Connecting 18 ga to 12 ga

[Ironhorse74]

I bought some LED shop lights that have to be hard wired. First the connector is pretty blasted short. Second issue is that I am connecting 18 gauge stranded to mostly two 12 guage standard. Having a tough time, how you guys do it?

Thanks

Brad

 

[csp]

What are you using for a connection and what's the problem?

Using wire nuts shouldn't give you any issues connecting the two.

 

[checkthisout]

I bought some LED shop lights that have to be hard wired. First the connector is pretty blasted short. Second issue is that I am connecting 18 gauge stranded to mostly two 12 guage standard. Having a tough time, how you guys do it?

Thanks

Brad

Tiny wire nuts, like the kind without wings that come with cheap outdoor fixtures.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ideal-73B-Orange-WIRE-NUT-Wire-Connectors-100-Pack-30-073P/202894270

 

[dfiler2]

I know how I would do it to be comfortable I had a good connection with a short lead.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HIOP6SC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Buy some tan wire nuts.

 

[MikeF2316]

Yeah, you might need some bigger wire nuts. And it's 100% critical that you do your twisting in the correct (tighten) direction.

 

[crowldawg]

I try to make the stranded 18 ga a little longer than the 12 before I twist and nut them.

 

[Von Psycho]

I don't know if this is legal but you could leave the wires an inch longer and solder them,
clean any flux residue and cover with a marr connector, they won't come undone.

 

[Muzzy]

I also vote for wire nuts.

If you're not liking wire nuts for whatever reason, Wago makes a connector that is good for stranded and solid wire connections.

 

[ForceFed70]

Small wire nuts.

Also - tinning the ends (applying solder to make the end like a solid wire) makes it much easier. This shouldn't be needed with the correct wire nuts and technique but does work really well. Do not use this technique in a location that would see vibration tho.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Small wire nuts.

Which are ...

Buy some tan wire nuts.

Also - tinning the ends (applying solder to make the end like a solid wire) makes it much easier. This shouldn't be needed with the correct wire nuts ...

TRUE !

 

[Rookie2]

IF you use wire nuts : Wind the 18ga around one of the 12 ga then sandwich the other 12 ga as if you only had two 12ga wires.
The wago's are awesome for this problem but expensive .

 

[myredracer]

Twisting a #18 and #12 together is harder to execute without the smaller one just wrapping around the larger one and not being properly mechanically held in place. I would pre-twist these together, trim the ends so the same length, then insert into the wire nut. Pre-twisting these would not be easy tho. due to large difference in diameters. I would also consider a crimp connection or a vibration resistant wire nut (the ones with a set screw on the side). Soldering along with a wire nut would be very reliable but not normally done.

 

[checkthisout]

Too much overthinking and overkill here.

In this case, the current carried is low, that's why the wire is small.

Cut #18 long, twist around #12 a few times, install wire nut, tug on #18 for general principles.

Done.

 

[Ironhorse74]

I tried small wire nuts and a wago style connector. In the end I bought some crimp type caps and crimped them together. It was something in the cheap Chinese wire. The strands were very fine and wouldn't twist around anything and stay. Working now, thanks for the suggestions.

 

[rick carpenter]

Do you have enough room to flatten the end of the 12ga and crimp it to the 18ga, and then twist them and then nut them?

 

[404]

While I think the OP's plan is fine, I am waiting for the NEC experts to tell us the OP needs to put in a smaller circuit breaker for the 18 Ga wire.

 

[ishiboo]

While I think the OP's plan is fine, I am waiting for the NEC experts to tell us the OP needs to put in a smaller circuit breaker for the 18 Ga wire.

Won't happen.

Fixtures always (normal ones) have smaller wires. Usually way below amperage tables as they're high temperature and very short distances in a rated device.

I would use Wago lever-nuts for the connection. I use them in all my LED recessed cans and they are one of the most fantastic devices ever.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=B00HIOP6SC

 

[alfredeneuman]

While I think the OP's plan is fine, I am waiting for the NEC experts to tell us the OP needs to put in a smaller circuit breaker for the 18 Ga wire.

No Chance of that!

2011 NEC 240.5 (2)

Fixture Wire. Fixture wire shall be permitted to be tapped to the branch-circuit conductor of a branch circuit in accordance with the following:
(1) 20-ampere circuits — 18 AWG, up to 15 m (50 ft) of
run length

 

[404]

No Chance of that!

2011 NEC 240.5 (2)

Fixture Wire. Fixture wire shall be permitted to be tapped to the branch-circuit conductor of a branch circuit in accordance with the following:
(1) 20-ampere circuits — 18 AWG, up to 15 m (50 ft) of
run length

Darn.