how do you use plastic wire connectors

Instructions

Full Answer

How to use electrical connectors correctly?

1 Use the right connector for the job. Follow the manufacturer's specifications for the correct size and number of wires for each size of connector. ... 2 Use only "UL Listed" connectors. ... 3 Cover bare wire ends completely with the connector. ... 4 Ensure that wire ends are clean and undamaged. ... 5 Confirm that connectors are secure. ...

How do you splice wires together?

Once the connector covers the entirety of the exposed wires, twist the connector clockwise until it feels very tight. Finally, test the quality and strength of the splice by holding the connector and trying to firmly pull each wire free.

How do you hook up a power cord to a TV?

Push each wire into one of the open ports, pushing as far as it will go. The bare copper wire must be completely inserted into the connector. Look through the clear end or window of the connector to confirm the wire is fully inserted. Tug on the wire to confirm that it is securely held by the connector.

How do I tighten the connector on my power cord?

Fit the connector over the wire ends and push firmly while twisting the connector in a clockwise motion. Keep turning until the connector is very tight and the bare wire ends are complete covered. Tug on each of the wires to confirm that they are secure. If any wire feels loose or pulls out of the connection, remove the connector and start over.

How do you use plastic electrical connectors?

0:483:21How to Use Push In Wire Connectors - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPull it and twist it at the same time the connectors clamp Marrs the copper. The connectors can beMorePull it and twist it at the same time the connectors clamp Marrs the copper. The connectors can be reused but there's three conditions.

How do you use wire connectors?

Crimp-On Wire Connectors To use, strip the wires to be connected, align them alongside each other, and then twist the two ends together. Now, slide the crimp-on wire connector over the wires and use the crimping tool to ensure a tight, secure connection.

How do you use wire twist connectors?

0:392:15Wiring Tips: Twisting wiring on your electrical project - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHold the wires side-by-side grab the end with a pair of linesman pliers and twist clockwise twistMoreHold the wires side-by-side grab the end with a pair of linesman pliers and twist clockwise twist them together like a candy cane. Don't leave one wire straight while you twist the other around. It.

How do you remove wires from a plastic connector?

0:001:32How to remove a wire from a push-in clear plastic connector in a can lightYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWell it's actually pretty simple you grab a hold of this on one end and you grab the wire on theMoreWell it's actually pretty simple you grab a hold of this on one end and you grab the wire on the other. And you simply twist. While you pull them apart.

How do you install wire connectors?

0:321:26How to Use Wire Nuts Properly - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHold the wires side-by-side. And screw on the wire nut until it bottoms out then keep twisting untilMoreHold the wires side-by-side. And screw on the wire nut until it bottoms out then keep twisting until the wires outside the nut twist around each other twice.

What are the 3 types of connectors?

Electrical connectors are classified into three types based on their termination ends: board-to-board connectors, cable/wire-to-cable/wire connectors, and cable/wire-to-board connectors.

How do you use snap lock wire connectors?

0:471:42How to use a Snap Lock: CURT 59956 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSimply place the existing unstrap wire that you would like to splice into into the open channel ofMoreSimply place the existing unstrap wire that you would like to splice into into the open channel of the snap-loc. Now insert the new tap wire into the terminated. Channel of the snap-loc.

What are twist on wire connectors called?

wire nutsTwist-on connectors are also known as wire nuts, wire connectors, cone connectors, or thimble connectors.

How do you use pigtail connectors?

0:321:37Electrical Wire Connection - Pigtail Wire - Push Wire ConnectorYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd you just push it straight in and it does a fantastic. Job of grabbing it and then the wire thatMoreAnd you just push it straight in and it does a fantastic. Job of grabbing it and then the wire that you're going to extend. Again you just push it straight in. You don't have to do a lot of twisting.

Are push in wire connectors reliable?

