WAGO Electrical connectors

[pixelated]

I get mine from Newark electronics;
https://www.newark.com/wago/221-412-ve00-2500/terminal-block-pluggable-2pos/dp/71Y8326

Link is for the 2 conductor ones, but they have all the varieties.

Coincidentally, one of my weekend projects was changing out a ceiling fan. The Wagos were great, I pre-installed them on the fan's wiring with the lever for the house wiring flipped up. Then once on the ladder, it was just a matter of sticking the supply wires in and locking them.

 

[rmwarren]

You won't be sorry Richard, they work very well.

No doubt. $80 got me 25 each of the 2/3/5 and 60 singles. Hopefully enough to last me to the retirement home.

RMW

Source and links please. I would like to get some too.

Got an assortment from Amazon then filled in with single connectors from REV Robotics.
https://www.amazon.com/WAGO-Lever-Nuts-75pc-Connector-Assortment/dp/B018MGMFDI
https://www.revrobotics.com/rev-15-2491/

I also wired up a couple ceiling fans using them which required the least swearing ever for that particular job.

RMW

 

[live4ever]

Been using these for a few years now and I can't say enough good things about them.  Currently in the middle of two whole house rewires (one live-in) and these are an absolute godsend, especially when needing to make temporary connections to keep some circuits powered as they get replaced.

And so easy to swap out light switches, receptacles, etc. in the future since you don't have to snip off twisted wires/nuts and lose length in the box.

 

[vkumar]

Excellent. Thanks [member=8712]Richard/RMW[/member] and [member=61230]pixelated[/member] . Ceiling fan is just the project I was thinking of.

 

[Cheese]

I’m a big fan of WAGO’s.

Do they make the water resistant connectors that you’d use on an irrigation system?  I have the gel filled wire nuts, but they are a mess and difficult to diagnose solenoids and such for repairs.  Mine are all in underground plastic service boxes and will fill with water on heavy rains, so the gel insulation is important.

For voltages of 50 VAC or less Wago recommends using the Gelbox by itself. For voltages greater than 50 VAC, Wago recommends using the Gelbox inside a dry junction box. The Gelbox itself is IPX8 rated.

The nice thing is that the Gelbox media is reusable as compared to the typical silicone media which is messy.

Here's what the stuff looks like when you reuse it, a before & after photo.

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]

 

[live4ever]

I’m a big fan of WAGO’s.

Do they make the water resistant connectors that you’d use on an irrigation system?  I have the gel filled wire nuts, but they are a mess and difficult to diagnose solenoids and such for repairs.  Mine are all in underground plastic service boxes and will fill with water on heavy rains, so the gel insulation is important.

For voltages of 50 VAC or less Wago recommends using the Gelbox by itself. For voltages greater than 50 VAC, Wago recommends using the Gelbox inside a dry junction box. The Gelbox itself is IPX8 rated.

The nice thing is that the Gelbox media is reusable as compared to the typical silicone media which is messy.

Here's what the stuff looks like when you reuse it, a before & after photo.

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]

So you can just repack the gel after peeling it off?  Got a good US source for the gelboxes?

 

[pixelated]

Newark has them;https://www.newark.com/wago/207-1333/60470320-gelbox-rohs-compliant/dp/32AK4749?ost=wago+207-1333

 

[Coen]

The nice thing is that the Gelbox media is reusable as compared to the typical silicone media which is messy.

I don't think they claim that. "Wiederzüganglichkeit" just means you can access them again, contrary to resin filled junction boxes where you have to cut the entire cable and replace all the connections if you want any expansion or change.

Wiederzüganglichkeit translates more or less to 're-accessible'.

 

[MikeGE]

The nice thing is that the Gelbox media is reusable as compared to the typical silicone media which is messy.

The Wago Gelbox is not reusable, just the connectors you put inside it.  Once the Gelbox is closed and the gell oozes around the connectors and wires, it cannot be opened again without breaking the IPX8 seal.

Depending on the size, the Gelbox is available in packs of three or four for about €20.

 

[Cheese]

Thanks for that clarification from both [member=8955]Coen[/member]  and [member=70363]MikeGE[/member] ...the verbiage from Wago is rather obtuse.  [tongue]

Here's the official Wago answer whatever this means.

"The gel is silicone-free. This allows the Gelbox to be used in any branch of industry – even those where varnishes, paints and other sensitive products are used, such as the automotive industry. Secondly, the silicone-free gel has already reacted, so it is fully label-free and can be stored indefinitely. This cannot be said of all components used to manufacture potting compounds. In addition, the silicone-free gel potting compound uniquely allows a user to re-access the connection" – the keyword here: re-accessibility.

It would have been a lot more succinct answer if they had stipulated that the access to the connection is a one-time only occurrence and that a new Gelbox would need to be utilized to provide protection once the Gelbox is opened...sheesh...why do these people feel the need to obfuscate?  It's a better mouse trap, let's just move forward.

 

[MikeGE]

It would have been a lot more succinct answer if they had stipulated that the access to the connection is a one-time only occurrence and that a new Gelbox would need to be utilized to provide protection once the Gelbox is opened...sheesh...why do these people feel the need to obfuscate?  It's a better mouse trap, let's just move forward.

You can attribute the confusion on the cultural differences and approximation of translation between German and English.  Some German words or phrases are difficult to directly translate...you just have to know what the meaning is.

