A Chapter From The Man Cave Build Saga

In building my man cave I've got this one junction box that has six 12 ga. cables coming into it. (Power + switch + four outlets.) The grounds all have to be tied together. Plus, since it's a metal box, there'll be a seventh wire. How to properly, neatly tie seven 12 ga. ground wires together? Somehow, wire-nutting them all together did not seem attractive. So I searched, and discovered...

Crimp caps! Specifically, for ground wires: Bare wire, or ground wire, crimp caps. Beautiful!

But, then, how to crimp them? I have a variety of crimpers, but crimping 3-5 12 ga. wires in one go will require a bit more force than that for which they're designed. More research led me to the discovery of...

Linesman's pliers!

Now I'd seen linesman's pliers, before. My eyes would just pass right over them because they didn't look very handy for anything. In my electrical work tool pouch I've been carrying:

• Heavy diagonal cutters--for cutting cable
  
• Standard pliers--for a variety of tasks
  
• Heavy needle-nose pliers--mainly for pre-bending loops for screw terminals
  

Looks like the linesman's pliers will replace the diagonal cutters and the needle-nose pliers, at least. Plus mine have crimpers. And they're more adept at pre-twisting wire than standard pliers. (Which I'll retain, anyway, because they're great for tightening NM clamps.)

68 years old. Twisted my first wire at ±12 years old under the direction of my dad's best friend--a master electrician. Wired I-can't-count-how-many branch circuits over the intervening years. And I'm just discovering linesman's pliers?

The Ideal Greenie 92's work nicely for bonding multiple grounds with a single pigtail. One of the grounds runs completely through the Greenie; I know for certain they will accept 5 #12 wires.

Always used them here and still have my 1972 Klien model. They still work but are a little loose from wear. Here's a similar pic of my "Safe" Queen addition from 1982 when I was still having fun doing remodels and such.

quote:

Originally posted by aileron:
The Ideal Greenie 92's work nicely for bonding multiple grounds with a single pigtail. One of the grounds runs completely through the Greenie; I know for certain they will accept 5 #12 wires.

I've got some of those, too. But, while I'm comfortable using them, I've never been particularly fond of wire nuts. (They're actually banned in many parts of the world. The Brits call 'em "fire nuts," I understand.)

Having just discovered these, as well, this is what I'll use going forward: WAGO 221 Series LEVER-NUTS®

But they make a max of five positions, thus my problem.

quote:

Originally posted by Fla. Jim:
Always used them here and still have my 1972 Klien model.

The pair I just bought are Klein. Kinda spendy, but I appreciate good tools and these appeared to be about the best, short of, possibly, Knipex.

AH! Good ole lineman pliers. They’re good for pliers, cutters, crimpers, hammer, doorstop, pry bar, weight, plum bob, cable pulling assistant, bottle opener, pop top opener, conduit reamer, attitude adjuster, nail puller, dart, oven mitt, pan holder, and I'm sure a whole bunch of other stuff I haven't used them for yet.

I use my dykes. You've got too many wires for crimp sleeves, if that is what you are talking about. I'd use a Big Blue and be done with it. I refuse to use Wago connectors.

I just retired my 1995 pair of Klein’s last year. They survived 23 years of abuse and still cut wire pretty well, but the teeth were worn down on the plier end from twisting wire for decades. If my new pair isn’t lost or stolen, I’ll still be using them the day I retire.

quote:

Originally posted by PowerSurge:
I just retired my 1995 pair of Klein’s last year. They survived 23 years of abuse and still cut wire pretty well, but the teeth were worn down on the plier end from twisting wire for decades. If my new pair isn’t lost or stolen, I’ll still be using them the day I retire.

Beat me by a year for my needle nose. Purchased in 1996. Only tool I have left from my Klein starter electrician tool set.

quote:

Originally posted by am94pm:
AH! Good ole lineman pliers. They’re good for ..., and I'm sure a whole bunch of other stuff I haven't used them for yet.

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:
You've got too many wires for crimp sleeves, if that is what you are talking about. I'd use a Big Blue and be done with it.

Like I said: That many wires in a wire nut does not inspire confidence. Not arguing whether it's right, wrong or indifferent. I just don't care for it.

I'd planned to use crimp caps to get it down to three, then tie those with...

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:
I refuse to use Wago connectors.

Why is that?

They look to me like a take on connectors I first learned of in the Netherlands, over thirty years ago. The Dutch call them kroonsteens (lit.: "crown stones"), because they bodies used to made of porcelain and the tops look a bit like a crown.

I've been using them for a variety of tasks, even some electrical, ever since. They beat the pants off the old screw terminal strips.

Btw: I took your advice in my other thread and ordered a Lithonia light from Amazon. I'll A/B that with the Globe from HD, particularly on a dimmer.

Btw2: I've crimped with dykes in a pinch in the past. The trouble with using dykes in that application is just a bit too much crimp and you damage the integrity of the barrel.