Wire nuts ... invented when? What was used before?

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lakee911

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Columbus, OH
I came accross an install that had wires twisted and taped together very well but there was no wire nut inside. I thought it was a very good hack job. lol Was this a code compliant install at one time? The house was built in like 1910 and has some of every type of wire in it. Surprisingly, what is left of the K&T is in excellent shape too.
 
Wire nuts have been around a long time however solder was used also and still is in some places. However I am not sure twisting and just tape was ever compliant.
 
Twist wires - crimp connector - monkey grip (two sided black tape) - joint is complete.
I have done thousands (or at least a few) of these type connections over my life as an installer of electrical systems. Yes I started way back before anyone invented the electron, :D:D
 
lakee911 said:
I came accross an install that had wires twisted and taped together very well but there was no wire nut inside. I thought it was a very good hack job. lol Was this a code compliant install at one time? The house was built in like 1910 and has some of every type of wire in it. Surprisingly, what is left of the K&T is in excellent shape too.
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Wire nuts were invented in 1927 by Ideal heres a link..http://books.google.com/books?id=Az...resnum=10&ved=0CF4Q6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q&f=false
 
Well, almost correct. The inventor was Buchannan- and he was bought out by Ideal.

I didn't think it was that long ago; I rarely find them in work older than, say, 1960.

Wire connections need only to be 'mechanically and electrically secure,' and insulated. You are not allowed to use solder alone for the mechanical securing. "Insulated" is defined as at least two layers of tape. (My source are various UL standards that discuss wire connection within appliances).
 
renosteinke said:
Well, almost correct. The inventor was Buchannan- and he was bought out by Ideal.

I didn't think it was that long ago; I rarely find them in work older than, say, 1960.

Wire connections need only to be 'mechanically and electrically secure,' and insulated. You are not allowed to use solder alone for the mechanical securing. "Insulated" is defined as at least two layers of tape. (My source are various UL standards that discuss wire connection within appliances).
Click to expand...

So, then twisted and taped could be code compliant then, right?
 
I've seen the crimps with the rubber boots (what a pain those are), porcelain ones and a couple of the set screw ones. The solder and tape joints were the real pain in the you know what to work on.
 
"Marti, I need some wirenuts."

"What are you talking about?"

"These", holds up wirenuts.

"Those are scotchlocks, not wirenuts!"

"What's a scotchlock?"
 
From my observaion, out here it went:

20's thru 40's = solder/tape

late 40's early 50's = crimp sleeve/tape

early 50's = crimp sleeve, cap or rubber boot thingy

late 50's, early 60's = crimped "wirenut"

mid 60's = screw on wire nut

I think I've seen a few twisted and taped splices but I doubt it was ever legal. I think they just ran out of crimps and figured it was good enough.

The only porcelain nuts I've seen were small ones, on fixtures.
 
from oldest I've seen to today...
1-twisted/soldered/taped w/ "friction" tape
2-twisted/crimped w/ brass barrel "buchanon"/taped
3-twisted/backalite or porcelain wirenut/taped
even saw a few brass sleeves w/ set screws and threads for porcelain wirenut type cover
4-twisted/plastic wirenut/plastic tape
5-wirenut w/ longer skirts and wings for torque and internal springs
 
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Ideal still makes those set screw wire nuts (the ones with the brass piece with setscrew and a wirenut looking cap that screws onto it)
 
renosteinke said:
Well, almost correct. The inventor was Buchannan- and he was bought out by Ideal.

I didn't think it was that long ago; I rarely find them in work older than, say, 1960.
Click to expand...
I'm on the other side of the pond.
The only ones I have seen were porcelain, usually called Scruits, and I haven't seen any used here since about the 1960s.
Mostly, wires are joined in fixed terminal blocks and most electrical fixtures have provision for doing that. Light switches and ceiling roses usually have extra terminals for switch wires. The need for wire nuts has gone.
Different practices, I know.
 
lakee911 said:
I came accross an install that had wires twisted and taped together very well but there was no wire nut inside. I thought it was a very good hack job. lol Was this a code compliant install at one time? The house was built in like 1910 and has some of every type of wire in it. Surprisingly, what is left of the K&T is in excellent shape too.
Click to expand...

My Dads house, built in the 40's, has twisted and taped. It is way out in the country, owner built, no inspections. But it does have some real good wood framing, saw mill oak all the way trough!

He died last August and probate said we can sell it now. I want to sell as is, with that disclosure, if possible. I'm hoping they don't make me rewire it!
 
renosteinke said:
Well, almost correct. The inventor was Buchannan- and he was bought out by Ideal.

I didn't think it was that long ago; I rarely find them in work older than, say, 1960.

Wire connections need only to be 'mechanically and electrically secure,' and insulated. You are not allowed to use solder alone for the mechanical securing. "Insulated" is defined as at least two layers of tape. (My source are various UL standards that discuss wire connection within appliances).
Click to expand...

Buchannan- and he was bought out by Ideal
Click to expand...
.

Do you have a link for that info?:confused:
 
hockeyoligist2 said:
My Dads house, built in the 40's, has twisted and taped. It is way out in the country, owner built, no inspections. But it does have some real good wood framing, saw mill oak all the way trough!

He died last August and probate said we can sell it now. I want to sell as is, with that disclosure, if possible. I'm hoping they don't make me rewire it!
Click to expand...


My First house was a "company built" Housing project built also in the 40's & they were all twisted & frictioned taped like your dads. I would think that most of them are still like that today.................

Brought back a troubleshooting memory here! My bedroom light used to go out when it was hot outside. I traced it to the attic & found a connection in a jct box- not twisted together good-but just one loop on each wire together.
When the temp got so hot in the attic-the friction tape would expand & the loops would seperate apart-breaking connection to the light.............. WIERD !!!!!!
 
Weird indeed.....
First, a slight separation on the wires would cause an arc, which in time would melt the wires apart.
Second, I wasn't aware cloth expanded that much, and I could swear friction tape is made of cloth and tar (basically)

mrmike said:
My First house was a "company built" Housing project built also in the 40's & they were all twisted & frictioned taped like your dads. I would think that most of them are still like that today.................

Brought back a troubleshooting memory here! My bedroom light used to go out when it was hot outside. I traced it to the attic & found a connection in a jct box- not twisted together good-but just one loop on each wire together.
When the temp got so hot in the attic-the friction tape would expand & the loops would seperate apart-breaking connection to the light.............. WIERD !!!!!!
Click to expand...
 
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