
Ideal big blue wire nuts how to#
How to Use a Wire Nut Size ChartĬonnecting wires is simple but fundamental electric work, and you need the right wire nut size.įor example, to install a ceiling light fixture, you’ll primarily work on three unscrewed wires in black, copper, and white.Ī red wire connector usually (but not always) holds them in place. Today, two systems measure the gauge-the American Wire Gauge or AWG and the Standard Wire Gauge or SWG. Your wire gauges can be the electrical and mechanical aspects of the current. This also refers to the thickness of the wire and is the one to identify the current that a wire can handle. The wires are the ones that you will connect within or inside the wire nuts. Since wire connections come in different sizes, the wire connectors are also designed to accommodate these different wire sizes.Ī wrong wire nut size-either too big or too small for the number of wires you’ll connect-can lead to a weak connection. Like its yellow-colored counterpart, you can also use the red wire nut for copper-to-copper, aluminum-to-aluminum, and copper-to-aluminum connections.

If you need to get three #10 wires together, this is the wire nut of choice. The red wire nut capacity can accommodate up to 2 #10 and 2 #12.

The last among the wire nut colors is red. You can use these wire nuts for copper-to-copper, aluminum-to-aluminum, and copper-to-aluminum connections. The yellow wire nut is your best choice if you need to connect four #14 and one #18 wire. Usually, orange wire nuts are used to connect fans and lights to switch wires. It can hold up to 4 #16 and 1 #20 AWG wires. On the other hand, this bright wire nut is best if you need to connect at least one #18 and one #20 wire size. This is the preferred wire of choice for ballast wire connections and is considered the largest wire nut. The blue wire nut capacity can hold up to three 16 AWG solid wires. The blue one is slightly bigger than the gray wire nut. The gray nut is usually intended for fine-stranded wire applications. The gray wire nut can hold up to two 22AWG stranded wires or two solid 16AWG wires.
Ideal big blue wire nuts code#
When it comes to wire nuts, you need to know two things-the wire nut color code and wire nut sizes.Įach of the colors, namely gray, blue, orange, yellow, and red, and the different sizes are intended to handle different amounts of gauge sizes and wire types. In this article, we’ll tell you exactly how to read these wire nut sizes charts, how to properly connect them, and answer any other related questions. If you don’t have much experience working with wire nuts, you can use a wire nut size chart.Īll you have to do is review both the size (or gauge) and number of cables you are working on and then cross-reference these to the correct wire nut sizes.Īccessing a wire nut size chart is one thing, but using the right nut for the job is crucial. There are a variety of types and sizes, and equipping yourself with the correct ones can lead to a lot of guess-work. These handy connectors are also called winged wire nuts, twist-on-connectors, and Marettes. Wire nuts connect electric cables for in-home, commercial, and industrial wiring. This is where wire nuts come in and can help keep you straight. You usually can’t afford to make mistakes when working on an electrical project. And on top of that, getting them to STAY together security is a must.

It’s easy to join the wrong wires together for one thing. Connecting electrical wires can be a little tricky, I get it.
