![]() ![]() Most important: if you’re ever in doubt, call a professional. Read through these directions carefully, and assemble all the necessary equipment before you get started. A single misstep, however, can result in, at best, a mess that must be corrected, or at worst, a disaster. A solid electric wire connection will bring the desired result-a new light fixture or fan, for example. When a home project requires splicing wires, be sure to follow these steps carefully and exactly. Never work on electrical wiring in wet or damp conditions. Wear rubber-soled shoes to insulate your body. You want someone around in the event that an unfortunate circumstance occurs. If you still aren’t certain that the power is off, turn off the main circuit breaker for the entire house.Īdditional precautions you should take before beginning your project: Verify that the power is indeed off using a voltmeter, a device that measures the electrical current in wires. Use extreme caution when working with electricity, as it can cause serious injury or even death when not handled properly. Photo: Safety Precautions for Splicing Electrical Wiresīefore beginning any work to connect electrical wires, turn off the circuit breaker supplying electricity to the wire that you want to splice. ![]() RELATED: The Best Multimeters for DIYers and Pros Overloading a wire with more than its intended amperage could cause it to overheat, melt, and possibly catch fire. For example, a 12-gauge wire is capable of handling approximately 20 amperes, while a 10-gauge wire is capable of handling 30 amperes. Wire gauge is determined by the amount of amperage the wire is expected to carry. It must be noted that while it is possible to splice different types of Romex wire-12/2 to 12/3, for instance-you should never splice together wires of a different gauge. 6/3-6-gauge wire with three inner insulated conductors and ground, commonly used for electric ranges and ovens.10/3-10-gauge wire with three inner insulated conductors and ground, commonly used for electric clothes dryers.10/2-10-gauge wire with two inner insulated conductors and ground, commonly used for water heaters. ![]() 12/3-12-gauge wire with three inner insulated conductors and ground, commonly used for switches and light fixtures.Other types of Romex wire used in residential construction are: Note: “NMC” is an acronym for nonmetallic cable, the type of wire that is most common in residential applications. The markings stamped on the outer insulation, “12/2 NMC with ground,” indicate the size and type of wire-in other words, a 12-gauge wire with two inner insulated conductors (a black “common” and white “neutral”) as well as a non-insulated grounding wire. (In this example, we’re connecting a 12/2 NMC with ground to the same type and size of wire.) Romex is a brand name of wire preferred by many electricians that is commonly used in residential applications. The following instructions assume that you’re splicing together two Romex wires of the same type. If you’re not sure you know exactly how to splice wires, read on for more info. Learning how to splice wires correctly will not only ensure that your electrical repairs and upgrades function properly, but equally importantly, will also keep you and your property safe. Lug splices should be aluminum unless both wires are copper.If your around-the-house to-do list includes an ambitious DIY electrical project, be it installing a light fixture, replacing a switch, or extending electrical wires to add another outlet in the garage, you’ll need to know the fundamental skill of splicing wires. So immediately take one of the #12 cables out of service, and re-breaker for 20A until you run larger wire. You are not allowed to parallel wire at all. Or, fit a transformer at the remote site and derive neutral locally, with the two insulated wires feeding the transformer, and again, re-task the bare wire as ground. Either add an insulated neutral wire to that pole line, and re-task the bared steel wire to be the now-required safety ground. Typically in your setup the bare steel messenger wire is neutral, which connects to every appliance in your house, guaranteeing weather related electricity fries all your appliances. It may have been acceptable at the time of installation, but more recent understanding of safety has led them to mandate grounds also. There are also rules about grouping conductors. Yes, you absolutely are allowed to splice in there, provided the box is large enough to accommodate the wires, which have a box fill requirement. Except for a couple of things.įirst, the junction box in the attic was a good move. Whoever installed this did a good job future-proofing for you. ![]()
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