Professional electricians almost never use push-in connectors, and there's a reason why. No pro wants to be called back to a job to correct a bad connection, and push-in wire connections are much, much more likely to fail than the standard screw terminal connections.

Which wire connectors should you use?

Wire ConnectorsBlue Wire-Nut Good choice for ballast wire connections.Orange Wire-Nut Commonly used with light or fan fixtures for connection to switch wire(s).Yellow Wing-Nut Commonly used to connect 2 #14 or 2 #12 wires.Tan Twister Commonly used to connect 2 to 3 #14 or #12 wires.More items...

How do you remove a wire pin from a connector?

0:256:01Connector Pin Removal - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHold down the connector. And basically these little rectangles are the part of the connector that'sMoreHold down the connector. And basically these little rectangles are the part of the connector that's holding the pins into place.

What do the different color wire connectors mean?

Wire connectors come in different sizes and colors. The color indicates the size, quantity, and type of wires the nut can accommodate. The wrong size nut is one that is either too large or too small for the size and number of wires being connected.

What are connectors and how are these useful?

Connectors are sometimes used to start a sentence, while at other times they can be placed in the middle position of a sentence. Using connectors correctly will help ensure that the meaning of your sentences is clear for readers to understand.

Which wire connectors should you use?

Wire ConnectorsBlue Wire-Nut Good choice for ballast wire connections.Orange Wire-Nut Commonly used with light or fan fixtures for connection to switch wire(s).Yellow Wing-Nut Commonly used to connect 2 #14 or 2 #12 wires.Tan Twister Commonly used to connect 2 to 3 #14 or #12 wires.More items...

How to connect two wires together?

Line up the two wires so that they are parallel with each other. Some electricians will twist the wires together before placing the connector on them. There is no harm in doing this; however, in order to be UL-listed (which means it was approved by a safety testing board) a connector must make a firm connection without twisting the wires, so applying the connector without twisting the wires will also work. In fact, twisting the wires together before installing the connector may make future repairs on that splice more difficult as the two wires will be more difficult to separate.

What is the best way to splice two wires together?

Wire stripper. Wire cutter. Electrical wire connector. Electrical wire connectors are a common and easy way to splice two current-carrying electrical wires together. Unlike many electrical wiring projects, installing an electrical wire connector is easy enough for a non-professional to do and requires very few tools.

How to test if a wire connector is tight?

Finally, test the quality and strength of the splice by holding the connector and trying to firmly pull each wire free. Remember, if the wire connector isn’t as tight as possible, the cap may have slipped off.

Why does my wire connector pop off?

If the wrong size wire connector has been applied, it may pop off when the wire expands or simply fall off when the wire contracts. Either way, the conductors of the wires will be left exposed, which can potentially cause all kinds of problems.

Why is it important to choose the right size wire to connect to a wire?

Almost as important as turning off the power, choosing the right size wire to connect for the job can prevent mechanical and electrical failure and prevent electrical fires. The reason for this is that when a switch or device is turned on, it causes an electrical current to flow through to wires and into the wire connector. Once the current reaches the connector, it encounters a mild resistance in its flow. The resistance causes the wires themselves to heat up slightly which, in turn, causes them to expand.

Why do wires expand when a switch is turned off?

The resistance causes the wires themselves to heat up slightly which , in turn, causes them to expand. Once the switch is turned off again and the current has been stopped, the wires will cool and contract once again to their normal size.

Procedure for removing plastic wire connector

Step 1: Inspect the connector under consideration. Most of these plastic connectors have a tab lock that fits in the plastic housing. Open the plastic case with the pair of pliers to pull the wire out of the connector.

Summing up

This two-step process explains the removal of the plastic wire connector. Follow it precisely and get the wire connector out.

What keeps wires connected tightly?

Wire nuts or connectors keep the wires connected tightly that way they do not lose connection.

How to wrap wires after stripping?

