"Ralph Mowery" wrote in message
nk.net...

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
It's even more of a joke to use stranded with wire nuts. But, people do
it.



What is it on this user group about wire nuts. I work in a plant and it
is
hard telling how many thousand connections are made with wire nuts. I
would
guess it has to be around 100,000 or more. Everything from some low
level
signal wires up to some 10 HP 480 volt 3 phase motors. Most all the wire
is
stranded. If they are put on correctly we have almost no problems with
them. I don't usually use any tape on them except for some motors that
seem
to shake and viberate alot. The tape is not so much for the wire nuts
themselves, but a few have rubbed through the insulation of the wire nuts
so
much of the tape is just around the thin covering on some of the wire
nuts.
The ones we use do not require any twisting. Just cut the insulation to
the
proper length for the wirenut and put the ends together. Then let the
turning of the wire nut take care of things.




I use them when appropriate, but I've seen them fail (as you probably have).
There are boxes which you cannot change unless you want to rip it out and
replace with a bigger one. If the box is too small and the existing wire is
crowded, wire nuts make me nervous. I'll use crimps, as long as there's
enough wire to work with in case the crimp has to be cut off at a later
date. For new work, I always install an oversized box so there's enough room
to use wire nuts correctly.