. (Hubbell, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sieron, Richard L., Shine, William P., Ziff, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rubinson, G. Z.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dwyer, James L.
• Application Number:
  US06/297,512
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 174/49, 174/48, 174/59, 307/147, 339/147 R, 339/276 T, 339/14 RP, 339/8 R, 339/130 C, 339/130 R, 339/125 R, 339/17 D, 339/127 R, 339/126 R
• US Class Current: 307/147
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/02 Intermediate parts for distributing energy to two or more circuits in parallel, e.g. splitter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/92
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/00 Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles installations of bus-bars H02G5/00; overhead installations H02G7/00; installations in or on the ground H02G9/00

Abstract

A modular wiring system is disclosed for lighting and power distribution in office buildings, factories and the like. The modular wiring system utilizes a five-face connector assembly as its principal component for the distribution and control of power to lighting fixtures and power receptacles. The connector assemblies may be one of four types for providing different power configurations at the connector faces. The five-face connector assemblies all utilize the same housing and are economical to manufacture by using specially designed bus bars to obtain the desired power configurations and to provide the terminal connections. Other components of the wiring system mate with the five-face connector assembly to provide an efficient lighting or convenience power system which may be easily field modified.

Claims

1. A connector assembly for a modular wiring system comprising:

(A) a first connector having plural terminals of a first configuration for receipt of electrical power from a source of electrical power or from another connector assembly;

(B) a series of conductors, each individually permanently terminating at one end with one of the first connector terminals; and

(C) a multi-face connector (39) having at least second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth connectors, each connector having a separate face with a plurality of recesses formed in each face, each recess of each face substantially coplanar with a recess of each other face, and further wherein;

(1) the second connector ("S" face

     88) has plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with a lighting fixture receptacle so as to provide at least switched power to the fixture,

(2) the third connector ("U" face

     86) has plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with a lighting fixture receptacle so as to provide at least unswitched power to the fixture,

(3) the fourth connector ("switch" face

     87) has plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with a switch or switch assembly for controlling the switched power,

(4) the fifth connector ("M" face

     84) has plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with the first connector of a second connector assembly for passing power to the second connector assembly,

(5) the sixth connector ("M" or "X" face

     85) has plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with the first connector of a third connector assembly for passing power to the third connector assembly,

(6) a plurality of bus bars, at least some of the bus bars having a region for permanent connection to one of the conductors, each bus bar forming some of the terminals of the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth connectors, at least some of the bus bars interlaced in an electrically isolated, non-coplanar arrangement with each other, each of the interlaced bus bars having at least some of its terminals in a non-coplanar arrangement with each other so that the electrical property on the bus bar is presented at different planar recesses for at least some of the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth connector faces, and

(7) a housing for forming the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth connector faces and for placement and orientation of the bus bars therein;

whereby power is only received by the connector assembly through the first connector which is remotely positioned away from the multi-face connector, wherein the multi-face connector distributes and controls power to receptacles, switch or switch assemblies, and connectors, and wherein the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth connectors are unable to mate with the source of electrical power.

2. A connector assembly as defined in claim 1, where the multi-face connector housing has two molded halves (71 and 72) forming the recesses (91) for receipt of the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth connector plurality of terminals, and further wherein the multi-face connector incorporates an armored jacket mounted to the outside of the housing, the armored jacket (74) having extending fingers (82), and wherein the first connector also has fingers (80) dimensioned for mating with at least some of the multi-face connector fingers (82) so that mechanical stress from mating connectors is passed through the armored jacket (74) of the multi-face connector without being imparted to the molded halves.

3. A connector assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein the armored jacket has extending fingers about each of the connectors of the multi-face connector, and wherein the lighting receptacle and switch or switch assembly has components for mating with the fingers associated with the connector to which the receptacle and switch or switch assembly mate.

