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Home - Maintenance How to Use Wire Nuts By Michelle Skidgel

Wire Nut is the trade name for a twist-on wire connector manufactured by Ideal Industries Inc. It is often used interchangeably with generic brands of wire connector, but most of these electrical components work the same.

Wire nuts are color coded to indicate size.

Things You Will Need

+

• Utility knife
• Wire gauge

The connectors, which aid in splicing two separate electrical wires together, are color-coded based on the recommend gauge of wire for that size connector. For safety's sake, you should adhere to the company's recommendations.

1. Turn off electrical power to the circuit on which you will be working.

2. Slice through the insulation on the ends of the two wires to be connected, using a utility knife. Remove about 1/2 inch of insulation from the end of each wire.

3. Measure the size of the wire with a wire gauge, then select the appropriate Wire Nut by matching the correct wire gauge with the color-coded nut (see Resources).

4. Twist the exposed wire ends 1 1/2 turns clockwise. Place the Wire Nut on the end of the twisted, exposed wires and turn clockwise to secure it. It should hold the wires together firmly and completely cover any exposed wiring.

5. Turn on the electrical power.

References

• Don Vandervort's HomeTips: How to Splice Electrical Wires

Writer Bio

Michelle Skidgel has worked as a writer and editor since 2001. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English at Oklahoma State University and is currently raising and homeschooling five children with her husband. Her articles for various websites specialize in parenting, green living, gardening, cooking and frugal living.

Photo Credits

• wire nuts image by Paul Moore from Fotolia.com
• wire nuts image by Paul Moore from Fotolia.com

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