twisting wires

[Volta]

The insulation's handy but you could get that from tape.

The true work of a pressure connector is to maintain firm pressure on the conductors comprising the splice, in my opinion.

 

[macmikeman]

I never did it, but Buchannon crimp barrels are listed for use on current carrying wires and field insulated with tape or the plastic sleeve covers. I have come across many many done this way, some of them burnt up, but then again I have seen lots of cooked up wirenut connections also. I hardly pretwist anymore due to carpal. I put them in a tan twister strait, then let my impact drill and wirenut wrench do the securing. End result = same, the wires are twisted together tightly afterwards. Visual check of the wirenut for overstress is mandatory if you proceed to use my method...

 

[iwire]

but that doesn't mean that pre-twisting doesn't provide a superior twist. Whether it makes a difference electrically I don't know, but mechanically it's superior.

A superior twist? That is some funny stuff. :grin:

 

[jumper]

Okay, I admit I am twisted.......er, I mean I am a twister.

 

[Karl H]

I've been in commercial/industrial service for 25 years and I've seen a lot
of failures due to "Loose" un-twisted splices. I can recall at least (9)
instances, where a loose un-twisted grounded conductor damaged/
destroyed equipment. I prefer to learn from the mistakes of others.

My name is Karl, and I'm a Twister.

 

[cowboyjwc]

Clockwise, or Counterclockwise??

Steve

Righty tighty, lefty loosey.

 

[growler]

I was tought to allways twist my wires together befor putting on a wire nut. Is there a code saying such?

You are not required to twist but would you save more time by not twisting once you consider that a bad connection would mean a call-back and maybe some time spent trouble shooting.

I think it's more cost effective to make good splices on the types of jobs that I do. I have worked for companies that didn't think that way, they would rather have a few repairs. It's your choice.

 

[Hameedulla-Ekhlas]

I was tought to allways twist my wires together befor putting on a wire nut. Is there a code saying such?

Smoking!

I think the only purpose of twisting is to ensure that boxes do not become overcrowed. The code has conductor fill rules intended . Section 314.16 requires that boxes and conduit bodies shall be of sufficient size to provide free space for all enclosed conductors.

 

[iwire]

I've been in commercial/industrial service for 25 years and I've seen a lot
of failures due to "Loose" un-twisted splices. I can recall at least (9)
instances, where a loose un-twisted grounded conductor damaged/
destroyed equipment. I prefer to learn from the mistakes of others.

My name is Karl, and I'm a Twister.

This is the part that always gets lost.:grin:

No one here is saying when completed the wires should not be twisted, the instructions require it.

All some of us are pointing out is that 'pre-twisting' is no better than 'post -twisting' the result is the same, the wires are twisted together and will stay together if the wire nut is removed.

 

[iwire]

Smoking!

I think the only purpose of twisting is to ensure that boxes do not become overcrowed. The code has conductor fill rules intended . Section 314.16 requires that boxes and conduit bodies shall be of sufficient size to provide free space for all enclosed conductors.

No offense but you are clueless on this one. :grin:

 

[marinesgt0411]

Read the instructions on the bag of wire nuts.

That said just think about the fact that you do not normally find a loose connection on a splice that has been pretwisted as often as you find loose connections on splices that have not.

If a wire nut is PROPERLY INSTALLED pretwisting is not required

 

[LarryFine]

If a wire nut is PROPERLY INSTALLED pretwisting is not required

And, post-twisting is unavoidable.

 

[readydave8]

I used to pretwist but now rarely do. Once the wire nut starts I like to pull back on each conducter, if one is loose later its probably going to pull out now. Then I finish with nutdriver or Ideal tool.

But I don't have any real objections to pretwisting.

 

[acrwc10]

I was tought to allways twist my wires together befor putting on a wire nut. Is there a code saying such?

Yes, it is right after the code about what direction the ground lug is supposed to face on a receptacle. UP/down??????

 

[acrwc10]

Smoking!

I think the only purpose of twisting is to ensure that boxes do not become overcrowed. The code has conductor fill rules intended . Section 314.16 requires that boxes and conduit bodies shall be of sufficient size to provide free space for all enclosed conductors.

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????What did he say?

 

[glene77is]

Read the instructions on the bag of wire nuts.

Marine,

Check with the manufacturers.
I found each provides a 'torque' requirement
described by saying that the wires must end-up being post-twisted, with the twist showing below the wire-nut skirt.

I agree with iWire basically.
They should end-up being in a post-twisted state,
and stay together when the wire-nut is removed.

 

[yankj]

Wait until the day you are troubleshooting a hot circuit and remove wirenut and have all the conductors fly apart; you'll pre-twist!

 

[jumper]

Wait until the day you are troubleshooting a hot circuit and remove wirenut and have all the conductors fly apart; you'll pre-twist!

I do not worry about anymore, I have this silly habit of de-energizing a box before I start poking around in it now.

 

[iwire]

Wait until the day you are troubleshooting a hot circuit and remove wirenut and have all the conductors fly apart; you'll pre-twist!

AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No one has said the wires should not be twisted, only that it makes no difference if you do it before or after the wire nut goes on.

 

[xformer]

I prefer twisting wires together to make joints... And the reason that I prefer twisting wires is in dealing with MWBC's When one depends on the wire nut to twist as in no twisting required, When the wirenut gets removed, the wires have a tendency to untwist and the lost neutral connection becomes a slight problem. But with pretwisted wire going in a wirenut, the wires don't have such a tendency to untwist.... I also prefer to twist the main circuit conductors first then twist in any taps to fixtures... which also aids in continuity...