Wago products.

[whateg01]

You know they are thoroughly tested? But I guess so were back-stab receptacles at one time. ...

I kinda got the impression that the push in nuts are just the modern use of the old back stab receptacles. I don't know if the lever lock versions maintain a better connection but it seems like they could. I do know that stranded wire doesn't like to go into the push in type.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

One thing I haven't seen mentioned is when dealing with 12 gauge wire is that it's so stiff that when you stuff it back into the box it tends to want to unwind the screws that hold it secure. I had this happen to a surface mount box in my shed. I needed to replace the box because I lost a screw when rewiring it. I bought a new one and I had two 12-2 wires in the smaller box. I got it together and noticed my light was flickering when plugging in a cord into the outlet. Found the screw had loosened. And I know how tight to get a screw to start with. I am going to say that perhaps 12 gauge wire has caused more concerns than overloading a 14 gauge wire has just because it's so darn stiff when trying to deal with it.

thats never happened to me. are you wrapping the wire in the same direction that the screw tightens? if so then the wire should never unwind. its physically impossible for it to do so.

 

[428PI]

are you wrapping the wire in the same direction that the screw tightens?

absolutely, btw; the surface mount I replaced had the wires wound the wrong way and hot and cold were interchanged.

 

[whateg01]

Regardless of the direction I have around them in the past, I've never had trouble with them unscrewing the screws. Either you are pulling on the wires too hard and not just bending them or you are not tightening the screws enough, imo

 

[Firebrick43]

I called your information horse pucky. Yes, look at your situation carefully. You pull both hot and cold wires down. What happens? The white one loosens up and the black one on the other side gets tighter.

absolutely, btw; the surface mount I replaced had the wires wound the wrong way and hot and cold were interchanged.

What are these "cold" wires you keep talking about? Are they chilled somehow?

The surface mount receptacles are two pieces. You land and hook up the wires and prebend them. You then snap on the back plate, and see where it lands on the post/wall. You pop the front off holding the back plate in place and without moving it mount the back plate. The front then is screwed on without displacing or anymore bending of the wires. Remove the staples if they are causing an issue.

You are not installing new circuits with surface mount plugs and not using a raceway are you?

 

[428PI]

What are these "cold" wires you keep talking about? Are they chilled somehow?

Really?

 

[Firebrick43]

Really?

Thats what I thought to when you were using the term "cold wires"

 

[whateg01]

Thats what I thought to when you were using the term "cold wires"

When I hear cold wires, I think dead. No electricity.

 

[428PI]

Thats what I thought to when you were using the term "cold wires"

Fine, go somewhere else to nitpick.

 

[Sumboodie]

Been used for 20+ years in commercial wiring I've dealt with.

 

[acer66]

Yep... Wago connectors are the equivalent of Sharkbite fittings, no love from tradesmen

Pex was also shunned by plumbers when it started to gain ground.

 

[Firebrick43]

Fine, go somewhere else to nitpick.

Calling out someone for calling white neutral wire a cold wire isn't nit-picking.

Its calling out how unsafe it is. As @whateg01 stated, it normally means its unenergized.

And to confuse those terms leads to misunderstandings and people getting hurt.

 

[428PI]

And to confuse those terms leads to misunderstandings and people getting hurt.

How is anyone going to get hurt because I called it a cold wire instead of neutral? I'm sure everyone here knew exactly what I meant. Let's move on.

 

[rharman]

I've been using Wagos for when I had five wires to tie together as the wire nut just didn't seem to be a good choice for tightness or security. I had it in a junction box and used the Ideal push-in types for 4 and 3 wire connections. As others have said, it wouldn't be a good idea to seal them up in walls but for inside junction boxes where you can access them, it wouldn't be bad. Also, only dry locations where you use them too. If using them in wet locations, I guess I'd seal them with electrical tape as best as possible?

The thing I like about the push-in Ideal brand types is they're cheap and they're easier to stuff back into a box as you don't have a huge knot twisted up to jam back in.

Why on earth would you EVER bury any connection, other than an approved NM-B splice, inside a wall???

