The Daring Dufas wrote:
On 11/17/2010 9:18 AM, bud-- wrote:
The Daring Dufas wrote:
On 11/16/2010 10:29 PM, Ricky wrote:
I saw these things at Home Depot, which look easier to use than wire
nuts, because each wire is inserted separately into its own cavity,
and four wires should be no harder than 2. Do you know of any problem
with them? Their first use may be to carry 200 or 400 watts to
floodlights (or even 800, I have to go check again. That would be 8
separate floodlights**). They're UL approved, but they are so little
(flimsy?) I can't help but wonder. And they don't use a screw to hold
the wires, just a spring, something like back-stab switches and
receptacles.
**He has 8 floodlights installed now and working fine, for more than
10 years. Right now wire-nuts are used. He needs to tap into the
system, and if there were no reason not to, it could end up that two
of these little connectors each ended up carrying 800 watts.
Assorted means either 2 wires, 3, or 4 connected together. Here is a
picture of for 4.
http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/s...P_PartNu mber
The picture is 2 or 3 times life-size. The enlarged picture is at
least 3 times.
They're re-usable, and you can get the old wire out by twisting and
pulling, it says, iirc.
This assortment is $4.48, and in good Home Depot fashion, the webpage
doesn't say what is assorted about it, or how many items are included,
or of what size. And doesn't indicate what gauge wire they work with.
The assortment in the store was $1.86 or 1.69, was labeled and
actually contained 4 for 4 wires, 4 for 3 wires, and 2 for 2 wires,
and it was labeled 18-12. It didn't say that was 18 to 12 *gauge*,
but I thought so when I bought them. Nowhere do I see an amp or
wattage rating, only wire size, if that's what 18 - 12 is.
Home Depot continues to be tied for first with Lowes for the worst web
site of a major retailer. (and maybe of any retailer.)
This is about 133 other things made by Ideal that HD sells, mostly
electrician tools;
http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/s...challpar tial
---
Ideal push-in wire connectors, 30-291 10-pack assorted.
774A, 18-12 250D
They're good, I use them all the time. The two hole connector is
wonderful for connecting wires when replacing florescent ballasts.
TDD
If you are replacing ballasts in a businesses (non-residential) you
generally need a disconnect (410.130-G, starting 2005 NEC). An easy
device to do it is:
http://www.wago.us/products/20480.htm
In the HD link I saw that Ideal has them also.
I would be interested how push in connectors are better than receptacle
backstabs. They may be great, but my trust level would not be high if
you run a lot of current through them. One of the Ideal versions can use
#10 wire. (Backstabs are now limited to #14.)
I have more trust for a connector that has a lever lock:
http://www.wago.us/products/2631.htm
If a connector is UL listed you should be able to trust it. But backstab
receptacles are UL listed.
I have some of the Wago lever connectors that come with light fixtures.
The connector can act as a disconnect too.
I'll bet they didn't come with a fluorescent fixture.
The point of the NEC required disconnect is to allow replacing ballasts
and otherwise working on a fixture safely. IMHO with a lever connector
you could contact a live bare wire as it is being removed from the
connector and would not meet the intent of the NEC. That may not happen
if the wire is stripped as the manufacturer recommends, but it could
happen if too much insulation is removed. There is a reason at least 2
manufacturers make separable connectors that conform to the code.
I've used them in situations
where I need a test connection or something that can easily be swapped
out.
The push on connectors are UL rated and do the job as designed and
I've had no problems with them.
TDD
As I said, backstab receptacles are UL listed also. I think push on
connectors are relatively new. Would be nice to see the results of field
experience. Probably took some time for backstabs to get a bad
reputation. Most likely lessons have been learned.
--
bud--