Wire nuts exposed? Low voltage wiring (class2)

[Beau]

The application is low voltage residential LED lighting. All UL 8750 listed LED components, powered by Class 2 power supply, CL2 rated cable or above etc.

We get this question a lot? Inside a residential home, is it a code violation to splice 12V DC low voltage wires together using simple wire nuts? That is, the splice is not made in a junction box. Not inside a wall, but maybe above or below a kitchen cabinet. The LED lights come with simple wire leads, but often one has to splice in some extra CL2 wire to get to the LED driver, which may or may not be hardwired.

I understand that splices for low voltage wiring (class2) are not required to be made within an enclosure, but what is the best method for making these splices that won?t be questioned by an inspector? Are wire nuts acceptable? Will any UL listed connector that is rated for the job pass code? UL simply states ?A splice shall be made with solder or a wire connector and shall be electrically and mechanically secure?

We?re not a fan of recommending wire nuts when they may be seen. There are some other new connector products coming on the market like the Tyco CoolSplice that is, UL listed and does look... pretty cool. Will this pass code?

http://www.digikey.com/Web Export/S...PDF/te-coolsplice-connectors.pdf?redirected=1

Thanks

 

[don_resqcapt19]

I have approved this post as it is not asking for "how to" do information.

 

[petersonra]

I don't recall any requirement that class 2 circuits be spliced inside a jbox.

 

[Twoskinsoneman]

read through 725.130
I don't see anything wrong with your wire nuts

 

[Little Bill]

If you don't get/use your "cool" connectors, I think soldering them and covering with heat shrink would look cleaner than wirenuts.

 

[weressl]

The application is low voltage residential LED lighting. All UL 8750 listed LED components, powered by Class 2 power supply, CL2 rated cable or above etc.

We get this question a lot? Inside a residential home, is it a code violation to splice 12V DC low voltage wires together using simple wire nuts? That is, the splice is not made in a junction box. Not inside a wall, but maybe above or below a kitchen cabinet. The LED lights come with simple wire leads, but often one has to splice in some extra CL2 wire to get to the LED driver, which may or may not be hardwired.

I understand that splices for low voltage wiring (class2) are not required to be made within an enclosure, but what is the best method for making these splices that won?t be questioned by an inspector? Are wire nuts acceptable? Will any UL listed connector that is rated for the job pass code? UL simply states ?A splice shall be made with solder or a wire connector and shall be electrically and mechanically secure?

We?re not a fan of recommending wire nuts when they may be seen. There are some other new connector products coming on the market like the Tyco CoolSplice that is, UL listed and does look... pretty cool. Will this pass code?

http://www.digikey.com/Web Export/Supplier Content/Tyco_8004/PDF/te-coolsplice-connectors.pdf?redirected=1

Thanks

There may not be a Code issue here, but certainly an operational and safety issue. Wirenuts are designed to be installed in a place where they are not subjected to casual and inadvertent physical contact. How often one opens up a box and tries to move the wire bundle around and experiences the loosening of the wirenuts in the process, even to the degree of having them fall off DUE to the repeated disturbance?

In the case of exposed wiring on top or bottom of cabinets, the wirenuts may be subject to the periodic 'dusting' where the "janitorial technician" would run the dustrug over the wirenuts and potentially snagging them. Since this is low voltage,there is no personell safety exposure involved,but the loosened wires could certainly interrupt the service or even shorten and damage the power supply or even be a source of fire.

The WAGO type connectors or crimped splices are not subject to the same. In other terms connecors that can only be removed with tools, or are permanently installed - nonremovables - would be the workmanlike manner of installation.