![]() ![]() Not for consumer sale or use.ģM industrial and occupational products are intended, labeled, and packaged for sale to trained industrial and occupational customers for workplace use. Contact customer service at 80 to request a certificate. Note: 3M products offered on a government contract that require country of origin representation must be certified by 3M Trade Compliance. Some products contain imported components. Other electricians nix the idea because pre-twisting makes it all but impossible to untwist the wires without damaging them in the event that you need to make a change to the circuit.The designation that a product is Manufactured in the USA means the product undergoes substantial transformation in one of our U.S. “I just about always pre-twist,” he says. Shapiro, with countless splices behind him, is firmly in the pre-twist camp. The UL requirement for listing is that the connector itself must provide sufficient binding force so that it will form an electrically reliable connection without this pre-twisting. That is, if they twist the wires together beforehand and then add the connector as insurance or if they allow the connector to twist the conductors together. Want to spark (if you’ll pardon the pun) a lively debate between electricians? Ask them if they pre-twist conductors before applying a twist-on connector. As for the pull test, Shapiro says, “Don’t be shy.” To Pre-Twist or Not to Pre-Twist Shapiro notes that the UL standard for these connectors varies from 25 pounds for 14-gauge wire to 35 pounds of pulling force for 12-gauge. Don’t jerk on the wires rather, exert firm and increasing force. Check the connection by pulling firmly on the conductors. Shapiro cautions, however: “These (tightening) tools are really handy, but you can crack a connector with them if you’re not careful.”Ħ. There are several types of twist-on wire connectors with wings that facilitate both twisting by hand and by using a connector-tightening tool, which may be anything from a specially equipped screwdriver or as simple as a nut driver. Some manufacturers even recommend that the connector should not only be fully tightened but that the conductors should themselves have two to three twists in them. Seat the connector over the conductors and twist very firmly in a tightening, clockwise, motion. With the conductors stripped to the correct length, line up the insulation on the conductors.ĥ. Both of these can cause a crack to propagate in the spliced wires, leading to electrical failure, overheating, and, perhaps, an electrical fire.Ĥ. A nick created from the stripping tool leaves a stress focal point and an area of hardened material. Check for nicks before making the splice. This varies widely and can range anywhere from ¼ inch all the way up to 7⁄8 inch, depending on the type of connector.ģ. If in the unlikely event that the spring has fallen out, discard the connector.Ģ. You should see an intact spring, fully seated. His book on old house wiring and upgrading old house wiring are considered by many to be industry classics and the definitive works on these subjects.Īnd within those steps, Shapiro suggests some additional quality control checks.ġ. Having practiced the electrical trade for the last 40 years, he’s made thousands of electrical splices and investigated nearly as many failed splices in old homes. These are tools that we’ve used and can vouch for.Īside from relying on our own experience (for example, where we have worked on volunteer construction projects under the supervision of a licensed electrician), we’ve also interviewed David Shapiro, a licensed electrician, electrical inspector, and expert who has spent countless hours as member of various electrical code advisory groups. Second, we have provided links to wire-stripping tools (since you need to strip wire without damaging it before you apply the connector that will make the splice). Simply stated, don’t use any connector that lacks this. Below, we show some reliable electrical connectors all of them are listed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or a similar listing agency. To help you on the path to make a safe, tight, and electrically sound splice, we’ve done several things. Apple Is Finally Letting You Fix Your iPhone.8 Best Wire Cutters for DIY and Electrical Work. ![]()
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