Wing nuts are just as good as the crimp method, the secret is getting
the insulation off the wires. A wire stripper that pulls the insulation
off in one clip without nicking the wire is the best. If the bare wire
is nicked then crimping or wing nutting might very well break the wire.
The absolute best method is not used very often and that would be to
remove the insulation without nicking the wire and then soldering the
connection and then insulating it. I must admit I 've never seen one of
these break apart !

J


Doug Kanter wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...

Thanks again all. I did go out and buy a two-part circuit tracker and
am now in the process of mapping all of the circuits in the house.
Once I'm done doing that, I can turn off the ones that I think might be
going to the affected room, and pull down the overhead light. I'm
really thinking that I'm going to find the problem there...loose wire
or something to that effect. If not, then it's definitately time for a
pro (at least I'll have the house mapped!). Since it's starting to get
late today, and back to work tomorrow, I probably won't get much more
done until next weekend (luckily the problem is in a room that isn't
being used right now!). So, I'll post what I find next weekend. I
really appreciate all the help and words of advice...it helped point me
in the right direction. Hope everyone has a Happy New Year!



By the way, in case this hasn't occurred to you by now, wire nuts are one of
the worst methods ever invented for putting two wires together. If that's
where you eventually find the problem, and there's enough wire to work with
(in terms of length), consider using crimp connectors. They are legal/within
code in some municipalities, and who cares, anyway? Since it's nearly
impossible to separate a *PROPERLY DONE* crimp connection, anyplace which
prohibits it in the code is a backward town run by knuckle-dragging
neanderthals and you should ignore the code.

If it sounds interesting, pick up some crimps and a good tool at HD, Lowes,
whatever, along with some wire that matches the gauge you'll be working
with, and practice with that wire. The key is to make sure that *all* bare
wire is completely within the metal sleeve, with none showing through the
transparent plastic ends.

Crimps are NOT appropriate in places where the previous wizard has cut wires
too short. To remove crimps, you have to cut the wires, so each time it
happens, they get shorter and shorter. If you're sure that one or two cuts
will still leave enough to work with, then use crimps.