Split bolt or Wire Nuts 10/2

[AllDodge]

Dryer wiring 10/2 W ground
Older wiring where the ground is copper braid around the 2 conductors, and appear to be tinned copper, rubber jacket not vinyl.

Hot wires are a tad to short in the breaker box, ground braid is plenty long. I'm thinking of using split bolt connectors inside the breaker box to make them longer to reach the breaker location. Could use wire nuts but I like split bolt and tape because there tighter IMO.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

umm, a 3-wire dryer circuit should be 10/3 NM W/O grnd. meaning 2 hots & an insulated neutral.

what you have is NOT kosher since the neutral conductor is NOT insulated. good way to shock someone....

This circuit should be ripped out & replaced w/ 10/3 NM-b w/ grnd....

NEVER use a bare wire for a neutral/grounded conductor....

and what you have sounds like 10/2 SEU NOT NM since the ground is braided...

 

[Bert_]

umm, a 3-wire dryer circuit should be 10/3 NM W/O grnd. meaning 2 hots & an insulated neutral.

what you have is NOT kosher since the neutral conductor is NOT insulated. good way to shock someone....

This circuit should be ripped out & replaced w/ 10/3 NM-b w/ grnd....

NEVER use a bare wire for a neutral/grounded conductor....

and what you have sounds like 10/2 SEU NOT NM since the ground is braided...

SE was definitely legal...

While you can't extend the circuit I see no issue adding a bit of wire in the panel. It's pretty common when you're changing a panel.

 

[AllDodge]

Home built in 1969 and panel replaced from Federal Pacific (fire starter panels) to Square D about 12 years ago. I installed a 80 Kva surge suppressor (2 days ago) and breaker was marked as not used (even though it was ON). So when wife couldn't turn dryer ON I need to fix.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

SE was definitely legal...

While you can't extend the circuit I see no issue adding a bit of wire in the panel. It's pretty common when you're changing a panel.

SE with an UNINSULATED neutral for a 3-wire dryer circuit? i dont think so.

 

[AllDodge]

SE with an UNINSULATED neutral for a 3-wire dryer circuit? i dont think so.

There is a jacket around the braid and wires, so its not in the open
Same thing which was on my older house at the service head. Replaced that also when rewired the whole hose from 80 amp to 200 amp

 

[AllDodge]

Found this
https://www.dli.mn.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/eli_bulletin_cable.pdf

 

[Bert_]

SE with an UNINSULATED neutral for a 3-wire dryer circuit? i dont think so.

I DO think so and 250.140 exception (3) agrees with me.

Se has always had an uninsulated neutral. It was the standard for range circuits and sometimes dryer circuits for many, many years.

 

[Norcal]

SE with an UNINSULATED neutral for a 3-wire dryer circuit? i dont think so.

As long as it originated in the main panel, it was permitted, never cared for it being done that way, but it would not be 10 AWG either, if it is 10/2 NM it was never code compliant & must be removed.

 

[AllDodge]

So split bolt or wire nuts?

 

[klassenl]

Wire nuts. Marrettes.

 

[Bert_]

So split bolt or wire nuts?

Either is fine. I would probably use wire nuts because they're faster.

 

[AllDodge]

The old wire looks tinned plated copper. Guess no need to worry about corrosion

 

[Two Sheds]

A lot of SE cable was aluminum. Be double sure it's copper before using wire nuts. If it is aluminum you need splices rated for aluminum and no-corrode paste.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

A lot of SE cable was aluminum. Be double sure it's copper before using wire nuts. If it is aluminum you need splices rated for aluminum and no-corrode paste.

anti-ox only required if manufacturer calls for it

 

[AllDodge]

I took my knife and scraped it, could see copper

 

[rlitman]

So split bolt or wire nuts?

Split bolts on 10AWG? You've got to be kidding me.

 

[mike93lx]

Split bolts on 10AWG? You've got to be kidding me.

Yeah, what respectable sparky wouldn't use Polaris connectors?

 

[AllDodge]

More info as to reason for the question:
Need to reconnect dryer, and dryer should be on a 30 amp breaker with 10 AWG wire.
I'm looking at the wire thinking that's big for 10 but haven't wired anything in a long time

Also noticed dryer breaker was a 40 amp

OK get some of Dad's (retired local 369 and passed away many years ago) split bolt and smallest he had was ones that would barely fit the wire. Had 1/2 nut and 3/8 split

Dad also saved wire and I still have most of it and found wire that was same size and used it.

All finished and now do believe it was 8 or 6 AWG. Got the caliper out (just now) and its 7 strand and 0.16 diameter. So this is #6 and also a reason just getting the wire in the 30 amp took a bit more work

Edit decimal in wrong place

 

[rlitman]

Yeah, what respectable sparky wouldn't use Polaris connectors?

I don't have a problem with Polaris connectors except for the cost, but split bolts are a very different animal.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I don't have a problem with Polaris connectors except for the cost, but split bolts are a very different animal.

and split bolts take more time as you have to wrap them. polaris connectors are already insulated saving on labor time...

 

[mike93lx]

I was really just joking about the cost, especially compared to wire nuts