Last updated on August 14th, 2022 at 01:26 pm
The main idea behind splicing a wire is to carry the needed amount of current.
Most electricians prefer spliced wires because it is cost-effective and saves clients from spending too much on cables.
But one thing is sure, and You can splice not all cables. So stick with us as we help you find out if you can get your 6-gauge wires spliced.
You can splice a 6-gauge wire, but you have to be very careful and use an outdoor waterproof junction box. One thing you should know before splicing this wire is that you should prepare the wires by stripping their end before making use of a wire stripper.
Can You Splice 6/3 Wires?
Yes, you can spice a 6/3 wire, but you have to use a split bolt connector on each of the cables before wrapping each connection with a roll of electrical binding tape.
There are special spliced connectors for this, and these connectors come with a bar and a screw terminal for adequate connection.
Splicing your 6/3 wire comes with many advantages, and for everything that has an advantage, there is a corresponding disadvantage, which is the same for the 6/3 wires.
The significant advantage of splicing your wires is cost-effective; you don’t have to bother getting a new cable.
However, when you do not spice your cables properly or do not get it done by a professional, it may cause a lot of damage.
How Do You Splice 6 Gauge Electrical Wire?
Whether you are adding new wires for your light or an outlet, you would need to reconnect some 6-gauge new wires to some old ones or extend a few wires.
We will be guiding you on how to connect these old 6-gauge wires to new ones effectively.
Before splicing wires, you should note that you always splice together wires of the same types. For instance, you should connect a 12/2 NMC to the same type and size of wires.
In addition, you should always ensure that you opt for Romex wires as many electricians most prefer them. (NMC is an acronym for nonmetallic cable).
The 6/3, a 6-gauge wire, is used in residential constructions.
This 6-gauge wire comes with three inner insulated conductors and ground, and apart from residential buildings, you can also use it for ovens and electrical ranges.
For instance, you can splice several types of Romex wires like the 6/3 and 6/2, but you can splice wires of different gauges together.
The splice gauge wire determines the amount of current the wires can carry.
For instance, a 12-gauge wire can handle approximately 20 amperes while a 10-gauge wire can handle 25 amperes, so overloading a wire with more amperage than it can carry can cause overheating, melting, and can catch fire.
When a project requires you to splice wires, make sure you follow the steps we will be stating carefully as a solid wire connection would yield better results, and just as a bit of misstep can result in a mess or, worse, a disaster.
Always make sure you assemble all essential components before you get started. And most importantly, if you are ever in doubt, call a professional.
The first thing you should do is prepare and install your wire junction box.
Use your electrician’s plier to remove two knockouts on your junction box, which would hold or house the spliced wires later on and contain any sparks that could cause a fire if anything eventually goes wrong.
Most of these junction wires are universal as they include different sizes of knockouts to accommodate a diverse range of wire gauges.
Ensure that you purchase a split bolt or Romex connector that fits the knockout holes.
After this, you can now safely secure the connector to your junction box and use its threaded knockout, a tightening needle-nose plier, and a screwdriver.
These connectors you put there act as a protective guide that helps secure the wires to the junction box.
And without them, the sharp edges of the knockout holes can easily damage the cables.
After that has been done, prepare your wire splice connectors, and after these have been assembled, you can now thread the end of each 6/3 Romex wires-the existing wire and the wire you’re splicing to it through one of the wire connectors attached to the box.
After the connection, tighten the screws on the sides of the wire connection that is designed to hold it in place by using the appropriate screwdriver.
The next thing you should do now is ground the junction box. Thread the grounding screw through the hole on the back of the junction box.
The grounding screw grounds your junction box in the short circuit.
Strip and ground approximately 3 inches out of the outer plastic sheath from the ends of the wires that you are splicing together.
You should use a utility knife as it is ideal for slicing and cutting away the outer insulations, or you can use the wire cutters.
You should remove the paper protecting the surrounding of the insulated wires and the ground wires.
After these parts have been done, use a twist-on wire cap, wrap one part of the bare copper around the grounding screw attached to the junction box, and leave 3 inches of exposed wire hanging from the box.
Next, you can twist the second ground wire tightly with the ground wire attached using the electrician’s plier and secure the joint with a twist on the cap or nut.
Finally, fold the wires joined together neatly back into the junction box.
The final step is to twist the wires together. Remove approximately ¼ inch of insulation from both ends of the 6/2 cables and the black and white wires.
A convenient tool you can use to carry out this task effectively is the wire strippers, and you shouldn’t worry as they come in different sizes to strip an extensive range of wire sizes.
They can also be available in most home improvement centers. Use the electrician’s pliers; you can now twist together the stripped end of corresponding wires.
From the ends of the 6/3 wires, you can now twist the white wires to white and black wires to black, twist them tightly until they are tightly joined, and then secure each end with a wire cap.
After this has been done, fold both wires into the junction box and secure the junction box.
Is It Safe to Splice Electrical Wires?
Yes, it can be very safe to splice electrical wires as long as you ensure that you arrange them neatly in an approved junction box or electrical fixture box.
Splice electrical wires should not be left on their own in the ceiling or on the wall as they can lead to severe damages like fire outbreaks and, worse, death.
Can You Use a Junction Box for A 6 Gauge Wire?
Yes, you can. You should use a box with any exterior design you like and a volume of about 20 cubic inches; that is five cubic inches per 6-gauge wire.
Of course, you can use wire boxes that are a bit larger and even recommended as it makes your work easier.
You can determine the depth of the box after knowing the size of the most significant conduit and the space that the locknuts and bushings would occupy.
Conclusion
From this article, you can now see that splicing wires are not much work as long as you follow the given procedures and some safety protocols like working with goggles and gloves.
If you ever feel unsure about a part, you should always call a professional and not jump into assumptions.