Wire nuts vs Wago vs push-in

[alfredeneuman]

Wagos are different than backstabs.
Backstabs depend on razor sharp stabs to make the connections.
Wagos have curved contacts, and spread the load over a much bigger area.

 

[ddawg16]

I've used both.....

I'm not a fan of spring loaded contacts. Even lever contacts.

Main problem.....your wire contact area is only on two narrow parts...the top and bottom. I would estimate that it's maybe 10% of the actual exposed wire area?

Whereas with wire nuts, you end up with 80-90% surface contact.

I won't use them for 15-20a ckts. But they are fine in lighting ckts where the amp draw is low.

Do what you want.....I'll do what I want

 

[Git]

How many 'electricians' use wire nuts and then they backstab the outlet?

The contact area in a Wago is a lot more than just two narrow points and certainly a lot more than a backstabbed outlet

 

[Jim greengo]

How many 'electricians' use wire nuts and then they backstab the outlet?

The contact area in a Wago is a lot more than just two narrow points and certainly a lot more than a backstabbed outlet

Backstabbing outlets hasn't been allowed around here for 30 years or so,that doesn't mean that there's not lazy hacks that still do it though.

 

[ard]

Ive done thousands of wire nut connectors. If not ten thousand.

I can count on one hand the number of 'failures' that pass me by. A wire is not fully seated and doenst get bonded in the 'twist'...or a wire breaks. (Usually I catch these issues immediately, as the wire is manipulated back into the box....)

But with a wire nut, I am confident it will handle 20Amps, year after year after year.

Ive done wagos for little lighting circuits, zwave, stuff like that. Mostly when the device comes with the connector.

If the wire fill on the box meets code, Ive not had a problem with space. (although admittedly, Ive only seen space be an issue with X10 and zwave devices that seem to be fill-pigs. Standard switches and receptacles, not a problem.)

 

[alfredeneuman]

The backstab outlets of the past were even worse than the outlets of today!
They accepted both #12 and #14 wire, and the stabs weren't good for either.
You could use them on both on 15 and 20 amp circuits. (and that reason probably prompted the use of #14 only)

I, as Ard does, just use the Wagos on single light fixtures, etc. Ballast changes are much easier with them. For any higher draw items it's wire nuts all the way.