To twist or not to twist

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480sparky said:
I pre-twist only solid wires. If they're all stranded, pre-twisting doesn't do much good...
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unless the bundle looks like Lisa Simpson's hair before you start, then pre-twisting helps get the cap on without any escapees.
 
peter d said:
Echo...


echo....


echo.....
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Yeah, yeah, yeah. I usually go through the post list and pull out a stack of threads I want to read. Sometimes I forget how long it has been since I pulled out the thread. Refreshes are taking a long time today for some reason.
 
My humbled opinion

My humbled opinion

Ground up/down?
There is not a place in the code that requires either, however, if you look at the UL listing a receptacle, the listing recommends the ground be up.
It's more that you better read your spec books.

As for as a wirenut.

A wirenut is only meant to be an insulating cap it is not to be used as a connection between conductors. Some wirenut manuf. state that their wirenuts will do the twisting for you. Not pretwisting wires will bring you to doing alot of work for free, call backs that is.

I would think that anyone would take 2 seconds to twist the wires rather than loose the company you spent 20 yrs developing all because you had to make your point of not twisting wires in a place of assembly and people get hurt.

I have seen many many orange wirenuts burned up in fixtures where ballast have been change because wires were not twisted before the "insulator cap" (wirenut) was put on
 
bigjohn67 said:
Ground up/down?
There is not a place in the code that requires either, however, if you look at the UL listing a receptacle, the listing recommends the ground be up.
It's more that you better read your spec books.
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Somebody please lock it....NOW!:wink:
 
mivey said:
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I usually go through the post list and pull out a stack of threads I want to read. Sometimes I forget how long it has been since I pulled out the thread. Refreshes are taking a long time today for some reason.
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Marc, you're needed over here. :wink:
 
I need to fess up cause I dont twist lots of 12s in a blue. I put them in straight and crank them up with a pair of channellocks. Superman couldnt pull one out when I get done with it. For some reason they seem to fit better this way.
 
bigjohn67 said:
I would think that anyone would take 2 seconds to twist the wires rather than loose the company you spent 20 yrs developing all because you had to make your point of not twisting wires in a place of assembly and people get hurt.
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With that attitude I'd be scared to walk out the door in the morning. Twist away Mr Checker.

Twist, Baby, Twist.
 
bigjohn67 said:
A wirenut is only meant to be an insulating cap it is not to be used as a connection between conductors.
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I haven't read the listings/instructions lately, but I would be surprised to find out that is true. I think the "live spring" mechanism inside the wirenut is expressly intended for connecting wires together.

Am I wrong?
 
Special K said:
When you gentlemen twist your wires, do you strip longer than necessary like the directions say to and trim to recommended length or do you just read the part of the directions you like and do that.
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I strip a bit long, twist neatly, trim the excess, then twist once more to round over the two sharp points, so the wirenut screws on farther.
 
LarryFine said:
I strip a bit long, twist neatly, trim the excess, then twist once more to round over the two sharp points, so the wirenut screws on farther.
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A true craftsman.
 
480sparky said:
I pre-twist only solid wires. If they're all stranded, pre-twisting doesn't do much good.
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If I have all or mostly stranded conductors, I twist each one individually, then treat as solids as described above.

If I have mostly solids, I'll twist two or three strandeds (depending on gauge) into one, then add to the twist.
 
frizbeedog said:
. . . I'm Illaretrite....Illedderate....Illiteritde......Oh screw it man, I kant spell.
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So, write for help!



Added: Yeah, like this:
480sparky said:
Illiterate.jpg
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bigjohn67 said:
A wirenut is only meant to be an insulating cap it is not to be used as a connection between conductors.
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As far as I remember, they've always been referred to as pressure wire connectors.

I have seen many many orange wirenuts burned up in fixtures where ballast have been change because wires were not twisted before the "insulator cap" (wirenut) was put on
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Interesting; I never have. But then, I use the little blue ones, and they twist the wires quite well.
 
I was never taught from the beginning (only 4 years ago:grin: ) to pre-twist my wires, and only recently did someone get upset at me for not twisting my joints. However, I like to follow the instructions that say to twist the wire nut on until at least two twists are in the wires outside the wire nut. I've never had any problems yet, but I've heard all about "wire nuts burning up, and joints arcing and falling apart on their own" from other guys who think I'm crazy.
 
Just kill me. :rolleyes:

We are not really doing this again are we?

It's not rocket science. :rolleyes:

This has become the new 'which way up' question so I am closing it.
 
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