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Polaris Connectors

JG Owens

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In the course of installing a french drain, the contractor dug up the buried grey cable to a lamp post, made a splice using wire nuts and electrical tape. It took about a year for it to finally short and now I'm attempting to a repair. I picked up a couple of Polaris connectors at my local electrical supplier and have no idea how to make the connection. Do I put the black wires in one tube and whites in the other? What do I do with the ground? I was hoping to wrap this project up today. Any help appreciated.

http://www.nsiindustries.com/catalo...-connectors/polaris-edge-connectors/ispb2-0-2
 
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JG Owens

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Thanks.
I've read this about 20 times and must be missing something or need a second cup of coffee. Do I put the two black wires on one side and whites on the other which would seem to make sense, but what happens to the ground?
 

joe_padavano

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You need a separate one of those for each wire. The connector is a junction block, so any wires you put into it will be connected together. The short bosses house the set screws that clamp down on the wires you put in the long bosses. All the black wires in one, all the white wires in another, all the grounds in a third.
 

rlitman

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So if I'm using the standard three wire Romex, I need a three port Polaris and not the two port I was sold?

No! Every wire going into a Polaris connector will be shorted to every other wire in it. There is a single metal block inside with set screws to attach the wires. If you want to splice three different wires individually, you will need THREE two-port connectors. A three port connector is if you want want to tap into one of those wires.

But you don't need Polaris connectors here. DB (Direct Burial) rated wire nuts will be fine for your lamp. My suggestion would be to have them turned facing up (so they drain) before covering. Note that DB wire nuts are grease filled and are single use (because the grease squeezes out). They're usually blue or purple, and have a partial covering over the opening.
 

Bert_

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joe_padavano

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So if I'm using the standard three wire Romex, I need a three port Polaris and not the two port I was sold?

Just so everyone is clear, you would need THREE Polaris connectors, one for each color of wire. If you are only joining two wires of each color, then you need THREE two-port connectors. Each Polaris connector is equivalent to a wire nut.
 

Aceman

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Polaris connectors are not made for underground. You need a underground splice kit, way less expensive

Sent from my SM-G960U using The Garage Journal mobile app

The particular Polaris connectors he linked too, are rated for direct bury, it shows that on the catalog page.

Just so everyone is clear, you would need THREE Polaris connectors, one for each color of wire. If you are only joining two wires of each color, then you need THREE two-port connectors. Each Polaris connector is equivalent to a wire nut.

Just so we are clear, even direct bury Polaris connectors are not the correct repair method for UF cable in this instance. Bert's link above is what to use.
 

wyliesdiesels

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So if I'm using the standard three wire Romex, I need a three port Polaris and not the two port I was sold?

just an FYI- Romex is a brand of NM-b, made by southwire and is NOT direct bury

gray cable that looks like NM-b is called UF-b

There is a difference here...
 

joe_padavano

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Just so we are clear, even direct bury Polaris connectors are not the correct repair method for UF cable in this instance. Bert's link above is what to use.

Yeah, I got that, but the OP still seems to think that each one of those connectors can splice multiple wires. That was for the benefit of anyone who stumbles across this thread looking for info on Polaris splices. You'll note that I carefully did NOT say they were the correct splices for his application... since half a dozen people before me had already pointed that out.
 

Terry D

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The particular Polaris connectors he linked too, are rated for direct bury, it shows that on the catalog page.



Just so we are clear, even direct bury Polaris connectors are not the correct repair method for UF cable in this instance. Bert's link above is what to use.
I never realized that they made polaris connectors rated for direct burial

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