4. A connector assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the power distribution function of the multiface connector is,

(1) for the "S" face connector to only provide switched power to the fixture,

(2) for the "U" face connector to only provide unswitched power to the fixture, and

(3) for the "M" face connectors (84 and 85) to distribute both unswitched and switched power;

and

where three conductors comprise the series of conductors, a first conductor for ground, a second conductor for a single circuit power, and a third conductor for neutral.

9. A modular wiring system having a connector assembly as defined in claim 4 and further comprising a low voltage module powered by a single circuit source of utility power and interconnected to the first connector of the connector assembly for providing switchable power to the multi-face connector assembly.

10. A connector assembly as defined in claims 4, 6, 7, 8 or 9, wherein the multi-face connector means for electrically terminating the conductors and distributing power to and forming the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth connector terminals comprises a series of bus bars, each having terminals at some of their ends for insertion into at least some of the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth connectors and at least some of the bus bars having a region for connection to the second end of one of the conductors.

11. A connector assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein each bus bar has a region for connection to the second end of one of the conductors which comprises an elongated split cylinder having two or more holes passing through the cylinder to allow the conductor when formed from a solid material to flow within a portion of the holes when the split cylinder is squeezed closed during the crimping operation so as to secure the conductor to the bus bar and provide a mechanical and electrical connection which is not adversely affected by twisting of the conductor with respect to the bus bar.

17. A connector assembly as defined in claims 1, 12, or 14, wherein each connector of the multi-face connector has means for preventing that particular connector from mating with any other connector but that to which it is designated to mate.

19. A connector assembly as defined in claim 17, wherein the mating preventing means further provides for mating with the designated connector in a particular orientation.

5. A connector assembly for a modular wiring system comprising:

(A) a first connector having plural terminals of a first configuration for receipt of electrical power from a source of electrical power or from another connector assembly;

(B) at least four conductors, each individually permanently terminating at one end with one of the first conductor terminals, a first conductor for ground, a second conductor for a single circuit power, a third connector for neutral, and a fourth conductor for switched power, and wherein the conductor for switched power may alternatively be used for conducting a second circuit power line; and

(C) a multi-face connector (39) having at least

(1) a second connector ("S" face

     88) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with a lighting fixture receptacle so as to provide both switched and unswitched power to the fixture if the fixture is a dual ballast fixture and to provide switched power to the fixture if it is a single ballast fixture,

(2) a third connector ("U" face

     86) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with a lighting fixture receptacle so as to provide both switched and unswitched power to the fixture if the fixture is a dual ballast fixture and to provide unswitched power to the fixture if it is a single ballast fixture,

(3) a fourth connector ("switch" face (87) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with a switch or switch assembly for controlling the switched power,

(4) a fifth connector ("M" face

     84) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with the first connector of a second connector assembly so as to distribute both switched and unswitched power to the second connector assembly,

(5) a sixth connector ("M" or "X" face

     85) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with the first connector of a third connector assembly so as to distribute both switched and unswitched power to the third connector assembly, and

(6) means for permanently electrically terminating the second end of each conductor of the four conductors and for electrically connecting these conductors to the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth connector terminals so as to distribute the desired power to each of these connectors;

whereby power is only received by the connector assembly through the first connector which is remotely positioned away from the multi-face connector, wherein the multi-face connector distributes and controls power to receptacles, switch or switch assemblies, and connectors, and wherein the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth connectors are unable to mate with the source of electrical power.

6. A connector assembly for a modular wiring system comprising:

(A) a first connector having plural terminals of a first configuration for receipt of electrical power from a source of electrical power or from another connector assembly;

(B) at least three conductors, each individually permanently terminating at one end with one of the first connector terminals, a first conductor for ground, a second conductor for a single circuit power, and a third conductor for neutral; and

(C) a multi-face connector (39) having at least

(1) a second connector ("S" face

     88) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with a lighting fixture receptacle so as to provide dual switched power of a single power circuit to an interconnected fixture,

(2) a third connector ("U" face

     86) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with a lighting fixture receptacle so as to provide dual switched power of a single power circuit to an interconnected fixture,

(3) a fourth connector ("switch" face

     87) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with a switch or switch assembly having two switches for individually controlling the dual switched power,

