[mcm818]

Hi.

I am renovating and am installing a few low voltage lights.

Under the 2008 NEC, do the splices need to be in j-boxes?

Also, the splice is aluminum to copper. Am I required to use the purple, liquid filled, expensive nuts on the splices or will normal wire nuts pass code?

Thanks so much.


Mark from NJ

[mcm818]

Also, as to the Ideal purple nuts, I have read that they have failed in field tests, but am not sure if the fact that this is a low voltage situation makes failure less likely. If these nuts are a problem, how do I protect my splices?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[tkrussell]

Low voltage splices in the ground can be anywhere underground. A wise installer would use some sort of hand hole for later access.

The purple wirenuts are for aluminum to copper splices, but I have no experience with those. I don't get much small wires to worry about.

These wire nuts are not rated for direct burial.

I would use a crimp butt splice that is AL-CU rated and cover with heat shrink.

[mcm818]

Many thanks.

[mcm818]

One issue, though... these are not going underground. They are downlights being placed in an eave. Does this make a difference?

Thanks.

[tkrussell]

No difference.