I recently removed a light fixture and found this wiring setup. The solid wires were connected to a stranded wire, with the connections just wrapped together and covered with a wire nut and electrical tape. Should I replicate this method when attaching my new wires? Specifically, can I just wrap the stranded wire around the existing solid wires and tape them up? Also, there's a group of two solid wires together—are they okay as they are, or should I do something different before connecting the stranded wire?
3 Answers
Use a wire nut that effectively grips the wires; if it's too loose, it's not the right size. You don't really need tape if the connection is tight enough. Just wrap the stranded wire around the solid one before applying the wire nut to ensure a good fit.
Make sure to use wire nuts properly. Just wrapping and taping won't create a solid connection. After tightening the wire nut, ensure you can't easily pull the wires out. They should be fully covered with no bare copper exposed.
Wago connectors are a great way to join solid and stranded wires securely. They hold well and eliminate the need for tape. Just make sure to pick the right size for your wires.