I was re-wiring a light switch and a fan control knob and I accidentally cut a wire too short. This wire comes out the front of the fan dial and goes around to the back, connecting to another wire, thus placing a wire nut impossible. Can I just link the two ends together, then seal it with electrical tape? Or do I have to buy a new fan dial (which will cost $25, a cost I'm trying to avoid)? Will just the tape be safe enough?
You should go to Home Depot or an electric store and get some beans to connect them. The associate will tell you how to connect them. Or just youtube, 'beaning electric wire'
No they are NOT absolutely necessary, however the typical DIY'er does not have the skills or the tools to make a splice the old fashioned way. You can solder the two wires together after twisting them together in line and then cover them with shrink wrap. If you know what I am talking about and have the tools then wire nuts are not absolutely necessary, however if you do not have a clue how to do this or the necessary tools are then yes wire nuts are necessary. Just twisting them together and wrapping the connection with tape is not a good way to go.
You should definitely use wire nuts but your fan dial is totally savable. Just use two wire nuts with a short piece of wire in between the short ends you have. Wire nuts are important because you need to clamp the wires together to get a good amount of conductivity. If you just taped the wires together they would touch but not well enough to make a good low resistance union. Bad connections are high resistance and cause heat and then fires.
