On Sat, 26 Nov 2005 04:29:29 GMT, "Toller" wrote:


"TURTLE" wrote in message
roups.com...
This is Turtle.

now before i start telling this even. i did not do it or will i ever do
it. With this clear i will speak.

i was looking a air handler for a HVAC customer and he run the electric
service hisself to the air handler and when he got to the A/H with the
wire was about 6 feet short to get there. So he just got another piece
of wire and SOLIDERED the # 6 -2 with ground Wire set together to
complete the circuit to the A/H. I know this is illegal here in out
local code but i can't find it in the NEC for not having a new copy.

So how bad is solidering # 6 copper wire for high amp draw in a slice
joint?

Soldering is legal, but the joint cannot depend on it. If you want to
solder wires before clamping them together it is fine, as long as the clamp
would be adequate without the solder.
Presumably it is in a box, no?


Generally for #6 you use split bolts and tape well. I assume this was
stranded, because I can not see how solid could be soldered. I also
hope this is in a box. If stranded, I suppose it could be soldered
and taped, but I would not do it. Split bolts are the way to go,
although I am thinking that the largest wirenuts available *might*
work. I can only recall one time that I had to splice #6, and I used
split bolts and in a deep 4" box. This was only because the run was
60 some feet and connected to existing wire. If the run was short,
I'd just get all new wire because split bolts are costly.

Mark