How to Make Safe Wire Connections

March 30, 5:16 PM [GMT -5]

I wish Handyman would stop telling people that they don't need to twist wires together before putting a wire nut on. The only time it's acceptable for an electrician to do this is when they have carpal tunnel or arthritis. A good mechanical connection insures a god electrical connection. And also when you take the wire nut off, most people expect the wires to be twisted, so it's not a big deal working the circuit hot. But when the wires aren't twisted together, they spread apart as soon as the wire nut comes off. I've shorted out more than one surge protector when working a circuit hot and the hots or neutrals spring apart like that.

December 18, 11:19 AM [GMT -5]

Thanks for all the help. We are finally finishing our basement after all this time and the next thing on the list is electricity. I want to hire electrical services in Charlotte NC but my husband says he can handle it. I want him to read this first so he does everything safely. I'm a bit of a worrier so I appreciate this post a lot. Thanks for sharing.

May 21, 1:30 PM [GMT -5]

mikemethven is correct - and that is the way I always do the wiring as it does provide more wire-to-wire contact. If you read the instructions with the wire nut it doesn't say to twist the wires together.

September 02, 3:37 PM [GMT -5]

As an electrician we advise that you should twist solid wires together with pliers so they look like a braided rope to ensure they won't separate while twisting on the connector