Push-on's instead of wire nuts?

[Mr onetwo]

I was just curious about these Ideal connectors? What do the pro's here think of these new-fangled things as opposed to wire nuts? http://www.idealindustries.com/prodDetail.do?prodId=in-sure&div=0&l1=push-in

 

[acer66]

I am not a pro and they are not really new but I like them since they are easier to work with.

 

[eljefino]

They look like they bring the fun and reliabilty of "back-stab outlets" to wire nut land.

I've been finding them inside 8 foot flourescent ceiling lights. For some reason presumably related to ease of assembly the far tombstone's wire is spliced in the middle with these gizmos.

Naturally if you later want to add a new wire to the mix you either have to cut these things off to put one with more capacity in or somehow carefully release the prongs.

 

[rockwithjason]

i love them. i have made thousands of dollars over the years on trouble calls due to loose or broken connections on those things. now some guys use them and like them, good on them but i won't use them

 

[dimarcelli]

I have some in my box but i usually only use them on fluorescent fixtures.

Tan twisters for everything else.

 

[rockchucker]

They save a bunch of time for sure. Until they fail and you get to go re-wire everything again. Since there is no release on them either, you may just have to cut them out and be left with not enough wire to finish the job. It is a good idea but the Push Lock Receptacles have already proven their failure. I don't know how many of those I have replaced.

I used some recently in some Can Lights because that is what they were wired with. I still like the Wire Nuts personally.

Nobody seems to have any time to do anything right today but they ALWAYS think they have time to do it twice later.

 

[Socophreak]

They are actually used by a brand of oven we service (commercial). Never had a problem with them. They are not back-stab, rather push + lock type.

Ultimately though, I try to use the kiss method.

 

[jhelrey]

I do a lot of commercial work. They are great for ballasts.

 

[ishiboo]

I used to use them in some TIGHT boxes and often in lighting fixtures, have yet to have a single issue.

Now days I prefer the Wago lever nuts though... they grab up to like 28ga stranded or something crazy (great for the 18-22ga in fixtures), solid up to 12ga, and when you lift the lever the conductors are easily removed and reusable.

What's funny is many people here don't trust the push nuts because of the spring metal but trust the lever nuts, which also use a metal spring. Not to mention that's what a wire nut is in different format - coiled spring steel. (Though a wire nut connection SHOULD be made mechanically by getting enough twists of wire together, often the wire nut contributes the necessary strength.)

 

[jerryd68]

I have used the Wago nuts on a lot of different projects, normally for sensor wiring or I/O for PLC and automation projects, I really like them, they also are great for ballast's because you can change a ballast safely with the power on.

 

[Aceman]

I use them on ballast changes and that's it.

 

[shoot summ]

Used some of them on can lights recently as they came with them. They were easy to use, I was very deliberate when I used them as I had seen many negative comments on them. A couple of weeks after the install several of the lights in series stopped working, pretty obvious the connection had failed, sure enough a wire had come out of the connector. So I like them from an ease of use perspective, but am a little skeptical because of the failure I had.

 

[Teken]

The only problem with Wago nuts are depending upon box fill. They take up a lot of room and sometimes is a bear to shove into a small box.

Teken . . .

 

[jerryd68]

That is true, especially when you are using and LB or SLB as a make up box for sensors, etc... but overall they are pretty useful. I dont like the stab type connectors near as well especially because I normally work with THHN wire and they dont work well with stranded wire.

 

[pattenp]

You are only to use the push on's with fine stranded wire where the ends of the wire have been tinned.

Edit: To claify... the stranded wire gauge also makes a difference as to whether it should be tinned or not when using the push on's.

That is true, especially when you are using and LB or SLB as a make up box for sensors, etc... but overall they are pretty useful. I dont like the stab type connectors near as well especially because I normally work with THHN wire and they dont work well with stranded wire.

 

[jerryd68]

I can see that, but if I have to take the time to tin the stranded wire I will use a different connector. I usually design wire runs so that any of my connections are actually in terminal blocks inside of control cabinets.

 

[mobiledynamics]

Wagos are great for High Hat Lights and also when wiring up Wiremold Outlets (the way they have the tracks setup, no way to splice with a nut). Each has it's own application per se..

Wirenuts all the time, but Wagos when needed..

 

[ishiboo]

I can see that, but if I have to take the time to tin the stranded wire I will use a different connector. I usually design wire runs so that any of my connections are actually in terminal blocks inside of control cabinets.

THHN is fairly coarsely stranded in #12/#14... it works fine in the push nuts. No 18 ga lighting wires in them though.

The lever nuts (not push) will do 28ga finely stranded without issue which comes in handy!

 

[Mr onetwo]

Nobody seems to have any time to do anything right today but they ALWAYS think they have time to do it twice later.

Well said! I think I will stick with good ol wire nuts.Thanks to all for your comments...you are why this forum is the BEST!!!!

 

[acer66]

Nobody seems to have any time to do anything right today but they ALWAYS think they have time to do it twice later.

That is what my grandpa said when I tried to get him to use wirenuts instead of his method of soldering and taping the connections.

 

[rodm1]

I don't trust them they seem to be a half a$$ way to me (to close to back stab). They are UL listed sow probable ok to use until they change the code do to fires..

 

[Stuntmonkey]

I'm not a fan as the contact is basically relied on 2 pieces of copper that contacts. And they come loose if wiggled.

For ballasts they are great, but other than that use a marette.