Once the wires have been stripped place the wire nut over the two wires together. Twist and your set. As you can see the process is very simple. Make sure that the wire nut is firmly twisted over the stripped wires. Some people suggest wrapping them with electrical tape. A lot of electricians would disagree with that.

How to tell what size wire nuts to use?

Always follow the directions on the packaging. - Every package of wire nuts will tell you what size gauge of wire will fit into each nut. You do not want extra space. This can start a fire! Make sure you use the proper size! Make sure the wires are not loose! Wire Should Be Stripped.-.

What is a wire nut?

Wire nuts are plastic connectors often called wire connectors. They are used to connect two pieces of wire and twist them together. This is a much easier approach than electrical tape. They are easy to use and you can go back and twist them right off if you ever need to revisit the situation.

How many different colors of wire nuts are there?

Wire nuts come in five different colors. We will go over the meaning of each in just a moment. I do want to let you know that with every color comes a different size hole of the wire nut. This is not the same with every manufacturer of wire nut connectors. The outside of a wire nut is ridged.

How to strip wires back?

The first step is to turn off the power. Never try this with the power on. It can result in serious injury or death. Next is to choose the appropriate size wire nut. You do not want the wrong size, as stated above. After you have done these two steps, you should then strip your wires back accordingly.

Can you twist wire nuts over wires?

This makes it easy to grip that way you can twist them over the wires in an easy manner without losing your grip on the wire nut. This is convenient especially if the wires are in a hard to reach the spot. This helps you keep hold of them. All wire nuts are different with variance.

How to secure cable in metal box?

Securing Cable With an Internal Clamp . Some metal boxes come with saddle-shaped clamps already mounted inside the box. Usually, there are two clamps that can hold two cables each. If a clamp is not next to the knockout you are using, simply unscrew the clamp and move it to the desired location.

What is push in connector?

The newcomer on the block is the plastic push-in connector. There are several different designs for these, but basically they are all plastic bushings that snap into the knockout hole in the metal box. The cable is inserted through the connector and secured with a spring-tab or other device. One version includes a little gate piece that you slide down into a slot (similar to the action of a guillotine) then clamp down on the gate with pliers to secure the cable.

How to install a locknut clamp?

To install this type of clamp, insert the threaded end into a knockout hole in the box, then thread on the locknut onto the threaded end from inside the box. Tighten the nut with pliers. Insert the cable through the clamp saddle and into the box, and tighten the screws on the saddle to secure the cable.

How to remove a knockout cable?

To remove this type of knockout, insert a straight-bladed screwdriver into the slot and twist back and forth until the knockout separates from the box. Another type of knockout has no slot and must be punched out with a hammer and screwdriver. Hit it hard and it will bend down away from the hole (don't worry; you won't hurt the box). Grab the knockout disc with pliers and twist it until it comes free.

What is knockout in electrical box?

Knockouts are the little metal discs covering the holes in the sides or back of a metal electrical box. You remove as many knockouts as you need for the number of cables that will enter the box, and leave the others in place. A box should not have open knockout holes that are empty, as this compromises the protection offered by the box enclosure.

What is NM cable?

Nonmetallic, or NM, cable (commonly known by the brand name Romex) must be secured to electrical boxes at the point where the cable enters the box. This code requirement is an important safety feature that protects the wiring connections inside the box in case the cable is pulled. It also prevents the cable from rubbing against the edge ...

Do you need a knockout hole for a box?

A box should not have open knockout holes that are empty, as this compromises the protection offered by the box enclosure. Look on the side of the box and locate the knockout where you want to install your cable. Some knockouts have a straight slot in their center.

How to secure a spliced cable?

After the secured spliced cables are connected, you should tie the cables together with a plastic zip tie or use electrical tape to prevent the splice connections from being pulled apart. Wrap the zip tie or use electrical tape around the bottom of the stripped insulation jacket of both cables and you can help to further secure the installation. ...

How to make a tap splice?

