7 FATAL Wiring Mistakes Most DIYers Don't Know They Are Making | Most Are Guilty of 3
Summary
TLDRThe video covers common wiring mistakes DIYers make, including not properly twisting wires before capping them, overloading or using the wrong size wire nuts, and improperly connecting solid and stranded wires. It advises pre-twisting wires before adding a wire nut to ensure a tight connection not reliant on the nut itself. It also recommends using name-brand wire nuts, noting the size and number of wires they can handle. For solid-stranded connections, it suggests ensuring the stranded wire is slightly longer and wraps the solid wire when twisted. It also demonstrates issues with push-in Wago connectors coming loose.
Takeaways
- 😲 Most people improperly twist wires together, risking a loose connection over time.
- 😤 Always follow manufacturer instructions for twisting wires with wire nuts.
- 😊 Pre-twisting wires before adding a wire nut creates a tighter connection.
- 😡 Using the wrong size wire nut can overload it or make connections loose.
- 😱 Stranded and solid core wires are commonly connected poorly.
- 👍 Properly secure stranded wire longer to wrap solid core wire when using wire nuts.
- 😨 Wago connectors get accidentally opened when pushing into boxes.
- 😫 Wago connectors with too much or too little wire exposed can lose connection.
- ✅ Use the built-in strip gauge on Wago connectors.
- 🤓 Making proper wire and device connections avoids electrical issues.
Q & A
What is the most common wire connection mistake made by DIYers and electricians?
-The most common mistake is to simply twist on a wire nut without properly twisting and connecting the wires first, relying solely on the wire nut to make the connection. This can lead to a loose connection that fails over time.
Why is pre-twisting wires before adding a wire nut recommended?
-Pre-twisting the wires before adding the wire nut forms a tight joint between the wires so they are connected even if the wire nut comes off. This provides support and ensures good surface contact between the wires.
What should you do if a wire nut seems too small or too large for the wires you need to connect?
-Refer to the wire nut packaging, which provides a bar graph listing the exact wire sizes and quantities that each colored wire nut can accommodate, including minimums and maximums.
Why is connecting solid core and stranded wires tricky?
-When twisted together, stranded wires tend to slip below solid core wires rather than wrapping tightly together. Special care must be taken to position the wires correctly before adding the wire nut.
How can Wago lever nuts simplify connecting solid and stranded wires?
-Wago lever nuts don't require the wires to be twisted. Flipping the lever secures the wires neatly in place without one slipping below the other.
What common Wago mistakes should you avoid?
-Avoid stripping too much or too little insulation. Use the built-in strip gauge for the right amount. Also cover levers with tape when pushing into boxes to prevent wires releasing accidentally.
Why might a voltage detector show power flowing but a device not turn on?
-If insulation is not stripped back far enough in a Wago connection, you may read voltage but not enough current flow to power the device.
What should you do when installing receptacles and switches?
-Refer to the video linked at the end for tips on avoiding mistakes when installing receptacles and switches and how to do it properly.
What are some key things DIYers should keep in mind when making wire connections?
-Always follow manufacturer instructions, pre-twist wires when possible, use quality wire nuts suited to the wire gauge and quantity, and take care when mixing stranded and solid core wires.
Where can I find more tips on properly connecting wires?
-Check the linked video near the end for mistakes to avoid when installing receptacles and switches. Also leave comments with any questions!
Outlines
🤔Common wiring mistakes DIYers make
The paragraph discusses common mistakes DIYers make when connecting solid core wires, like not twisting wires properly before capping them, overloading wire nuts by putting too many/large wires in them, and using the wrong size wire nut. It explains why these are problems and demonstrates what can happen, like loose connections or wires falling out.
🔌Choosing the right wire nut
The paragraph explains how to read wire nut packaging to determine what sizes and quantity of wires are compatible. It also advises using name brand wire nuts over generic ones since they do a better job twisting wires.
