Biggest Mistakes DIYers Make When Connecting Wires Together | Part 2

In this video I go over some more of the most common mistakes DIYers make when connecting wires together. These mistakes can cause major issues over time or possible even not long after installing them. I will also talk about and show better ways of approaching the issues.

Items Used In The Video:

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Blessings,
Adam

How To Home assumes no liability for damage or injury. How To Home highly recommends using proper safety procedures and professionals when needed. Our content is for entertainment purposes only. No information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not How To Home. How To Home will not be held liable for any negligent or accidental damage or injury resulting from equipment, tools, electrical, fire, electronics or any items contained in this video. Attempt projects and repairs at your own risk.

[HowToHomeDIY]

Something I want to note, towards the end I say you want to maintain the same color all the way through. What I meant by that is maintaining the same size. Hope this was helpful!

[allegory]

Your videos are good because you get to the point and keep it on topic, with the necessary details. The number one thing about how-to videos is not wasting the viewer's time, and you do a great job of including a lot of relevant information while not wasting my time. Thanks!

[KevinCoop]

Generally speaking your video is correct. As far as your wire size discussion, as an electrical design engineer for contractors, I have designed 20 amp branch circuits many times with #4, #6, #8, #10, and #12 all in the same branch circuit. It happens all the time in branch circuits feeding parking lot lights to reduce voltage drop. But I agree that people that do not do their due diligence will very probably cause problems.
As far as #14 on a 20 ampere breaker, yes, it is a NEC violation. As far as the #14 burning up and causing fire, not so accurate. Table 310.15(B)(16) shows #14 at 75C rated at 20 amperes. The NEC code making panels decided many years ago to oversize #14, #12, and #10 and require them to be 15 amp, 20amp, and 30 amp. So, wrong yes. Cause a fire? Most likely not.
Respectfully, Kevin

[binaryglitch]

Did a job for a demo/re-mod contractor, the original wiring was all black for 14 gauge and black with a mostly worn off silver stripe for 12 gauge... it was a major pain thinking about things like making sure there's no mixed boxes (like in your example)... I'm really appreciating the relatively standard color coding of sheathing nowadays.

[ThatGuyFromArizona]

As a homeowner/DIYr, everytime I watch one of your videos I learn something. Thank you for the time and expertise you put into your videos.

[briank]

Biggest issue I've seen in almost 20 years in the trade is a copper to aluminum connection without the proper splicing compound and rated solderless pressure connector... I did a HUD housing project in Orlando and all of the units were run in 14 gauge aluminum in the 60s. We didn't run any new wiring. We were required to use this special crimper that only one company makes and you have to take a class to be able to use it. The crimps were insanely expensive and they only gave us one tool. It was a nightmare. We had to crimp copper pigtails at every termination point including the panel... we did not look behind walls or in attics, however. Some of the buildings didn't have power for over 10 years. When we finally put power back to the buildings one of the units started smoking from the attic.. one of my guys ran up there(even though I told him to let it burn) and put out the fire with an extinguisher. The problem was a copper wire spliced to an aluminum wire with a regular wire nut. I've never actively witnessed an electrical fire since that or before and I've never had one of my jobs light up, thank God. Fortunately it occurred when no one was inside the building, it would have been a much different story otherwise. Stay safe fellas.

[cbb]

I have 14 gauge all over the house and the previous owner decided to put in 20A breakers 😭 there are even some on GFI. I've been replacing them as I go (I used to work for a VERY strict and particular electrician when I was just out of high school 20+ years ago. I watch your videos to validate all of the things he used to say and I learned, and I have to say you have both been on the same page with everything. ;) The electricians who wired my house were also hacks, big time. Constantly correcting everything as we refinish each room, they loved back stabbing outlets, and they just fall right out as my old boss used to say it would.

[greenspiraldragon]

I'm not an electrician. I didn't even know the wire nut colors meant something. Learning something new every day.