To correctly make a tap splice you’ll need to place each of the wires into a separate chamber, parallel to the length of the connector. You’ll then need to close the tap splice cover carefully so that each wire inserts touches each wire. While holding the wires and tap splicers in position, you can carefully close the cover and clamp it together, ...

What is a tap slice connector?

Tap slice connectors are designed to feed an existing wire and a new clean cut end of another wire into it. When the metal portion of the tap splice is pressed down, it cuts into both wires and establishes a connection between the two wires. The plastic casing folds over and securely holds the wires, without stripping the insulation jacket, ...

What is a splice tap?

A splice connector is a vinyl plastic wire termination device that has a sharp metal insert which safely cuts through the plastic insulating jackets of two wires and crimps them together. The splice connector is then closed to securely hold the wire connections together.

What is a tap splicer?

Tap Splicers are also referred to as Quick Splicers and are designed for use with electrical wires, some telephone wiring and other electrical device wires. A very common example for the use for these tap splice connectors is for automotive trailer wiring applications when a quick and secure connection is needed. Tap splice connectors are available in various AWG wire sizes, wire combinations and colors to match AWG wire sizes. Tap splices are an inexpensive and safe way to connect an existing wire to a new wire without soldering them together.

What temperature is a tap splicer?

To make it easy to find the right tap splicer you need, Electrical Basics provides a variety of sizes that are CSA listed for safety, with a high temperature rating up to 220 F. A tap splice has two chambers, one on each end that is designed to securely hold two wires within the connector.

What is the phone number for tap splice?

If you have any questions about making tap splice connections, or which tap splice connector you need for your project, call the experts at Electrical Basics at 877-947-8437. We’ll help you to determine the right tap splice connector to use for your electrical wiring situation.

How to connect a wire to a wire?

To install a twist-on wire connector: 1 Strip the wires to the length recommended by the connector manufacturer, using wire strippers. 2 Make sure the wire ends are clean and straight. 3 Hold the wires so they are parallel and making even contact. The ends of the wires and insulation (as applicable) should be even (unless you're joining stranded and solid copper). 4 Fit the connector over the wire ends and push firmly while twisting the connector in a clockwise motion. Keep turning until the connector is very tight and the bare wire ends are complete covered. 5 Tug on each of the wires to confirm that they are secure. If any wire feels loose or pulls out of the connection, remove the connector and start over.

What type of connectors are used for splicing wires?

By law, wire splices—connections between two or more electrical wires —must be made with approved electrical connectors. The most common types of approved connectors are twist-on plastic caps (commonly known by the brand name Wire Nuts) and the relative newcomers, push-in connectors. Both types are equally suitable and safe for household use, provided you use them properly, following the manufacturer's instructions.

How to install twist on wire connector?

To install a twist-on wire connector: Strip the wires to the length recommended by the connector manufacturer, using wire strippers. Make sure the wire ends are clean and straight. Hold the wires so they are parallel and making even contact.

How many wires can be used in a twist on connector?

Wire size is expressed in its gauge, or AWG (American Wire Gauge) number. For example, a large-size twist-on connector may be able to accommodate a minimum of two 14 AWG wires and a maximum of four 12 AWG wires. Also, note that standard wire connectors are for use with solid and stranded copper wire only; never use them with aluminum wire.

Why do electricians twist wires clockwise?

The idea is to provide an extra layer of protection to prevent wires from coming apart and possibly pulling out of the connector.

How to splice wires?

Wiring splices are made by joining the bare-metal ends of wires together. When splicing insulated wire, you have to strip the insulation from the end of the wire to expose the metal core, which may be solid or stranded copper. The best way to strip wires is to use a pair of basic wire strippers.

What to do if you can't cover wires?

Cover bare wire ends completely with the connector. If you can't cover the bare ends, you've stripped too much insulation or you haven't installed the connector properly. Never try to correct the problem by wrapping the bare wires with electrical tape. Electrical tape does not take the place of wire insulation.