ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

TECHNOLOGY
EL1201L

Prepared by: Engr. Dexrey John P. Quizan, MsEE

Common Wire Splices
And
Joints
 ……you should acquire the important knowledge and skills in wire splices and
joints and should be familiar with the actual application of every splice and joint.
This will serve as your tool in performing actual wiring installation. Of course,
another factor is the knowledge in interpreting and analyzing the wiring diagram
especially if the circuit is complicated.
The following are the Common Electrical Wire
Splices and Joints.
• Rat Tail or Pig Tail
• Y-Splice
• Knotted Tap
• Plain Tap Joint
• Aerial Tap
• Duplex Cross Joint
• Western Union Long Tie
• Western Union-short Tie Splice
• Cross Joint
• Wrapped Tap or Tee Joint
 Rat Tail or Pig Tail - kind of joint is commonly used to join two or more conductors
inside the junction box. It is suitable for service where there is no mechanical stress
when wires are to be connected in an outlet box, switch, or conduit fitting, can be done
with both solid and stranded wire.
Y-splice - method of wrapping is generally used on small cables because the strands are flexible and
all can be wrapped in one operation. also known as a tap splice, connects a conductor to a
running wire. You'll need to remove about 1.5 inches of insulation from the running wire. Take the
connecting wire and tie it in a knot onto the running wire to create a knotted tap splice.
​Knotted tap- This is used where the tap wire is under heavy tensile stress. The
knotted tap is used where the splice is subject to strain or slippage. When there is no
strain, the knot may be eliminated.
Plain tap joint - used where the tap wire is under considerable tensile stress
circuit.
Aerial tap - is used as a temporary tap usually done in constructions sites.
The easy twist will facilitate tap wire movement.
Duplex cross joint - a two-tap wire turned simultaneously and is used ​where
the two tap wire is under heavy tensile stress.
​Western Union Short-tie Splice. This is the most widely used splice or
joint in interior wiring installation to extend the length of wire from one
point to another.
​Western Union Long Tie-This is used extensively for outside
wiring to extend the length of wire from one end to another.
​Cross joint- The same application is done as in plain tap and the
only difference is that this tap is a combination of two plain taps
place side by side with each other.
​Wrapped Tap or Tee Joint- This is used on large solid conductors
where it is difficult to wrap the heavy tap wire around the main wire.
How important am I?
When two electric wires are joined together, the joint formed is normally
called a splice. A good splice should not only be mechanically secure, it is
also form an electrical connection which is just as efficient a conductor as
the wire itself.

The primary purpose of splicing is to allow spliced wires to carry the

current. By performing splicing, you have the opportunity to connect
damaged cables instead of installing new ones. Splicing cables can be
a cheaper alternative to investing in new ones.
DO IT YOURSELF!
Make a short video base on the criteria below on how to do the common Splices and
Joints. Perform at least 5 splices or joints (explain clearly the step by step procedure).

Criteria:
Creativity- 30%
Credibility- 20%
Neatness of explanation- 15%
Technical skills- 25%
Quality- 10%
=100%