Splicing help

[TOOL FANATIK]

Is it proper to splice 18 wire with 12?...on a 20 amp circuit? Is it even safe? Bought a floodlight that I want to put up but wasn't sure about the smaller wires...stranded at that. What does one do in this case? Thanks.

 

[Syberia]

Is the #18 wire part of the fixture assembly? If so, it's fine. Wrap it around the #12 and secure with a wirenut.

 

[TOOL FANATIK]

Yes it is.

 

[TOOL FANATIK]

Fantastic. Thank you.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Is the #18 wire part of the fixture assembly? If so, it's fine. Wrap it around the #12 and secure with a wirenut.

Yellow wire nut. Maybe even an orange.

I hate splicing small (#18) stranded to heavier (#12) solid. I am always concerned if it will hold.

Short of "tinning" the 18 gauge any pros have any tips ?

 

[teamextreme]

For #12 to #18 I use an orange wire nut. I've found twisting them doesn't help. The trick is to have the ends flush with each other before you insert into the nut. If the #18 is lower than the #12 it won't bite. Just make sure you give the #18 a good tug when you're done to confirm it is holding.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I like to twist thr smaller gauge wire so it forms a solid piece and then twist that and the larger solid wire together making sure the stranded smaller wire starts at the end of te larger wire so the wire nut bites the wire.

 

[TOOL FANATIK]

For #12 to #18 I use an orange wire nut. I've found twisting them doesn't help. The trick is to have the ends flush with each other before you insert into the nut. If the #18 is lower than the #12 it won't bite. Just make sure you give the #18 a good tug when you're done to confirm it is holding.

keeping both wires flush IS key for me too... when splicing even like sized wires. you gotta kinda bend both toward eachother so they are kissing when you slip the nut over...and i feel like if i tug before taping up, i just shortened the life of that splice, like it was fine and i just made it slip a bit...its kinda like the first person walking across that rickity bridge and gets across and then yells across it's safe!!! then the poor guy that's next goes to cross and it all comes apart

 

[SALIV8]

Yellow wire nut. Maybe even an orange.

I hate splicing small (#18) stranded to heavier (#12) solid. I am always concerned if it will hold.

Short of "tinning" the 18 gauge any pros have any tips ?

hold the wire nut with one hand and pull on each of the wires that are connected in that nut. pull them one by one and if its a bad connection one will pull free.

 

[justsam]

Just use some of the WAGO lever action.
Good for wire gauge 12 to 28, solid or stranded.
They are too costly for high volume professional use, but work great for the DIY person.
I believe they are available in 2-5 ports.

http://www.wago.us/products/terminal-blocks-and-connectors/installation-connectors/compact-splicing-connectors-for-all-conductor-types-222-series/overview/

 

[wyliesdiesels]

keeping both wires flush IS key for me too... when splicing even like sized wires. you gotta kinda bend both toward eachother so they are kissing when you slip the nut over...and i feel like if i tug before taping up, i just shortened the life of that splice, like it was fine and i just made it slip a bit...its kinda like the first person walking across that rickity bridge and gets across and then yells across it's safe!!! then the poor guy that's next goes to cross and it all comes apart

Wire nuts are a mechanical connection and arent just there to cover the wire splice. If u pull on one of the wires and it slips then thats a bad connection/work and needs to be fixed just like saliva8 pointed out below. If the connection is that loose chances are it can become a high resistance connection and get overheated...i always gently test pull wires in wire nuts to make sure theyre mechanically connected.

I will leave it at that as theres another thread on here that debated wire nut splices to no end awhile back...

hold the wire nut with one hand and pull on each of the wires that are connected in that nut. pull them one by one and if its a bad connection one will pull free.

 

[TOOL FANATIK]

Wire nuts are a mechanical connection and arent just there to cover the wire splice. If u pull on one of the wires and it slips then thats a bad connection/work and needs to be fixed just like saliva8 pointed out below. If the connection is that loose chances are it can become a high resistance connection and get overheated...i always gently test pull wires in wire nuts to make sure theyre mechanically connected.

I will leave it at that as theres another thread on here that debated wire nut splices to no end awhile back...

no debates over here from me. that makes perfect sense