(4) a fifth connector ("M" face

     84) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with the first connector of a second connector assembly so as to distribute both switched power lines without unswitched power,

(5) a sixth connector ("X" face

     85) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with the first connector of a third connector assembly so as to distribute unswitched power and no more than one of the two switched power lines, and

(6) means for permanently electrically terminating the second end of each conductor of the three conductors and for electrically connecting these conductors to the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth connector terminals so as to distribute the desired power to each of these connectors;

whereby power is only received by the connector assembly through the first connector which is remotely positioned away from the multi-face connector, wherein the multi-face connector distributes and controls power to receptacles, switch or switch assemblies, and connectors, and wherein the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth connectors are unable to mate with the source of electrical power.

7. The connector assembly for a modular wiring system comprises:

(A) a first connector having plural terminals of a first configuration for receipt of electrical power from a source of electrical power or from another connector assembly;

(B) at least four conductors, each individually permanently terminating at one end with one of the first connector terminals, a first conductor for ground, a second conductor for a first power circuit, a third conductor for a second power circuit, and a fourth conductor for neutral;

(C) a multi-face connector (39) having at least

(1) a second connector ("S" face

     88) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with a lighting fixture receptacle so as to provide switched power to a single ballast fixture and, for a dual ballast fixture, switched power to one ballast of a dual ballast fixture and unswitched power to the other ballast of the dual ballast fixture,

(2) a third connector ("U" face

     86) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with a lighting fixture receptacle so as to provide only unswitched power to a single ballast fixture and, for a dual ballast fixture, unswitched power to one ballast of the dual ballast fixture and switched power to the other ballast of the fixture,

(3) a fourth connector ("switch" face

     87) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with a switch or switch assembly for controlling the switched power,

(4) a fifth connector ("M" face

     84) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with the first connector of a second connector assembly so as to distribute both switched and unswitched power of one power circuit, and

(5) a sixth connector ("X" face

     85) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with the first connector of a third connector assembly, so as to distribute only the unswitched power to a second power circuit, and

(6) means for permanently electrically terminating the second end of each conductor of the four conductors and for electrically connecting these conductors to the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth connector terminals so as to distribute the desired power to each of these connectors;

whereby power is only received by the connector assembly through the first connector which is remotely positioned away from the multi-face connector, wherein the multi-face connector distributes and controls power to receptacles, switch or switch assemblies, and wherein the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth connectors are unable to mate with the source of electrical power.

8. A modular wiring system comprising:

(I) a connector assembly for a modular wiring system comprising,

(A) a first connector having plural terminals of a first configuration for receipt of electrical power from a source of electrical power or from another connector assembly;

(B) at least three conductors for the passage of dual circuit power, each individually permanently terminating at one end with one of the first connector terminals; and

(C) a multi-face connector (39) having at least

(1) a second connector ("S" face

     88) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with a lighting fixture receptacle so as to provide at least switched power to the fixture,

(2) a third connector ("U" face

     86) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with a lighting fixture receptacle so as to provide at least unswitched power to the fixture,

(3) a fourth connector ("switch" face

     87) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with a switch or switch assembly for controlling the switched power,

(4) a fifth connector ("M" face

     84) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with the first connector of a second connector assembly for passing power to the second connector assembly,

(5) a sixth connector ("M" or "X" face

     85) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with the first connector of a third connector assembly for passing power to the third connector assembly, and

(6) means for permanently electrically terminating the second end of each conductor of the series of conductors and for electrically connecting these conductors to the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth connector terminals so as to distribute the desired power to each of these connectors; and

(II) a dual circuit low voltage module powered from a utility source of dual circuit power for controlling the switching of the dual circuit power to the interconnected multi-face connector assemblies;

whereby the lighting fixtures powered by the multi-face connector assemblies may be individually controlled by switched power of one of the two power circuits and whereby additional lighting fixtures may be controlled by additional low voltage modules also powered from the dual circuit utility power; and

further whereby power is only received by the connector assembly through the first connector which is remotely positioned away from the multi-face connector, wherein the multi-face connector distributes and controls power to receptacles, switch or switch assemblies, and connectors, and wherein the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth connectors are unable to mate with the source of electrical power.

