For most simple repairs, you won't need to splice wires. But you may have to splice two or more copper wires to replace a damaged wall or ceiling light fixture or to make a connection in a receptacle, switch or junction box.

To splice wires:

• Strip 1 inch of insulation off the wires together clockwise.
• Snip off 1/2 to 3/4 inch of the ends.
• Cap the twisted wires with a wire nut, turning it clockwise to secure the connection.
• Make sure the wire nut is the proper size for the wires.
• CAUTION: Don't use any wire nuts to splice together a damaged extension cord. For safety, building codes allow you to splice house wires only within junction, receptacle, fixture or switch boxes. Also, be sure to turn off the power to the circuit before you make any splice.