ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Taping Wirenuts

I don't tape wirenuts but one thing I do when making up exterior boxes, which I thought up myself, is I always push the wirenuts into the box right side up so they won't accumulate moisture. After opening a lot of old exterior boxes and seeing a water line inside a half inch deep, I think cutting a small weep slot in the bottom of the cover gasket is a good idea too.

Can somebody explain how these work? "No junction box needed" I took it to be a joke at first:
http://www.labsafety.com/store/product_group.asp?dept_id=1211&parent_id=224

I also only use the Wing Twist from Ideal. I pre-twist stranded, but not solid. I twist them until my wrist cracks, like sparky66wv said many moons ago, and tug on each wire afterwards. No tape here.

As far as the King Safety Direct Burial Wire Connectors are concerned, they must be for south of the border usage!!!

[This message has been edited by Mean Gene (edited 01-29-2004).]

I came across an FAQ for the "no junction box needed"-connectors.
http://www.kingsafety.com/faq.html#Q5

What kind of wire could you use with these?

C-H,

These connectors are for low Voltage applications (max 30v) such as irrigation control wiring and low voltage pathway lighting. I don't know the specific wire terminology.

Bill

Bill,

the specification says 600V.
http://www.kingsafety.com/dryconn_db_blue_spec.pdf

i don't tape wire nuts but on stranded wire i do tape the wire its self about a inch back with two raps of tape from the nut. I do this becase of stranded be so easy to pull apart even if you use ideal twister. I know some of you have got into a 12x12 box to trouble shoot
and fire starts to fly. Taping the wire's back a inch or two it would help.
I make the people on my jobs do this and twist solid wire also.Nobody thinks of the poor S>O>B that has to come in later on to fix something. Big guy

I do tape the connections I make in motor "peckerheads". I know there is no reason why I should, but old habits die slowly. Many of the old motors have split bolt connections, which require taping. These are always a mess when we send the motors out for maintenance. But, they pay me the big bucks for getting my hands dirty. (or they used to)

Earl

I tape all splices back 2inches from the wire nut. I always pre twist and have a trick when splicing solid to stranded. I would say but it's to hard to say very easy to show.

I've gotten into the habit of taping the receptacle or switch (making sure the terminals are covered) with scotch 88, when ever I use a Gem box with madison clips. I try to make the clips as tight as possible, but I wouldn't want one of those clips to come in contact with the device. Just a habit.