Це відео не доступне.
Перепрошуємо.
Never use Wire Nuts Again - Wago is Better Electrical Connector
Вставка
- Опубліковано 16 січ 2021
- Electrical work is hard enough & wirenuts suck. They are installed wrong, overloaded & outdated. See what a WAGO connector can do and why I love these & think you will too. If you want to learn how to make electrical work easier this is the video to see. NOT sponsored in any way.
Great WAGO starter pack: amzn.to/3tb0Dcd
My wire stripper: amzn.to/3ogIbvG
Are WAGOs code approved in USA? Yes, Wago connectors meet all of the NEC code requirements regarding splicing and terminating conductors.
You must check your own area as codes vary.
This video, description and comments contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the channel and allows us to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for the support!
Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of Silver Cymbal, I cannot guarantee against improper use or unauthorized modifications of this information. Silver Cymbal assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Use this information at your own risk. Silver Cymbal recommends safe practices when working on machines and or with tools seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of Silver Cymbal, no information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or from the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not Silver Cymbal.
Thanks for watching please *LIKE & SUBSCRIBE* Wago starter kit: amzn.to/3tb0Dcd Favorite wire stripper: amzn.to/3ogIbvG BONUS: Updated Video just posted: ua-cam.com/video/B1pmuRsf1co/v-deo.html
greedy bastards bought all these
Unavailable.
Let’s see the inside of these things. I saw a nick in the wire, not sure if that is how it connects but that doesn’t give me confidence.
@@danlux4954 I bought a box of them, will let you know about the quality after they get here. I have some 110V and 220V wiring to do in the workshop.
@@aurktman1106 if you properly twist the wires together the wire nut just holds on with not much damage. Had the old marrettes that had the screw in them and because the wires weren’t twisted together they weren’t making a good connection and blowing the fuse.
Been an electrician for over 30 years and never had a problem re-using wire nuts WITHOUT cutting existing splice off, or adding another wire into the splice, I call b.s.
625 👍. 87 comments
I'm a effin celebrity 🤣😂🤣
Yes! Thank you!! Being a DIY homeowner for an equal amount of time, I also call BS on this! What nonsense! Wire nuts are NOT dangerous and they don't need to be cut off and they can most certainly be reused.
Calling B.S. Here. Wire Nuts For The Win.
I've been JW for 17 and I can't tell you how many times I've been ti a house call for something not working because some ass hat thought you needed to use a cheater pipe to put on a wire nut cut through one wire partially then let it arc to a pile of plastic.
@@shawnshurtz9147 thats so crazy why the f would someone do that lmao
I bought 1k for industrial applications.
Even with exposure of water and heat they last at least 1 year
Anyone who uses a pipe wrench on a wire nut should not be allowed near electrical wires.
Or plumbing.
I may be mistaken. But I believe that the comment was meant to be sarcastic. As in you can overkill any simple problem. Wago connectors are overkill for any electrical job. Just like "using a pipe wrench to tighten a wire nut" would be.
@@elijahbaird3950 it was somewhat sarcastic, but also serious. I'm not saying wago connectors are overkill, I think they are actually pretty cool and to each his own to use them.
What I take issue is this guy is trying to pass on false electrical advice information to try to get someone to click on his affiliate link.
@@keithdouble1440 I hope you are neither of those!
I crank em down with the 1 inch impact gun.
I am a retired electrician and this is a highly skilled trade. Wagos are ok when installing them in a low current pass through device I.e. strip fixtures. If you use them in a junction box or device box that has higher current demands like kitchen counter tops as well as entertainment center receptacles, or commercial and industrial projects and the list goes on. WAGOS WILL melt down! They were the best thing since sliced bread at my large union shop until the problem with the melting down of the wago and the insulation on the conductors. I repaired many issues from these things. We went with the tried and true wire nuts!
can confirm. as a resi electrician we only use these for recess cans only because most recess cans come with them pre installed. videos like this keep me in business tho when some DIY homeowner tries to use these when wiring 20a receptacle circuits
I use the Wago's regularly in industrial wiring panels at 20 amps and never had an issue. Now, on the other hand, the knockoffs sold on the online flea market sites such as Amazon and EBay are a completely different product and many struggle at 5 amps or less.
I was a journeyman electrician for over 35 years and retired a decade ago and this is the FIRST time I've EVER heard about these connectors. I'VE GOT TO FIND THESE CONNECTORS AND BUY SOME !!! THANK you for doing this video !
Wait until you see the quality of cordless tools we get today. I'm very grateful.
How in the hell have you never heard of these?
No malice intended, but that's probably why you'll remain a journeyman. Not a master is stuff like just Like these This would be something a backyard electrician. Would use because he hasn't been twisting And splicing long enough that it becomes a second nature
@@ghostface1737 He has, he just wanted some sort of interaction with the author of this video.
I've seen these but in decades of electrical work I've never seen a problem with a PROPERLY INSTALLED wire nut 👍
I don’t think he was only talking to the pros he was talking to the regular consumer also... that’s why he was talking slow. I’ll buy
@@smokeskull 🤣😂😆
Push connectors are the preferred choice outside of the US. Wire nuts have several disadvantages over push in connectors.
@@aredditor4272 assuming the wire nut is properly installed, go ahead and list them...??
@@poserwanabe when you twist the wire, you're cold working it to make it brittle, and it should probably all be cut off for a lasting quality connection by the next guy who has to work with it.
Again, it's now the top choice outside of the US, and many US firms are also switching to push. Twisted to solid under a wire nut is garbage.
The wire nut is only as dangerous as the person installing it. Been an electrician for 25 years and have had VERY few problems with wire nuts.
Also notice how he blew pass the part in mentioning "More Expensive" also notice how he never mentioned using the proper colors of standard wire nuts is related to size and applications. All I'm saying, if you're gonna sale a product or represent a product, then talk about that product without using poor "Piss Poor" examples of what is currently 99% used, because you won't appears as credible but as cheap "Snake Oil" peddler.
@@cplcabs I agree, they also save time' and more time
Because electron flow occurs on the outside of the conductor there just doesn't seem to to be enough surface area contact with these splice devices with the conductor surface. Every one of these type splice devices I've removed had significant carbon build up on the conductor and the device contact point to the conductor. The splicing device has very minimal contact presence on the exterior of the conductor. I've always maintained that 5/8 inch of twist is minimum twist length to achieve sufficient surface contact to allow electron flow to under load without carbon build up. If these splicing devices came primed with some sort of carbon inhibiting grease it might work better. But I still wouldn't use them from the perspective of call backs and loss of customer confidence. Call me old fashion but electron flow is electron flow. Amen???
@@BarryPiper Remember aluminum type NM? One of the worst mistakes in electrical history.
Can't teach an old dog new tricks.
Another interesting feature about the clear plastic ones are that there’s a tiny opening at the back side you can insert meter leads into for testing
Absolutely. You never have to wonder if one of your wires is barely in there like wire nuts
@@SilverCymbal yaah and what about all the wirenuts previous guy installed... no, thanks.
You can easily put a lead under a wire nut collar to test. There is no one-fit solution, both of these have their place.
@@dllemm I personally don’t care which gets used, they’re both effective.
Ive been an industrial/residential electrician for over 15 years. Never once had an issue reusing wire nuts.This is the way I was taught in trade school.I have never had to cut wire down if I change something. Not one issue. These new style Connectors are nice but too expensive.
I agree, what a dumb video.......ive been an electrician for over 25 yrs and all those nice quick connects on new lighting fixtures are immediately cut off and discarded by our company, we have learned that they cause more problems than anything......those wago ones are a little different but wire nuts are still the best, fastest, and cheapest and we buy the more expensive ones........we must remember that a wire nut is actually connecting the WIRES together, its not relying on another piece of metal to jump the current......why add another variable if you dont have too. There is no question in my mind that a wire nut provides a superb wire to wire contact connection when done correctly.
Yeah never had to cut wire when reworking wire in a box. For whatever reason
Wirenuts are fine, if you know what you are doing. I might use a Wago if there wasn't enough length on the wire to do it right with a wirenut, I suppose. But it has never happened. I'm not made of money, so why would I buy something that is ten to fifty times the price?
@@kcjarembek because you’re using cheap chinese rubbish.
New style? We use these in Germany for like 50 years or so. You can check rhe connection because they are transparent, the have small holes for testing and the time that you save using these saves you actually a lot of money.
Using Wirenuts would be seen as unprofessional here.😅
Never in my life have a seen such dramatic demonstrations of wire nuts.. they work just fine
Lol
Not. Wire nuts are useful, but not In damp locations or when exposed to vibration. In the carwash industry, 99 out of 100 electrical problems are caused by wire nuts.
@@carwashadamcooper1538 ok, useful knowledge. Still doesn't take away his dramatic the demonstration is lol.
@@carwashadamcooper1538 They are available for damp/wet locations. Google them.
@@carwashadamcooper1538 problem with these the area of contact on the wire is very small. Twisting the wires together and then a wire nut is best way and they use tape to wrap everything up.
I've never had any probs with wire nuts. Reused plenty. You have to know how to properly use them and twist the wire.
