Butt splice

[Ted]

I'm adding a piece of electronics and there is a 14ga. 3 conductor cable in the way. There isn't enough slack to route it to a different location. Rather than run a new 3 conductor cable, can a butt splice connector be safely used to lengthen each cinductor of this 120 volt AC circuit? The cable feeds two duplex receptacles. I would like to add about 18".

 

[Fred Villiard]

No

Fred Villiard

 

[kenn]

In my neck of the woods, splices in 120 v AC runs can only be made inside an approved junction box that is accessible for inspection.

How close is the wire in question to the panel or to the nearest outlet? If it's easy to run a new wire to either the outlet or the panel, you can make a virtue out of necessity and add a new AC outlet in behind that new piece of gear.

 

[Lost Parent]

Nope definitley not a good idea

 

[Ted]

The wire in question is within a foot of the AC panel. I though about adding another outlet but there isn't really a good place to logically add it. I was just trying to avoid half a day in some very tight quarters running a new wire if it wasn't necessary. Looks like I'll have to spend the time and to it right. I feel the pains already. Safety first! Thanks for the responses.

 

[kenn]

The wire in question is within a foot of the AC panel. I though about adding another outlet but there isn't really a good place to logically add it. I was just trying to avoid half a day in some very tight quarters running a new wire if it wasn't necessary. Looks like I'll have to spend the time and to it right. I feel the pains already. Safety first! Thanks for the responses.

Hi Ted, the new outlet doesn't have to be logical, it just has to be safely done and accessible You'd simply disconnect the wire in question from the panel, put it into a metal outlet box, then run a new wire from the new outlet box to the panel. Make the splice in the box, connect and install the outlet, connect the new wire to the breaker, test everything... done.

It's worth considering, versus a half-day fishing new wire. And you can simply do the splice in the outlet box, cover with a blank plate and forego the new outlet, if you don't want it. As you say, safety is paramount.

Your predicament brings up one consideration that's worth mentioning - when wiring, be generous! Whenever running a wire, allow enough so that the wire can be run above or behind everything, and adjusted later if necessary. I'm not talking sloppy or loose; wire must be properly supported and secured out of harms way.

 

[capta]

There are splicing lugs that have waterproof heat shrink covers that would do the job if you didn't break the seal when crimping. Adding heat shrink (again the expensive stuff w/ the goo inside) would further insure the water tight integrity of the connection, strain relief and an added layer for chafe. I'd secure the wire to a fixed surface at either side of the connection as well, so it's not hanging on the splice.