Wire Connections
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Anyone performing home wiring repairs or installations
will at some point need to connect / join wires together.
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Now at outlets you could use the screws on the outlet
itself as a way of connecting / joining the next wire cable, however
only one wire can be connected to each of the wire connection screws on
an outlet, and there is only 2 brass color screws and 2 silver color
screws on an outlet, if any more wires are involved you must join them
all together using an insulated wire nut.
There is also on most outlets a stab in type connection
on the back of the outlet itself, this type of connection is only meant
for 14 gage wires and cannot be used with 12 gage wiring, where the side
screws can be used with 14 or 12 gage wiring. I also would recommend to
never have the outlet connections fully loaded, meaning all screws and
the back stab connections being used to join wires together on an
outlet, so never do that, I personally would never use the stab in
connections at the back of an outlet and only use the main screw
connections and use insulated wire nuts as required to join wires
together.
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Now avoid working the wire any more than is necessary as
working or twisting the wire will damage / crack and even break the wire
if you twist or bend it retentively.
Having said that the jury is still
out and opinion seems be vary on rather a small wire twist
together should be done or not when using wire nut
connections.
But again do not over work the
wire. |
This site will be enhanced in the future with new
animations and videos as soon as my time permits. But for now in
just explaining in written form...
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1. cut off the wire insulation just enough to go around
the screw of the outlet or switch, the screw should not have any
insulation under it but at the same time you do not want exposed wire
beyond the screw.
2. the wire needs to be snugly wrapped around the
screw in the direction in which the screw will tighten so that when the
screw is tighten it does not un-warp the wire from the screw.
3. The exposed wire should not extend beyond the
outlet itself |
On this website I have used in the diagrams one type and
color of insulated wire nut, however these wire nuts come in a variety
of sizes and types, there is even ones meant for aluminium wiring. Make
sure you obtain the correct type that is meant for the type of wire and
number of number of wires that you wish to join together, building /
electrical supply personal should be able to assist you with this in the
store. You may find the need to buy several different sizes / types if
you are doing a major job as the one you use when joining 4 wires
together will not be the same one you use to join 2 wires together. Do
not remove too much wire insulation, you do not want exposed wires
beyond the insulated wire nut.
Written: March 13, 2012
Revised: July 2, 2013
Proof Read / Released: July 11, 2013
By: Donald Kerr
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