Wire nuts are a pain in the ass to trouble shoot secondly wago are disconnect rated. Third the wago connectors can hold your meter for you while you push buttons. Fourth you can use them as terminal strips. My company has went straight wago we aren't allowed to use wire nuts anymore.
I would never use Wagus or whatever they are called!! Using them you don’t have full surface contact of the conductor where as twisting them together is more surface contact. If wires are twisted properly and then wire nut put on correctly they will unthread like a nut and bolt!!!
@@kwmaris94 They're rated. They did tests on them and the wire literally melts before the wago. You're making things up.
@@JustinL614 not making anything up!! Been using wire nuts for almost 40 years! Never had an issue with putting on or taking off! Not sure what you are talking about burning! That connector will burn before copper as well as a wire nut . Just by watching the video the conductor can move within the connector. Which goes back to my original point, not a 100% contact. You use what you want!
@@kwmaris94 wago is way better. They've been test by people wanting them to fail. Voltage is not a problem so contact isn't a problem. Wires do not move once they're in. When they were heat tested, the wire failed before the the wago did. You can look at it how you want, but these are far more superior than the old nuts from a heat standpoint, they're completely stupid proof, and a whole lot faster.
I was using these for commercial work already back in 2009. Very handy and also nice for protecting prepared live wires before the end equipment is installed. Its also good to note that the older grey model has an indent on the back that’s meant as a guide for how long you should strip the wire to get a proper secure connection.
Repent to Jesus Christ!
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Philippians 4:6 NIV
h
Hail Odin! The king of Åsgard. Chieftain of the gods. “Vanklok mann
veit alt, han trur,
der millom bergi han bur.
Men når framandfolk
honom finn,
rådlaus røynest han då.»
26th verse of Håvamål
@@jesusislord6545
Jesus gave up and went home long ago.
I also use them to protect against live wires, easily undone
Found out about Wagos when I got hired on where I am now. We use em strictly in an industrial maintenance setting. I love em. They also make em to fit size 10 wire. What we do is put the line side under the left lever, L to L. Just in case you can’t turn that circuit off, just pop out the right wire and it won’t be energized, and the other machines can keep going
As an IBEW journeyman inside wireman, I’ve used about a billion wire nuts and seen VERY few failures. I reuse them constantly, as does every other electrician in the world. You can absolutely connect stranded and solid wire with wire nuts. Wagos fail all the time, too many parts (potential points of failure) for something that cheap. They’re pretty good for low voltage, low current applications like inside LED light fixtures and such, but wire nuts totally kick their ass in every conceivable way for general use.
You've never had the spring pop out of a wirenut? The wago is just basically a tension clip. It is more than likely the people installing them were doing it incorrectly, which of course is a problem because a product should be easy to use by alot of people.
@@JustinL614 I have, and when it does it’s obvious and happens right there before your eyes where you can fix it. Wagos rattle apart with vibration and such. With a wrap of 33 around the base of a wirenut, they’re good enough for motor leads or anything. One thing I’ll give Wagos, they usually don’t cause fires when they fail. They just stop the connected equipment from working. Not exactly acceptable in powerhouses, chemical plants, hospitals, etc. where I work. A PROPERLY INSTALLED (most aren’t) wirenut will last 30 years or more with absolutely no issues whatsoever.
Never call electrical anything “idiot proof”
True words of wisdom.
Yep. When you say something is idiot proof, somebody else is saying "challenge accepted".
I have no worries (he says as he plugs in a black wire with a white wire).
@@geraldeh7291 That makes it go faster!
A white wire to black wire is actually written in the code for switch Loop
You also have to think of the universal nature of wire nuts. Basically 2 sizes will cover 99% of interior residential wire combinations. With a wago you need a different part for 2,3,4,5,,etc wire junctions or you are throwing money away.
Where wago do shine and where I like to use them is inside custom equipment panels. They're great inside cnc boxes and make for a tidy setup if the DIN rail is already full
Plus Wago's are massively expensive compared to a single wire nut.
Wire nuts haven't been used here for 10 years or more. Wago all the way. You have to think about Troubleshooting or when the customer suddenly wants more stuff connected as well.
We just threw out thousands of wirenuts thwt had been laying around unused
@@rustusandroid wago are probably 3 times as expensive, but also 3 times easier to use, 100 times easier to Troubleshoot if something is wrong and 6 times as easy to connect something new
And lights, they are blistering fast for can lights in housing
@@fredrikfjeld1575 nah, 10 times... 221 3 wire wagos here are, at the cheapest, .25 cents if you buy bulk... the absolute best wire nuts can be bulk purchased for about .017 cents... its not even close, and most places are charging 1.75 EACH for wagos.... outrageous
In Utah, when we remodeled our house down to the studs in 2016 and used Wago connectors, the building inspector SAID NOPE, redo it, been an electrical engineer since 1989 mostly in the military and we used them for years, but Utah said no. Have a drawer full of these now.
Should have appealed.
Your inspector was a moron. Would have made him show me where in the code it says they can't be used and watched him bumble nonsense lol
First of all, if you’re changing out switches or receptacles that often, you have a bigger problem. Not to mention devices don’t connect via wire nut, they have terminal screws. Once a tap is made, majority of the time it’s going to stay just like it is until then building is demolished. Secondly, not reusable??? Okay fine, sometimes they just won’t bite again, but a new one will without any problems. We all love quick connects but just twist your conductors and put a wire nut on it. And third, if it’s done right and up to code, there won’t be any issues whatsoever. Electricians don’t just walk out after finishing a job and tell the owner “hey good luck, be careful when you flip that breaker on.” It all gets tested after being installed and once power is turned on. More likely than not, if something over heats and causes a fire. It’s either a faulty device, or some shoty diy.
I use pig taild for recepticals, so in that instance I would use a wire nut. But wagos are really annoying when you're tying in a 3 or 4 gang box bc nobody makes a wago that holds 10 ground wires. But I am hardcore team wire nut
@@petermcguine8639 Don't the pigtails go into the screw terminals on the switch or receptacle? That's the point. Don't replace the pigtails...
@@chrisjacobsen1659 feed in and feed out go to a pigtail. The pig tail goes to the terminals. Makes its so you don't have to backstab 2 sets of 2 wire onto a single receptical in the instance of having to replace one
I change mine out at regular 50-year intervals.
Unless you’re living to well past 100, that means you’ll maybe change our devices two times in any one house, if you change them when you move in, and once more in 50 years.
"Wire nuts are not reusable"
Say what now?
Apparently I've been doing it wrong for a very long time.
Manufacturers do not recommend reusing them, with the exception of flexible spring style versions vs rigid springs. Would you know the difference, don't worry no one does since the flexible ones are a tiny % of the market and even then only designed to be resused under specific circumstances, all extremely unpractical to follow. Even if you don't buy Wagos, use new connectors at least.
@@SilverCymbal oh, well if the person who wants to sell you more of their products says you should reuse them, i guess you should listen. BAHHH BAHHH (where's the hay) ;)
“I don’t use wire nuts I only use wagos”
“What’s a wago?”
“It means he’s scared of power”
“Whoa better watch out there’s 120 on that wire!”
@@SilverCymbal
A physically sound wire nut can be reused with no issue.
@@SilverCymbal I disagree with your assessment that no one knows the difference, you can see the difference in the design at a glance, but you should probably not be using wire nuts or any other connector if you do not know its ratings and you should not re-use wire nuts in general. That said I use new wire nuts for all permanent wiring, but a temporary construction light setup or other temporary low current application for my own use might get some used ones from my junk bucket for economic reasons.
These cool little things are fine for low voltage and low current applications. THEY ARE A FIRE HAZZARD for high voltage and high current!!! There isn't enough contact area for a real load!
I saw that very issue inside a panel earlier this year. A wago was used on a 20A small appliance kitchen circuit and completely melted the wago. That would never happen with a well twisted wire nut.
@@GrandmasFolly I tried these damn things many years ago when they first came out. Turned into a callback nightmare. The local supplier stopped selling them because of melted splices.
@@slick-px4pq They’re great for low voltage and I’ve never seen a problem inside of light fixtures but they should never be used for junctions.
Unfortunately their use is gaining popularity in my area. Just this week I got a call to repair some exterior lighting on a medical building that was recently acquired by a property management company that I do work for. While investigating, I opened a gutter and found a couple hundred splices all using wagos. I’m sure I’ll be receiving a call to repair this in the future.
@@slick-px4pq yup! I do commercial work and we had a batch of 2x4 lights that kept failing and some even started smoking. Went there on a service call about and every connection with these failed after 6 months. My boss said never again. And our supplier stopped selling them because they kept getting complaints.
@@GrandmasFolly Something else must have also happened. These specific ones and brand have been stress tested to 60 constant amps for 15 minutes, getting the connector up to 270 degrees with no visible damage of any kind to the connector. EDIT ADD ON: Another test put a heat source 3 inches away from the connector and it withstood about a THOUSAND degrees before it melted. I have seen knock offs being sold on Amazon, so beware of those...
Copper contracts and expands under load which will eventually loosen the contact point to the conductor. Wagos are fast and easy but a proper wire nut connection is a much more solid compression connection.
