Industry professionals have a habit of debating best practices, especially ones that involve simple tasks that we do regularly on the job site.
One of the most common is the wire nut - or twist-on connector - and how it is applied effectively to multiple wires.
A few tips to remember when using wire nuts:
- the wires should be stripped equally, to the manufacturer's spec, and for the particular application that you're working on
- the wires should be aligned equally, especially in applications where more than two wires are being twisted, or when stranded and solid is being combined
- it is not necessary to pre-twist, the mechanical connection should be established with the twisting of the wire nut itself
- wire nuts can and will be deformed once the wires are secured inside.
- connectors can be re-used if necessary if they are not compromised structurally
What are your best practices, depending on your application and job site? Please share below.