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If your around - the - planetary house to - do tilt includes an ambitious DIY electric undertaking , be itinstalling a light fixture , replacing a switch , or cover electrical wires to add another wall socket in thegarage , you ’ll take to know the fundamental skill of splicing wire . Learning how to tie telegram correctly will not only ensure that yourelectrical repairs and upgradesfunction right , but equally significantly , will also keep you and your property safe . If you ’re not sure you fuck exactly how to splice wire , read on for more information .
Before You Begin Splicing Wires
The following instructions assume that you ’re splice together two Romex wires of the same type . ( In this exemplar , we ’re connecting a 12/2 NMC with ground to the same type and sizing of wire . ) Romex is a brand name of conducting wire preferred by manyelectriciansthat is ordinarily used in residential applications . The markings stump on the outer detachment , “ 12/2 NMC with ground , ” indicate the size of it and type of wire — in other intelligence , a 12 - bore wire with two inside insulated conductor ( a black “ vulgar ” and white-hot “ neutral ” ) as well as a non - insulated grounding wire .
remark : “ NMC ” is an acronym for nonmetallic cable , the type of wire that is most common in residential applications .
Other types of Romex wire used in residential building are :
It must be noted that while it is possible to marry unlike type of Romex wire—12/2 to 12/3 , for case — you should never tie together wire of a different gauge . Wire gauge is decide by the amount of amperage the wire is expect to carry . For good example , a 12 - gauge wire is capable of handle more or less 20 amp , while a 10 - gauge wire is up to of handling 30 amperes .
Overloading a wire with more than its think amperage could make it to overheat , melt , and possibly take hold of ardor .
Safety Precautions for Splicing Electrical Wires
Before start out any workplace to connect electricalwires , turn off the circuit breaker supplyingelectricityto the wire that you need to marry . Use uttermost caveat when work with electrical energy , as it can do serious combat injury or even death when not manage decently .
control that the power is indeed off using avoltmeter , a gadget that measure the electrical stream in conducting wire . If you still are n’t certain that the superpower is off , turn off the maincircuit breakerfor the entire home .
Additional guard you should take before begin your project :
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How to Splice Wires
When a home project involve splicing wires , be sure to take these steps carefully and exactly . A solid electric wire connector will bring the desired result — a new weak fixture or fan , for example . A undivided stumble , however , can result in , at best , a mess that must be corrected , or at bad , a disaster . register through these directions cautiously , and assemble all the necessary equipment before you get started . Most authoritative : if you ’re ever in uncertainty , call a professional .
Tools & Materials
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STEP 1 : Prepare and install the junction box.
Use the electrician ’s or linesman’spliersto remove two of the ravisher on the new junction box , which will domiciliate and protect the spliced wires and contain any sparks that could cause a fire if something should go wrong . The KO are urge on into the box seat in predetermine locations during manufacturing for well-heeled remotion .
Most adjunction boxes are universal and include knockouts of various sizes to conciliate different applications and a range ofwiregauges . This setup lets you select the locations on the loge where you require to set up the telegram connective and conducting wire during installation .
Insert aRomex connectorin each knockout hole in the join box . Be sure to buy a connector that fit out the knockout holes you ’re using on the articulation loge and is suited for the diameter of telegram you are splicing .
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guarantee the connection to the conjunction box using its threaded safety nut and tighten with acerate leaf - nozzle pliers and/or a screwdriver . The connector act as protective guides that also secure the wires to the conjunction boxful . Without them , the wires could be damage by the acute edges of the knockout holes .
deploy the articulation box appropriately — many type attach like a shot to the paries stud or rise up with bestride screws or anchors — and in an area within range of a function of the existing wire .
STEP 2 : Prepare wire splice connectors.
weave the close of each 12/2 Romex telegram — the existing wire and the wire you ’re wed to it — through one of the Romex conducting wire connection sequester to the box . Tighten the screws on the side of the telegram connector design to have it in place , using the appropriate case of screwdriver .
STEP 3: Ground the junction box.
Thread a grounding screw through the threaded hole on the back of the junction box . The grounding screw grounds ( return excess electric current safely to the ground ) the junction box in the outcome of a short circuit .
STEP 4: Strip and ground the wires.
Strip roughly 6 inches of the outer plastic overlay from the end of the wires you ’re splicing together . Autility knifeis ideal for slicing and cutting away the outer insulation , or you may usewire tender . Remove the protective composition wrapping surrounding the insulated wires and basis conducting wire .
STEP 5: Use a twist-on wire cap.
enclose one of the bare Cu priming wire once around the grounding piece of ass that ’s attached to the junction box ; you should pull up stakes about 6 inches of exposed wire hanging past the screw . tighten up the ground piece of tail using the screwdriver to secure the ground wire to the box .
Now , twist the second dry land conducting wire tightly together with the sequester background wire using the electrician ’s pair of pliers , and insure the joint with atwist - on telegram cap / nut . shut down the joined telegram neatly into the back of the articulation box .
STEP 6: Twist wires together.
Using a duo ofwire strippers , remove approximately ½ column inch of insulant from the end of both 12/2 cables , from both the smuggled and white wires . Wire exotic dancer are a commodious tool for this task , as they ’re designed to strip a wide cooking stove of telegram sizes and they ’re available at most home melioration center . alike to a pair of plier , the creature incorporates discriminating edges and bias thinning point that give up you to take away the protective insulation from each conducting wire without damage the telegram itself .
Using electrician ’s pliers , twist together the stripped ends of the fit wire from each strand of 12/2 Romex , white wire to livid and black to black . Twist them until they are tightly joined , and secure each marijuana cigarette with a threaded wire capital / orchis . pen up both stage set of wire neatly into the conjunction box .
STEP 7: Secure the junction box.
Align the protective covert with the mounting screws on the juncture box , and tighten firmly using a screwdriver .
Final Thoughts
have it away how to splice wires can keep open you time and money on numerous electrical and inflammation projects around the home . If , however , you ’re apprehensive aboutworking with electricityor lack canonic electric knowledge , do not hesitate to hire a licensed electrician for your project .
While hiring an electrician can well put you back at least $ 50 per hour , it ’s a small Mary Leontyne Price to devote to protect your sept and your property from the severe consequences of poorly performed electric work .
FAQs About How to Connect Electrical Wires
Q. Can you splice wires without a junction box?
Technically , yes , but it ’s extremely unlikely that splice wires without a conjunction loge is acceptable under construction code and it ’s also not secure , so functionally , it should not be done .
Q. How many wires can you pigtail together?
It reckon on the size of the wires you ’re using , the size of the wire caps / nuts , and on local edifice computer code . The promotional material of the nuts you ’re using will provide information about the number of wires of various sizes they will accommodate . Or you’re able to find thrust - in connectors that support varying numbers of wire .
Q. How many times can you splice a wire?
There is no limit , wear you do the splices aright and contain them within an accessible , and preferably metal , junction box . A caution , however : Every splice is a possible loser , so the fewer splice , the lower the potential for problems .
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