They are spring loaded and will compensate for that, the plastic itself will detoriate over time and then the housing pops open due to the springload.. then you have a real problem goin on. Noticed or unnoticed.
Wago made their name with, and have been used in, industrial applications, for several decades. They are used in household systems in Europe for the past 15 that I am aware of. This style is no more or less prone to failure than any other.
Interesting, I've been using wire nuts for 40 years and I never knew that they weren't reusable.
He's full of shit. They can absolutely be reused
The nut can be if need be, he was talking about the wire tips that were in the nut. They get weakened and damaged, you'll eventually break them off.
They are not especially after using a pipe wrench on them⚡⚡🔥🤕
@@Drewsky840 they shouldnt be reused if possible. wire nuts stretch and bulge out when tightened so will always be a looser connection when used more than once.
@@jakebergen1837 no they dont
As a master electrician I have used thousands of Wire Nuts, as well as Wagos (both old and new style).
The wagos have their place, small stranded wire and light fixtures. Wire nuts are the best connection for solid wire.
The spring inside a Wago (pressure wire connector) will fail if it heats up. I dont use them on anything but control work and lighting fixtures.
There aren't any springs involved. It's a simple lever switch that tightens ore loosens depending upon the direction pulled. Like a light switch as a matter of fact.
@@Openreality The angled blade that bites into the wire is called the spring. It works like a ratchet mechanism in that it deflects when you insert the wire but bites in when you pull. The advantage is speed and simplicity of use but the price is limited connectivity. All of these quick connects only touch a small contact point on the wire. In a wire nut connection there is plenty of surface contact. At high amp draw (like a water heater or clothes dryer) this small contact area can and does occasionally overheat and fail.
@@bigweek85joeyjoejoe31 Bullshit
@@proislam1447 Really Pro? Then go ahead and enlighten us with your wisdom as to why it isn't so..... (crickets chirping).
@@bigweek85joeyjoejoe31 Wago 221 clamps are used to wire electical ovens and inverter cooking fields. So thats 3 phases of 220V/16A going full tilt - no problem at all. When I use my kitchen appliances, something like 4KW is drawn from the wall, and the Wago clamps inside the connection box don't have any problem with that.
@taylor sutherland some original Wago clamps were only designed for solid wire. Newer models like the transparent ones can accomodate different types of wires though.
They won't fail for years, otherwise thousands of German homes would have a problem by now. And all our electrical wiring is solid wire (3x1,5mm² as standard, or 3x2.5mm² for higher loads), I think it is even required by law.
I have used a different style of “smart connector”. Not only because of the security it gave me, but because it’s just EASY! Love these things!
Lucky my Klein plyers allow me to redo a splice without cutting the wires. This is good for do it yourself or for lighting, but box splices should aways be spliced proper for 100 years of no issue! Signs of melted marrets are a sigh of overloaded wire and not a bad splice. I am a master electrical contractor of 29 years.
Yea wire nuts are the way to go. Expansion and contraction of the wire will cause loose connections in wagos.
There is so much misinformation in this video. It gave me a headache.
Wire Nuts is literally Stone Age Technology and so unsafe if used Wrong. Nothing can beat Wago and the argument that Wires get loose is just bullshit.
@@JorgeAMG187 I can pull wires out of wagos. I can't pull wires out of wire nuts. And yea heating and contraction of copper over time cause by load changes over time can cause a loose connection in a wago.
@@Check7hisWith enough Force i can Pull a wire out of a Wire Nut aswell. Thats not a Argument. It takes 10kg of force to push a wire out of the Wago which is alot
As an electrician, quick connects get loose after time.If properly installed, a wire nut will never get loose.
I’m with you. The contact point is small and wearable. A wire nut properly installed is near forever.
I don't disagree, however I like these too. The idea is to shrink wrap or electrical tape around the levers.
As an electrical Enthusiast I can confirm what you say. I have seen twist nuts that have been in place since the 1950s and still work. But the quick connects, even the waterproof ones eventually deteriorate from heat or UV ray exposure, and break.
So are you saying splice the wires by hand/ linesman and just put on a wire nut after? (especially if the wires are dead ), only been doing electric for under a year
@@misterwest69 With power off. Remove insulation, preferably with a spring loaded stripper. Use a heavy pair of flat faced electricians pliers to twist wires together, several turns in a tight bouquet (Clockwise rotation). Tightly twist on wire nut.
Moral of the story:
Don't do electrical work if you have no idea what you are doing.
Never discourage the sense of adventure of those you don't know,
most people are A holes just let the sparks flow.
No let them go...this will thin out the stupid.
Good safety tip.
@@RocafellaPlaza82 So how different would this video look if he just liked the product?
@Skylarkist Expert Your logic is flawless. Well done.
In Germany (the origin of the Wago Connector ;-) ) we usually don't use the "lever" type wago on solid copper wire. We use Wago type 2273 for that. The type 221 (lever) is used for stranded wire, or joining solid with stranded.
Just wanted to ad that in Germany Wago is most commonly used-has been so for years.
Its really depending on what you do. I mostly carry around the 221 because they can do everything and are easier to remove but the 2273 are much cheaper
I was always taught that if it's solid wire. The wire nut should only be protecting your connection not making it
give it a little extra twist to lock it though .. its more than just a cap
That's not exactly correct. The twisted wires will form oxidation over time (increased resistance at splice) and might loosen based on expansion and contraction under load. The twist on connector addresses these problems: the conductors are placed into compression and remain so during expansion and contraction. And the square "spring" inside the connector cuts into the conductors and forms a gas tight connection, preventing oxidation at the contact points. The twist on connector is definitely part of a proper splice..
Anyone else just come here for the comment section? Great stuff 😂
Sure did. This is a joke.
This dude should be selling makeup 💄
I always use 1 hand ... other hand is only a 2nd friend
It's like watching people pretending that they don't know how to use a knife on late night tv...
What’s about a three way? I’m a green apprentice and know these things suck ass haha.
I’ve been an electrician for 26 years and have to cut off the wire nuts less than 1% of the time. The wire in the nuts is just fine to reuse and this reuse meets electrical code. The little indentations on the wire does not reduce the efficiency of the connection. Also, the smaller versions are not removable. The wires must be cut each time.
I'm a journeyman electrician going on 10 years of experience and I completely agree.👍
36 years in the trade and I agree. 👍
Okay so you're right ? They can be reused correct ?and still pass code? Cause ive change some fixtures (d.i.y) and just reused them didnt look bad to need to toss the inside still looked threaded and the romix ends still looked fine, but always is best gotta keep extinguishers for safes in good spots👍
@@kaloosh2639 um no, when it comes to electrical stuff, you want to have it so you don't feel need to scatter fire extinguisher across the house... That is not safe!
He bring up the little indentations when the actual wires are twisted together when the wire nut is just making sure they keep tightly, meanwhile those wagos just use a little sharp edge that bite the wires and create such indentation that carry all the load cause the wires are actually separated inside, this video is just a paid advertisement or just a lazy wannabe electrician.
I made my professional training as an electrician/electronics engineer here at Siemens back in 1985 to 1989. So I am now more than 30 years in the business. I have never, ever heard of something called a "wire nut", nor have seen something like them in Germany ever since. We used Wagos all the time. Even insulating screw joints were considered "bungling" when it comes to electrical installation...
I would imagine they are just an American thing :D
Here in your neighbor country Netherlands, we use these nuts all the time. Never had any issue with them.
@@XRRS24 I guess, if they are used properly, they are just fine. And they seem to be not so uncommon in other countries. I just wondered, that I've never encountered them in Germany. To be honest, I just learned, that they exist.
also didn't knew wire nuts before. Looks like they aren't a thing in Germany
Here in the Netherlands wire nuts are only sometimes used for high current appliances like washing machines.
I like how he cuts a massive amount of wire to fit his narrative :)
All he needs to cut is the bite marks off😅
And then measures 3 inches "as the crow flies".
I noticed too, but the point remains.
I work for an electrical contractor and we have tried Wagos and keep going back to good ole tried and true wirenuts. Anything where you push a wire into something that is supposed to hold it can be a failure point. Like the push in slots on outlets and switches they are more problem then they are worth. Atleast with wirenuts, if done correctly it wraps the wires around each other at the end it helps hold them together.
Exactly. I've fixed open circuits several times because the wire stabbed into the back of a receptacle or switch finally lost tension and went open.
In a perfect world when you never have to reopen a box cause a mistake they might work,
Me using the same wirenut for 10 years
Literally changed out 2 furnaces today that were 23 years old and reused the original wire nuts, still good
Sir it's just fine to reuse a wire nut.they are not a one and done product. See my post to this guy's claims.
I’ve only had a handful of cheap wire nuts that crumbled. My 90 year old building still has the original wire nuts.
DSH...………….Put me down same thing !!!!!
I do construction in NYC for 30 years. Never waist old wire nuts. Always reuse it. So far so good!
