ground splice

[abode electric]

I have been in the field for over 15 years and using red, yellow and tan ideal wire nuts to splice ground wires. I just had an inspector tell me that this is not code compliant sighting 250.148. He wants a barrel crimp or green wire nut. Has anbody else ever heard of this? 250.148 states that if you remove the device that you don't break the ground path. I don't see a problem with the wire nuts if use.

 

[tom baker]

Re: ground splice

Yes it is a listing requirement. Red, yellow wire nuts can be used for any type connection, but green wire nuts (and that is a trademark of ideal) can only be used for equipment grounding conductors.

The following is part of an email from a product manager from Ideal:

Tom, the use of a connector, grounding or current carrying, depends on the UL listing.

The following IDEAL connectors are UL listed for grounding and can be used in grounding applications:
#1. Twist-on 30-092 Greenie
#2. Crimp type 30-408, 410, 411, and 412
#3. AL/CU type 30-060
#4. Push-In 30-084 through 30-690 and 30-012 through 30-018
#5. Term-A-Nut 30-3180

The following IDEAL connectors are UL listed for current carrying and can be used on current carrying applications:
#1. Twist-On "Wire-Nut 30-071 through 30-076, Wing-Nut 30-451 through 30-454, and Twister 30-341 &
342.
#2. Speciality twist-on 30-063 (direct burial) and 30-065
(AL/CU)
#3. Crimp type 30-408, 410, 411, and 412
#4. Push-In 30-084 through 30-690 and 30-012 through 30-018
#5. Term-A-Nut 30-30-3150 through 3173

The only connectors that are listed for both grounding and current carrying and can be used for both grounding and current carrying applications are:
#1. Crimp type 30-408, 410, 411, and 412
#2. AL/CU type 30-060
#3. Push-In 30-084 through 30-690 and 30-012 through 30-018

The IDEAL Green grounding connector 30-092 has a hole in the end of the connector and will not pass the UL "Splicing Wire Connector Standard 486C" for current carrying applications.

I hope this information helps.

. . . Bill Blaha

So your inspector is right and wrong. You need to look at the UL Listing, if he insists then he should show you the listing, but the listing allows red, yellow etc for grounding.

 

[luke warmwater]

Re: ground splice

Thumbs down to the inspector. Next he'll want all of your terminal lugs that you use for grounds to be green too.

 

[abode electric]

Re: ground splice

he is not sighting that there not listed. Do you know that romex staples are not listed?

 

[pierre]

Re: ground splice

There are some people who believe that 110.3(B) requires that listed material be installed. That is not what it is saying. Listed or labeled material is to be installed specifically where the NEC requires it.
110.2 Approved.
This is where the AHJ is given the authority to 'approve' material for installations. A lot of times the AHJ will 'like' listed material to be installed because it makes his job of approving the installation less difficult.
334.30 Securing and Support.
There is no requirement that the staples be listed in this section.

Pierre

 

[david]

Re: ground splice

abode electric:

I agree with you as long as you are bringing a pigtail to the device I can not see this effecting the continuity of the equipment ground by removing this device.

 

[hurk27]

Re: ground splice

I never relized that the color of a copper wire insulation could be dangerous if a wire-nut was installed that didnt have the same color?
I can understand that the greennie's can't be used for current carring conductor's
But what would be the danger of a current carrying type wire-nut installed on a ground wire? do you think it would start a fire? would it be a shock hazard? I just dont understand how codes like this make it into the NEC