Do you twist your solid wires together before you put them in a wirenut.

[Barndog]

If you pre-twist, you can always be extra-extra sure of the connection by wrapping tape after you put the wirenut on.

Thats another topic taping your wire nuts. I do it on very seldom occasions. But you should never rely on tape holding your splices together.

 

[readydave8]

Its made to bite into more than one solid wire though. My experience is that if you strip it back the wire nut falls off and then you have more bare wire exposed.

little blue or orange on solid #12 shouldn't fall off.

 

[Eddy Current]

little blue or orange on solid #12 shouldn't fall off.

Oh ok yeah a blue shouldn't fall off but i don't see a lot of people using blues on #12.

 

[LarryFine]

If you pre-twist, you can always be extra-extra sure of the connection by wrapping tape after you put the wirenut on.

I just recently removed a wirenut and found tape under it. :roll: Honest injun!

 

[Twoskinsoneman]

little blue or orange on solid #12 shouldn't fall off.

Yeah if the nut can fall off or comes off with a little tug it either wasn't put on right or is the wrong size IMO

 

[George Stolz]

A red shouldn't fall off, if the installer gave it a tug to ensure that the nut wasn't going to fall off.

 

[weressl]

I just recently removed a wirenut and found tape under it. :roll: Honest injun!

Was it an 8-track?

 

[LarryFine]

Was it an 8-track?

Nope. 1 track - mono.

 

[PetrosA]

Interesting how it's the basics that get us all riled up

It has been my understanding that twisting is what the code has had in mind for decades when they refer to "mechanically sound" and that solder or wirenuts are only there to keep them from springing apart from thermal expansion. That being said, if a wirenut is designed to be used for twisting wires, I don't see any problem with using it that way.

I was taught to pre-twist but I don't always depending on what kind of wirenuts I'm using. Traditionally shaped 72b and 73b sizes are fine for twisting, 74b and 76b not always. I don't use "reds" anymore - I've moved on to the red/yellow rubber coated Ideals which are waaaaay easier on my sore wrists for larger wires and they're very well designed for twisting wires. I was also taught to strip wire with my lineman's - now I use a stripper. I also use the stripper for cutting wire and cutting pretwisted wires since it leaves a nice, flat cut that the wirenut bites into better.

The one wirenut practice that I don't like is using tan wirenuts for any size wire. Yes, they grab a lot of sizes, but I think they look too OEM

 

[tryinghard]

...The one wirenut practice that I don't like is using tan wirenuts for any size wire. Yes, they grab a lot of sizes, but I think they look too OEM

Hey, hey, hey love them tans!

 

[PetrosA]

Hey, hey, hey love them tans!

yeah yeah, I know I know

 

[Chamuit]

Read the directions.

Read the directions.

Don't all the manufacturers include directions?

Check #5 on the instructions.

 

[james_mcquade]

Always. solid or copper.
A co-worker didn't twist and i had to trouble shoot his work 3 times.
wire came out of the wire nut and guess how i found it out.
the 3rd time, it was our customer. he called the boss and
after a good talking to, we twist, period.

regards,
james

 

[LarryFine]

solid or copper.

Do you walk to school or carry your lunch?

 

[stevenje]

If you pre-twist, you can always be extra-extra sure of the connection by wrapping tape after you put the wirenut on.

and then dip it in Scotchkote and then give it two wraps of Friction tape followed by another dip in Scotchkote and then......

 

[Besoeker]

a coworker and I got into a discussion about twisting solid wires together in a Junction box before you put them in a wirenut.

what is your opinion

What's a wirenut?


Slightly more seriously, I'm from UK and we haven't used them here in probably forty years. I think they were known as Scruits but my recollection is that was a brand name.

Found this:

Save up to 150% in wire connection time, while minimizing injury and health claims. This revolutionary new SCRU-IT? wire connector provides better quality splices, increased productivity, easier installation, and fewer carpal tunnel injuries and related health claims. This patented, U.L. approved connector installs easily and quickly with a #2 Philips bit, in an cordless screwdriver. Results from comparative field testing confirm that SCRU-IT? wire connectors are much faster and less expensive than "twist on" connectors.

http://scru-it.com/index.html
It's US rather than UK and possibly a more recent entry to the market judging by the (rather badly written) sales pitch.

 

[tryinghard]

Twist em? Kinda like - do you tie em in a knot do you tie em in a bow?

It?s all about making a good splice, compare this to ring or spade terminals notice the torque spec for an 8-32, 10-24, & 10-32 = 14-19, 21-27, & 23-31 inch pounds respectively (that aint much); the surface connection is so small compared to a wire nut splice.

 

[tekelec]

I always twist my wires when making a splice. Back in the seventies we were always taught to make five turns minimal to ensure the splice was mechanically and electrically secure. Nowadays I see it done with and without twisting and after reading this thread , one can see there are many opinions on this. As for me I will continue to twist.

 

[rt66electric]

How many have come apart during trouble shooting??

How many have come apart during trouble shooting??

Let me ask>> How many time have you open up a j-box (while trouble shooting "live" --why live-because-- it is hard to locate voltage when is not on) and have had untwisted wires "spring-out" of wire-nuts at you.

From hard earned experiance I had learned to twist the wires before removing a questionable connection.

(sing to row-row-row-your-boat) TWIST-TWIST-TWIST your joints nice and really tight. LAH-de-dah LAH-dehaH Light-it-up and pass around and really blow your mind Whoops !! wrong second verse(bad habit) It shoud go.... close the box, shut it up really tight . lah-de-dah flip the breaker and see if blows off the wall>>>>

 

[stevenje]

Let me ask>> How many time have you open up a j-box (while trouble shooting "live" --why live-because-- it is hard to locate voltage when is not on) and have had untwisted wires "spring-out" of wire-nuts at you.

Yep, Been there. There is nothing like having a neutral "pop out" on a shared neutral circuit. I can smell the smoke from here.