Also I trust a properly installed wire nut any day for pulling a heavy load vs the teensy metal strip you get inside the wego,.and believe me, they do come out sometimes, I see.wegos as a definite resistance point for 12 awg when youigbt have continuous loads and wire nuts offer near zero resistance when the wires are laid beside each other tight and twisted plus you will never ever be able to pull out a wire from a proper WN install whereas with wegos I've had them pop out quite easily with their flimsy clamp system, especially as the gauge becomes smaller
was that with the old style Wagos? The grey ones were very specific which diameters worked with them, and which didn't. The 221 have quite a broad range in that regard, and if you can pull the wire out, then you put too much stress on a connection that should be stress-free in the first place. After all, you wouldn't pull on a cable in a wire nut.
That said, I had lights complete with their casings dangle from Wagos installed at the ceiling to the fixed cables - no problem whatsoever for them (don't do that, it was a test and it worked, but DON'T leave them like that.
@@Kommunisator they were solid, new, correct size per the box, foreman demanded we all use these wegos for a big FA job, after he worked a couple days in the field, got us wirenuts instead
It's just flimsy build, the tiny little strip of metal that compresses is just not enough to create a solid bond from wire to wire and we are talking almost no load for the smoke heads and strobes granted they don't fall off when you are trying to for everything in the box. You can't compare a direct wire to wire overlay with a twist bond vs a small strip that touches a bit of each copper wire.
While we still had the wegos I would actually pre twist the solid wires together about 2" length, then cut them short to 3/4" and I sent into one wego hole, that was a good install at that point.
@@nikkoBcool if twisted wires fit into a hole together, then you might be using too thing wire or a too large Wago clamp. The standardized household wire in Germany will fit into the Wago 221 perfectly, but not if you twist two of them together - only if you strip them from their insulation beyond the edge of the clamp (which you should NOT do).
@@matthewq4b did not know that but I totally approve that.
@@matthewq4b That only says to me that a decade old lobby seems to have won over common sense and dozens of years of problem-free installs all over Europe. Nothing more.
"Wirenuts [...] are the main way that most people connect two wires together"
Um... actually, no. To my knowledge, only in the Americas has this type of wire connector ever been in widespread use.
Across the pond, "Lüsterklemmen"-style connectors (sometimes translated as "screw terminals", but that's not entirely accurate) have been the most common form, in which the two wires are placed end-to-end into a small metal tube and fastened with one screw each; and multiple such connectors are encased together in a piece of insulating plastic. In the last decades, easier-to-install derivatives have become widespread, such as the WAGO connector you're demonstrating.
By the way, the term "WAGO connector" is not quite accurate in this context; WAGO is a company that produces quite a lot of different connector types, possibly even wire nuts; and conversely, similar connectors are being produced by various companies over here; WAGO just seems to be the first company to successfully market this type of connector in the US.
Well, I am in the electrics sector in Germany for appr. 40 years now and never used wirenuts once in my life. Every professional with a little bit of pride would use the WAGO connectors, the cheaper ones would use "Luesterklemmen" (luster terminals) who are common, but it is more work and fiddling, but they are less secure. Even in the 80´s I used the WAGOs, only then there were no levers to loosen the connection, you had to shove a phase checker screwdriver into a tiny hole to open the connection.
The only place I ever saw wirenuts was in some older cars where diyers had fiddled with the electric.
Just my thoughts, screw-terminals exist for decades and are pretty inexpensive. This "wago connector" is just a more expensive variation.
And I've never seen wirenuts being used in anything else than a temporary hotfixing situation (or once by a colleague as a "protection cap" for wires soldered together).
Same in South Africa. We used those screw terminals, affectionately called "chocolate blocks", but it is now illegal to use those in junction boxes. Wago, or other variants of push in connectors are now recommended. I've only seen wire nuts once, in my grandfather's house from the 1950s, on the aluminium wiring. And even there the screw terminals were more common.
Nice to read a comment from Europe. Wirenuts can be seen quite often in old houses built in the USSR, they were widely used in the connection boxes in the condos, not inside appartments themselves
Agreed. I'm in the UK and have renovated enough houses (yes I hire in an electrician, but I always help out) and have never seen these wire nuts.
Been an electrician for 15 years. Marrettes (wire nuts) are perfectly fine when installed properly. Wago's are expensive and impractical for many applications
Heh, dumbass take
@@jesussavesanus9790 why?
@@jesussavesanus9790 Wow, what a compelling counter point you made.I think i'll reconsider my point of view thanks to you... 🤣🤷♂️
@@brockwagner939 That and sometimes you require 2 wires to be jointed other times it can be 5. Carrying hundreds of each type of wago isnt practical. They do have their uses, just not a 1 for 1 replacement of marrettes
Ah the I’ve been doing this for so many years guy that’s negative. Cool story bro!
I was an electrician for Union Electric/Ameren Energy (St. Louis) for 35 years and problems with wire nuts were virtually non-existent., even when they were reused without cutting the wire back. This is a bullcrap video.
I've been an electrician for about 10 years. My father was for 42 years. Honestly for some reason most of the older guys tend to overdo everything and are behind on the times.. which usually wastes time and money. When I first got into the business older guys were very upset about not using galvanized conduit everywhere but it's totally overkill.
@@tomstdenis These new wire connectors do nothing to alleviate the problem with sloppy/lazy work. You still have to make sure they wired are seated in them properly and give them a tug to make sure.
@@tomstdenis it’s honestly pretty hard to fuck up a wire nut also
You’re old news boomer. You didn’t hear of any problems because the place burned down before the water wagon could show up with men and buckets.
Always some smart-ass kid these days to throw that “boomer” in there. Fucking grow up!
I'd recommend using the 221 series connectors (the 'new' ones), they're absolutely genious - especially when working with different wire strengths and/or mixed media. If you once have used them, you'll never ever again want to use anything else but these. You will even no more use screwing terminals (google says the translation is 'luster terminal'?) anymore. Here in Germany, these wirenuts you showed are no more allowed for new installations or changes to the current installation, so the WAGO connectors are the current state of the art.
Just ordered the 221s thank you for your input
Here's why I will keep using wire nuts:
- They are dirt cheap
- Usually a red wire nut is good for most amounts of wire and sizes in home wiring
- Wago has a current rating while a wire nut joins the wires themselves directly and doesn't have a current rating
- 3:10 I'm still begging companies to make transparent wire nuts but I guess we don't have them yet
however wago is still a good option
Mistakes you made in your video:
- 0:33 you can keep using wire with bite marks and it will be fine, it will in some cases provide better connection because the recently stripped copper is guaranteed to not be rusty, you can also twist enameled wire with a wire nut and it will make a connection due to it's sandpaper abilities
- 0:42 you're wasting so much wire here by cutting the wire at the bottom of the wire nut, what you need to do is to remove the nut and cut the wire just where the copper stops being insulated (you can also use wire that is stripped, it's fine)
- 1:10 yes you screw them on and you're all set, if you put them too loose then you will immediately know to use a smaller wire nut, and if it's too tight then i don't know what you are doing, pre twist if you have 3+ wires, because you probably can't hold all of them together while putting the wire on, but 2 wires is fine to not twist because the wire nut does that for you
- 1:29 I can, i separate the wire then twist them back together with a linemen's pliers, not that hard
- 2:16 use a smaller wire nut or solder them
I've been an electrician for over 20 years, wire nuts are just fine. I've had more wagos fail than wire nuts but both cases are extremely rare. Both fail due to human error, not product error. Trying to discredit one product to sell your own is the oldest and sleaziest way to do business. Don't do electrical work if you don't know what you're doing.
just bought house where they did all kind of crazy stuff, electric put in to shop and used wrong wire and boxes, and then found out that they put wrong wire to trailer hook up and put a junction box with connections in them under ground the hard way the one plug stopped working. It just amazes me some times what I find when doing a flip or moving into a new house, I always call some one out to check my work over, before I close any thing up. I all make sure to pull my permits and all that. When I get called for a job and people as about permits I always tell them it has to be done, then what I hate when they say so and so said I dont need one for the job that is what is bad.
God bless you fot this comment i never had problems with wire nuts i used the same one more than once and never had and issue
Yes! There is a reason wire nuts are the standard! They work GREAT!
@@detcat312 depends on what the job is, honestly most of permitting is about government viggs and not safety at least in my experience. There are a lot of politics at play in that world. there is practical knowledge and theory , some of these guys want to argue about stupid shit like a curtsey loop thats never been an issue in any home I wired in 20 years , it cant be a curl it needs to be an L even though logic tell us a 90 degree pinch point is gonna make a worse hot spot which is the crux of their argument against a curl. I have tied romex in knots and ran lights and tools off of it for days to prove my point to some of these guys. I actually enjoy those county and state meetings get to watch my boss raise hell at somebody else for a change lol.
@@tomtom7955 you said a whole lot of nothing brother.
As an electrician, it astounds me that these snap in connectors would be used since the contact area is so little. For instance, in a typical 20 amp, kitchen outlet where a high wattage appliance is being used...Logic dictates MORE surface area carries more currrent/load. A properly stripped and twisted wire nut provides for that.
I'm not an electrician but use to work for an electrical company as a smart home engineer. Our master electrician swore by them and used them for all of our projects. They are NEC approved and in looking at the design they have excellent surface contact. We never had issues with them and, as I'm sure you're aware, smart home devices, such as outlets and switches, can be very temperamental. Bottom line, both are acceptable if used properly.
