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I installed my first ceiling fan with remote today. I believe I did everything correctly as the fan turns and the light lights, both via the remote control. My question has to do with the need for electrical tape.

I replaced an existing ceiling fan without a remote. I disconnected the blue wire (lighting wire) from the group of existing wires. I then connected the black wire to the black wire and the white wire to the the white wire. I used the plastic caps originally used to twist the wires from the remote to the wires coming from the ceiling. There was no ground (copper) wire. The box and support was already sealed.

The only thing I didn't repeat in this process was to re-wrap black electrical tape around the plastic connector caps.

Here's the question; Is there going to be a problem down the road because I didn't wrap black electrical tape around the properly capped wires from the ceiling to the remote?

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As long as the twist-on wire connectors (colloquially known as "wire nuts", though that's a trademark) were the right size, attached firmly, and left no un-insulated wire exposed, electrical tape over them is unnecessary (and I believe is not recommended).

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  • Technically they're called "twist-on wire connectors". "WireNut®" is a brand of twist-on wire connector, manufactured by Ideal. – Tester101 Oct 16 '15 at 1:28
  • I sit corrected and will correct. Interesting that they dropped the pre-twist; it always made me feel more secure. – keshlam Oct 16 '15 at 1:43
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    Wire nut is a perfectly accepted term in the electrical field. Sorry, I am NOT saying "twist-on wire connector" when I need one or need to refer to a wire nut. .................. Also, most now either say nothing, or they say "pre-twisting not required". I don't know of one that has said "do not pre-twist". To be honest I am not sure why this was even brought to the conversation. .... Either way, I will forever pre-twist anything more than 2 or 3 #14 wires, and this topic has been beaten to death on trade and DIY forums for years. It's worse than the receptacle ground up/down debate. – Speedy Petey Oct 16 '15 at 10:49
  • This answer is almost perfect. I would have said "electrical tape over them IS unnecessary" ......... I have heard it said that folks tape wire nuts so they don't fall off. If tape is holding them on then you did it wrong. – Speedy Petey Oct 16 '15 at 10:52
  • Last I look to twist or not to twist we're both acceptable on Ideal brands. I'm gonna have to agree with @Speedy Petey here on "proper terminology" – Kris Oct 16 '15 at 10:57

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