What does it indicate if bare wires are hanging out of the bottom of a wire nut?

If bare wires are hanging out of the bottom of a wire nut, it is a sign that the wires have been stripped too far back or that the wire nut is too small for the diameter of the wires being connected. Proper wire stripping ensures that only the necessary length of insulation is removed to make a secure connection without exposing excess bare wire. This is important for safety and performance, as exposed wires can lead to electrical shorts, arcing, or interference with the wire nut's ability to maintain a secure grip on the connections. Additionally, if a wire nut is too small, it may not adequately accommodate the wires, resulting in an insecure and potentially dangerous connection. Therefore, observing bare wires protruding from the wire nut typically indicates an issue with stripping length or compatibility of the wire nut size rather than a defect in the wire nut itself or wire thickness.