I would trust them in low current applications (
@@danburch9989 with the biggest difference in being that the locking lever will provide the proper amount of contact area, ... the larger the wire gage the more contact area needed, so a sufficiently larger locking lever would be needed, right? But as you reduce the wire size, & increase the number of strands you are effectively providing more surface area, ... which is where the stimulation of electrical current resides, ... on the outside surfaces of each wire strand, so, in fact, using a single strand gauge wire does not provide the proper amount of surface area, & costing the customer more money in the amount of amperage needed to operate whatever the end appliance is, ... so, in my thought process, an electrician who can cut my electric bill in the long run, for using/utilizing stranded wire over any type of single strand wire is a better qualified, electrician, than the contractor electrician who would only use the minimum type of material, just to get the job done, ... most folks do not realize how much more money it will cost them over the lifetime of NOT using better quality materials, being pulled through their conduits, because the labor is basically the same, (if not easier), ... & it does not make sense to me, not to use a higher grade, or a better grade material, in order to provide a better quality job, ... (unless the customer is uninformed, of the differences in cost), ... but then, I am not an electrician, nor am I a plumber, but have became a general contractor because I knew how to save people money, in the long run, ... the cost of the materials are basically the impetus of any quality project, because the labor is whatever the market will bear, ... & over the life of a mortgage, it might only actually cost the property owner, another $10.00, or even $20.00 a month on their payment, but the savings will always maintain a monthly impact, ... like using the old style filament bulbs, then everybody switched to the curly bulbs, & saved money on their electric bills, & only a few years later, the cost of led bulbs saved the homeowners even more, & thus the cost of making the bulbs was effectively lowered by over 60%, ... the price of a quality LED bulb then was about $40.00, now the same bulb costs around $7.50, ... and we can buy them in bulk, ... So, I’m not griping about the workmanship of electricians, by all means, you guys provided me with a means of making a living, by coming behind you, & redoing your work, ... simply by replacing your single strand wiring with stranded, lmmo! And it cut my electric bills by about 60%, ... lmmo! Thanks, ...
Bingo!. The claims made in this video are at minimum suspect. Twisted wires with fresh wire nuts are a superior joint.
Those lever nuts are a pretty damn strong connection. I've installed thousands and have never had a single issue with one. I use both types of compression connectors, but I would have no qualms about using either one in any situation.
I actually have a few of those WAGO connectors. They were recommended by my local hardware store for some electrical work I had to do. Very, very handy.
Wago connectors are the de-facto Installation method in large parts of Europe.
For example in Germany (where wago is from) you can assume that any installation made in the past 30 years uses them. Most are however made using the regular non-lever style of construction, because they are cheaper (although not suited for stranded wire). Wirenuts went out of fashion in the 1950s from what I'm told. Watching someone use a wirenut honestly feels crude to me.
I’ve been using wirenuts for over 45 years, never had any problems
The youtube algorithm never ceases to amaze me.
...so you mean it's working?
Loser
Can someone explain to me what would UA-cam be without them showing you videos you didn't search for ? There's something like that and it's called google
The one thing I've been saying about the damn red and yellow wire connector things is actually true who would've thunk it?
Get over it
The problem with the argument is that you hardly EVER need to "make a change", almost never. That said, these are cool, I like em.
You've never been to our house.Hardly ever doesn't apply here.
After living through the disastrous "push in" wiring style receptacles, and switches in the 1980's, I'm not real excited about any connection that isn't 100% solid. These seem like they may be okay, but I would like to know exactly how they work internally, before I would consider using them. They also seem to take up additional space, which many boxes don't have a lot of. Wire nuts also are a lot less trouble, if you don't buy the cheap ones.
These lever type connectors are very different from the spring loaded push and catch types, so don't read into them based on how the spring ones work. The push types have very limited range and won't hold up long term when they lose tension and heat up from the increasing resistance.
@@dubmob151 I'm not comparing these. As I said, these show promise. But, I'm also not just going to start using them, based on promise. That's how the disaster in example I gave, happened. When I get some of these, and dissect them, that will probably help me decide.
In Germany Wago Connectors are the state of the art. You use them in the whole house installation.
I had two receptacles in my house almost start a fire due to backstabs. A couple others done with backstabs were redone just in case after the second one starting getting warm (with almost no load on the circuit). The first one scorched a neutral wire, turning the insulation black and made it start to flake off, I actually wonder if it combusted briefly to be honest, that's what it looked like.
@@LostBeetle That sounds like a uninformed and incorrect installment and/or a poor quality backstab connector. A backstab Wago 773 won't have any issues - if used correctly(!!!). Otherwise, what the fuck would happen to the entirety of Europes houses, they'd burning down!?
i felt like i just watched a infomercial for a product that i really don't need, i have been using wire nuts for many years and never had any problems with reusing them ever...
I've reused them for years as well. But I have had some that weren't reusable.
Same here. It's just a sales pitch and if you don't know how to connect two or more wires together then you should not do electrical work. I been using them for years and never had a problem. I rather use gorilla nuts. That's what we use in our air machines where I work.
He has the date wrong IDeal bought the patient in 1946. And called them wire nuts. Me and my father rewired a farmhouse and a lot of the junction boxes had wires soldered and wrapped with friction tape. The old black tape that was sticky on both sides.
You're not supposed to reuse them or the portion of wire that was scarred.
@@jonathansirmons7932 I'll remember that the next time I re-use them and the portion of the wire that was scarred.
I must have missed something. I have a bunch of yellow wire nuts that I took off when I did the LED light conversion I probably won't use them. I used the orange ones when I installed the LED lights.
little tip for the older grey wago´s:
if you want to know how long the insulation has to be cut, just turn the clamp around. there is a little shelf with a step which shows the correct length.
Im sticking with wire nuts ! never had a problem with them and these new things are 4 times the cost.
LOL! Wagos are not very exspensive and are used everywhere in the world exept usa & canada They make alot better of a connection and they can handle more amps.
4 times the cost and about 50x better I’ll stick with my wagos personally
I don't know your experience or craftsmanship level however these connectors that you are so fond of do not hold up well in hot environments such as can lights or above drop ceilings. Also, like the spring tension connectors on receptacles over time they fail causing overheating. This is why do-it-yourselfers and handymen should not do electrical work.
Just watch a test.
These Connectors are durable as Hell.
In Germany, we used them for about the last 10 Years here.
We used them In Walk in Coolers at -21 degrees Celsius (33.8 °F), in Lamps which are pretty hot, in the direct Sunlight.
Basically everywhere and i´m in this Trade for the last 20Years and not one oft the Wago´s did brake or get loose on me.
Preety Cool stuff.
says you only need a single hand, while having to use both hands. lol
Do what I say, not what I do ;-p
Snowflakes
Do those look like working hands to you. Lmfaoo expert bahaha
You can use them with one hand though he's not lying
@@chucknorris277 Yuup, knew you had to be a 12 year old or a grown man baby.
I found that they are ok, but after talking with a few electricians, the wagon connector has only a point contact, used properly, wire nuts, aka, 'scotch locks ' offer a more mechanical surface contact.
I'm an electrician. As long as they are rated they perform the same as wirenuts. Electricians tend to be overly picky about weird details that don't matter.
@@JustinL614 agreed lol
A lever lock will always continuously apply pressure unlike a wirenut.
Tom
They got a link?
Those wire nuts are not rated for motor connections, the wago connectors we use at work are rated for motor connections to 600v.
Used wago nuts on a lighting job a few years ago. My fingers and hands are not as strong as they used to be. Wago makes it easy on me.
the wire nuts shown in the video are a substandard variety in my opinion.
the type i use the most, the insulating cap can be twisted off of the metal spring inside so you can check the connection you've made.
the connection when pretwisted correctly, is the best of any type of connection out there. It is more time consuming to make a correct connection using a wire nut and it requires skill, but especially when grids are used to near maximum capacity, these will save you some fires...
in the hands of the incompetent, the wago connectors are superior and usually for home use they will suffice without getting a fire. there are however many mistakes that can be made with these too.
I agree with you. These new type of connectors just clamp down on one fractional spot of the wire and it does not give a good bite to carry a lot of electrical current or if they have a short blow back on that line. It reminds me of the older 120 receptacles that let you put 12 wire in to the into the fast back quick wire mechanism and then they realized the 12 wire was usually pulling more amperage and they were burning out the outlets, so they made the new outlets only to receive 14 wire. But if you want to be totally safe the best bite is around the screw. And the best wire connection is lineman pliers pre-twist your wires tight, then your wire nut… it’ll certainly last till the rapture…
I love how he cuts 2" off illustrating the trim loss with each modification. Last 300 or 600 times I changed an outlet or switch, I used the screw lugs on the outlet or switch, not opened up wire nuts. A solution for which no problem exists.
If you've changed 300-600 receptacles but never had to strip wire, that's very concerning. Please tell me you're not wiring burnt wires to new receptacles? Receptacles have a tendency to burn up wire over years of use depending on the load drawn. Vacuum cleaners, for example, have a tendency to burn up receptacle wires because they draw high amperage on start and pull a lot of power in general. If you're never touching connectors then this video is not for you. I'm in commercial refrigeration, I'm constantly cutting wires and reconfiguring electrical. Wagos are all I use.
