How to connect 4 wires together ?
#1
01-24-23, 07:25 PM
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How to connect 4 wires together ?
What is the best/proper way to connect four wires?
I want to install a 3-bulb ceiling light fixture. It has 3 black stranded wires, and 3 white stranded wires.
The ceiling cable has 1 solid black, and 1 solid white wire.
A. Is a wire nut good for this application? If so, should all four wires be parallel when inserted into the nut? (I am replacing a 2-bulb ceiling fixture. And it was installed with wire nuts. Looks like whoever installed it twisted the two stranded wires together, then put this into the wire nut with the solid wire.)
B. HD sells four port connectors, with push-in installation. Are these secure?
Thanks.
I want to install a 3-bulb ceiling light fixture. It has 3 black stranded wires, and 3 white stranded wires.
The ceiling cable has 1 solid black, and 1 solid white wire.
A. Is a wire nut good for this application? If so, should all four wires be parallel when inserted into the nut? (I am replacing a 2-bulb ceiling fixture. And it was installed with wire nuts. Looks like whoever installed it twisted the two stranded wires together, then put this into the wire nut with the solid wire.)
B. HD sells four port connectors, with push-in installation. Are these secure?
Thanks.
#2
01-24-23, 08:21 PM
Group Moderator
When connecting soft stranded wire to a solid wire.... it's better and easier to use wire nuts.
Twist the three stranded wires around the solid conductor and then put the wire nut on.
Most fixtures come with orange wire nuts. Those would be ok.
Yellow wire nuts are sightly larger and are good too.
Those push in blocks are great for solid wiring. Stranded wiring can be tough to get in them.
Twist the three stranded wires around the solid conductor and then put the wire nut on.
Most fixtures come with orange wire nuts. Those would be ok.
Yellow wire nuts are sightly larger and are good too.
Those push in blocks are great for solid wiring. Stranded wiring can be tough to get in them.
#3
01-25-23, 04:26 AM
Group Moderator
Wago connectors are super easy to use but they are more expensive than wire nuts. I prefer them when mixing different types of conductors like solid and stranded. You flip the lever up and even stranded wire slides in easily, then flip the lever down to lock it in place.
If using wire nuts the stranded conductors are the problem part. When used with a solid conductor I make sure when wrapping the stranded wire that I spiral it (in the correct direction) and extend the stranded wire beyond the end of the solid conductor. It doesn't have to be much. Just 1/16" - 1/8" is enough to prevent the stranded wires from getting pushed down while trying to install the wire nut.
If using wire nuts the stranded conductors are the problem part. When used with a solid conductor I make sure when wrapping the stranded wire that I spiral it (in the correct direction) and extend the stranded wire beyond the end of the solid conductor. It doesn't have to be much. Just 1/16" - 1/8" is enough to prevent the stranded wires from getting pushed down while trying to install the wire nut.
XSleeper
voted this post useful.