👷♂️Connecting solid and stranded wires
The paragraph focuses on the common connection between solid core and stranded wires, explaining why it often fails. It demonstrates the wrong way to do it with wires next to each other and how stranded wires easily pull out. The right way is twisting stranded slightly longer before capping.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡wire nut
💡pre-twisting
💡solid core
💡stranded
💡lever nuts
💡strip gauge
💡connection
💡insulation
💡overloaded
💡vibration
Highlights
Connect wires properly by following manufacturer's instructions
Twist wires together below wire nut for tight connection not relying solely on wire nut
Pre-twist wires with pliers before adding wire nut for extra tight bond
Use correct size wire nut for wire gauge and number of conductors
Wire nut packaging lists size capabilities - follow guidelines
Stranded and solid core tricky - strand slightly longer, quality wire nut for best wrap
Wago lever nuts good for stranded/solid connections
Secure Wago levers when pushing into box to avoid disconnection
Tape Wago levers down for extra security
Strip insulation properly based on Wago gauge
Non-contact detector only checks power - use multimeter to validate voltage
Good connections critical for wires and devices like receptacles, switches
Follow all manufacturer install instructions
Check connections by pulling wires - should not pull out easily
Match wire nut size to conductor size and number
Transcripts
we are going to be going over some of
the biggest mistakes that diy-ers and
yes some electricians make when
connecting wires together and of course
we'll be going over how to properly
connect them together and also some
better practices so let's go ahead and
Jump Right In let's go all right so
because this is the most common
connection that's made we're going to
start off with solid core to solid core
so what the majority of people do when
they're connecting wires together is
they'll take their two wires they'll put
them up next to each other and then
they'll just take their wire nut put it
in on top and then they'll just tighten
it down to where they're getting some
resistance and then they'll call this
good well the problem with this is while
these two wires are up inside of the
wire nut they are connected currently
this was not done by the manufacturer's
instructions but when you only just
barely twist it on you're not going to
get that connection and you could run
the risk of it being actually a loose
connection and over time one of these
wires just being able to fall out so to
give you a demonstration while nobody's
going to be in your wall pulling on your
wires wires do vibrate due to the
current flowing through them and that's
why eventually they can fall out over
time if you don't have a nice tight
connection using a wire nut this is what
can happen so while both of these wires
were connected underneath of this wire
nut the problem again is the
instructions were not followed as to how
they should have been installed and we
were completely relying on the wire nut
in order to make the connection and hold
these wires together so if you're not a
believer in pre-twisting let me show you
at least what the manufacturer says it
should look like when you just use the
wire nut to twist it on you see how the
two wires are up next to each other now
that's a solid cord and that's a
stranded but it's the same for the solid
core where you're going to have them up
next to each other and then you want to
have this nice twisting going on down
below the wire nut and the reason for
that is this so let's go ahead and put
the wire nut back on and let's twist
this on per the instructions we saw on
the packaging
all right so as you can see I've got
some nice braiding going on down below
the wire nut not only are you going to
get support holding the wires together
down here below but if we take this wire
nut off or for whatever reason this wire
nut was to just fall off once we take
the wire nut off as you can see due to
us twisting it the way that we did it
has formed a joint between these two
wires to where they are essentially
fastened together they are not relying
on the wire nut to hold them together
they are completely braided together
underneath of the wire nut so you know
you're going to have a really good
connection and again there's no way that
they are just going to fall apart so
this is a good and acceptable method but
let me show you what is a more preferred
method by many electricians so this is
what a lot of electricians will do they
will strip just a little bit more
insulation off than you normally would
they'll take their lineman pliers and
they will do what I've already referred
to but they will do what is called
pre-twisting and and the reason that
they do this is again they know that
this is going to form a nice tight joint
to where those wires are not depending
on the wire nut to hold it together and
you know that you're going to have
plenty of surface contact between the
wires and also by doing this before
putting the wire nut on they're able to
verify that they do in fact have a very
tight bond between the wires and then
just cut off the top
that's when then they would take a wire
nut and then put it in on top so in this
