puma1277

What’s with the black tape on a wire nut? This drives me nuts, is this something they did back then or a DIY’er job?

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Speedy Petey

CLASSIC diy or handyman work.

480sparky

Most likely, they were taught that way and never figured out it's a waste of time & tape.

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robnj772

When I see tape on a wirenut I know a DIYer was in the box.

What'e even worse,you ever see that liquid tape ?

BryanMD

I was doing a job a couple years ago where I deliberately taped up every single wire nut on the job. (I had good reason to.)

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March 2010: On the road with my RV. California is first primary destination then it is off to Eastern OR, Northern ID and Western MT for drycamping and fly fishing until Labor Day.

gesparky221

At my shop we always tape up wire nuts and also the crimp on type too. It is required by our rules. We used to have an older e.e. that insisted on it and over time it has just become normal practice. I find myself even doing it on my own resi wiring. We even tape up receptacles and switches. I guess I don't see a problem with it.

puma1277

Can you explain why?

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Frasbee

I see it as a waste of time and tape.

If you don't know how to install the wire nut properly, you shouldn't be in there anyway.

Kevin J

I know some guys who tape all their motor connections because they say vibrations can loosen a wire nut. Personally, I haven't experienced this. Ever ran across old tape and solder joints?

p_logix

They really shouldn't be using wire nuts for their motor connections. A lot of industrial specs prohibit the use of wire nuts on machinery for their tendency to come off due to vibration. Split bolts or bolted ring tongue terminals don't come loose. I could see in a high speed production place where its lets "get it going now mentality". Then I would agree tape wire nuts if you have no choice at least it will help.

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p_logix
"Meggers Don't Lie, Electricians Lie". Go LAKERS!!!!

Jeff000

Every time I have come across a taped wirenut it was because the splice was poor and copper was above the nut.
Actually, I have taped wirenuts once, when we were doing a temp power "fix" we taped up the wirenuts in an attempt to try and better weather proof the connections in the "weather taped" 6x6 box.
I hate temp power.

brian john

One of 2 reasons DIY or personal preference NEITHER of which is wrong or a problem other than the GOOEY CRAP left behind for the next electrician or HO to mess with. Personally I see no reason for it.

macmikeman

I don't normally tape any wirenuts, but at the same time I have come across just too many wirenut splices made up by electricians (not diy) that have either come apart cause of lousy install or stranded problems, or when the old hard candy style of wirenuts grew old and cracked apart from heat issues. When you are talking 277 volts that can become a real wake up deal.

heel600

Any time we put a device on a metal box, we wrap the device. Takes only a few seconds, and saves a lot of problems.

don't think I ever put tape on a wirenut.

tpr

when i was young journeyman i used to tape my recepts all the time. then a old timer walked up to me and said "what are you doing that for, you don't trust your work" i've never taped them since.

KayJay

I’ve noticed that the instructions included with many resi garbage disposals seem to recommend taping the wirenuts, same thing with many dishwashers.

It seems that almost every multi-bulb fixture I see that comes from Ching-Chang, has tape on the factory installed wirenuts. It may be there to keep any loose wire strands under wraps, but I have also noticed that the cheap wirenuts they supply tend to loosen up over time, so it could be that the tape is actually important to holding those junk connectors in place.

John Valdes

This is one area where a wire nut or wing nut can come loose. Ring terminals or split bolts are the norm. If the conductors are #12 and under, wing nuts are okay without tape. If you need a blue one for a motor connection then you don't need wire nuts period.

A little off topic but. Who uses wing nuts instead of wire nuts? I only use wing nuts. How about the rest of you?

MNservicetech

I only tape temp power/lighting (I think it's an OSHA requirement?) and applications with high vibrations.

I ALWAYS use my 3M hand wire nut driver. I started using this baby 2 years ago and it's been in my pouch since. It's easier on the wrists, faster, and if I feel the need to really crank down on the wire nut, I can grab the barrel and turn it.

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3...be1WTQTPQS39gl

I think Home Depot sells the goofy kind that don't have wings. If I see the style without wings It's usually because a homeowner or maintenance guy did work in the box. The supply houses here usually carry Red/Yellow 3M or Ideal's that have "wings". My favorite brand is Ideal, they seem to grip the wire's better.

ruffy

I just saw a metal box today that had a electrical receptacle whose top screw was broke and the outlet hit the side of the box and a 2 foot area around the box was scorched. Putting tape around them can be a good idea. I usually spend about 2 dollars on a recepticle but I will not buy the 6 dollar ones with the guards on the side.

Jeff000

We always use the blue Ideal wing'ed wire nuts. But the larger and smaller ones we get never seem to have the wings.

I have looked at those wire nut drivers, but they seem awkward to use. Splicing up parkaid boxes I probably go through ~5000 wirenuts. Enough that my fingers get raw some days.

How often does one of those screws break without whoever putting it in not noticing? I have never seen one with guards on the side.