connecting smaller stranded wire to heavier solid wire?
 

I bought a motion sensing porch light with stranded wires coming out.

When I tried to connect it to the solid wire with twist on connectors (2
solid wires + 1 stranded), one stranded wire slipped out after a slight tug.
The stranded wires is of a smaller guage.

I thought about making the leads on the stranded wire longer and wrap it
around the two solid wires first. But the strands being so thin, might be
cut by twisiting the connector on it.

In the end, I removed the porch light, twisted each stranded wire all by
itself, and put solder on it. This essentially turned the strands into a
solid wire. Then I twisted it on with the solid wires.

Is this the correct solution?

connecting smaller stranded wire to heavier solid wire?
 

"james" wrote in message ...
I bought a motion sensing porch light with stranded wires coming out.

When I tried to connect it to the solid wire with twist on connectors (2
solid wires + 1 stranded), one stranded wire slipped out after a slight
tug. The stranded wires is of a smaller guage.

I thought about making the leads on the stranded wire longer and wrap it
around the two solid wires first. But the strands being so thin, might be
cut by twisiting the connector on it.

In the end, I removed the porch light, twisted each stranded wire all by
itself, and put solder on it. This essentially turned the strands into a
solid wire. Then I twisted it on with the solid wires.

Is this the correct solution?



If it worked it is okay.

I usually strip about 1" of each stranded and pre-twist them together
according to color. I strip 1/2" or so from the solid. It needs to be
straight so sometimes you have to trim it and start fresh.

Then using the proper size compression nut, not the provided ones, I hold
the wires so that the stranded ones are about 1/2" longer than the solid
one.

One 12 or 14 and up to 3 16s connect using a yellow wirenut, not the big red
one or those dismal things they ship with the lights.

Once secured I have never experienced a problem.

You mileage may vary.


--
Colbyt
Please come visit www.househomerepair.com

connecting smaller stranded wire to heavier solid wire?
 

"james" wrote in message ...
I bought a motion sensing porch light with stranded wires coming out.

When I tried to connect it to the solid wire with twist on connectors (2
solid wires + 1 stranded), one stranded wire slipped out after a slight
tug. The stranded wires is of a smaller guage.

I thought about making the leads on the stranded wire longer and wrap it
around the two solid wires first. But the strands being so thin, might be
cut by twisiting the connector on it.

In the end, I removed the porch light, twisted each stranded wire all by
itself, and put solder on it. This essentially turned the strands into a
solid wire. Then I twisted it on with the solid wires.

Is this the correct solution?

You may be using wire nuts that are too large for the conductors, or you
may be using the garbage wire nuts that come with the fixture. You should
be able to twist the solid wires together, then strip about an inch of the
stranded wire and twist it right into the grooves of the two solid wires,
always in a clockwise direction, then install the nut.

connecting smaller stranded wire to heavier solid wire?
 

james wrote:
I bought a motion sensing porch light with stranded wires coming out.

When I tried to connect it to the solid wire with twist on connectors (2
solid wires + 1 stranded), one stranded wire slipped out after a slight
tug. The stranded wires is of a smaller guage.

I thought about making the leads on the stranded wire longer and wrap it
around the two solid wires first. But the strands being so thin, might
be cut by twisiting the connector on it.

In the end, I removed the porch light, twisted each stranded wire all by
itself, and put solder on it. This essentially turned the strands into a
solid wire. Then I twisted it on with the solid wires.

Is this the correct solution?


Hi,
I'd use proper size wire nut.

connecting smaller stranded wire to heavier solid wire?
 

On Sat, 5 Dec 2009 07:40:57 -0800, "james" wrote:

I bought a motion sensing porch light with stranded wires coming out.

When I tried to connect it to the solid wire with twist on connectors (2
solid wires + 1 stranded), one stranded wire slipped out after a slight tug.
The stranded wires is of a smaller guage.

I thought about making the leads on the stranded wire longer and wrap it
around the two solid wires first.

Longer sounds good to me. Clockwise.

But the strands being so thin, might be
cut by twisiting the connector on it.

LIke Colby says, twist the thin strands together first.

In the end, I removed the porch light, twisted each stranded wire all by
itself, and put solder on it. This essentially turned the strands into a
solid wire. Then I twisted it on with the solid wires.

Is this the correct solution?

That also sounds good to me. Although too much solder can make the
stranded wires stiffer than the heavy wire.

And good wire nuts have a metal coil inside. Some don't have that and
they often don't screw on as well.

connecting smaller stranded wire to heavier solid wire?
 

james wrote:
I bought a motion sensing porch light with stranded wires coming out.

When I tried to connect it to the solid wire with twist on connectors (2
solid wires + 1 stranded), one stranded wire slipped out after a slight
tug. The stranded wires is of a smaller guage.

I thought about making the leads on the stranded wire longer and wrap it
around the two solid wires first. But the strands being so thin, might
be cut by twisiting the connector on it.

There are probably a lot of "favorite methods".

I would probably twist the solid wires and leave the small stranded wire
straight so the wire nut positively contacts it.

Or twist the small stranded around one of the solids and then either
twist the solids or not. The stranded should be clamped between the solids.

mm recommends a wire nut with a metal coil inside. I would add that with
some wire nuts the coil expands over the wires ("live spring") and IMHO
makes a more secure connection.


In the end, I removed the porch light, twisted each stranded wire all by
itself, and put solder on it. This essentially turned the strands into a
solid wire. Then I twisted it on with the solid wires.

Is this the correct solution?


Sounds reasonable.

--
bud--

connecting smaller stranded wire to heavier solid wire?
 

On Sat, 5 Dec 2009 07:40:57 -0800, "james" wrote:

I bought a motion sensing porch light with stranded wires coming out.

When I tried to connect it to the solid wire with twist on connectors (2
solid wires + 1 stranded), one stranded wire slipped out after a slight tug.
The stranded wires is of a smaller guage.

I thought about making the leads on the stranded wire longer and wrap it
around the two solid wires first. But the strands being so thin, might be
cut by twisiting the connector on it.

In the end, I removed the porch light, twisted each stranded wire all by
itself, and put solder on it. This essentially turned the strands into a
solid wire. Then I twisted it on with the solid wires.

Is this the correct solution?



Sounds right. The goal is to have a tight connection.

connecting smaller stranded wire to heavier solid wire?
 

bud-- wrote:
james wrote:
I bought a motion sensing porch light with stranded wires coming out.

When I tried to connect it to the solid wire with twist on connectors
(2 solid wires + 1 stranded), one stranded wire slipped out after a
slight tug. The stranded wires is of a smaller guage.

I thought about making the leads on the stranded wire longer and wrap
it around the two solid wires first. But the strands being so thin,
might be cut by twisiting the connector on it.

There are probably a lot of "favorite methods".

I would probably twist the solid wires and leave the small stranded wire
straight so the wire nut positively contacts it.

Or twist the small stranded around one of the solids and then either
twist the solids or not. The stranded should be clamped between the solids.

mm recommends a wire nut with a metal coil inside. I would add that with
some wire nuts the coil expands over the wires ("live spring") and IMHO
makes a more secure connection.

When I've had similar problems at the
OP, I do exactly as this reply states
and it has never failed. As others
have said used the right size wire nut
and used the "live spring" types.