Is it actually legal to use these on mains wiring where you guys are from? Seems very dangerous as a lot of other countries have outright banned the use of any friction-fit terminators.
@@MisterMosfet what do you mean by "mains"? Are you referring to supply from a breaker? These connectors can house up to 12awg maybe 10, but that'd be max for wire size. They're rated for 32 amps and 600 volts, but can handle over 100amps and stay cool, with the insulation of the wire burning off before the connector burns up. You'd never put them on anything that high amperage anyway though because the wire would never fit. I use them for control wiring, adding components to circuits, any low voltage application (120v, 208 single phase, 3phase 208). They're amazing for troubleshooting equipment because you can splice a wire and tie your meter lead into a 3 bay to monitor voltage. The have a ton of uses. I've seen people connect wire nuts poorly causing them to get burned up. Can't really do that with these, they're idiot proof. On R290 refrigeration systems it is illegal to put anything other than wagos on wires because wagos are anti-arc.
I know!! Isn't that ridiculous?? Totally absurd! And the comments here from the "defenders" and "fans" are comical!
@@AnUnapologeticApologist vacuum cleaners do not burn up receptacles unless the vacuum is messed up. Receptacles, conductors and overcurrent protection devices are all specd to perform at a specific amperage, so the only burning that can happen will be due to loose terminations raising the current, or bad motor in the vacuum drawing an overcurrent.
"I only have 3 inches of wire left..." well are you you going to replace that fixture or receptacle 10 more times? ...yeah didnt think so. Wire nuts win again.
@Terry Eugene yup! CEC states you should be able to remove a device without disconnecting downstream devices, pigtails ftw
@@grouprocox exactly
Precisely! How about having to squeeze in a LV dimmer with those connectors or the biggest home owner mess, a five gang box LV switches. I suppose the neutrals will still need a wire nut anyway. Back to Home Depot!
I was thinking the same thing! How many times do you need to replace it - once - if you're lucky in a lifetime.
Bruh, if you have a receptacle failing that often, the wire and wire nuts should be the least of your problems...
I’ve been using “Wago” connectors for years and wouldn’t even consider any other joint now. They have a large range fo connector types to suit just about any situation. Brilliant.
Make that for autos
holy crap, thank you so much....using those twisty ones are such a pain in the ass for a DIYer, especially someone like me who tends to get anxiety working on electrical projects (not anxiety if I know how to do them, but illogical anxiety about the breaker magically turning itself back on when I'm working on an outlet lol) I immediately bought the starter pack from the link you put...thanks again!
You can buy lock-out equipment for your breakers so they cannot easily be turned back on without unlocking them. Maybe you'd feel better if you took a lock-out-tag-out (LOTO) course and followed the procedures.
@@willmcgo8288 Thanks for the suggestions! I'll look into those
Been using wire nuts since the 80s and my father and uncle since the 70s, we call them marrettes here in Canada and they are perfectly fine if you use the right size and install them properly. You very seldom have to undo a wire nut, you don't replace switches and receptacles that often. I will also argue that you get a much better surface connection with wire nuts, and yes, you should twist the wires together before twisting a wire nut onto them.
I would use a wago connector but I would only use them on low voltage fixtures.
a lot of 2x4s i've gotten actually come with wagos
My stove is connected using Wagos. No issues whatsoever. The‘ve been the standard in Germany for decades and I’ve not seen a single one fail.
I'm with you 100% wore nuts with twisted wires has more surface area which means less heat
@@markwilliams4525 they make wago's rated to 30 and 50 amps.
@@VengaboysFansiteEI I've heard of them but never used them. They remind me of a back wire outlet where they wouldn't have the surface area or contact pressure of the screw, seems to me a wire pre twisted with a wire nut screwed tight would provide better surface area contact and pressure meaning less heat
This man is a salesman. Wirenuts work fine. I’m an electrician of 18 years
Yep, dumb product. Have fun trying to fit these things behind GFCI outlets, get yourself another box to stick in your bag to organize the 5 different sized connectors you gotta constantly restock. Also I highly doubt their efficacy on stranded wire. I'll stick with my tans thank you very much.
41 years here and yes, Wire Nuts work fine. I do have some Ideal brand connectors like these. Prefer the Wire Nuts and twist my wires first.
@@FrannyWard I'm curious why folks don't think they need to twist the wires first. I'm personally far more worried about stress fractures in the wires from bending the wires to fit them in the box than getting a good secure connection with a wire nut. I don't think I've ever had a problem with it.
@@SmallSpoonBrigade Well I was taught that way in 1979. And today at 59 years old and having my own business off and on for thirty, I don't trust the wire nuts alone. Besides, on some jobs I come across in offices, I have to change out a device and when removing the old receptacle, if the pig tail wires for it that go to the feed in and out are twisted, I can remove the nut without breaking the circuit. If the wire nut was just put on without a real twist, I could lose either the hot or neutral on the whole circuit, pissing off a lot of people who's desktop computers just shut down.
I can twist up to four conductors with a pair of nines and trim to fit a wire nut blindfolded. But, hey. If these new fangled connectors do the job and are cost effective and UL listed? I'm all for them.
@@FrannyWard they are not cost effective
If the argument is that you have to cut it every time you swap out a switch or outlet then you are doing it wrong. Most electricians will leave a pig tail and you will only cut that one wire to replace either electrical device mentioned. Also switches (not dimmers) are usually just tightened at the screws you do not need to cut anything when swapping out switches.
Also how often do you really swap out a switch or outlet? They last 10+ years. You might own your house for decades without having to replace a switch.
Also to replace the pig tail mentioned is very simple and you only really need to cut 1/4 of the wire, untwist the lead wires and add your pig tail back in. With a little bit of practice you can do this within in a few minutes.
This just an ad.
Wire nuts were banned in Australia in the 80s as unsafe. Corredctly so. We have used single and 2 screw connectors forever, but let me add, we also banned solid conductor cable as well, now only multi strand being available. As an A and special class electrical Mechanic of 49 years, I can say without reservation the USotA electrical reticulation system is antiquated and sub standard
I was wondering about this. When I did my apprenticeship in electronics (early 90s) we had to do some electrical courses and the wire nut came up. The trainer said they were not recommended and instead recommended the use of BP connectors you mentioned. Technicians tend to use block connectors for mains with lugged and star washered earth connections as opposed to BP connectors. I have never used single core wire for new circuits but have encountered it many times in older houses built before the 80s. Mostly use multistrand flex or various TPS myself.
BTW, cool that you have special class sparky =D Recently got a mechatronics engineering degree myself.
This video reminds me of the 'As Seen On TV' ads! 😂
Was about to say the same. Absolute joke, making up problems that don't exist
Whenever I need a wire nut, I just look in the washing machine.
Can’t do that with a wago!
I have a couple shoeboxes full marrettes from a decade of washing machine nuts lol
How do they get there
@@AgentOffice We use them pretty much everyday. A few stragglers end up in your pockets and they are so light you can't tell they are in there. That is until you do laundry and it sounds like a rock tumbler.
@Rd Ho holy shit 2 screw mc connectors and red heads just grow there sometimes.
I thought you meant you harvest them from the wiring of the washing machine 🙃
Wagos: test points and maintenance free. Constantly surprised by people just discovering them. Also they're *more* useful for commercial electricians, not less, because that test thing and the maintenance thing again. Wait until they find out about the wago-specific junction boxes..
Wait what, mind blown
Not to mention the amount of time saved which for this profession is a massive deal and well worth the extra $
It’s almost ironic the day after I watched this vid I stumbled across one on the job site and I asked my foreman why we don’t use wagos more than wire nuts or even as much, simple answer is they are somewhat finicky and the slightest problem in connection causes arcs which destroy the connector completely, bottom line is wirenuts are much more reliable
@@zaalnibu ahh makes sense then. Still seems like a good option for a skilled diyer that knows what their doing and is more inclined to mind the details like that
Yup...recent convert here, streaky. Now I use them all the time!
Been doing industrial electrical work for 30-odd years and just recently discovered the Wago connectors. Now I use them wherever I can. I always carry several of them in my tool bag at work!
Electrician here. Wire nuts are just fine and very safe. :)
Spring loaded connectors are even better. They are safer, smaller, provide better insulation and cannot loosen.
And they are much faster to install.
@@norbertfleck812 They have their place, but it's not in a 120v single-phase system like we have in our homes here in the US. The electrical connections in them is much like those cheap stab-in receptacles that fail over time due to the lack of surface area bonded in the connection.
@@greedo2660 The WAGO connectors work fine with any Voltage up to 250VAC.
And here in Europe we also use single phase systems at lights and sockets.
The three phase system is mainly used for industrial power, stoves and the like. Inside a living house it's all single phase 230 VAC (which is splitted out of the three phase system which comes into the building by grounding the neutral phase).
The standard fuse for a socket is 16 A and the wires are 1.5 square millimeter.
By the way: The WAGO connectors are widely in use since the 1970ies and turned out to be much safer than any other connector.