 

[blaszcsj]

can the wag splice kit be used without a box? Tyco made a splice kit for romex that is similar to the single wago on the plate.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Tyco-Electronics-Romex-Splice-Kit-2-Wire-1-Clam-A22899-000/202204326

 

[Cheese]

can the wag splice kit be used without a box? Tyco made a splice kit for romex that is similar to the single wago on the plate.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Tyco-Electronics-Romex-Splice-Kit-2-Wire-1-Clam-A22899-000/202204326

Yes, when used for that application the Wago Inline connectors would be fastened to a carrier.

[attachimg=1]

 

[serge0n]

[member=25351]rst[/member] - many thanks for the REV Robotics link! I hope they are selling carriers for those splice connectors too.

Most old school US electricians frown upon Wago connectors. They prefer wire nuts. One argument I heard is that Wagos get hot under load because they have a conductor bus and numerous heating/cooling cycles can work the electrical connection loose.
Sounds like an extreme edge case to me.

Any electricians on this forum who can confirm or debunk that?

Are wire nuts used in Europe as well?

 

[MikeGE]

[member=25351]rst[/member] - many thanks for the REV Robotics link! I hope they are selling carriers for those splice connectors too.

Most old school US electricians frown upon Wago connectors. They prefer wire nuts. One argument I heard is that Wagos get hot under load because they have a conductor bus and numerous heating/cooling cycles can work the electrical connection loose.
Sounds like an extreme edge case to me.

Any electricians on this forum who can confirm or debunk that?

Are wire nuts used in Europe as well?

I think the "old school" says it all.  I had five U.S. Master Electricians on my staff who ranged in age from 30 to 65.  They love the Wago connectors.

I can't speak for all of Europe, but wire nuts are not allowed in Germany for any electrical work.  I don't think I ever saw them in Italy, Belgium, France, or The Netherlands, and I spent a lot of time working on electrical distribution systems in those countries.

 

[Coen]

Most old school US electricians frown upon Wago connectors. They prefer wire nuts. One argument I heard is that Wagos get hot under load because they have a conductor bus and numerous heating/cooling cycles can work the electrical connection loose.
Sounds like an extreme edge case to me.

Any electricians on this forum who can confirm or debunk that?

99% of faults with Wago's is blatant user error. Usually damaged bent wire stripped too short. These same old school guys use manual stripping pliers and even though they won't admit it, they (the user) are not stripping to correct length.

Are wire nuts used in Europe as well?

Yes. I cut them out of existing installations I have to work on and re-use them to close the tip of the caulk tube.

I can't speak for all of Europe, but wire nuts are not allowed in Germany for any electrical work.  I don't think I ever saw them in Italy, Belgium, France, or The Netherlands, and I spent a lot of time working on electrical distribution systems in those countries.

Most installations pre ~1980 will have them, even in NL. They are also still sold new and used, including DIY stores.

It's much easier to f#ck up the installation of a wire nut without it being very visible than to do the same with the installation of a Wago.

 

[RussellS]

Are wire nuts used in Europe as well?

Yes. I cut them out of existing installations I have to work on and re-use them to close the tip of the caulk tube.

Hmmmm.  I use wire nuts for that too.  Make good caulk gun tube caps after cutting the nozzle.  But you can't cut the nozzle down at the fat end.  Tip has to be narrow to fit the wire nut on top.

I use wire nuts in electrical work.  Yellow and red nuts.  And I use the original Wago connectors too.  The old style push in.  Not the new fancy dandy flip switch ones.  Whatever works.  If I am in an uncomfortable position, then Wago are easiest and quickest to shove in.  If the box is full with wires, then Wago takes up less space.  But if everything is easy and open and lots of room, then wire nuts are good and fine too.  And sometimes its whatever is easiest to find and get to.  I'm in the US.

 

[serge0n]

I can't speak for all of Europe, but wire nuts are not allowed in Germany for any electrical work.  I don't think I ever saw them in Italy, Belgium, France, or The Netherlands, and I spent a lot of time working on electrical distribution systems in those countries.

That actually sets my mind at ease. It sounds very similar to how US plumbers were bashing PEX 15 years ago as a material far inferior to copper. My city still prohibits pex for residential water supply piping. Very annoying.

If wire nuts are not allowed in Germany, what was used before Wago connectors became available? Similar push-in system?

 

[serge0n]

99% of faults with Wago's is blatant user error. Usually damaged bent wire stripped too short. These same old school guys use manual stripping pliers and even though they won't admit it, they (the user) are not stripping to correct length.

Very true!  ;D Every electrician that worked on my house used manual stripping pliers. But they were extremely fast and seemed to strip all wires exactly to the same length. Of course they were using wire nuts where the length of exposed wire doesn't have to be precise.

Yes. I cut them out of existing installations I have to work on and re-use them to close the tip of the caulk tube.

Interesting. Have electricians in NL switched to Wagos or they keep using wire nuts?

 

[MikeGE]

If wire nuts are not allowed in Germany, what was used before Wago connectors became available? Similar push-in system?

Something similar to these terminal strips, which are still used today.  Each feed-through section is electrically isolated from the adjacent terminals.  Depending on the size of the strip and size of the conductors, several conductors can fit in each end for a solid connection.  The sections can be cut away so they are separate, or kept in groups of three for Line, Neutral, and Ground.

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