ECN Forum Forums Photo Discussion Forums Violation Photo Forum Loose Connection or Bad Splice Melts Wire Nut!

Uh-oh Richard!
Did you say "properly pre-twisted"?
I'm getting out of the way, while the thread jack ensues.




[This message has been edited by Redsy (edited 01-02-2004).]

Right. Lets not open that can of worms!

Richard is right. The black conductor seems to have been added as an afterthought.

Wrapped around once on the existing splice and then the same yellow cap was probably reused.

The question with stranded wire...should you pre-twist? I know I do with solid wire because otherwise the wires will slip right out.

However with stranded wire I get everything lined up evenly and let the cap do the twisting for me.

Of course I usually deal with fairly thin 18 & 16-gauge wires inside small appliances (old blenders, radios, small fans), not 14-gauge stranded wire or bigger like what is shown in there, so I don't know if "size matters" also.

The 2 red conductors at 9:00 have what looks like smoke residue on the insulation. I wonder if that was from the previous wire, before the black was "installed".

The black covering on the 2 red conductors looks like a type of loom.

steve

Yeah that black stuff looks like loom that melted. (I would know damn solder iron) and when dealing with stranded wires pretwist first. I don't know about bigger wires though as I only deal with 16-and smaller (car audio,computer,electronic projects)

The equipment was one of three 10 ton electric heat rooftop package units. I took the pic to show just how hot those wire nuts can get when the connection is not good.



This is a pic of the same unit. I wonder if the two problems are realated?

[This message has been edited by Steve Wiggins (edited 01-03-2004).]

Re: missing ’link’… I wooda’ had to climb down off the roof and spent at least an hour trying to find a 35-ampere class-J fuse! It was 95° up there.

I like the top fuse in the last picture, the strands that are not under the lug are for heat disapation, I ASSume

Pierre

A wirenut is only an INSULATIVE means to a splice. God Bless a pair of lineman pliers. And Andy your RIGHT!!!!! Those wago connectors are definately very good and cost effective for splices as most of us are presented with on a daily basis. especially on the 14 and 12awg wire sizes. KUDOS on you for pointing that out!!!!