Warning: tried using those cheapo wire nuts on a 220v circuit and got melted plastic

I had a service call last week in a house out in Aurora and found a junction box where the wire nuts had actually softened and deformed. Turns out the homeowner used the 30-cent packs from the hardware store bargain bin instead of the proper rated ones. The heat from a 30 amp draw on a dryer circuit was just enough to make them go soft over a few months. Have any of you seen failures from using undersized or cheap connectors on high current runs?

2 comments

2 Comments

amy_sanchez5d ago

Switched to Wago lever nuts a few years ago for all my 220v stuff and haven't had a single issue since. The cheap wire nuts just aren't worth the risk on high amp circuits.

lee6274d ago

Can't believe you're running 220v on those little lever nuts...