case with pre-twisting the wire nut is
primarily used as an insulator to make
sure that those hot leads don't touch
anything that they shouldn't and while
these wires don't necessarily need the
help of the wire nut holding them
together it does still help to reinforce
that nice tight Bond underneath of the
wire nut now this mistake is one that I
see almost all the time and that's using
the wrong wire nut for the job so in
this case I've got this yellow Ideal
wire nut and I've got four number 12
wires and what somebody will do is
they'll take wires that are too large
and the quantity is too many for the
wire nut that they're using but they
will somehow find a way to be able to
shove all those wires up into that wire
nut like so so we've got all of our
wires nothing's just falling out but I
can guarantee you that this wire nut is
way over loaded and one of these wires
is going to be extremely easy to pull
out and there it is that one right there
the first clue that you're overloading a
wire nut is it's going to be very hard
to get all of the wires to actually see
up inside of the wire nut and then once
you get a wire nut on you should always
give the wires a pull and if you've
overloaded a wire nut more than likely
you're going to get the result that I
did where this one was able to be pulled
out extremely easy now on the flip side
of that somebody might be using one of
these bigger blue wire nuts and say they
have two 12 gauge wires well they'll go
they'll put their wires up into the wire
nut they'll go and they'll tighten it
down as you can see they're not just
falling out but with any Force at all
pulling on one of these wires they're
just going to fall right out so the
minimum size that can go in this blue
wire nut is 12 gauge wire but with a
minimum of at least three wires and it's
incredibly easy to know what your wire
nut is capable of almost on every single
package that you can buy in the store of
wire nuts they're going to have this bar
graph on the back back or sometimes it's
on the side that's going to list exactly
what size of wire will fit in that
particular color and that kind of wire
nut and then also the quantities of that
size and then it's going to give you the
minimums and the maximums of each of the
different wire nuts on the packaging now
I'm about to get into a really important
tip so don't go anywhere but really
quickly if you could do me a huge favor
if you're finding value in this video so
far if you could hit that thumbs up
button right down below or leave me a
comment down in the comment section
about what you think about it it really
does help the video out to spread out to
other people and hopefully be able to
help them out as well I really
appreciate it let's get back into it so
this next one is an incredibly common
connection that has to be made and
that's between solid core and Stranded I
would say that this is probably the
hardest one to get right and probably
one of the most common ones to fail so
most of the time you've got your solid
core wire running throughout your house
and then you might be installing like a
light fixture or ceiling fan and almost
every time they're going to come with
this stranded wire and with the fixture
they usually include some sort of crappy
wire nut like this one here which
oftentimes are not necessarily designed
to help promote twisting the wires
together underneath of the wire nut so
what most people will do is they'll take
their two wires and they'll just put
them up right next to each other and
then they'll take their crappy wire nut
and then they'll put that in on top now
this is where it's really not that
uncommon that we see issues pop up so
let's twist this wire nut back off and
as you can see while we had the two
wires up next to each other when the
wire nut was being put on you can see
that that stranded wire is now down
below the solid core wire and this
almost always happens and is why it's so
important to make sure that you follow
the instructions because the
instructions would have told you to do
something a little bit differently and
so while we might think that we have a
good connection here because we tighten
it on pretty tightly it's really not
that hard for that stranded wire to just
be pulled out of there and as you can
see on the stranded wire itself it never
even tried to make an attempt to wrap
itself around the solid core wire so the
easiest way that this should be done is
if we take our two conductors here we
want our stranded wire to be a little
bit longer than the solid core wire at
our starting point before we get the
wire nut put on so now let's go ahead
and instead of using a crappy wire nut
like this one it's always better to use
a name brand wire nut like this one
that's made by ideal because they just
do a better job of wrapping the wires so
let's go ahead put those in there and
tighten it down
and like we've done before we want to
make sure that we keep tightening it
down to where we have some nice winding
going on down below the wire nut all
right so we got a little bit of nice
winding going on down below the wire nut
there's just no way that that wire is
ever going to be pulled out of that wire
nut it's getting support from the
winding here below the wire nut and then
let's go ahead and take the wire nut off
and you see this time the stranded wire
is right on up there as long as the
solid core conductor is and it's also
attempting to wrap itself around that
solid core conductor for the most part
you will probably never have an issue
with this connection here but especially
when it comes to connecting stranded to
solid core another really good option to
use would be these Wago lever nuts here
and these are great especially for this
circumstance because you don't have to
worry about those wires being Twisted
together and while these can be
incredibly easy to use we're going to go
over some mistakes that I've seen and
some of the issues that come with those
mistakes and then also how to fix them
so of course the way that these work is
they've got these levers on them that
you just flip up in order to insert the
wires into the ports here so we'll go
ahead and insert our wires once the wire
is in there you can just flip it down
and now at this point these wires would
be ready to be pushed back into a box
and that's where I've seen a huge issue
come in is when people go to push these
into the back of the box all they're
focused on is trying to get all their
wires into the box sometimes it can be
difficult to do there have been
instances where these levers get caught
on wires and because you're pushing so
hard it will pull the lever up and
unbeknownst to the installer they think
everything is connected and they're
ready to install their new device when
really one of their wires is not secured
at all and can just fall out so it's
really important that when you go to
push these into the back of a box I like
to put my fingers over the levers as I'm
pushing it back into that box and I
won't take my thumb off of those levers
until I have my wires placed the way
that I want them to now another option
that can be taken is to take some
electrical tape and just wrap it around
the Wago making sure that you're going
over those levers and this way the
levers can't be pulled up even if you
wanted to the next mistake I see being
made is people will go to install their
wiring so we'll just go ahead and push
those into each of the ports flip down
the levers now those wires are connected
but as you can see we've got too much
insulation removed from the wires and
this can be dangerous in a box to where
it could lead to arcing this is an
unsafe installation here that could
actually lead to a fire conversely I've
seen where somebody's removed far too
little insulation from one or both of
the wires then they put their wires into
the Wago and while nothing's exposed out
here and everything seems to be secure
and we probably won't have any fires
that start from this I'll show you what
can happen all right so we've got our
connection made and this Wago here and
this is the wire where not enough
insulation was cut off of it so what
will happen is somebody thinks that
they've installed everything properly
they'll turn their circuit breaker on
maybe they'll take a non-contact voltage
detector and just see if they've got
power there which look at there we've
got power going to that conductor there
but then they wonder why when the
receptacle that they've connected to
this wire or the light switch that's
connected to this wire why things don't
work they're not getting power to it or
maybe it's just working intermittently
well while this non-contact voltage
detector tells us that hey we've got
power here let's use a Multimeter and
see what's actually there so again our
non-contact voltage detector is telling
us that we've got active voltage there
but when we go to test it with a
multimeter
it's showing that we're only getting
like four and a half volts so you can
have active power flowing through the
wires and your non-contact voltage
detector might tell you that you've got
power flowing through it which you do
but you do not have enough voltage or at
least a consistent enough voltage
depending on how the wires are to power
up the things that you're wanting to
power so how can we avoid these problems
all together well if we flip it over
here to the side on these wagos you'll
see there's a strip gauge right here and
as long as you strip off the insulation
to be as long as this strip gauge is
showing then you know for sure that
you're stripping off the proper amount
of insulation and guaranteeing a good
connection so obviously in electrical
it's very important to make sure that
you're making good connections and that
isn't just with wires it's also with any
devices that you're going to be
installing such as receptacles or light
switches so if you'd like to learn more
about some of the biggest mistakes that
are made when installing those devices
and of course then also how to better
install them I'll post a link to a video
right over here here if you click on it
now it will take you directly to it if
not I hope that you found value in this
video and if you did if you could do me
a huge favor hit that thumbs up button
right down below and of course if you
have any questions or comments still you
can leave those down in the comment
section and I'll catch you all in the
next one see ya
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