Reply To: Miscellaneous Electric Tips

Pashuteh Yid-

…I don’t have shimush (practical experience).

The most important thing is safety. With experience you will become faster and more proficient at doing the job neatly (i.e. technique for tucking the wire neatly into the box before closing it, running the wire within the breaker panel, etc.)

However, when you have to plan for multiple connections on one line or box, you can’t screw multiple 14 gauge wire onto one screw. I doubt it would fit or hold properly.

This is a common no-no. One wire per screw terminal is the rule for switches, outlets, fixtures and breakers.

I’ve seen this violated by do-it-yourselfers and occasionally contractors.

It is also a code violation.

…I see that the use of these caps is industry standard for everything, and not considered shoddy.

Here’s a little experiment: Splice two or three wires together and screw a wire nut onto the splice (use loose wires – I’m not suggesting you try this with existing house wiring). Try to pull the wire nut off (don’t unscrew it, pull it). You’ll be surprised at how firmly it’s gripping the wires.

My questions are when you have to connect multiple wires (3 or more in one splice) what is the best way. You mentioned a wire nut. Please explain what that is in more detail. Also, when working with caps, do you twist the wires first, or simply place them side by side and twist the cap over them. Do they make caps meant for multiple wires together?

“Wire nut” and “cap” are synonymous.

A splice, whether it’s two wires, three or more, must always have the wires securely twisted together before the wire not is fastened. For a two-wire splice I’ll use a wire stripper (not a knife) to expose about 3/4″ – 1″ of copper and twist them securely together with a lineman’s pliers. More wires in a splice will require longer exposed copper. The splice needs to be long enough to not only be secure from parting, but have a good connection. Using only a wire nut w/o twisting the wires together is asking for trouble; the wires may part or – much worse – overheat due to a poor connection and the resulting resistance. Wire nuts of different sizes are sold – use one appropriate for the gauge of wire you are using (in household wiring 12-guage [20 amp] and 14-guage [15 amp]