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Electrical Wire Nuts

D

DoubleR

Well-known Member
Location
Mid Mi
When using wire nuts do you twist the wires together then put the wire nut on? Or do you just place them side by side and screw the wire nut on?

Do you need tape the nut to the wire when done?

I use to twist the wires together and tape the nut when done. I was recently told its better to not do the twisting and taping.

I don't know allot about electrical and don't claim to. It seems to me it would be better to continue doing what I've always done. I don't understand why I wouldn't.
 
I learned wiring from my father-in-law, who was a journeyman electrician for many years and who ran his own full-service electrical contracting business for many more years before retiring. He always twisted the wires before putting on the nuts. I personally always also tape them before closing up the box, just because I can't see what it possibly could hurt, and it does add a bit of extra assurance that the connections will stay tight. For pros, not twisting and not taping is, of course, faster. As long as the wire ends are even with each other (not one short and one long) and the nut is sized correctly and gets a good grip on the connection, either way will probably produce acceptable results. (I don't know if the codes offer specifics; others will chime in here.)
 
I have fewer problems twisting wires. No taping. When I have a stranded and a solid wire, I put a bend in solid, put stranded wire in loop, then pinch loop on stranded before using nut,

I also use what I call a crimped type wire nut for places that I worry about vibrations causing nut to come off. Put wires in special type wire nut, them crimp together with plyers. It won't come off. Have to cut if you want to work on them.
 
I am not an electrician but I think twisting or not twisting is determined by the wire nut manufacturer.
 
This has been discussed before.

The first house wiring job that I "assisted" on, the electrician tightly twisted all of the splices and left them conveniently dangling from the boxes. Then he came back with a hot solder pot and dipped a little swivel cup in the hot solder and immersed the twisted wires in the cup of solder. Then he came back and double wrapped the wires with tape, finally meticulously tucking the taped/soldered connections into the boxes. The boxes had to be positioned either on a wall or ceiling/rafter for this to work, of course. He wouldn't allow any of us "helpers" to do the soldering or taping, or tucking. (Maybe that was a statement about what he thought of our work, ha)

I follow the instructions on the box that the wire nuts come in. No twisting. To each his own. I'm glad we aren't still messing around with a hot solder pot and dipper.
 
There's no need to twist the wires; it will not improve the mechanical or electrical properties of the joint. It's much more important to strip the insulation to the right length and to choose the appropriate nut size.

I know some electricians (including my stepson) like to tape the nuts, but again if the nut is done properly there's no need to do so.
 
My OPINION based on what I recall was what the Wire Nut manufacturers claim (you would think they just might know best) IS TO PLACE THE STRIPPED WIRE ENDS IN PARALELL AND INSTALL THE WIRE NUTS BUT DO NOTTTT PRE TWIST THE WIRES FIRST.

Looks to me like in parallel (NOT pre twisted) there will be more strength and surface area and best conductivity once the nut is tightened versus if you pre twist the wires which yields high and low spots in which case the wire nut don't bite and make as much actual wire contact since it only contacts the high spots.

It was my practice to place in parallel then twist then finish up with a couple more extra twists which spiriled the outer insulation a couple turns which added some mechanical strength.

I VOTE FOR DO NOTTTTTTTTTT PRE TWIST AND THEN ADD A COUPLE MORE TURNS SO THE INSULATED PORTION ADDS SOME MECHANICAL STRENGTH. I didn't add tape or sealer but see no problem if a person chooses to do so.

That's my story n Ima stickin to it lol

PS The question didn't raise the issue of solder use (ONLY twist or not) so I didn't get into that

John T
 
I just use the wire nut and tighten them till the wires begin to twist. No tape.
Passed a bunch of inspections and no problems.
I never, ever reuse a wire nut.
Throw them away.
The nuts expand a little when you twist them on so if you had 3 wires connected with one and use it on two it will not tighten properly.
 
Go by the manufactures recommendation. They built the product to perform in a specific way.
Taping is usually a requirement of the local jurisdiction/ inspector if it is done.
We do tape them in high vibration applications. Both silicone splicing tape and electrical tape.
 
I twist the wires first. Twist on the wire nut then pull on it. To make sure it is on good. Then I tape it all up. Most of my work moved so vibration was an issue.
 
(quoted from post at 07:34:04 10/05/14) My OPINION based on what I recall was what the Wire Nut manufacturers claim (you would think they just might know best) IS TO PLACE THE STRIPPED WIRE ENDS IN PARALELL AND INSTALL THE WIRE NUTS BUT DO NOTTTT PRE TWIST THE WIRES FIRST.

