Overcoming the spring of wires in electrical boxes

[Aaron Fude]

Hi,

What are some of the tricks for overcoming the elastic resistance of wires when putting them in electrical boxes. The obvious ones are: having larger boxes and having fewer wires. And having slack of just the right length. I have also learned that twisting the outlets several times as you put them in helps. With multiple outlets, I find that it helps to have outlets connected to each other rather than to a single wire nut, sort if in a patern like this |=|=|=>, but for some reason electricians don't like it.

What are some of the other ideas?

[Steve Barker]

just push 'em in and screw 'em down. done.

s

[John Grabowski]

I fold or curl them and they push in quite easily.

[Nate Nagel]

I like to pre-shape the wires into an "S" bend before putting the device in. that way it goes in easier and you aren't really fighting the wire.

nate

[Aaron Fude]

'em is wires and then 'em is outlets?

[Phisherman]

Strip off the top plastic layer of Romex so that just 1/2" is showing inside the box. Cut the wires to 8". Fold the connected wires

*neatly* into the box. It is much harder working with 10ga than 12ga wire. Make sure all wires are tightly connected. I always buy the largest electrical plastic boxes.