Taped Wire Nuts

[JFletcher]

When you need to climb 100 feet down on some structure, or are in the furthest corner of some crawlspace and don't want to make your way all the way to the truck, supply room, etc just for one wire connector when you have one with you that that is used but will work....

We have a winner!

 

[Aleman]

Which is probably what happened with the mentioned red connector that failed on a pair of 14's. A new connector should have worked on two #14's.

Well, yes that's what he did. Was too lazy to get new nuts. And too lazy to re strip. It was a re cable job all new cable in tray to existing motors, fresh strip on the new and didn't bother to fresh strip the old.
But seriously the yellow nuts are a much better fit for 2 14's. The reds will work sure but yellow is more better in this application. Bad english I know but I have always liked to say more better. Makes me happy.

 

[ghorwood]

Wire nuts never require tape when installed correctly. Silicone filled wire nuts are available for use if one is worried about moisture. How do you guys feel about wrapping wiring devices with tape? I see it all the time. Personally, I think it's a waste of time and tape. Not to mention the black sticky mess it makes on the device. Thoughts?

 

[peter d]

Wire nuts never require tape when installed correctly. Silicone filled wire nuts are available for use if one is worried about moisture. How do you guys feel about wrapping wiring devices with tape? I see it all the time. Personally, I think it's a waste of time and tape. Not to mention the black sticky mess it makes on the device. Thoughts?

I never tape wirenuts and I only tape receptacles if it's a GFCI in a really small metal old work box.

 

[kwired]

Wire nuts never require tape when installed correctly. Silicone filled wire nuts are available for use if one is worried about moisture. How do you guys feel about wrapping wiring devices with tape? I see it all the time. Personally, I think it's a waste of time and tape. Not to mention the black sticky mess it makes on the device. Thoughts?

Tape holds water in just as good as it holds water out:happyyes:

 

[user 100]

.....only tape receptacles if it's a GFCI in a really small metal old work box.

^^^^^^^^^^
This is really the only plausible reason for doing it in a house.

The old GEM/BMC boxes just dont give you much room.

Tape holds water in just as good as it holds water out:happyyes:

:thumbsup:

Have pulled apart exterior joints that are full of the green crud and nasty- due solely to being wrapped in tape.:happyno:

 

[kwired]

Originally Posted by peter d
.....only tape receptacles if it's a GFCI in a really small metal old work box.

All the GFCI's I have ever used never have the terminal screws extend past the outer plane of the GFCI body. Occasionally you may have a "Madison clip" or "F clamp" that tries to contact a terminal though.

 

[George Stolz]

Tape holds water in just as good as it holds water out:happyyes:

Not entirely accurate; I think it does a better job holding it in.

 

[peter d]

All the GFCI's I have ever used never have the terminal screws extend past the outer plane of the GFCI body. Occasionally you may have a "Madison clip" or "F clamp" that tries to contact a terminal though.

Where would I be without you explaining stuff I've been doing for 20 years. :slaphead:

 

[OldSparks]

In the late 60's, an electrical inspector I really respected (firm but fair kinda guy) told me that "if you need to tape a wire nut, it either is not properly installed OR not the correct device for the job". Therefore, I've never taped a wire nut. Coated some with the 3M Scothkote goop, used the silicone ones, but no tape.