Looks to me like in parallel (NOT pre twisted) there will be more strength and surface area and best conductivity once the nut is tightened versus if you pre twist the wires which yields high and low spots in which case the wire nut don't bite and make as much actual wire contact since it only contacts the high spots.

It was my practice to place in parallel then twist then finish up with a couple more extra twists which spiriled the outer insulation a couple turns which added some mechanical strength.

I VOTE FOR DO NOTTTTTTTTTT PRE TWIST AND THEN ADD A COUPLE MORE TURNS SO THE INSULATED PORTION ADDS SOME MECHANICAL STRENGTH. I didn't add tape or sealer but see no problem if a person chooses to do so.

That's my story n Ima stickin to it lol

PS The question didn't raise the issue of solder use (ONLY twist or not) so I didn't get into that

John T
Click to expand...

Thank you John T. It has always been my theory to do it like you describe. NOT twisting the wires first. Also, when doing repair work, very seldom is there enough room in the box to get in there with pliers and twist the wires together, but there is usually enough room to get a wire nut good and tight.
 
John, just a question, on strand wire do you twist the wires in that conductor together to act more like a solid wire in getting them into the wire nut, not multiple strands together or multiple conductors of strand type as all those fine wire are hard to get into the nut? On solid wire I do like you.
 
(quoted from post at 09:38:17 10/05/14) John, just a question, on strand wire do you twist the wires in that conductor together to act more like a solid wire in getting them into the wire nut, not multiple strands together or multiple conductors of strand type as all those fine wire are hard to get into the nut? On solid wire I do like you.
Click to expand...

Multiple strand wire, such as provided in a light fixture, I always twist those together, or if I am connecting the multiple strand wire to solid #12 or #14, I twist the multiple strand wire AROUND the solid strand and then put the wire nut on. Don't know if it is correct, but I never could see any other way to do it.
 
I twist solid and let stranded blend by itself. Have had connection trouble when following manufacturers instruction on electric heat wiring. Twisting solid makes more surface area contact in my opinion.
 
[b:1c2643bc66]"Multiple strand wire, such as provided in a light fixture, I always twist those together, or if I am connecting the multiple strand wire to solid #12 or #14, I twist the multiple strand wire AROUND the solid strand and then put the wire nut on. Don't know if it is correct, but I never could see any other way to do it."[/b:1c2643bc66]

I have been told by many electricians that stranded wire should be twisted and when connecting to solid wire, should be extended slightly further out then the solid wires, and preferably between, or surrounded by them.
 
When twisting wires ( solid and strand to solid) solder them all together and wire nut then tape them.You get a more harmonious outcome. You won't have any arcing situation,plus it's more secure for current path.SO THERE LOL. Been doing that for years and where I learned it from at that time from a licensed electrician it was code and passed by the state inspector.

LOU
 
Did electrical with my father many years in NYC buildings. Worked along side big electrical outfits.
Working with 12/4, 12/6 and 12/8 was pretty standard.

All wires had to be twisted together first, than wire nutted. When pushed into the gang box, the open end of the wire nut had to point downwards in case of pipes bursting and water getting into the box.
 
I'm a maser electrician and have been doing electrical work for 30 years. I was taught you always twist the wires first then install the wire nut, reason being should the wire nut ever come off you still have a solid, although exposed, connection. I'm sure this goes back to the days of tape and solder connections, but this is the way I have always done it.
 

Very true. Years back electrical wiring used was made from aluminum which was notorious for expansion and contraction and becoming loose at the connections including at a wire-nut. I worked in many old electrical closets that the connections were barely making contact. Caused excessive current draw heat and fires.

Copper replaced aluminum but the practice of twisting still held for the same reasons yet at a very minimal occurrence rate.

Aluminum is still used but only at a suspended wire service entrance due to its light weight as compared to copper
 
I cringe when I see tape on wirenuts.......however, there are times that doing so has its place. In a motor (not really a good place for wirenuts anyhow) or somewhere wet....But typically, people tape wirenuts up to hold the wire in them.....and if you need tape to keep your wires in the wirenut.....your doing it wrong.
 
(quoted from post at 09:16:55 10/05/14) When using wire nuts do you twist the wires together then put the wire nut on? Or do you just place them side by side and screw the wire nut on?

Do you need tape the nut to the wire when done?

I use to twist the wires together and tape the nut when done. I was recently told its better to not do the twisting and taping.

I don't know allot about electrical and don't claim to. It seems to me it would be better to continue doing what I've always done. I don't understand why I wouldn't.
Click to expand...

3 or more wires are pre-twisted and trimmed to length. There is no reason for tape on twist wire connectors. It's a nasty throwback to the days of soldered connections, nothing more.
 
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