jp_electric
Member
How do you guys feel about not twisting wires before you place wire nuts. Since manufactures state there designed to be used without twisting?
Twist or not
- Thread starter jp_electric
- Start date
- Status
ryan_618
Senior Member
- Location
- Salt Lake City, Utah
Re: Twist or not
I always twisted, even though it is not required. There are many very good electricians that don't, however, and I don't think it makes them a lesser electrician. As long as it works
I always twisted, even though it is not required. There are many very good electricians that don't, however, and I don't think it makes them a lesser electrician. As long as it works
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: Twist or not
How often when doing service calls do we find that untwisted wire fell out? I will keep twisting.
How often when doing service calls do we find that untwisted wire fell out? I will keep twisting.
jp_electric
Member
Re: Twist or not
Thank you for your replies. only 2 solid conductors I've been not twisting. but more than 2 conductors or branch circuits i twist all of them no matter what. I recentlly i three conductors and didn't twist. When i nutted them it seemed tight.i was on a ladder i told one of my guys to flip the switch. they lit. with the power on i attempted to cover the junction box.(i know not good practice) but as i moved the conductors i seen the lights flash realized bad connection.But coould have been fire hazard
Thank you for your replies. only 2 solid conductors I've been not twisting. but more than 2 conductors or branch circuits i twist all of them no matter what. I recentlly i three conductors and didn't twist. When i nutted them it seemed tight.i was on a ladder i told one of my guys to flip the switch. they lit. with the power on i attempted to cover the junction box.(i know not good practice) but as i moved the conductors i seen the lights flash realized bad connection.But coould have been fire hazard
speedypetey
Senior Member
- Location
- Hudson Valley, NY
Re: Twist or not
I want a show of hands from any of us who has seen a wire nut literally melt away from a bad splice in it due to not twisting.
<Petey holding up three hands>
I will forever twist.
I want a show of hands from any of us who has seen a wire nut literally melt away from a bad splice in it due to not twisting.
<Petey holding up three hands>
I will forever twist.
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: Twist or not
Not a lot but have seen a good hand full
Not a lot but have seen a good hand full
Re: Twist or not
Hey Petey ... three hands for me too !
Years on a service truck have shown me many melted or just black wire nuts because of a poor connections. I've been sold on twisting stranded and specifically solid wires (even though the mfgr's dont want us to because of time). Also got into the habit of giving all wires a little tug, gives me piece of mind before tucking them away.
Hey Petey ... three hands for me too !
Years on a service truck have shown me many melted or just black wire nuts because of a poor connections. I've been sold on twisting stranded and specifically solid wires (even though the mfgr's dont want us to because of time). Also got into the habit of giving all wires a little tug, gives me piece of mind before tucking them away.
Re: Twist or not
I always twist. My problem is that after so many years of twisting with my linemans, my hands/wrists are starting to get worn out. Funny story. I had another foreman tell me that is was a complete waste of time to twist. He had all his guys use wire nut twister that attach to battery drill motors. Some of the the guys were not smart enough to cluth their drills and would twist the wire so tight that it drove the copper through the front side of the wire nut. And, to make matters worse, they would not catch it, and then fold them into metal J boxes. You can only imagine the amount of trouble shooting those branch ckts took.. However if you clutch your drill, the wire nut twister works OK it seems. I tried them out a few times, twisting with the drill and then taking the nut back off. It always put a twist on the copper conductors, but I just never really felt comfortable. Asprin and hand twist for me!
I always twist. My problem is that after so many years of twisting with my linemans, my hands/wrists are starting to get worn out. Funny story. I had another foreman tell me that is was a complete waste of time to twist. He had all his guys use wire nut twister that attach to battery drill motors. Some of the the guys were not smart enough to cluth their drills and would twist the wire so tight that it drove the copper through the front side of the wire nut. And, to make matters worse, they would not catch it, and then fold them into metal J boxes. You can only imagine the amount of trouble shooting those branch ckts took.. However if you clutch your drill, the wire nut twister works OK it seems. I tried them out a few times, twisting with the drill and then taking the nut back off. It always put a twist on the copper conductors, but I just never really felt comfortable. Asprin and hand twist for me!
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: Twist or not
Just why do you think you have 2 hands ?