12. A connector assembly for a modular wiring system comprising:

(A) a first connector having plural terminals of a first configuration for receipt of electrical power from a source of electrical power or from another connector assembly;

(B) a series of conductors, each individually permanently terminating at one end with one of the first connector terminals; and

(C) a multi-face connector (39) having at least second, third and fourth connectors, each connector having a separate face with a plurality of recesses formed in each face, each recess of each face substantially coplanar with a recess of each other face, and further wherein;

(1) the second connector ("S" face

     88) has plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with a lighting fixture receptacle so as to provide at least switched power to the fixture,

(2) the third connector ("switch" face

     87) has plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with a switch or switch assembly for controlling the switched power,

(3) the fourth connector ("M" face

     84) has plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with a source of electrical power for mating with the first connector of a second connector assembly for passing power to the second connector assembly

(4) a plurality of bus bars, at least some of the bus bars having a region for permanent connection to one of the conductors, each bus bar forming some of the terminals of the second, third, and fourth connectors, at least some of the bus bars interlaced in an electrically isolated, non-coplanar arrangement with each other, each of the interlaced bus bars having at least some of its terminals in a non-coplanar arrangement with each other so that the electrical property on the bus bar is presented at different planar recesses for at least some of the second, third, and fourth connectors faces, and

(5) a housing for forming the second, third and fourth connector faces and for placement of the bus bars therein;

whereby power is only received by the connector assembly through the first connector which is remotely positioned away from the multi-face connector, wherein the multi-face connector distributes and controls power to receptacles, switch or switch assemblies, and connectors, and wherein the second, third, and fourth connectors are unable to mate with the source of electrical power.

13. A connector assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein the multi-face connector further comprises:

(6) a fifth connector ("M" or "X" face

     85) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power, for mating with the first connector of a third connector assembly for passing power to the third connector assembly.

16. A connector assembly as defined in claims 12 or 14, wherein each bus bar that has a region for connection to the second end of one of the conductors comprises an elongated split cylinder having two or more holes passing through the cylinder to allow the conductor when formed from a solid material to flow within a portion of the holes when the split cylinder is squeezed closed during a crimping operation around the conductor so as to secure the conductor to the bus bar and provide a mechanical and electrical connection which is not adversely affected by twisting the conductor.

18. A connector assembly as defined in claim 16, wherein the mating preventing means comprises ridges (94) and notches (95) on the connectors of the multi-face connector.

20. A connector assembly as defined in claim 18, wherein the mating preventing means and orientation means comprises ridges (94) and notches (95) on the connectors of the multi-face connector.

21. A connector assembly as defined in claim 12 or 14, wherein the multi-face connector incorporates an armored jacket (74) mounted to the outside of the housing, the armored jacket having extending fingers (82) about each connector of the multi-face connector, the interconnecting receptacles, switch or switch assembly, and connector having fingers (80) of finger-like projections (106) for mating with the multi-face connector fingers so that mechanical stress from mating connectors is passed through the armored jacket of the multi-face connector without being imparted to the housing.

24. A connector assembly as defined in claim 21, wherein the mating preventing means comprises ridges and notches on the connectors of the multi-face connector.

27. A connector assembly as defined in claim 24 wherein the power distribution function of the multi-face connector is:

(1) for the "S" face connector to only provide switched power to the fixture,

(2) for the "U" face connector to only provide unswitched power to the fixture, and

(3) for the "M" face connectors (84 and

     85) to distribute both unswitched and switched power;

and where three conductors comprise the series of conductors, a first conductor for ground, a second conductor for a single circuit power, and a third conductor for neutral, and wherein the two molded halves (71 and

     72) have recesses (91) for receipt of second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth conductor terminals, and wherein the series of bus bars are arranged between the partitions of the molded halves;

whereby switched power is available at the "S" and "M" face connectors for use with an interconnected fixture and downstream connector assemblies but only unswitched power is provided from the first connector to the multi-face connector thereby allowing isolation of previous switched power in a modular wiring system to this particular connector assembly.

