wire nuts used in new panels

[Cleveland Apprentice]

are wire nuts legal to use inside of new electrical panels? I'd like to avoid them if possible, but if makes job easier, I will consider using them. Anyone know of any inspector frowning on this? thanks

 

[ceb58]

are wire nuts legal to use inside of new electrical panels? I'd like to avoid them if possible, but if makes job easier, I will consider using them. Anyone know of any inspector frowning on this? thanks

They are also legal in old panels also.

 

[480sparky]

Some inspectors will frown on them. Just ask for a Code reference.

 

[Sierrasparky]

Some inspectors will frown on them. Just ask for a Code reference.

They can frown all they want around me but they would never get me to change the work to avoid a splice in a breaker panel. hmy:

I here this stuff all the time I even heard that people actually sell an up grade based on this.

 

[dhalleron]

I don't see anything in this article that would dis-allow wire nuts to extend a wire that is too short to reach the breaker, or to tie more than one wire run to a breaker. This is the article an inspector quoted me one time. He only read as far as the part where it says "shall not be used as junction boxes".


312.8 Enclosures for Switches or Overcurrent Devices.
Enclosures for switches or overcurrent devices shall not be
used as junction boxes, auxiliary gutters, or raceways for conductors
feeding through or tapping off to other switches or
overcurrent devices, unless adequate space for this purpose is
provided. The conductors shall not fill the wiring space at any
cross section to more than 40 percent of the cross-sectional
area of the space, and the conductors, splices, and taps shall
not fill the wiring space at any cross section to more than
75 percent of the cross-sectional area of that space.

 

[jaggedben]

It is interesting that this section has been re-written in the 2011 code, with one additional requirement.

312.8 Switch and Overcurrent Device Enclosures with
Splices, Taps, and Feed-Through Conductors.

The wiring space of enclosures for switches or overcurrent devices
shall be permitted for conductors feeding through, spliced,
or tapping off to other enclosures, switches, or overcurrent
devices where all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The total of all conductors installed at any cross section
of the wiring space does not exceed 40 percent of the
cross-sectional area of that space.
(2) The total area of all conductors, splices, and taps installed
at any cross section of the wiring space does not
exceed 75 percent of the cross-sectional area of that
space.
(3) A warning label is applied to the enclosure that identifies
the closest disconnecting means for any feedthrough
conductors.

 

[Twoskinsoneman]

312.8 Enclosures for Switches or Overcurrent Devices.
Enclosures for switches or overcurrent devices shall not be
used as junction boxes.......unless adequate space for this purpose is
provided.

I agree. BUT.... you could read this as the panel has to specifically provide space designated for splicing.... if you strain real hard and make your eyes blur a little you might see it that way.

IS space provided for this purpose