The wirenuts are even prohibited due to a lack of safety.
@@norbertfleck812 but the connection is a single metal spring on the wire where as a nut is wire spun together ensuring a good connection
@@tomwelshshore In the WAGO connectors there is a separate spring for every wire port on the one side, and a solid, zinc plated copper bar on the other.
The WAGO connectors are certified for rocket launchpads and rocket engine test stands, while the wirenuts are prohibited even for household installations in EU.
I've seen a lot of apprentice's mess up putting wire nuts on in all kinds of ways that's why proper training is done. I can only imagine how many home owners have made shoddy connections over the years.
I'm a DIYer. Keep training those kids properly. If they don't know how to use a wire nut properly, they've got no business being inside an electrical box.
Yes, all the millions of loosened wire nuts have not been tightened properly?
Bullshit
1st of all, to properly connect 2 or more wires, they are to be twisted together as per the National Electrical Code. 2nd of all, as for my projects, I want my electrical connections to be dependent on the wires connected directly together, (twisted) not on a connector. This is the reason the NEC specifies to twist the wires.
That is not correct, wire nuts are pressure connectors under the Nec as are Wagos. I have never seen a passage stating wires must be twisted. If you have it to share please do. The current definition is: Connector, Pressure (Solderless). A device that establishes a connection between two or more conductors or between one or more conductors and a terminal by means of mechanical pressure and without the use of solder.
Been doing my own electrical work for decades. Never had a single issue with my wire nuts and my pipe wrench torques them down just fine! These WAGO connectors looked cool so I checked them out. The are about 4-5x the cost here. Hard pass for me.
yeah baby!
This is why UA-cam needs to bring the dislikes back. I was going to say the same thing. I even re-use them no problem.
thats your fault for cutting the wires shorter
Yep, was cutting off more than needed.
Wire nuts are just a compleatly idiotic
@@AB-mx9gv completed out dated, like so 1800's
I pig tail off going to the device so if the wire gets to short like in video just replace the piggy..
@@AB-mx9gv Have you ever make a connection with one?
I'm completely confidant in the approx 750,000 wire nuts I've installed in 30 odd years!👍
I’m an electrician with 40 years in service. WAGO is a German brand. In Europe voltage is 220 volts to ground. These work great there but with our lower 115volts l am concerned with the limited contact surface area of these. That’s the reason I never once used “quick wire” devices in my career! I only use these for connection of fixtures and only if they come with the fixture because they save my precious Wingnuts for more important jobs lol.
@@ProctorsGamble I'm not sure of the internal construction of the quick wire portion of regular household recepticals but I figured they may be similar to the old Wagos and I remember more than a few quick wire recepticals failing and becoming intermittent and a real pain to troubleshoot ; the newer Wagos seem to have a much better wire gripping mechanism though. I'm good with my wirenut method. 😎
That’s fucking wonderful. 750,000! Wow. Amazing. That’s around a dozen an hour. Your woman is a very lucky gal. Looking forward to the parade when you hit 1 million.
I think your over exaggerating by atleast a half million
Solution to a problem that doesn't exist. Most wire nuts will connect 2-5 leads, no need to look for an right connector. The connection is much better when done properly, takes the same amount of time for an experienced electrician and if you do not over tighten can be modified rather easily without having to cut anything. Another thing to consider is these take more space which is a concern for older overloaded junction boxes.
Also, modifying connections is the last thing to have in mind given how you're supposed to run new lines from panel in case of renovations anyway. I've ran into older homes where extensions were necessary, but those were mostly cases of wire being initially too short rather than some clueless electrician cutting them so to modify things.
if the wires clean and the nutt holds tight, its alright. These connectors are interesting tho. I like the clean and organized nature of the work they easily allow you to do.
No more twisting and taping…🤷🏻♂️
These are great for fixtures with #18 AWG.
As a service electrician, couldn't tell you how many times these were the culprit in a branch box with 10-12's.. After a few years, these expand-contract-oxidize. Scotch locks and stabbies are even worse. Best to candy cane solids, fan-twist stranded and use a wire nut.
Quick question: have you seen screw connection, the chocolate block type ever giving off some kind of problem?
@@Quentyn73 if you're talking about mutit-tap terminal blocks, those are are great mounted in breaker panel head gutters. It's a little overkill in a branch box.
For low voltage applications similar connectors have been around for decades. Just look at the back of any portable stereo.
Wire Nuts will beat this fancy BS every single time. Tried and True good ol fashion common sense. But some people have money to burn and lack of common knowledge.
Contractor used these on new commercial lighting install, hundreds of lights. Less than two years all these connections started to fail. It’s been a maintenance nightmare.
That was my thought exactly. My assessment is that unlike a wire nut, which when installed correctly, acts passively in the system - the connection is with the wires - this appliance actually contains the current the carrier and will be prone to failure, particular as quality for generic connectors of the sort start coming out of Asia on the cheap. Just like we see blade contact receptacles passing through big-box home improvement stores that fail within a year due to low quality control. Never should happen. I can count number of receptacles over 40 years old that I encountered that failed due to poor mechanical contact / arcing on one hand. Not true about stuff procured in past 15 years... always cutting cost.
Worked in res. electrical never seen em. Started as an electrical tech. at a small freezer company and it’s all they used.. changed my life
To add, problem with the new version is the paddle style clamp, although easier to lift than the previous version, breaks easy as heck..
I have been an electrician for over 20 years and used to work almost 10 years in Europe using only wago connectors, and let me tell you, wirenuts are perhaps not as convenient but they do provide a good connection, much better then the wagos. I have seen too many burned wagos. In homes they are ok, but in commercial applications no wagos period.
So you are saying that in Europe where wire nuts have not longer used for decades, they are unable to make secure connections? Come on.
They do have other connectors but they do use wagos a lot. What I am saying is, they don't hold up to heat and high amps. I used to be in the maintenance department and I fixed a lot of connectors in lights and JBs. The contact surface is just not there
If wire nuts are really that bad they wouldn't have stuck around for almost a 100 years.
Its not that theyre bad its the improper use of it.
Like Leaf springs on American cars e'h?
@@oddjobtriumph1635 lol
Good point Dark
Getting a good splice with a wire nut is a skill. This new device requires no such skill
Only issue is the contact surface (which is the current carrying part of the conductor and connector) is substantially smaller that when two (or more) conductors are joined with a wirenut. They are fast, cheap and popular with contractors who do residential work and are paid piece work. Several customers of the contractor I work for prohibit in their specifications Wago and similar connectors due to failures. In 42 years or electrical construction, I have never seen a wire nut go bad unless it was installed incorrectly even then, of the hundreds of thousands of wire nuts I have handled, I bet there have been less than five that had failed. true, you should not reuse wirenuts. But, in the fine print, Wagos are a one time installation also.
Where these excel is in controls. They make testing for faults so much easier.
This type connector was used to join my double wide mobilome together. 10 years later we had a power failure, I traced it to the connecter that was sealed in the insulation in the underbelly where it was black from burn failure thank God, we didn't have a fire
My son says I'm the only wire nut in the house , makes me proud !
"Are you tired of burning down your house with those old wire nuts?"
-Hi there I'm Billy Mays here with the brand new useless gadget for you!
Lmao
Ya I could see that but I think they have been widely adopted in europe and I like them they are easy but he made wire nuts look like they are not a just fine solution and in every house or building you have everything been in
But wait, there's more.
Billy May is dead...probably from fire from faulty wire nut...just sayin’
@@momos2790 maybe from a faulty wirenut installer
The NEC seems to think they're perfectly fine. I've never had them fail, but then, I actually know how to use them. But seriously,,,,,,,,, the purple gloves.......
Installed properly wirenuts are the best method after solder.
We don't have wire nuts in the UK, or they aren't widely used. I think it's because we have 240v which can be a bit more dangerous than the 110v in the US. There was also an attempt to market ceramic wire nuts in the 1970s, but they were very poor quality and the ceramic cracked off leaving exposed metal. The Wago connectors are so much easier to use than the UK screw fastened terminal blocks. I'll agree they are not the cheapest, but when you calculate the time saved installing them as £s/hour compared to working with the tiny screws on a terminal block, they pay for themselves there and then.
Been in the heating and air business for decades. And I have seen technicians wear gloves, I think it's so they dont get shocked
@@maxximumb well we as electricians in canada, often in commercial applications above 240 like 277 and 347 and still use wirenuts without problems if properly installed.
@@dougjones2296 nope those are latex gloves, and you will def get shocked
Wirenuts have not been used regularly in Norway for at least 10 years. I have been an electrician for 10 years and used one maybe 3 times. And wago has been around even longer than that.
I am always puzzled when I see other countries still using them, when you look at videoes from other countries. Some countries just seem so many years behind
Wago style connectors have been around forever. There on the back of outlets already. The problem with Wagos is that they're twice the size of wire-nuts. And contrary to what you said, wire-nuts if twisted together and cutting the tip off the pairing at a slight angle allows the wire-nut to bite better and go in further. I have used the same wire nuts over without any pull out whatsoever. But the most important aspect of the wire-nut is that the twisted copper members have a greater surface contact area than does the Wago's.
