Wires under a wire nut
- Thread starter jstrang
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Riograndeelectric
Senior Member
- Location
- Lakewood Colorado
you will need to look at the box that the wire nuts came into see what the manufacture instructions say.
The issue is not with the NEC but with the manufacture of the wire nut. I know that on the ideal green wire nuts you Can only use 4#12S
The issue is not with the NEC but with the manufacture of the wire nut. I know that on the ideal green wire nuts you Can only use 4#12S
Buck Parrish
Senior Member
- Location
- NC & IN
I depends on the brand and exact connector.
Here's Ideal's chart:
http://www.idealindustries.com/media/pdfs/products/references/ideal_ul_listed_combinations.pdf
Here's Ideal's chart:
http://www.idealindustries.com/media/pdfs/products/references/ideal_ul_listed_combinations.pdf
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
I have a box of 3M Scotchlok B, blue wire connectors that lists 3 to 6-#12 AWG conductors.
this is an example of some inspector making a mountain out of a mole hill.
second it is an example of the worse kind....people having POWER and NOT knowing what they are talking about.
this is the way that i deal with inspectors (i don't work in the electrical career field any longer)....don't talk to me unless you can back up what you are saying, because if you do, the first thing I am going to ask you is "where does it say that?" in my job you can't "write" me up for something that doesn't exist, if they document it, it has to have a referrence, no referrence, no write up.
most people i know are just intimidated by them and they just do what they say so they will leave them alone. me, no way, i want to know my job.
we have rules for a reason....if we have people going around making up things then what are the rules for.
second it is an example of the worse kind....people having POWER and NOT knowing what they are talking about.
this is the way that i deal with inspectors (i don't work in the electrical career field any longer)....don't talk to me unless you can back up what you are saying, because if you do, the first thing I am going to ask you is "where does it say that?" in my job you can't "write" me up for something that doesn't exist, if they document it, it has to have a referrence, no referrence, no write up.
most people i know are just intimidated by them and they just do what they say so they will leave them alone. me, no way, i want to know my job.
we have rules for a reason....if we have people going around making up things then what are the rules for.
sometimes inspectors do know...
as shown in post 4, the Ideal red wingnut is not listed for 5 #12
this chart: http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?66666UuZjcFSLXTtmX&y5xs6EVuQEcuZgVs6EVs6E666666--
shows the red scotchlok is not listed for 5 #12s so at this point the odds are in the inspectors favor.
What model/brand wire nut were you using.
(for rwreuter's benefit the red tag would be for NEC 110.3(B) )
as shown in post 4, the Ideal red wingnut is not listed for 5 #12
this chart: http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?66666UuZjcFSLXTtmX&y5xs6EVuQEcuZgVs6EVs6E666666--
shows the red scotchlok is not listed for 5 #12s so at this point the odds are in the inspectors favor.
What model/brand wire nut were you using.
(for rwreuter's benefit the red tag would be for NEC 110.3(B) )
e57
Senior Member
- Location
- San Francisco, CA
5 for a red of many modern types is not uncommon. Even then - as it depends on the model - there are listed combinations that are not even on the box/bag, but available from the manufacturer as it is quite a lot of info to but on a small box... Like on page 2 of this - the dot represents a listed combination on the graph.
So if it were that model number - he might be eatin' crow.
And if it were one of these - note the graph is set up different - it the vertical column, PLUS the horizontal column - he might have to eat a pigeon...
If one of these - only in certain combos of #12 solid with stranded would he have a leg up in giving someone a red tag for something so silly as a unsubstantiated rumor or myth, or grasping for an nonexistent code.
So if it were that model number - he might be eatin' crow.
And if it were one of these - note the graph is set up different - it the vertical column, PLUS the horizontal column - he might have to eat a pigeon...
If one of these - only in certain combos of #12 solid with stranded would he have a leg up in giving someone a red tag for something so silly as a unsubstantiated rumor or myth, or grasping for an nonexistent code.
Last edited:
jxofaltrds
Inspector Mike®
- Location
- Mike P. Columbus Ohio
- Occupation
- ESI, PI, RBO
e57
Senior Member
- Location
- San Francisco, CA
Oh - I had that guy on my crew some time back - 'Mr. Screwgun is in charger - so sit on butt'... He has a brother called 'I left all of my tools at my side job' - I sacked them both.
Back to the links with instructions - note the parts about twisting or not twisting wire first...
jmellc
Senior Member
- Location
- Durham, NC
- Occupation
- Facility Maintenance Tech. Licensed Electrician
e57
Senior Member
- Location
- San Francisco, CA
You sack 'em for low/no production. Hand tools are your stuff... A screw-gun is a personal luxury - sans that I don't care how big your forearms get.
electricmanscott
Senior Member
- Location
- Boston, MA
hardworkingstiff
Senior Member
- Location
- Wilmington, NC
I had a ceiling inspection called in and was making up a junction box when the inspector showed up. I was using B-2 wire nuts. The inspector asked how many #12's I could get into one of those wire nuts. I said "quite a few, but by code only 4 solids or 5 stranded" (or the other way around, I don't remember, but I had just read the bag 10-minutes before he showed up). He got this puzzled look on his face, picked up the bag and read the instructions.
We got along great. :grin:
We got along great. :grin:
e57
Senior Member
- Location
- San Francisco, CA
lakee911
Senior Member
- Location
- Columbus, OH
- Status