Taped Wirenuts

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You Still Loose.

You Still Loose.

mivey said:
Still got it:
reply = posts - 1 :grin:
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Technicality Penalty. 5 minutes in the box. The goal was posts, not replys. The original post counts. For the next five minutes you must tape wirenuts. :grin:
 
frizbeedog said:
Technicality Penalty. 5 minutes in the box. The goal was posts, not replys. The original post counts. For the next five minutes you must tape wirenuts. :grin:
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But all I have is a cheap roll I found on one of the grocery store aisles. I don't mind the mess it makes on the wires, I just don't want the goo on my hands. Oh well, a penalty is a penalty. :smile:
 
Bycept said:
My father, who is a semi Retired Electrician/Engineer, and myself got into this debate. He then sent me a link to this thread and after reading most of the posts I notice that the sword still swings both ways on this issue. Now here is my knowledge.

First, Proper wire nut termination. If I have solid wires That I am terminating, I twist them together. No-Brainer there. If I have to a any stranded to the mix I twist the stranded, position it slightly higher (1/8-inch) then the solid group and push them in to the wire nut and twist. This will have the stranded go into the thread, and then solid group push the stranded up and against the threads. I get a very solid connection when I do this and I know cause I aways check with a smart tug as anyone should always do when they terminate a connector.:cool:

Now my Dad does it different by twisting the solids and stranded together. That's how he originally taught me but every-time I do it the stranded snakes it way out of the bundle before I can get it nutted. He says it's because he's just that good.:rolleyes:

To tape or not to tape?!

My company has a policy that taping is only necessary when termination the motor. Over time heavy vibration from these motors that are turning pumps can potentially cause the wire nuts to back off. This has not in my experience happened yet but we don't take that chance. Nor do we plan on wanting to find out. Having one of those connections come loose will be very costly to our customer and to my company that it is part of our procedure to tape them.I have even been told by a contract electrician that it is in violation of the NEC not to. Whenever someone Says something is Code or Not Code I always look it up. I haven't any mention of it in the NEC or the NFPA 79. However, for us and myself taping the wire nuts on motor connection is the safety net. You may never need and you don't want to find out. But, it's comforting that it's there just in case. To say that "If it's put on properly it won't come loose" is a boisterous and risky move.

To add to the other comments I have seen about the stick hassle of taking the tape of, I apply the tape in a manner so that it can be removed easily for service. because I have also have to mess with that mess too many times.

What I do Scotch Electric Tape. It seems to come off a little cleaner then other brands like 3M.

I start about 2 inches down the wire and wrap up to the wire nut at the end of the wrap, I fold the end of the tape so the next guy taking it apart has something to grab hold of.

In my opinion, motors terminations are the only terminations that get taped. and its for for the precautions against vibration only. If anyone tapes for moisture they should be using appropriate JB or Enclosure for those conditions.

And if people are going to look for sources for good wiring practices, you can't go wrong with the NEC. Or your on good common sense.

Many instruction manuals are like the one posted for what looks like a home light fixture written for Joe Q. Public in a manner that nothing can go wrong. The manufacture does not want any lawsuits because something wasn't in the manual and Joe's house burnt down or he got YARKED.

The only other times I ever use electric tape is for temporary use. Until I make a more permanent and professional connection. And for wrapping split bolt connections.
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In the above cases attempts are made to improve performance of a device that is not within its original functionality.

1./ If taping is done becuase the wirenuts are not designed to withstand constant vibration at a motor connection, it means you are not using the device for its intended purpose. If you apply tape to 'overcome" this defficiency, you are applying a solution that is entirely home-brewn and taking all liability of a resultant incident upon yourself.

2./ Ordinary wirenuts are not designed for wet and moist environment. There are wirenuts that are designed for that purpose. Use them.
 
For what it's worth according to NFPA 79-2007, Clause 13.5.9.2 states,"Electrical connections at motor terminal boxes shall be made with an identified method of connection.Twist-on wire connections shall not be used for this purpose." So there shouldn't even be wire nuts in the PH to tape.

If I'm mistakin, then let the beatings begin.:grin:
 
I am not a fan of taping wirenuts. Since I pre-twist, it seems
to me that the wirenut is just additional insurance on an
established splice.

On the other hand, I was on a jobsite yesterday where
the lead carpenter required his bandsaw (built in 1915,
93 years old) switch repaired. Because two ancient wires
needed to be spliced together and provide strain relief, I
did wirenut the connectors, and the tape provided a
strain relief on an external cord.

I only bring this up because I was think of this thread
as I taped the wirenuts -- just seems to me that strain
relief is a good reason to tape.

PS: the circa 1915 motor was ungrounded, but the
bandsaw still worked spendidly. If I didn't fix it, the
lead carpenter would have, and it wouldn't have been
as safe.
 
rexowner said:
I am not a fan of taping wirenuts. Since I pre-twist, it seems
to me that the wirenut is just additional insurance on an
established splice...
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How good would pre-twisted stranded wire hold together?:smile: The same type movement and pressures can take place on a group of solids, they are just not quite as mobile as the stranded. Wirenuts provide pressure to help keep these wires from separating. Unless the twist is long enough, I think a wirenut is more than insurance, it is a necessity (or something else that provides the same function).

There are times I have taped a wirenut to ensure that the stripped wire on the hard shell wirenuts is covered/protected. Since I've been using the 3M R/Y and B/G skirted wirenuts, I have not had this problem.
 
I did a job a couple years ago where I did the make up on almost every box there and generously taped up every single wirenut. ;)

I was questioned why at the time and sloughed it off, but the true reason is that I didn't trust another mechanic there to not go back over and mess with my work; so I added a layer of aggravation for him to deal with if inclined.
 
Taping the wire nuts makes them sticky. Sticky wire nuts irritate me and make me grumpy. When I see taped wire nuts I think homeowner or maintenance mechanic, depending where I find them.
 
This all originated from some urban legend about flying electrons

This all originated from some urban legend about flying electrons

Stop taping your nuts. They'll get sticky.

Right now I'm thinking 350 is possible....who's in?
 
frizbeedog said:
Stop taping your nuts. They'll get sticky.

Right now I'm thinking 350 is possible....who's in?
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You're such a.... dog :grin::grin::grin:

For awhile there the taping of the wirenuts was actually being discussed again.
 
yursparky said:
You're such a.... dog :grin::grin::grin:

For awhile there the taping of the wirenuts was actually being discussed again.
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I know, and dog gone it I'm reading every one of them. quite intresting.

I'm obssesed with taping wirenuts now. My new guilty pleasure.

I'd do it all day long if I could get paid for it. :rolleyes:

350's just around the corner. Some of the responses are still good.
 
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