Joining 2 number 10 wires..

[Junkman]

I miscalculated when i picked up the wire for the new stove, and I need to add 3 additional feet of wire to get into the circuit breaker panel. I am planning on using a 4" utility box and make my splice in there. The wire is three 10 gauge copper stranded wire and a ground. I need to know how is the best way to join the wires to have a tight bond. thanks

 

[rockwithjason]

wire nuts are the best for this

 

[C96]

Agreed, the red wire nuts such as the Ideal Wing Nut #452 Red

 

[MrMark]

The red nuts do 2-5 #10 and the tan twisters (which are pretty much the de facto nut these days) do 2 as I recall. Look on the box for the listed combinations.

 

[mrjaw14]

strip the wire about 1-1.5", twist the conductors together with linesman pliers until they are tightly twisted, but not all the way down to the cable sheath, so that the wires are spliced together and won't come loose. Then cut the end flat so each conductor is at the tip, then terminate with a wirenut. The unstripped portion of the wire should be completely inside the wirenut. Trim the ends if necessary to accomplish this. Doing it like this, the wirenut isn't the termination method, it's more the covering. The twist you put in the wire is what's splicing it.

repeat for all other wires.

 

[Rookie2]

IDEAL Wire Reducer Wire Connectors

Item #: 36523 | Model #: 770144L

 

[theoldwizard1]

strip the wire about 1-1.5", twist the conductors together with linesman pliers until they are tightly twisted, ...

For most who don't know, the "face" of the jaws on linesmen pliers is specifically designed to slip and not badly damage copper wires as you twist them together. Regular pliers will chew up the wire a lot more.

Start with longer bared lengths before twisting. after twisting, trim back to the appropriate length for the wire nut.

You could also use split bolts or inline screw clamp **** connectors IF you can find the appropriate size. Both require insulation. Double layer of splicing tape (not the cheap HF electrical tape) or heavy duty shrink tubing.

IDEAL Wire Reducer Wire Connectors

Item #: 36523 | Model #: 770144L

YEP ! If you can actually find them !


On lighter gauge wire (like #14) you can get away with just shoving the 2 wires into the wire nut and twisting. Not on heavy stuff !

 

[ishiboo]

Love the block-style terminal connectors for #10 stranded.

$25 a piece for Polaris, or $3 a piece for the generics.

 

[sberry]

Just shove in the nut and twist. Millions of connections made each day this way. The wire nut isn't a current carry device, simply crimps the wires to each other.