Best way to connect two wires

[marrt]

I have a bunch of florescent lights I need to connect (daisy chain). The wires going to the ballast are very small. I'd guess 18 or 20 gauge. Want's the best way to connect these wires to 14 gauge? Just use a "standard" wire nut?

 

[bry@n]

I have a bunch of florescent lights I need to connect (daisy chain). The wires going to the ballast are very small. I'd guess 18 or 20 gauge. Want's the best way to connect these wires to 14 gauge? Just use a "standard" wire nut?

That is what I would do. Not sure if it would be technically correct, but I would use a wire nut.

 

[jacob]

Are the lights connected end-to-end? You can connect the wires together OK with wire nuts, but, (if you really want to follow the code) the wires must either run from one box directly into the next or you will need some kind of conduit running between the fixtures. You are probably already doing this, so please excuse my "Nervous Nellie" niggling.

 

[mrb]

yes, wirenuts are what you would use here. On the packages of wirenuts, look at the wire combinations the wirenut is listed for and choose one that has the combination you are using.

 

[marrt]

They are not connected end to end, so I'm running conduit between them. I'll probably go with flexible ENT blue, since I couldn't put the lights in a straight line due to three garage doors and other issues. The lights are commercial recessed fixtures (new) and I have 30 that I picked up for $1 a piece at the Habitat Restore. They use a MultiVolt electronic ballast and I'm surface mounting them.

In the past, when connecting wires that are significantly different in size, I've always "felt" a wire nut did not provide a great connection. However, it's probably sufficient since the wires aren't subject to any vibration or stress. I guess I could tape the nut to be extra safe.

 

[Torque1st]

Bend about 1/8" of the end of the smaller wire backward to get more grip within the wire nut. You can also pre-twist the wires. Tape is not required. Use the hard plastic "Ideal" brand wire nuts.

AFAIK you need to use 90°C wire inside those fixtures.

 

[Vicegrip]

Smallest gauge wire in first and to the end of the wire nut. larger wire(s) next twist tight and tug test all wires. With smaller gauge wires you can twist the wires up a little past the wire nut to give some strain protection to the connection. Don't fake a fit by folding wires and pre twisting use the right size nut for the work if you can.