 

[Lassen Forge]

I've used them for fluorescent lights but never felt comfortable using them for anything heavier than that.
To me they're like Push-back receptacles and switches - they're great for people in a rush trying to slap together a job, rather than take a couple extra seconds to make a better (and safer IMO) connection.
They're also available over here where you have lower amperage, but you can ALSO get the (here traditional) "screw-type" connectors(wire in either side of the connector and a screw holds them fast) and I've NEVER had an issue with those.
I JUST replaced a bunch of "push connector" switches and receptacles installed 25 years ago that were shot - high resistance, got warm. When you're dealing with a failure at 230V where you can talk a pretty swift amperage jump, um, thanks but no.

 

[67CarGuy]

I see Wagos used on all of the lighting and receptacle connections in the apartment buildings I inspect for work (I'm not an electrical inspector though, so...). But they're certainly well-represented in those buildings, usually 300+ units per project. These are being installed by large commercial electrical contractors, so either they trust them to work, or they're getting a good deal from the supply house.... but I'm guessing it's more of the former than the latter. Most outfits don't like callbacks, in my experience.

 

[dave*99]

I've used them for fluorescent lights but never felt comfortable using them for anything heavier than that.
To me they're like Push-back receptacles and switches - they're great for people in a rush trying to slap together a job, rather than take a couple extra seconds to make a better (and safer IMO) connection.
They're also available over here where you have lower amperage, but you can ALSO get the (here traditional) "screw-type" connectors(wire in either side of the connector and a screw holds them fast) and I've NEVER had an issue with those.
I JUST replaced a bunch of "push connector" switches and receptacles installed 25 years ago that were shot - high resistance, got warm. When you're dealing with a failure at 230V where you can talk a pretty swift amperage jump, um, thanks but no.

Well..... not exactly.
The Wago's with the locking lever provide much greater force on the connection and make better contact.
Feel to do as you like - the old back stab stuff has certainly been a great source of problems, but they are not the same.

Leviton just introduce a complete line of devices with a lever lock. I have not tried them. But I suspect they work better than the old back stab stuff.
YMMV

 

[Skooterj]

I've used quite a few Wago Lever Locks, both with solid and stranded wire. Never had a problem, but I've probably used less than 50 in my life. I do always wrap them with electrical tape when I'm done just in case when I'm pushing them into the box the lever might get jostled and let the wire come loose. Probably overkill, but just makes me feel a little safer.

 

[mike93lx]

I've never see a wago branded connector on a lighting fixture. Just generic push in, which do work fine

 

[WildBill]

I use the lever type for low voltage and sometimes when I have a bunch of bare ground wires to connect in crowded box. I don't entirely trust them and probably wouldn't run any high amperage stuff through them. I also did all my plumbing in copper because I've seen dozens of pex and sharkbite failures doing apartment maintenance. But it also could very well be because I'm old.

 

[PelicanPines]

Wago... is the WAy to GO... it's kind of obvious.

 

[PelicanPines]

I've never see a wago branded connector on a lighting fixture. Just generic push in, which do work fine

You need to look at my outside light fixtures... all "Wago'ed"... braided to solid... wago is the WAy to GO.

 

[mike93lx]

You need to look at my outside light fixtures... all "Wago'ed"... braided to solid... wago is the WAy to GO.

I believe you. Just wondering if the wago name is turning into the kleenex of electrical connectors.

 

[dave*99]

This:

This model Wago Connector has a lever. Some do not have a lever.


Ain't this:

This style Idea Connector does not have a lever


I do believe Wago is suffering from folks stigmatizing them from the poor performance of the old backstab receptacles and switches.

 

[428PI]

I do believe Wago is suffering from folks stigmatizing them from the poor performance of the old backstab receptacles and switche

Wago does make back stab non lever style connectors. I just purchased some. Shall I get a picture of the box?

 

[BLUE72CAMARO]

So I just saw these on Amazon. Thoughts?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C86M87FT/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[mike93lx]

So I just saw these on Amazon. Thoughts?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C86M87FT/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I'd have no problem with them. The lever lock is way better than back stab

 

[dave*99]

So I just saw these on Amazon. Thoughts?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C86M87FT/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Especially handy for anybody whose screws come loose.

