Are high temp wire nuts necessary?

[fritz]

I've read that at elevated temperatures the shielding on our wires will fail. I think the article put it something like:

"If the shielding will fail in 30 seconds at 300 degrees, it may fail in 1 day at 150 degrees, 1 month at 120 degrees and anywhere from 6 months to a year at 110 degrees. Usually the "weakest link" in DIY canopies is the wire nuts."

Again the above is completely paraphrased and I don't recall the actual numbers used but I think it conveys the point that was trying to be made. They were saying the temps around 100 degrees will be a problem in long term wiring unless components specifically designed for high temp use will employed.

Just wondering how many people are using high temp wire nuts and how many are using regular wire nuts/ wires.

Most of the "WOW I caught this fire just in time, thank G-d I was home!" threads seem to fault the wire nuts.

 

[jackson6745]

Regular nuts here

 

[fritz]

REALLY!?
How far are they from the bulb?

 

[jackson6745]

about 7ft

 

[PalmTree]

I use high temp wire nuts but I have fans blowing in the canopy. I check on them every so often and they seem fine. I think I could have gotten away with regular nuts but figured for an extra buck why not. They also have water proof wire nuts that I was also looking into as well.

 

[fritz]

I saw some water proof joints but they weren't rated for heat.

My wire nuts will be about 6 inches from the bulb (it's hot there) so I figured high temps would be a good idea. Especially at $0.71 each

 

[PalmTree]

Yeah at $.71 each you really can't go wrong. As a matter of fact I think that is the reason I didn't get the waterproff nuts. They were not rated for heat and the only way water was going to get that high would be in a moderate coastal flooding.

 

[Pedro]

about 7ft

If you can get the high temp ones, then do so for peace of mind. At 7ft, the temp is nowhere what it would be close to the lamp or the ballast. So bear that in mind!

 

[Tonyscoots84]

i have reg. nuts 2 :biggrin: :lol2:

there about 6-8" from the bulb...

 

[jhale]

my nuts can take the heat.

they also came with some type of white creme inside that's supposed to make the connection between the wires better.

 

[Tonyscoots84]

:backtotop :bablefish :lol2:

 

[jhale]

that was on topic :dead1:

 

[PalmTree]

LOL you walked right into that one Jon! :type: