• Joints in electrical conductors mean connecting/tying or interlaying together two or more conductors such that the union/junction becomes secured both electrically and mechanically.

• Pig-tail or rat-tail or twisted joints
• Married joint
• Tee joint
• Britannia straight joint
• Western union joint
• Scarfed joint
• Tap joint in the single-stranded conductor

• This joint made in a single-strand conductor of 4 mm dia. or more is used in overhead lines where considerable tensile strength is required.
• It is also used both for inside and outside wiring.

• This joint made in single strand conductors of 4 mm dia. or more is used for overhead lines for tapping the electrical energy perpendicular to the service lines.

Western union joint:

• This joint made in single-strand conductors of 4 mm dia. or more is used in overhead lines for extending the length of the wire where the joint is subjected to considerable tensile stress.

Scarfed joint:

• This joint made in single-strand conductors is used in large single conductors where good appearance and compactness are the main considerations, and where the joint is not subjected to appreciable tensile stress as in earth conductors used in indoor wiring.
• It is preferable to solder this joint to increase its reliability.

Pig-tail / rat-tail / twisted joint:

• This joint made in either single or multi-strand conductors is suitable for places where there is no mechanical stress on the conductors as found in junction boxes or conduit accessories boxes.
• However, the joint should maintain good electrical conductivity.

Married joint:

• A married joint made with stranded conductors is used in places where appreciable electrical conductivity is required along with compactness.
• As the mechanical strength is less, this joint could be used at places where the tensile stress is not too great.