Been wiring for over 35 years the only problem I’ve had with wire nuts is having to buy the purple ones lol
I’m an electrician with 40 years in service. WAGO is a German brand. In Europe voltage is 220 volts to ground. These work great there but with our lower 115volts l am concerned with the limited contact surface area of these. That’s the reason I never once used “quick wire” devices in my career! I only use these for connection of fixtures and only if they come with the fixture because they save my precious Wingnuts for more important jobs lol.
@@ProctorsGamble What's the problem with the limited contact surface area? They are all identical. If it works for 1 (after extensiv testing) why shouldn't it work for the rest of them too? What specific problems have you found due to this the limited contact surface area? Why not solder the connection after twisting it with a pipe wrench, and then add a double wire nut for insulation? That would give you the best contact surface area, but do you rally need it?
@@elbuggo I can't tell if you are joking or are one of those paid bots with broken english. A pipe wrench?
@@The_Conqueeftador I added a question mark there - try again!
@@elbuggo Surface area has everything to do with it! Try pulling 200 amps through a piece of #18 gauge bell wire and ask that surface area question again!
A: No competent electricians cut off wire nut connections
B: 'Bite marks' are not an issue
C: Reusing wirenuts is common and fine
D: 5 times the cost per unit and double the install time is not going to happen
E: Wagos ARE good if you often disconnect and reconnect something. Thats about it.
In former British colony Hong Kong we are using electrical connector that uses screw to secured the wiring........ That is why I feel wire nut is not secured enough for me.......
I wouldn't hire you.
Look up the legal definition of competent.
The unit price is roughly twice the cost; not 5 times. I would gladly pay the one time price to hire a competent contractor and spend an extra $10 for safety. Since 200 units is likely enough for the whole house; I would not bet on the cheap guy who cuts corners to save $10 on a one time cost. Any competent electrician would know that you do need to cut and strip an old connection due to oxidation of the metal and work hardening. Likewise, they would understand the importance of insulating wire connections securely, and why it is important to minimize resistance in those connections; because a competent person would understand how dangerous fire is and how quickly it kills thousands of people every year in their sleep.
@@brendanwood1540 How many wire connections do you think $10 in Wagos will make?
Yeah. Not a lot. And 200 isn't even a 3rd enough unless you have a small house. Pigtailing outlets alone is 3 per.
Wirenuts are about 5 cents each and Wagos are about 20 cents each so yeah, 5 times as much is slightly exaggerated.
Customers with unqualified sanctimony are given enormous bids given the difficulty they inevitably add. Youre right, you wouldn't hire me.
Hvac tech here. I’ll use them as soon as they give them to me to use. Have enough wire nuts on van floor for next couple years
These wirenuts are illegal here in the UK and should be banned also in the US along with the other out of date practices.
Why illegal
I was going to say that I've never seen these in the UK. We use screw in blocks, crimped connectors or solder.
I agree. Not reliable at all. I've seen wires secured with wirenuts pop out several times. I'm never using them again.
I've been doin this for 21 years
I would rather use wire nutts over wagos every time
you and every other trained electrician...wagos are for kids
@@MrHBSoftware kinda weird arguement, "wagos are for kids". why not make your job easyer?
or maybe you respond better to this, make your job easyer, spend less time per job, do more jobs, get more money!
or, make your job easyer, spend less time per job, make same amount of money with fewer hours worked, spend more time with your kids.
@@chrisalmere20 use cheaper wingnuts, make more reliable connections have less recalls, make more money, spend more time with your kids
Personally, I think that wire nuts are quite forgiving and the fact that they have been used ubiquitously for nearly 100 years supports that. Of course there's always a way to misuse anything.
sometimes new things can work better even though we are so used to doing things the 'regular' way. For instance I just did some new spigot connection in my house and used the shark-bite setup instead of sweating pipe. More expensive? yes but way the hell easier, safer and pleasurable. Just keep that in mind when new technologies present themselves !
@@oceancon You might LOVE the new fittings today but your opinion won't be valid until you know they last as long as the old method which is forever. I hope they don't leak in a year because they are not fun to replace.
@@ramtek2702 maybe so but they are easy to replace. If you make a mistake when installing its easy to take apart and redo. just saying dont ignore new tech just for the sake of it
@@oceancon I don't ignore anything but my experience with "NEW" is just some guy finding a way to show you some short term gain while concealing long term consequences that often become someone else's problem. I've heard they're very difficult to replace where sweat fittings only need to be heated. Sweat fittings are not difficult if you are patient and have the right tools & knowledge. These days people are always looking for ways to cut corners.
@@oceancon Shark bites are over priced junk
Jesus people. This product is actually safe and not bad at all. It’s new and different and many can’t accept doing things differently than they or everyone else does in the trade. I would say it’s preference overall. Yes it’s great for the DIY person, but that shouldn’t mean a pro then has to be different to separate from the DIY. I personally use wire nuts still, but I love trying different things. Don’t hate, congratulate. I see it all the time in my trade where some think they do it better than others by method. Really it’s preference when both routes are safe, effective and time efficient.
It's actually not new at all, Europe's been using them for a long time now. I personally didn't know Americans have special connectors for something you can do with your hands and some plastic tape
Wire nuts are awesome, versatile, reusable, cheap and secure. Disadvantage is they take a lot of space compared to wagos and they got more to think about to use correctly.
But wagos are great too, especially the transparent slim ones.
Wire nuts take up a lot of space compared to WAGOs? Did we watch the same video?
I rarely have a problem taking wire nuts back off to reuse them. Usually only on smaller 22 gauge thermostat wire that was nutted outside for 25 years
There are Wire Nuts and there are wire nuts, some much better than others.
@@nooneyouknowhere6148 Buchanan are awful. Ideal Twisters and Wing-Nuts are the toughest, most reversible, and most heavy-duty. Buchanan ‘B-Caps’ probably account for half the failed wire nuts I’ve ever dealt with. They don’t grab as hard, and the plastic must be softer or less chemical resistant or something, because they arc out the ends/sides more often.
huh huh u said "nutted"
3M scotchloks can’t be removed if installed correctly as the spring with just ratchet inside the insulated shell. Also if you resume wirenuts you’re insane because now you’re assuming responsibility for a 2¢ item that is by all intents and purposes listed as a 1 time use and discard item. Can tell you’re just another hired hand and not a business owner.
@@nooneyouknowhere6148 They arc through because they’re softer, cheaper, thinner plastic and they degrade due to heat/cold cycles and chemical environments. I work a lot in powerhouses, chemical plants, steel mills, that sort of thing, I can’t say whether I’ve seen one fail in a commercial building. I’ve noticed the spring’s a lot easier to spin in the plastic cap in them, too. I’m not old enough to have ever installed a Scotchlock (having started my career in around 2004-5), though I’ve cut a Godzillion of them off, and they do seem like a real asspain. The Ideals are big, I’ll give you that, but man, are they tough, and when they’re put on right you’ll break a wire before you pull it out of one. I might have different opinions if I did residential work or something.
"They are incredibly dangerous". Completely false statement.
I was confused about that claim as well- I’m just a lay man handyman / home owner. I have never run into problems that I didn’t create myself.
Anything is dangerous with misproper application😂
It would be nice to validate your claim as just the statement alone does not help your case. Why do you believe "they are incredibly dangerous"? I have used both methods and the both perform well.
@@curiosity2314 wirenuts aren't dangerous, bad untrained electricians misproperly setting up wirenuts are dangerous. Just the same as bad untrained electricians setting up wago connecters can be dangerous. Wirenuts are in no way idiot proof. You can have too much excess wire when connecting and cause it to go through the end of the nut, people can leave excess wire exposed at the bottom, people can improperly pigtail or connect wire. Wirenuts aren't bad, bad electricians are bad
@@jordanadams6033 you’re spot on and I think that was the (albeit poorly articulated) point of this vid. In his opinion these connectors are easier to use and slightly more idiot proof. That doesn’t mean wirenuts can’t be used safely and that these connectors can’t be used improperly.
I just used Wagos to connect three wires together for the first, and last time. The Wagos did not secure the wires, the down the line outlet did not work after I completed the work. When I reopened the box with the Wagos in it, one of the hot and neutral wires had already slipped out of the Wagos. When I wanted to remove the other two wires I thought it would be a struggle, nope just a quarter twist on the connectors and all the wire slide straight out. Give me a traditional wire nut any day, I will never use a Wago again.
You did it wrong plain and simple. These are so easy to use and very safe. They even have a strip guage on the side to show you how much to strip the right amount of plastic off the wire. I don't think I would ever want you to work on my house.
@@JosEPh-zy3yr I am not a professional electrician, just a DIYer. I stripped all the wires to the same length. according to the strip guide on the WAGO. WAGOs are advertised by all the UA-camrs as the easiest solution for DIYers, I took the wires that were previously in the WAGO and rotated them together and wire nutted them together, the outlet worked the first time. If it possible to do it wrong, "plain and simple" the first time, and then do it right the old way, then maybe the new way has serious flaws.
Maybe the UA-camrs that are in love with WAGOs are being paid by WAGO?