What is this?

[kpierce]

I haven't seen one before.

[Jeffrey R. Wicklander]

A type of mechanical connector. It has two lugs, set inside, so you can splice two larger guage wires together.

Jeff

[kpierce]

Originally Posted by jwicklander

A type of mechanical connector. It has two lugs, set inside, so you can splice two larger guage wires together.

Jeff

Perfect, thanks!

[Marc D. Shunk]

Electricians call those a "Polaris Bug" or "NSI Bug".

[kpierce]

Thanks Marc.

[jkogel]

OK, but ...why are they splicing a large gauge to a small?
I would check the rating of the breaker on that and the circuit at the back of the pic, same situation.

John Kogel
www.allsafehome.ca

[Marc D. Shunk]

Originally Posted by jkogel

OK, but ...why are they splicing a large gauge to a small?
I would check the rating of the breaker on that and the circuit at the back of the pic, same situation.

There's two common reasons I do that in a panel, and both are completely legal and proper.

1) To repurpose an old #6 50 amp feed to an electric range for use as a 20 amp feed to a gas range. A smaller wire needs spliced on to attach to the terminal of a 20 amp breaker
2) To run very large conductors to parking lot lights, to overcome voltage drop, but connect them to a 20 amp breaker.

[Dale Duffy]

Originally Posted by kpierce

I haven't seen one before.

Neither have I, learn something everyday here.

[Bryce W. Jeffrey]

This is the reason that I dumped OAHI and have stuck with NACHI!