11 ground termination question

Stubbie · 09-10-2008, 05:10 PM

I have 7... 14 awg cables entering a 4 gang plastic box with 4 3-way switches. 3 cables coming from the other 3 ways and 3 cables leaving for the loads (one is a 14/3 using the 4th switch) and also the incoming power cable. Thats seven cable equipment grounds and 4 device pigtails totaling 11 bare grounds. I'm curious the different ways you guys would handle the termination of the grounds as to wirenuts, jumpers etc....

**Termite** · 09-10-2008, 05:16 PM

Not sure how many you can get in a Buchanan by listing, but that might be more fun than a wire nut.

frenchelectrican · 09-10-2008, 06:46 PM

Stubbie did you say 11 ??

Okie did you try big bleu wirenut that should work.,, otherwise split in two sets about half each and run a jumper wire between the two.

Normally i rather go with latter route unless this was a junction box point then go for it.

Merci,Marc

220/221 · 09-10-2008, 06:53 PM

I think I could get 11 #14 grounds under a blue nut. Bare grounds are pretty easy to lay next to each other. If they didn't want to squeeze in there, I'd probably twist them together tightly for a few inches to ensure a quality connection, then put the nut on.

If That didn't work, I'd split them up 5-6 and put a jumper between two nuts.

chris75 · 09-10-2008, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stubbie

I have 7... 14 awg cables entering a 4 gang plastic box with 4 3-way switches. 3 cables coming from the other 3 ways and 3 cables leaving for the loads (one is a 14/3 using the 4th switch) and also the incoming power cable. Thats seven cable equipment grounds and 4 device pigtails totaling 11 bare grounds. I'm curious the different ways you guys would handle the termination of the grounds as to wirenuts, jumpers etc....

Simple, I would leave 4 of the grounds longer than the rest and just use a crimp, heck, I might even leave just one of the grounds really long and use a green wire nut.

220/221 · 09-10-2008, 07:00 PM

I always forget about crimps

frenchelectrican · 09-10-2008, 07:13 PM

IIRC the crimps useally can take 4-6 depending if it is 12 or 14's

Merci,Marc

williswires · 09-10-2008, 07:22 PM

What I would worry about is that with 11 conductors, some are bound to be caught "in the middle", meaning they would just be squished between the outer conductors instead of being twisted with them or being bonded by the metal of the wire nut. I would think they can "fall out" of their middle spot as the bundle gets pushed around in the box.

I would feed good with this, using 3 wire nuts or crimps, each with 4 grounds and the switches jumpered together:

BTW, this is one reason I don't agree with the box fill requirements counting all grounds as one allowance. They certainly take up space. In your case, the box fill would be 24 allowances, or 48 cu in.

frenchelectrican · 09-10-2008, 07:29 PM

Wills.,

Just one question related to your drawing about ground wire on the swiches did you just make a pigtail for each one or just loop format ?

Merci,Marc

williswires · 09-10-2008, 08:14 PM

I was thinking a loop...

HouseHelper · 09-10-2008, 08:30 PM

8 hole Wago: 7 holes for the cables, 1 hole for a long piece looped around each switch. Folds in the box nicely.

kbsparky · 09-10-2008, 09:47 PM

You could mount a ground bar kit in the back of that box.

Get one with 15 spaces in it ... Square D PK-15GTA. 11 for the wires, and 4 spares.

chris75 · 09-10-2008, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by williswires

What I would worry about is that with 11 conductors, some are bound to be caught "in the middle", meaning they would just be squished between the outer conductors instead of being twisted with them or being bonded by the metal of the wire nut. I would think they can "fall out" of their middle spot as the bundle gets pushed around in the box.

If the wire nut is listed for 11 conductors, then there will be no problem.

Stubbie · 09-10-2008, 10:52 PM

Ok guys thanks I was on a job and had this situation so I played with it some and was just wanting to see how all of you would terminate the grounds. Usually I would just use wirenuts and a jumper as 220/221 mentioned, I never liked 11 in one wire nut. I mentioned the pigtails to each switch just to make sure I covered the likely maximum # of grounds. I found two ways that I liked the best. Twisted all seven neatly and left one long enough to catch all the switches using a greenie as Chris mentioned. The other was the one Househelper mentioned an 8 hole wago. I liked the wago the best.

EDIT: Doesn't make any difference but the 4th switch was not a 3 way but a single pole for the fan motor on a ceiling fan.

chris75 · 09-10-2008, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stubbie

Ok guys thanks I was on a job and had this situation so I played with it some and was just wanting to see how all of you would terminate the grounds. Usually I would just use wirenuts and a jumper as 220/221 mentioned, I never liked 11 in one wire nut. I mentioned the pigtails to each switch just to make sure I covered the likely maximum # of grounds. I found two ways that I liked the best. Twisted all seven neatly and left one long enough to catch all the switches using a greenie as Chris mentioned. The other was the one Househelper mentioned an 8 hole wago. I liked the wago the best.

Personally, if the box was a 4 gang I would have used a metal box.