28. A connector assembly as defined in claim 24 wherein the power distribution function of the multi-face connector is:

(1) for the "S" face connector to only provide switched power to the fixture,

(2) for the "U" face connector to only provide unswitched power to the fixture, and

(3) for the "M" face connectors (84 and

     85) to distribute both unswitched and switched power;

and where four conductors comprise the series of conductors, a first conductor for ground, a second conductor for a single circuit power, a third conductor for neutral, and a fourth conductor for switched power, and wherein the two molded halves (71 and

     72) have recesses (91) for receipt of second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth connector terminals, and wherein the series of bus bars are arranged between the partitions of the molded halves;

whereby both switched and unswitched power is available at the "S" and "M" face connectors with switched power transferrable to or from the first connector and the multi-face connector.

29. A connector assembly as defined in claim 24, wherein the power distribution function of the multi-face connector is:

(1) for the "S" face connector and the "U" face connector to provide dual switched power of a single power circuit to an interconnected fixture,

(2) for the "switch" face connector to electrically interconnect with a switch or switch assembly having two switches for individually controlling the dual switched power,

(3) for the "M" face connector (84) to distribute both switched power lines without unswitched power, and

(4) the "X" face connector (85) to distribute unswitched power and no more than one of the two switched power lines, and

where three conductors comprise the series of conductors, a first conductor for ground, a second conductor for a single circuit power, and a third conductor for neutral, and wherein the two molded halves (71 and

     72) have recesses (91) for receipt of second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth connector terminals, and wherein the series of bus bars are arranged between the partitions of the molded halves.

30. A connector assembly as defined in claim 24, wherein the power distribution function of the multi-face connector is:

(1) for the "S" face connector to provide switched power to a single ballast fixture and, for a dual ballast fixture, switched power to one ballast of the dual ballast fixture and unswitched power to the other ballast of the dual ballast fixture;

(2) for the "U" face connector to provide only unswitched power to a single ballast fixture and, for a dual ballast fixture, unswitched power to one ballast of the dual ballast fixture and switched power to the other ballast of the dual ballast fixture,

(3) for the "M" face connector (84) to distribute both switched and unswitched power of one power circuit, and

(4) for the "X" face connector (85) to distribute only unswitched power of a second power circuit;

and where four conductors comprise the series of conductors, a first conductor for ground, a second conductor for a first power circuit, a third conductor for a second power circuit, and a fourth conductor for neutral, and wherein the two molded halves (71 and

     72) have recesses (91) for receipt of second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth conductor terminals, and wherein the series of bus bars are arranged between the partitions (73 and 73'"'"') of the molded halves.

14. A connector assembly for a modular wiring system comprising:

(A) a first connector having plural terminals of a first configuration for receipt of electrical power from a source of electrical power or from another connector assembly,

15. (B) a series of conductors, each individually permanently terminating at one end with one of the first connector terminals;

and

(C) a multi-face connector (39) having at least second, third and fourth connectors, each connector having a separate face with a plurality of recesses formed in each face, each recess of each face substantially coplanar with a recess of each other face, and further wherein;

(1) the second connector ("S" face 88 or "U" face

     86) has plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with a lighting fixture receptacle so as to provide power to the fixture,

(2) a third connector ("M" face

     84) has plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with the first connector of a second connector assembly for passing power to the second connector assembly,

(3) a fourth connector ("M" or "X" face

     85) has plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with the first connector of a third connector assembly for passing power to the third connector assembly,

(4) a plurality of bus bars, at least some of the bus bars having a region for permanent connection to one of the conductors, each bus bar forming some of the terminals of the second, third and fourth connectors, at least some of the bus bars interlaced in an electrically isolated, non-coplanar arrangement with each other, each of the interlaced bus bars having at least some of its terminals in a non-coplanar arrangement with each other so that the electrical property on the bus is presented at different planar recesses for at least some of the second, third and fourth connector faces, and

(5) a housing for forming the second, third and fourth connector faces and for placement of the bus bars therein.

