DIYbanter - View Single Post - connecting multi-strand to copper wire for lighting

Kevin Ricks

wrote:
Does anyone know the best way to connect a multi-strand wire to copper
wire?
This is for a recessed light in the ceiling of our top floor hallway.
Therefore the housing for the light is going in the attic/roof. The
housing itself includes the multi-strand wire, that I have to connect
the copper wire to that is fed in from the light switch.

Right now, I have used the screw on cone shaped type connectors (I
forget what they're called ... merriates????) but the connection does
not look that good - the multi-strand wire seems to fray quite easily.

Thx!!

This is what I do: Strip and/or clip the solid wire so that the exposed
wire is short or about 1/2 the length of the wire nut. I strip the
stranded wires a bit longer maybe full length of wire nut. (I am using
the yellow color/size wire nuts.). I then use lineman or needle nose
pliers and bend the ends of the solid wires a bit so that the wires have
a bit of a ripple. Then wrap stranded wires around the solid wire and
twist on nut as normal.
I never use the small wire nuts that come with the fixture.

Kevin