Just why do you think you have 2 hands ?
tonyi
Senior Member
Re: Twist or not
Certain wire nuts seem prone to the "poke through effect" - specifically I've had problems with red Ideal wingnuts and two or three #12's...and that was hand application, not with a drill.
I've got strong arms and crank'em on hard if I'm not pretwisting. Everytime I've had to take one off because of a poke through, the end result was easily was good as a pretwist.
Certain wire nuts seem prone to the "poke through effect" - specifically I've had problems with red Ideal wingnuts and two or three #12's...and that was hand application, not with a drill.
I've got strong arms and crank'em on hard if I'm not pretwisting. Everytime I've had to take one off because of a poke through, the end result was easily was good as a pretwist.
pierre
Senior Member
- Location
- Westchester County, New York
Re: Twist or not
JP
I believe your description is the reason why pretwisting should be required, and I am like Speedy Pete, Carpal syndrome wrists and all , with the only upside to that being service calls.
As far as melted wirenuts, I have seen more than I can remember over the years, shocking
Pierre
JP
I believe your description is the reason why pretwisting should be required, and I am like Speedy Pete, Carpal syndrome wrists and all
, with the only upside to that being service calls.As far as melted wirenuts, I have seen more than I can remember over the years, shocking
Pierre
A
a.wayne3@verizon.net
Guest
Re: Twist or not
Earlydean you make me feel old that is how i learned splice and solder and tape but that was along time ago.I twist even 2 wires just habit I guess.but over the years I have gone to do a trim out and when pulling wires out of the box to device it they fell apart
Earlydean you make me feel old that is how i learned splice and solder and tape but that was along time ago.I twist even 2 wires just habit I guess.but over the years I have gone to do a trim out and when pulling wires out of the box to device it they fell apart
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: Twist or not
I will remain as a hand twister.Anyone see guys that twist and then cut the ends to where there is maybe only 1/4 inch remaining
I will remain as a hand twister.Anyone see guys that twist and then cut the ends to where there is maybe only 1/4 inch remaining
gserve
Senior Member
- Location
- New Hampshire
Re: Twist or not
I was taught to line up the insulation like a "tee pee" and twist a min of 5 twists. I still twist with wirenuts. Have seen many wires pop out or loose connections on trouble calls.
I was taught to line up the insulation like a "tee pee" and twist a min of 5 twists. I still twist with wirenuts. Have seen many wires pop out or loose connections on trouble calls.
Re: Twist or not
I twist and trim (not to a quarter inch )all my wires. I don't have a problem with wires busting through the cap.
We buy the bulk bags of Ideal I believe. Red and yellow anyhow. Which brand and what quanity bag comes with the drill attachment? This is the first I have ever heard about this...
I twist and trim (not to a quarter inch
)all my wires. I don't have a problem with wires busting through the cap.We buy the bulk bags of Ideal I believe. Red and yellow anyhow. Which brand and what quanity bag comes with the drill attachment? This is the first I have ever heard about this...
A
a.wayne3@verizon.net
Guest
Re: Twist or not
Batch Buchannon makes them it fits in the drill and slides over the wire nuts
Batch Buchannon makes them it fits in the drill and slides over the wire nuts
greensparx
New member
Re: Twist or not
I recently did some demo work and had to deal with three and four solid coductors.the previous electrician did not twist.When the wire nuts were removed the conductor sprang apart.Some circuts were hot because we couldn't shut them all down.Let's just say it was a nasty surprise!
I know that I would have appreciated it if the man before me would have twisted them.As far as 1 solid and one stranded hand twist.I havn't been in the trade long,but that experience made atwister out of me! :roll:
I recently did some demo work and had to deal with three and four solid coductors.the previous electrician did not twist.When the wire nuts were removed the conductor sprang apart.Some circuts were hot because we couldn't shut them all down.Let's just say it was a nasty surprise!
I know that I would have appreciated it if the man before me would have twisted them.As far as 1 solid and one stranded hand twist.I havn't been in the trade long,but that experience made atwister out of me! :roll:
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: Twist or not
Just think what could happen if it was a multi wire shared neutral :roll:
Just think what could happen if it was a multi wire shared neutral :roll:
- Status