22. A connector assembly for a modular wiring system for interconnecting wall outlet receptacle assemblies, power poles, and poke through wiring devices, comprising:

25. A connector assembly as defined in claim 22, wherein the multi-face connector further comprises an armored jacket having extending fingers about each connector of the multi-face connector so as to mate with fingers on interconnecting components so that mechanical stress for mating components is passed through the armored jacket of the multi-face connector without being imparted to the housing.

23. (A) a first connector having plural terminals of a first configuration for receipt of at least dual circuit electrical power from a source of electrical power or from another connector assembly;

(B) a series of conductors, each individually permanently terminating at one end with one of the first connector terminals;

(C) a multi-face connector having at least

(1) a second connector having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with a wall outlet receptacle assembly, power poles, or poke through wiring devices, the terminals of the second connector carrying a first circuit of the dual circuit power for said mating, and the second connector having means for preventing the second connector from mating with anything other than a wall outlet receptacle assembly, a power pole, or a poke through wiring device,

(2) a third connector having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with a wall outlet receptacle assembly, power pole, or poke through wiring device, the terminals of the third connector carrying a second circuit of the dual circuit power for said mating, and the third connector having means for preventing the third connector from mating with anything other than a wall outlet receptacle assembly, a power pole, or a poke through wiring device,

(3) a fourth connector having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with the first connector of a second connector assembly for passing at least dual circuit power to the second connector assembly, and the fourth connector having means for preventing the fourth connector from mating with anything other than a first connector,

(4) a series of bus bars each having terminating ends for insertion into at least some of the second, third, and fourth connectors and at least some of the bus bars each having a region for permanent connection to the second end of one of the conductors so as to provide electrical terminations of the conductors and distribution of power to the second, third, and fourth connectors, and

(5) a housing having recesses formed therein, the housing having a series of partitions for aligning and spacing the bus bars inserted therein, with the bus bar terminating ends positioned in the housing recesses so as to allow the terminating ends to move within the recesses.

26. A connector assembly for a modular wiring system comprising:

(A) a first connector having plural terminals of a first configuration for receipt of electrical power from a source of electrical power or from another connector assembly;

(B) a series of conductors, each individually permanently terminating at one end with one of the first connector terminals; and

(C) a multi-face connector (39) having at least

(1) a second connector ("S" face

     88) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with a lighting fixture receptacle so as to provide at least switched power to the fixture,

(2) a third connector ("U" face

     86) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with a lighting fixture receptacle so as to provide at least unswitched power to the fixture,

(3) a fourth connector ("switch" face

     87) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with a switch or switch assembly for controlling the switched power,

(4) a fifth connector ("M" face

     84) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with the first connector of a second connector assembly for passing power to the second connector assembly,

(5) a sixth connector ("M" or "X" face

     85) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with the first connector of a third connector assembly for passing power to the third connector assembly, and

(6) bus bars for permanently electrically terminating the second end of each conductor of the series of conductors and for electrically connecting these conductors to the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth connector terminals formed by the bus bars so as to distribute the desired power to each of these connectors, each bus bar forming some of the terminals of the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth connectors, at least some of the bus bars interlaced in an electrically isolated, non-coplanar arrangement with each other, each of the interlaced bus bars havig at least some of its terminals in a non-coplanar arrangement with each other so that the electrical property on the bus bar is presented at different planar recesses of at least some of the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth connector faces and further wherein the multi-face connector incorporates

(7) a housing having two molded halves, each half incorporating a series of partitions for aligning and spacing the bus bars inserted within the housing while allowing the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth connector terminals to move within recesses (91) formed by the molded halves;

whereby power is only received by the connector assembly through the first connector which is remotely positioned away from the multi-face connector, wherein the multi-face connector distributes and controls power to receptacles, switch or switch assemblies, and connectors, and wherein the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth connectors are unable to mate with the source of electrical power.