[alexbelle]

Second rip on mixing wire gages was Exactly what I came here. THANK YOU for this post. I was going to run 12/2 into a junction box and run 12/2 out for an extra receptacle and 14 gage out to power 2 light fixtures in the basement. I will just run 12/2 for all of it. Thank you again.

[michaelvorel]

You did an excellent job of explaining the 20A and 15A circuits and 12 ga and 14 ga respectively. One of my big pet peeves. Sharing a neutral on two 120V circuits and two separate 120V circuits in same gang box are my others.

[johnwells]

Nice job. One comment I would like to share is that not all romex 12 gauge wire is yellow sheathed. It could be gray in the case of underground burial wire, white or black sheathed in the case of 60's vintage 12 gauge wire. A 15 amp outlet can serve as a quick reference to wire gauge by trying to push or back stab the wire into the back of the outlet. If it does not easily go into the wire hole it is likely 12 gauge. Also sometimes with THHN insulated 12 gauge wire it may appear from the outside of the insulation to be a 14 gauge wire because the THHN insulation is much thinner than the older wire dielectrics. A good thing for someone to have if they do not know how to recognize wire sizes by just looking at them is a simple plastic wire gauge. It will allow them to just try the different sized holes to determine the gauge of the wire. Of course, first check the wire sheath, if accessible, to see if it is marked on the sheath.

[jerlaine]

I clicked on ine vufeo just to see if I was doing a cardinal sin and well jow im gonna buy another tool and casually going through just because you explain stuff so well.

In fact as a Handyman whos done just about everything now I can say I'm definitely gonna refer my customers to your videos and not feel bad because they'll be in great hands

[jeannemyers]

So very helpful. I almost did exactly what you are talking about with the 14 ga. and 12 ga. wiring. You saved my bacon working on my 😅53 yr. Old house!

[lexzan]

I've always been super sketch about electricity - We're basically told it's dangerous at a young age and I never had the confidence to even approach the subject. Which, is weird, because I give zero f's about danger in general (sorry, squirrel!). Your videos have instilled a new found sense of confidence in me to attempt smaller projects. Still have more vids to watch so I get the whole picture but just wanted to say thank you 👊🏼👊🏼

[LordoftheCats]

Wow! I had no idea. Thanks for this! The shop building on our property has seen several people over the years do various wiring projects. There is a mix of yellow and white wires running here and there. Wire nuts run a gambit of colors. I've got some serious checking to do!! Very valuable info even if you don't do any DIY wiring. At least you can realize ya might have a problem in the making.

[adgieem]

My knowledge of electricity wiring is just enough to get me in trouble. Your video is VERY GOOD. very helpful. Thank you for making it.

[LordxJoe]

Can you do a part 3 where you talk about switched receptacles and how you're supposed to pigtail the wires before it gets to the receptacle instead of using the receptacle as a splicing point? While it works, it's not code.

[dalesworld]

I did a bathroom gut in a rental once and someone had added a light with a pull cord over the medicine chest and used lamp cord in the wall to connect it to power at the outlet next to the vanity. Totally freaky, but the light didn't draw more amperage than the lamp cord was rated for so it worked. But what if a new tenant had come in after and changed that light to one with an outlet and then run a hair dryer or electric heater off of it? You just don't cut corners with electricity.

[markfalcon]

Our house was built in the mid seventies by some REAL hack contractors. I had baseboard htg units in each room. When I first bought the house in ‘87, I had to do extensive drywall repair because the joint tape just fell off. So as I stripped each wall the baseboard heaters were removed. And I found the 240 volt wiring just sticking out of a hole kicked in the drywall and the wiring just hanging out. Talk about hacks, so I had to repair each “hole” and install junction boxes in each. Now I am not an electrician by trade, but I knew enough to safely rewire each heater. Now the heaters, what is left of them are not used as we have a heat pump system for the whole house.

[daktusdurggery]

Will you talk about what needs to be run for smart switches? What needs to be run for fridge, what for dryer, what for oven and so on