 

[reader2580]

I've ordered Wago lever-nuts on Amazon and gotten fakes. I was most of the way through a box of them before I noticed that they were marked differently than others I've used in the past.

Did they have the Wago name and part number on them? There are other generic lever nuts out there, especially on Amazon.

 

[reader2580]

Especially handy for anybody whose screws come loose.

I would say they are really a DIY item for those with little electrical experience. I'm not sure I would want someone with that little experience wiring any house.

 

[sparky 1971]

Why on earth would you EVER bury any connection, other than an approved NM-B splice, inside a wall???

To be brutally honest, have you ever seen the approved NM-B splice kits? I've never used one, and I never will. I would bury pretwisted joints with good wire nuts waaaaaaaay before I used one of those pieces of ****. A lever nut is probably better than one of those things as well. A stab in WAGO isn't better, but it's probably not worse either.

Those things help to strengthen my theory of money comes before all things. Throw enough money at a solution for which there isn't a problem and anything can be made and approved. AFCI "protection" being at the top of the list.

 

[dave*99]

I would say they are really a DIY item for those with little electrical experience. I'm not sure I would want someone with that little experience wiring any house.

I don’t know the target customer. I do know Leviton makes good products.

And I know folks that should use this product as it matches their skill level.

Pros will look at the cost/benefit and make decisions accordingly. Time is money.

 

[Firebrick43]

Especially handy for anybody whose screws come loose.

There is no place for the cold wire marked on the back?

 

[southalabama]

And we can't trust wire nuts either, what will we do....?

Don’t run with scissors.
The sky is falling
What will be do?

And who knew they have expiration dates like milk and go bad?

 

[rharman]

To be brutally honest, have you ever seen the approved NM-B splice kits? I've never used one, and I never will. I would bury pretwisted joints with good wire nuts waaaaaaaay before I used one of those pieces of ****. A lever nut is probably better than one of those things as well. A stab in WAGO isn't better, but it's probably not worse either.

Those things help to strengthen my theory of money comes before all things. Throw enough money at a solution for which there isn't a problem and anything can be made and approved. AFCI "protection" being at the top of the list.

Nope, never have. My issue was burying connections in a wall. At least the splice is UL/CSA listed. I would hope that's some comfort factor.

In hindsight, I see that I misread @Model A Fan's post. I read it as "OK to use them in a buried junction box" when what he said was "in a junction box that was accessible".

My apologies to @Model A Fan...

 

[RAYJAY]

Just curious as I am by no means an electrical person. I have hired an electrician to wire one part of my garage for 220v for my machines and I asked him if he ever used wago products. His answer just blew me away as he replied they are not safe, and he will not use them. So, I asked him why they are not safe, and he told me he had a box of then that went bad, and they burned up.

You tell me is he full of horse ****, they burn up when used, or heck no you never had any problems using them.

He seems like a very knowledgeable, electrician so I am in the dark as they say.

Woody

woody we use them in the plant where i work all the time, that being said we do use them up to 120v and work flawless the plus we can do a hot swap when needed still have not tried 480 on them yet ..

 

[dave*99]

There is no place for the cold wire marked on the back?

I see PEX tubing is blue and red. That is my interpretation of hot and cold markings. The Leviton product has black and white levers. I don’t think they have published a conversion chart. If someone has one please post it.

In Physics, black is often associated with cold and white with hot. I’ve heard the term white hot. But I don’t think that maps to the electrical terminology.

 

[Firebrick43]

I see PEX tubing is blue and red. That is my interpretation of hot and cold markings. The Leviton product has black and white levers. I don’t think they have published a conversion chart. If someone has one please post it.

In Physics, black is often associated with cold and white with hot. I’ve heard the term white hot. But I don’t think that maps to the electrical terminology.

Read further up in the thread and you will get it.

 

[dave*99]

Read further up in the thread and you will get it.

This is not my first rodeo. Read even further up and see my posts. Trust me I get it.

 

[mike93lx]

still have not tried 480 on them yet ..

Wimp