Twist And Wirenut, Or Just Wirenut?

Ponsse

Years ago (early 80's) in trade school, we were taught to strip our wires long, then twist them, cut them off shorter and then wirenut. We spent a whole afternoon at this, making sure sure 2 wires didn't just wrap themselves around the third so the third could pull out. We couldn't use our linesman's or any tool to twist tight because we would damage the conductors and everybody's finger were sore at the end. The retired electrician that was brought in to teach certain subjects thought the sore fingers were very amusing and told us that we would toughen up in time.
After school and going to work I remember doing this for a while, but nowdays I don't, and never see anybody else twisting first, it seems that the wirenut does a good enough job of this.

Do any of you older electricians still twist first?

Teetorbilt

I do but use pliers. My sparky does it that way too.

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InPhase277

I find twisting them first is important. And I'm not that old. I have spent almost 1/2 of my electrical career as a service tech. I cannot count how many melted wirenuts have been the cause of a service call. And every single one I have seen could have been avoided if the wires had been twisted with kleins first.

It is too easy to misalign the wires under the wirenut and never notice it until it burns up. I find I can twist the wire with my kleins just as fast, if not faster, than taking the time to twist a wirenut enough to twist the wires together. I once had to let a guy go from my crew because he wouldn't pretwist. He kept arguing that it wasn't required. I said "maybe not, but I would like it if you did, pretty please". He kept arguing, then said he would comply. I followed him and check some taps. I asked again. He got pissed that I checked his taps.

It all ended with "get your tools, get in your truck..." and ya'll know the rest.

InPhase277

threaderman

Interesting reading even for a plumber like me.Good advice.I will make it a point to twist with pliers.

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Double-A

I used to twist my 1/2" copper together before soldering. I had to give up the technique. The plastic would burn off the wire nut and the tubing kept leaking.

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Celtic

The 3M wirenuts (3M Performance+)will make up nice w/o pre-twisting...those are the blue/orange, red/yellow, blue/grey styles shown.

The one that is just red, is a Buchanan/Scothlock - both POS that feel like garbage as they go on and are a PITA to remove.

The 3Ms DO cost more...but are a superior product compared to any other wirenut I have used.

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ChrWright

I say twist.

It consolidates the wires together in the box better as well. I agree if you're not carefull you can damage the wires if you ham-fist it with your LP.

One of my biggest pet peaves is opening up a box & finding a rats nest.

And it's always the helper's fault when you bring it up.

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firemike

My grandfather taught me to twist first 40+ years ago. Been doin' it that way ever since.

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zesone

I was taught that by twisting the wires together, you arent relying on the wire nut as the means of completing the circuit.

Speedy Petey

NOT THIS AGAIN!

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Speedy Petey

It doesn't matter if you pre-twist or not! The splice should look the same in the end.
If you do not -pre twist, and the wires are not twisted by the wire nut you did NOT do it right. Period.

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pudge565

I am currently in vo-tech my teacher tells us he wants us to twist em first. I don't see how you would damage the conductor anyway since you cut the tip off.

Celtic

Let's not confuse what someone "wants" and what is "required".

Why stop there?



If an inspector wants you to install all your 125v 15/20A recept.s ground UP ~ will you remove them and flip them to accommodate him?

::flees the scene::

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excellencee

I tell my boys that you do whatever the boss wants. At school the boss is the teacher. On my job its me. Luckaly we both twist.

Electricmanscot

I'm a twister from way back. A couple wraps of tape can't hurt either.

silvertree

Here's the REAL Twister-!

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jcalvin

Greenies vs. Crimps
To Twist or not To Twist
Solder or Wire Nut
12/2 vs. 14/2
Ground Up vs. Ground Down
Switch leg on Top or Bottom of a Switch
Plate Screws Vertical or Horizontal
Ford vs Chevy
....

There are a thousand more of them out there. The only way to do it is to twist them first.

Just remember, The way I do it is the right way to do it.

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Cal


You hired WHO

dkillianjr

Yup I always pretwist too, my dad taught me that way. It makes a tighter connection and the box looks nicer and more organized.


Dave

220/221

In some cases the connection may be tighter but if I put 2 or 3 #12's under a red wing nut and crank it down, the wires will twist themselves.


I don't understand how the JB would be any cleaner though???



Or if the wirenut had simply been tighten properly.




I'm old. I started wiring in the mid 70's.

I only twist when I have to.....which is rarely.

If I have to take a slice apart and redo it, perhaps adding a couple more wires, sometimes twistin is necessary.

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Just because it's against code doesn't make it unsafe.

mdshunk

Just call me Chubby Checker.