31. A connector assembly for a modular wiring system comprising:

(A) a first connector having plural terminals of a first configuration for receipt of electrical power from a source of electrical power or from another connector assembly;

(B) a series of conductors, each individually permanently terminating at one end with one of the first connector terminals; and

(C) a multi-face connector (39) having at least

(1) a second connector ("S" face

     88) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with a lighting fixture receptacle so as to provide at least switched power to the fixture,

(2) a third connector ("U" face

     86) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with a lighting fixture receptacle so as to provide at least unswitched power to the fixture,

(3) a fourth connector ("switch" face

     87) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with a switch or switch assembly for controlling the switched power,

(4) a fifth connector ("M" face

     84) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with the first connector of a second connector assembly for passing power to the second connector assembly,

(5) a sixth connector ("M" or "X" face

     85) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with the first connector of a third connector assembly for passing power to the third connector assembly,

(6) means for permanently electrically terminating the second end of each conductor of the series of conductors and for electrically connecting these conductors to the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth connector terminals so as to distribute the desired power to each of these connectors, said means including at least some electrical conductors terminating with some of the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth connector terminals, at least some of these conductors interlaced in an electrically isolated, non-coplanar arrangement with each other;

(7) a housing having two molded halves (71 and

     72) with recesses (91) for receipt of second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth connector terminals, and

(8) an armored jacket mounted to the outside of the housing, the armored jacekt (74) having extending fingers (82), and wherein the first connector also has fingers (80) dimensioned for mating with at least some of the multi-face connector fingers (82) so that mechanical stress for mating connectors is passed through the armored jacket (74) of the multi-face connector without being imparted to the molded halves;

whereby power is only received by the connector assembly through the first connector which is remotely positioned away from the multi-face connector, wherein the multi-face connector distributes and controls power to receptacles, switch or switch assemblies, and connectors, and wherein the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth connectors are unable to mate with the source of electrical power.

32. A connector assembly for a modular wiring system comprising:

(A) a first connector having plural terminals of a first configuration for receipt of electrical power from a source of electrical power or from another connector assembly;

(B) a series of conductors, each individually permanently terminating at one end with one of the first connector terminals; and

(C) a multi-face connector (39) having at least

(1) a second connector ("S" face

     88) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with a lighting fixture receptacle so as to provide at least switched power to the fixture,

(2) a third connector ("U" face

     86) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with a lighting fixture receptacle so as to provide at least unswitched power to the fixture,

(3) a fourth connector ("Switch" face

     87) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with a switch or switch assembly for controlling the switched power,

(4) a fifth connector ("M" face

     84) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with the first connector of a second connector assembly for passing power to the second connector assembly,

(5) a sixth connector ("M" or "X" face

     85) having plural terminals of a second configuration unable to mate with the source of electrical power for mating with the first connector of a third connector assembly for passing power to the third connector assembly,

(6) means for permanently electrically terminating the second end of each conductor of the series of conductors and for electrically connecting these conductors to the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth connector terminals so as to distribute the desired power to each of these connectors;

(7) a housing having two molded halves (71 and

     72) with recesses (91) for receipt of second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth connector terminals, and

(8) an armored jacket mounted to the outside of the housing, the armored jacket (74) having extending fingers (82) about each of the connectors of the multi-face connector, and wherein the lighting receptacle and switch or switch assembly has components for mating with the fingers associated with the connector to which the receptacle and switch or switch assembly mate, and further wherein the first connector also has fingers (80) dimensioned for mating with at lest some of the multiface connector fingers (82) so that mechanical stress for mating connectors is passed through the armored jacket (74) of the multi-face connector without being imparted to the molded halves;

whereby power is only received by the connector assembly through the first connector which is remotely positioned away from the multi-face connector, wherein the multi-face connector distributes and controls power to receptacles, switch or switch assemblies, and connectors, and wherein the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth connectors are unable to mate with the source of electrical power.