How many times can you twist copper?

[BrandonV]

I was thinking about this the other day and I'm curious to hear from electricians. How many times can a pigtail or similar twisted connection under a wirenut be made, untwisted, and twisted again? Does age or any other factor come into play like material of the conductor?

Do any of you cut off a wirenut and re-strip under certain circumstances assuming enough wire is available?

 

[RPH]

Till it breaks. Also keep in mind that the length of wire cut has to come from somewhere. Too many times I’ve seen it wired to perfect cut length and no extra to be found for what I needed. Inspect, then correct.

 

[BrandonV]

Till it breaks. Also keep in mind that the length of wire cut has to come from somewhere. Too many times I’ve seen it wired to perfect cut length and no extra to be found for what I needed. Inspect, then correct.

Yeah. I'm wondering if it might be prudent to move to using a Wago where I think I might have to untwist - twist a pigtail over & over.

 

[AA/FC]

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?

The answer can and will be different every time.

It depends if your tongue is really wet, or fairly dry. It depends how rough your tongue is. It depends how much pressure you apply with your tongue on each lick. Etc, etc...

I'm sorry, this post has nothing to do with your original question.... but it's the first thing that came to mind when I read the title of the thread. lol

Carry on...

 

[alfredeneuman]

Do any of you cut off a wirenut and re-strip under certain circumstances assuming enough wire is available?

I ALWAYS restrip and use a new wirenut

 

[bwringer]

Till it breaks. Also keep in mind that the length of wire cut has to come from somewhere. Too many times I’ve seen it wired to perfect cut length and no extra to be found for what I needed. Inspect, then correct.

Copper work-hardens, so you get a limited number of tries. What that limit is varies tremendously, of course. And the little metal spring inside wire nuts also digs into the copper, so there's a point where it's too chewed up. Safest and code-iest is of course to always re-strip and start over.


As to extra length... there is no such thing in my house, and it has caused untold moments of teeth-grinding rage. There must have been some kind of shortage of Romex back then, because every damn last wire in this joint was strung arrow-straight and banjo-string taut, with not one extra inch available.

 

[alfredeneuman]

As to extra length... there is no such thing in my house, and it has caused untold moments of teeth-grinding rage. There must have been some kind of shortage of Romex back then

No shortage, but an incompetent installer

 

[mm08822]

No shortage, but an incompetent installer

more weight for the scrap bin, which equals beer money......

 

[Higgins]

I ALWAYS restrip and use a new wirenut

That can be a problem on older homes where the wire doesn’t extend beyond the box!

 

[sparky 1971]

I straighten it out, solid wire with my linesman pliers, stranded with my fingers, and always use a fresh wire nut, but, just guessing here, 99% of the joints are never going to be touched.

 

[CoogarXR]

If there's slack I always just cut/strip and retwist.

 

[alfredeneuman]

That can be a problem on older homes where the wire doesn’t extend beyond the box!

The question was "Do any of you cut off a wirenut and re-strip under certain circumstances assuming enough wire is available?"

 

[BobnCO]

Yes, assuming enough (excess) wire I always prefer to start fresh; the twist is tighter and wire nut more stable. But as others i indicate most of the time on older remodel; there is barely enough if enough.

 

[alfredeneuman]

But as others i indicate most of the time on older remodel; there is barely enough if enough.

Then it's time to tell the customer you have open the wall at the last staple before the box and see if there is any slack (to get closer to the box).

 

[sparky 1971]

Ideals Twister wire nuts will fit on a nut driver. Orange=1/4", tan=5/16, and I think the grays work with a 7/16" but have never tried. That's a game changer when the wires are too short, like when the old timers fished a new receptacle in, connected the device then pulled all of the slack back, leaving me to have to smash the receptacle with pliers to get it out because the wires are short that it won't come out far enough to get to the screws.