House wiring question.

I usually wrap the two grounds together and then attach one of the ground wires to the screw, cutting the other one a little shorter.

(I am NOT an electrician)

Take a look at the diagram at:

Depending on who you ask the important thing is secure a good continuous mechanical connection through the circuit. Being in the garage check to see because some codes require a GFCI circuit in the garage area. You can wrap take a bare copper (ground) wire and run to the ground connection, of the outlet, then secure it to the remaining wire runs with a lug nut or most just pull enough wire out of the outlet and loop the connections or cut it and make your splices there. The important thing, again, is maintaining the integrity of the ground through your outlets. Make sure that your HOT (Black) wire goes into the proper position on the receptacle and maintain that throughout each outlet or you risk electrocution. Each outlet has a HOT side and a Neutral side but sounds like you already have that down.

I don't trust just wrapping two grounds together.

If it's "new work" I use one of those wirenuts with a hole in the end and leave the longer of the two ground wires uncut. Slip the wirenut over the long wire and slide it down to where the second ground can be laid alongside. Twist both wires together. If the ground wires have already been but short, you just add a third through the hole.

I picked up some "pigtail" wirenuts (12 each in white, black, red, and green) and they are useful when you have only a single device.

I have the hot/neutral stuff down :). I've probably forgotten more about electricity then most electricians will ever know. However, having said that, I know squat about building codes. I decided to run a short wire from the ground screw of the receptacle and use a wirenut to bind that to the two ground wires running through the box. I gather that doing it that way meets code, and it will probably work almost as well though I'll be the first to admit I don't like using wire nuts, even if it is the time honored way to wire houses. I've seen too many get hot because the connection wasn't as good as it should/could have been.

----- Original Message ----- From: "Gary KW4Z" Newsgroups: alt.home.repair Sent: Saturday, December 23, 2006 6:23 PM Subject: Re: House wiring question.

This is how I ended up doing it. I wasn't sure if code allowed two wires to be attached to one screw or not, so I redid it like the picture shows.

Twist the wires together tightly with pliers and then twist on the wire connector. You won't have a heat problem that way. Too often inexperienced DIYers will just insert the wires into the wire connector and twist it on. I think that the Scotchloks are the only brand that are approved for non-twisted mechanical connection.

Twist the two ground wires together tightly with a pair of square nosed pliers, then cut one off. Put the other on the outlet.

Twisting the grounds together is perfectly acceptable and works fine.

It actually would have been more important to pigtail the hots and neutrals. Putting one on each screw creates a situation where if one connection goes bad, then you lose all your downstream current.

IMHO:

If you toss on a "greenie" on what you did, it would sound ok. "Greenies" are green wire nuts with a hole in it to allow a single wire to pass through.

later,

tom @

Around here grounds are required to be crimped. I crimp them and put the longer one on the outlet.

Ye Gads! I guess you learn something every day. I'm not an electrician and I've always just worked on my own house, but I've never twisted the wires first. However, I have always made sure that the wires are securely fastened in the connector. The good news is that 20-years later, I haven't had any problems. The bad news is that you've given me yet another thing to worry about, but thanks anyway.

I would suggest you read the box before you believe this. All major brands say twisting is NOT necessary.

Which is a nuisance, but easily diagnosed and fixed. Losing your safety ground is a potentially serious problem.

Chris

That's what I use too. They have the little metal crimp widgets that look like a small barrel. I leave one ground a lot longer, twist them all together, slide the crimp barrel thing over them and crimp.

I have a DIY home wiring book that says all you need to do is push the wires in the nut and twist. But, I prefer to twist the wires before putting the nut on. The nut seems to grab better and I know if the nut were to somehow come off that I would still have a good solid connection. Plus I find the wires are easier to work with when they're twisted. Just a personal preference of mine.

-Felder

You can't put them on the same screw, you can attach both wires to the box, then use a self grounding outlet, or you can splice the two wires together, using an approved method, then attach one to the receptacle. You can not just twist the two wires together, cut one short and attach it to the outlet, some mechanical means must be used to maintain continuity between the ground wires

Because it is not necessary does not mean it is not better.

Twisting them is better.