Approved gronding of devices

[wrestless]

Recently I received a violation for grounding devices in non metalic boxes by the use of looping the ground wire around the ground screw on receptacle and splicing with the remaining grounds in box using a we'll call RED wire nut.I
for one can not see why we have to use a copper
crimp or GREEN wire nut.The inspector keeps siteing art 250-126 and unless Im reading this wrong this is for DEVICE TERMINALS ,then he goes off telling me that he is T.A.H.J.and has the right to say which piece I should use.I said OK but I think the town or city should have that in writing or ADDENDUM. Can anyone clarify if this is not legal? (I mean I usually spice my grounds
that are terminated in a non metallic box with no
devices with a RED wire nut).

 

[electricman2]

Re: Approved gronding of devices

I use sta-kons to splice EGC's mainly because they are cheaper and faster but if he is saying that EGC's must be splicd with green wire nuts then sounds like he is off the wall.

 

[a.wayne3@verizon.net]

Re: Approved gronding of devices

Take a look at 250.126 (3)Since most of the time the ground is 1st joint made and is in the back of the box it is hard to see.

 

[bennie]

Re: Approved gronding of devices

I understand the green wire nuts are listed for the higher current that will develop during a LG fault.

Anyone know what the sta-kons are rated for?

 

[roger]

Re: Approved gronding of devices

This inspector is not reading the article right.

I have a problem is with this,

then he goes off telling me that he is T.A.H.J.and has the right to say which piece I should use.

this is a dangerous person.

Roger

 

[jim dungar]

Re: Approved gronding of devices

Short answer:
UL tests "green" wire nuts for grounding wires only.
UL tests "colored" wire nuts for all situations including grounding wires.

There is no UL nor NEC requirement that any grounding connector must be green (other than screws on devices).

 

[electricman2]

Re: Approved gronding of devices

Wire nuts and sta-kons fall into This category in the UL white book. It says nothing about fault current cabability that Bennie has mentioned.

 

[a.wayne3@verizon.net]

Re: Approved gronding of devices

110.14 B has the answer.Identified for that use Ul take over Reds win wire is wire

 

[greydude2002]

wire nuts for grounding

wire nuts for grounding

In the Detroit area the inspectors will not allow wire nuts to tie grounds in a plastic box they want barrels (crimp connectors ) claiming pressure connectors ( wire nuts ) are not approved for grounding.

 

[infinity]

I'm glad to see that we are safer when inspectors make up their own codes. A wirenut must be green? Where to they get this stuff? A crimp must be used? Those are great for the next guy that needs to take apart the splice. That may be a local code but it's not in the NEC for a reason.

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

The grounding wirenuts (greenies) are tested by UL to a different standard than standard wirenuts. I think the greenies are 487 and the regular wirenuts are 486 (I am not positive of the standard numbers). That is probably the reason the inspector is looking for the green wirenuts.

Personnally, I do not get caught up in whether yellow or red wirenuts will survive a fault. I see the yellow or red survive the phase side of a fault, so they should survive the equipment ground side as well.

 

[Jim W in Tampa]

This inspector should know everything about NUTS being he is one himself.The reason behind the green wire nuts is to help the romex guys.It has a hole in the end to allow one conductor to pass thru (very handy).The reason its green is so we dont mix it up with red ones by mistake.While the green ones have limited uses the red ones do not.You have 2 choices here,either let this NUT tell you what he wants or fight him to back off before you take him to court.Go to his boss first and unless this is a small hick town your problem should end.Sometimes we feel like a nut sometimes we are one.

 

[petersonra]

In the Detroit area the inspectors will not allow wire nuts to tie grounds in a plastic box they want barrels (crimp connectors ) claiming pressure connectors ( wire nuts ) are not approved for grounding.

are the crimp connectors approved for grounding?

 

[George Stolz]

In the Detroit area the inspectors will not allow wire nuts to tie grounds in a plastic box they want barrels (crimp connectors ) claiming pressure connectors ( wire nuts ) are not approved for grounding.

That fascinates me. I echo the sentiments of the above members.

Around here, the burgeoning craze is to verify that if we use crimp sleeves, that we use the tool designed for that part # sleeve. I think it's a little overzealous, but it is a legitimate check for compliance with 110.3(B).

 

[George Stolz]

are the crimp connectors approved for grounding?

Their product packaging doesn't make any note of it.

In fact, the use of crimp connectors to leave a few tails out the top for connection of a couple devices is technically a listing violation. See the end of this thread for details.

 

[infinity]

So a green wirenut is going to carry more fault current than a red one. So the red wire nut on the hot leg will melt but the green wirenut won't. How's that for logic?

 

[macmikeman]

Green wirenuts sure do eat up that box space. Give me T+B crimp barrel and a listed T+B tool anytime.

 

[Jim W in Tampa]

So a green wirenut is going to carry more fault current than a red one. So the red wire nut on the hot leg will melt but the green wirenut won't. How's that for logic?

They are identical except for the hole in the green one.You can not use the green for anything other than grounding conductors.The red can do the job of the green and also other wires.

 

[Minuteman]

I think it's pretty much a consensus here. Crimp barrels are preferred and reds are okay. Your AHJ is another problem. Pick your battleground. If you are in a one horse town, you may have to deal with this guy for along time.

 

[infinity]

They are identical except for the hole in the green one.You can not use the green for anything other than grounding conductors.The red can do the job of the green and also other wires.

I agree with you Jim. Just wanted to point out that the inspector needs a little help.