How do you handle all the grounding wires?

SwiftyMcV · 11-04-2007, 11:17 PM

Originally Posted by Stubbie

Then maybe you should install them according to the manufacturers directions and stop twisting them around. You are certainly entitled to your opinion.. however ..They are a listed and accepted connection in your country and mine and I dare say the people who allowed the listing were a tad bit more qualified than you or I and did not consider them gimicky. Be aware that these people also are all too aware of the poor backstab design of the past.

Do tell......funny thats exactly what they are supposed to do in order for replacement.

7 grounds are not easy for a homeowner to put in a wirenut.... you know this as well as anybody here.

1) Dont twist them around? Im talking about when reno's are done or say changing a ballast the wires and moved/twisted around

2) The packaging for these type of product even says DO NOT REUSE (@least the ones ive seen from our suppliers up here. Once you twist the wire too much and it comes loose the SPRING of the metal in the cube is useless (FIRE HAZARD, since it wont hold/lost its retentivity)

3) When you say the guys who designed it know better, my boss of a fairly big electrical company showed the supplier the "5 twists and the wire coming out" and explained the problems. The supplier rep made sure to write all that down and agreed it was a hazard

SwiftyMcV · 11-04-2007, 11:33 PM

Ive heard too many stories and had too many journeymen complain about them, now while I realize that chances of them coming off is slim... I still prefer marrets and i ALWAYS pre-twist the wires. I stand by my work, meaning I never worry about it causing a fire. I know I overkill sometimes lol, BUT some of the stuff I've seen just makes you walk off the job and not risk it.

Alil story for ya:

A 60's house, all aluminum wiring. The home owner tapped off from existing octagon boxes, used copper and where he installed the new lights... no box or marrets just masking tape holding the wires for the new lights together. Not to mention the joist was alil BBQ'd

Stubbie · 11-04-2007, 11:53 PM

Swifty

For what it is worth I don't use them all that much and use the marret or wirenut, if you will, in 95% of all house wiring. I simply think the homeowner will get a better result with them in this particular thread.

I was thinking that Canada only allows the copalum crimp for aluminum to copper. Anyway he is lucky he didnt burn his house down.

Stubbie

Piedmont · 11-05-2007, 01:26 PM

Thanks all, Andy that post was excellent.

I have another grounding question. I have a mixed house (half armored cable half Romex). This weekend I added a metal gang box to an existing metal gang box fed by armored cable turning it into a 3 gang metal box, all inputs and exits armored cable.

Then I added a 14/2 Romex, connected its ground to the green screw in the back and, do I need to ground the switches or are they inherently grounded being screwed into the metal gang box (fed by armored cable)? I'm just a little surprised I went from having to hook up 7 grounds in a 3 gang all Romex plastic box to just one to a screw in the back and done. That is of course, unless I need to ground the switches. Thanks

Stubbie · 11-05-2007, 01:56 PM

Assuming you have tested the box for an effective ground path utilizing the armored cable then a bonding jumper is not required from the switch to the box. Provided you have metal to metal contact with the switch yoke and the metal box. You cannot have the wall covering holding the switch yoke off the metal box. I'm not quite sure what you mean by added a piece of romex... I assume to get power over to the added switch. I would still run the jumper to the box using a grounding screw at the threaded hole, can't hurt.

Piedmont · 11-05-2007, 02:31 PM

Thanks Stubbie! Yes, the armored cable (maybe you call it BX) is grounded. I love the pictures you include.

My house originally had 2 switches when you came in, one ran the entry light inside the house the other turned on every light outside the house (about 6 of them). We didn't have just a simple porch light it was all lights or nothing out there.

I added a metal gang box, and ran 14/2 to the porch light and removed it from the other circuit. We now have 3 switches, and finally can turn on just the porch light if we want.

Stubbie · 11-05-2007, 04:44 PM

We need to thank Mike Holt Enterprises for the images .... you can do the same by just searching and including the name in your search engine.

I have an extensive library of his publications along with many others, its been my experience that pictures help bunches on DIY sites. I try to include graphics from various sources as much as possible. Anyway, at least now I know somebody appreciates them....