13 May
2002
13 May
'02
5 p.m.
On Tue, 14 May 2002, Tony Duell wrote:
I'd agree. I'm assuming he meant split-blots, which are really meant for
ground wires. The point is that it's much harder to properly insulate a
split bolt than a wire nut.
Which are best used on soldered wires :). At least you should tightly
twist and then tape the wires before putting the nut on. Preferably,
solder them together.
NOOOOOOO!!!!!
Go spend another $10 and get a few extra feet of wire, a
small propane torch, some solder and a couple wire nuts. Cut and twist
all three wires, solder them together, and put the wire nut on, secure
with electical tape. If you want, you could skip the soldering part. But
dont, DONT use a T-splice on 120V/240V. It's OK on ground wires, but
that's all the stuff is meant for.
IMHO the ground wire should be the best connection of the lot, for 2
reasons : Over here, we don't solder mains distribution
wiring (or at least, I
can't think of a time when you do). We get 'junction boxes' -- round
plastic boxes with (normally) 4 screw terminals inside. I've seen them in
up to 30A rating. Those are what is generally used to take a 'spur' off a
power cable.
Typically you don't do that here either, but it does a good job of
guaranteeing that crappy wire-nuts dont fall off and let the wires come
apart.
We don't seem to have the junction boxes with a terminal strip in them
here. The closest thing would be to buy a couple of ground bars (the ones
with screws that you would put in a mains panel) stuck into a garden
variety junction box with appropriate insulating standoffs.
All I've gotta say is spend the extra couple dollars to do it right now.
The NEC was written by analyzing electrical fires. You don't really want
And for some odd reason it still approves of the use of those infernal
'wire nuts'.... -tony