Wes Stebbins wrote:

I'm installing PS 1/PS 5 Air Seal Recessed Housing from Thomas Lighting
(purchased from Menards). I have two basic questions concerning the joining
of wires when wiring up these lights.

1) I know when you join two solid wires together you're supposed to wind
them clockwise around each other. Also, when you join a single stand wire
to a solid you're supposed to first wrap the strand end around the solid
wire, then bend the solid wire over the stranded wire. My question, then,
is what do you do when you have two solid wires and 1 stranded wire to
connect together.

As has already been mentioned, the correct method is to follow the
instructions for the particular brand of connector you are using.
Personally, I make it a point to use the kind that don't require (indeed
are compromised by) the twisting. The only thing special about joining
stranded wire (or smaller wire) to a solid wire is to let the stranded
(or smaller) wire protrude into the connector a tiny bit (maybe 1/16
inch) further into the connector. Also, some types are better at joining
solid wires, and others are better when all the wires are stranded.
Bottom line: follow the instructions.

2) Also, concerning the particular lighting described above, when connecting
additional outl, a contractor friend of mine attaches (wraps) both ground
wires together, and then sends them back up through the knockout - as
opposed to doing what the directions say, namely, hook the ground to the
green wires, etc. What is the correct way to do this (or are they both
ok?), as well as advantages/disadvantages to each?

Not sure what you mean by "sends them up through the knockout", but if
this means the ground wires protrude outside the fixture wiring box,
then it is just plain wrong, and is a violation of the NEC. The fixtures
you have are well designed and approved by the appropriate agencies to
be installed according to the instructions that came with the fixture.
Don't invent stuff even if it does get the lights to work. It never
saves any significant amount of either time or money.

Thanks,

Wes

--
Tony Electric
http://dotznize.com/electric

The Reticulan Museum Of Unnatural History
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