In electrical circuit wiring within a home or office, there is often a need to connect two wires together in order to maintain the current flow through them. It is important to do this in a way that does not cause a fire hazard. A wire splice connector is one solution to this issue. It can be installed in a variety of ways, depending on the needs of the specific project.
Soldering is a common method for joining two wires together, but this can be dangerous if not done properly. If the correct amount of heat is not applied or if there are mistakes made during the soldering process, the resulting connection can be faulty and may lead to a fire hazard. For this reason, soldered connections are usually used only for short-term, temporary installations.
Using a wire splice connector is an effective alternative to soldering when joining two different types of electrical cables in a junction box. A wire connector consists of a metal body with compression clamps. The insulated wires are inserted into each end of the connector and pressed down. The metal body then crimps the wires together, creating a secure and reliable connection. A variety of different sizes of wire splice connectors are available, to suit the various thicknesses (gauges) of wire being joined.
A screw-on wire connector is another type of wire splice connector that can be used for a variety of residential and commercial applications. Several different size options are available for different gauges of electrical wire, and they feature a screw-on mechanism that makes it easy to install and remove. These types of wire connectors also meet industry color-coding specifications.
There are also many other options for splicing electrical wires. Some of these include twist-on wire connectors, wing grip connectors and ground grip connectors. These are designed to meet the industry standard for color-coding and they have a live action square spring that draws the conductors deep into the connector to provide a secure, fire-resistant termination.
Butt splice connectors are another option for splicing wires, and they come in a variety of materials and sizes. Some have a lining of melt-able glue that expands on heating and provides a secure, mechanically sound connection that resists corrosion, gas, liquids and temperature changes. Others are epoxy lined, which is particularly useful for applications in the field.
For more permanent installations, an inline splice connector can be used to join solid and stranded copper or aluminum wires in a variety of applications including lighting, wire extension and data communication. TE Connectivity AMP’s CoolSplice connectors, for example, use an insulation displacement crimp technology to ensure a strong and durable connection, and they are suitable for both solid and stranded wires up to 18 AWG (0.34 mm2 to 0.75 mm2). This type of connector is an excellent choice for connections that will be subject to environmental conditions such as sunlight and rain. Inline splice connectors can be secured with zip ties or tape to prevent them from accidentally being pulled apart.