How to Use a Wire Nut

In this brief procedure you will be shown and explained how to install a wire nut.

Tools Needed:

Exacto Knife

Wire Stripper

2 Wire Nuts

14 2 Wire (OR any other type)

Step 1: To begin hold the exacto knife with a firm grip, make a simple but not deep cut into the wire. Cut into the insolation around the wire about a inch and a half to two inches down the wire. What should be seen is a Neutral wire (White) and a Ground (Black). In this case other wires will not be needed and can be removed or ignored.

In Step 2 we will be exposing the copper wire itself. To begin grab one wire and your wire stripper. On the wire stripper there are measurements for general wires. Align the wire being used, in this case its a 14 2 wire; put it a about a inch to three quarters of the way down and twist. If on correct size no damage should be inflicted to wire, then proceed to remove rubber insolation. Repeat on other end and as well to the other wire on hand.

Once both ends of each copper wire is exposed continue to make a O with wires. Bring exposed ends together, use your wire cutters or pliers and twist wires around each other. Make sure both are being twisted and not one just wrapped around the other. Another point to remember is to twist the clockwise fashion. We do this because once the wire cut is being twisted on it will loosen the wires if twisted counter clockwise. Making a loose connection and leading to only bad.

Before we put this wire nut on make sure to trim. The wire might be damaged from the pliers during the twisting, snip the end very briefly not removing too much wire than we can continue. Once trimmed take wire nut put it in the end of the exposed wires, give it a snug fit and again twist clockwise like the wire. Creating a tight sync between the wire and wire nut. Than you're all set!

Now code can vary from town to town, some say to twist the wires some say don't. But to always ensure the safety of yourself and prevent house fires use electrical tape. Make sure the wire nut is twisted well and there's no wire exposed, then apply the tape. A method to remember is wire, nut, wire. Start on the wire do a loop or two than wrap around the nut, then finally the wire again and make it a tight wrap. After that than you're really all done and took a big step to electrical safety.