Anyone use these sort of wire connectors before?

[fasttimes]

Replacing switches can be a real bitch. Especially when you have multiple wires to connect. Have you used anything like these before? Can you recommend a brand? I often find I don't have a lot of room in my gang boxes, so I was hoping these would help.

 

Wago 773 Push Wire Wall-Nut Assortment Pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071Y1LX9L/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_E6dAzb86RJXRS

 

Wago (50) 222-412 (50) 222-413 (40) 222-415 Lever-Nut Assortment Pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GVTVY12/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_y9dAzbY9AF532

[Scottmichaelj]

These have been mentioned before. The second version with the levers might be best if you need to change out a switch and short on wire since since the other ones are use once and done.

[MrBill]

Push on wire connectors are marginally better than the back-stab quick connects on a standard wiring device.

 

The best wire nut on the planet is the Ideal Tan Twister.  It grips darn near anything from #22 to #8.  Smarthome puts a cheap "tan" imitation wire nut in Insteon device boxes, it's not the same as the Ideal brand Tan Twister tho.  Pick up a package of Ideal branded Tan twister and you will notice the difference.

[larryllix]

Push on wire connectors are marginally better than the back-stab quick connects on a standard wiring device.

 

The best wire nut on the planet is the Ideal Tan Twister.  It grips darn near anything from #22 to #8.  Smarthome puts a cheap "tan" imitation wire nut in Insteon device boxes, it's not the same as the Ideal brand Tan Twister tho.  Pick up a package of Ideal branded Tan twister and you will notice the difference.

I have used another brand of the same style. Those are awesome connectors. I wonder if the push-in ones linked too are approved for use in Canada, Self grabbing connectors have caused many overheating problems in the past. I haven't seen them here but most of my shopping has been at HD and electrical supply houses, where they may not be apparent unless asked for.

[MrBill]

I have used another brand of the same style. Those are awesome connectors. I wonder if the push-in ones linked too are approved for use in Canada, Self grabbing connectors have caused many overheating problems in the past. I haven't seen them here but most of my shopping has been at HD and electrical supply houses, where they may not be apparent unless asked for.

 

According to the HD app on my phone my local HD (but USA, not Canada) stocks a variety of Wago's. I'll have to look next time.  I did say look, I'd never buy them.  If for any reason a push-on connector produces heat then it will someday in the future produce an open circuit, that's just fact.  If you've ever been on a hunt for an open circuit caused by backstab quick connection on a switch or outlet that's gone bad killing power in part of a house then you likely won't use push on anything anywhere. 

 

If someone's having trouble with wire nuts its likely because they just don't have good technique-- plan ahead, be joining wires that are already grouped running parallel  and trimmed to an even length.  I think many people just want to jamb a nut on a couple wires they think they can hold in place until they get the nut on, or maybe the sires are really too short to route nicely in the box.

[carealtor]

I have used the ones without the levers.  The biggest problem with them is they do not work well at all with stranded wire.  It is very difficult to get the stranded wire to push in.  And if you do get the stranded wire in and you ever want to get it out again, you are pretty much out of luck.  They won't come out by twisting and pulling like a solid wire will.  If you only use solid wire, they work pretty well.

[kevkmartin]

I have used the lever version. They hold VERY tightly - I could not physically pull wires out of them once clamped.

 

While I wouldn’t use them EVERYWHERE, they are very useful if you have a short wire in the box, or have 5 wires to join together.

 

They are also very useful for ELK speaker wires.

 

They work very well with solid and stranded.

Edited July 15, 2017 by kevkmartin

[giesen]

With wire nuts, you're supposed to twist the wires together with a pair of pliers, and then trim the end, before you put on the wire nut. Gives you a much better mechanical and electrical connection, and makes it easier to put the wire nut on. Be sure to observe fill limits. My particular favourite is the Ideal Can-Twist (the blue one - http://www.idealindustries.ca/products/prodSelect.php?prodId=CAN-TWIST&div=0&l1=twist-on_connectors&l2=Can-Twist). I'd never use push-in wire connectors

 

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Edited July 15, 2017 by giesen

[larryllix]

With wire nuts, you're supposed to twist the wires together with a pair of pliers, and then trim the end, before you put on the wire nut. Gives you a much better mechanical and electrical connection, and makes it easier to put the wire nut on. Be sure to observe fill limits. My particular favourite is the Ideal Can-Twist (the blue one - http://www.idealindustries.ca/products/prodSelect.php?prodId=CAN-TWIST&div=0&l1=twist-on_connectors&l2=Can-Twist). I'd never use push-in wire connectors

 

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After trying those a few years back, I threw out all my Marrettes Those are just so much superior to use and for function.

 

I never pretwist my wire with pliers. After you are done installing these connectors the wires are twisted fully and hard to get apart anyway.

 

My wife burnt the back her hand on a receptacle with push in connections, years back, when they were all the rage in the 70s.

Edited July 16, 2017 by larryllix

[giesen]

After trying those a few yers back I threw out all my Marrettes Those are just so much superior to use and function.

 

I never pretwist my wire with plies. After you are done installing these connectors the wires are twisted fully and hard to get apart anyway.

 

My wife burnt the back her hand on a receptacle with push in connections, years back when they were all the rage in the 70s.

Yeah my brother turned me onto them about 5 years back when rewired 75% of my then new (to me) house. He's a master electrician and now an ESA inspector so he'd never let me get away with just using the wire nut to twist the wires. The wire nut is really just there to insulate the connection, the real mechanical strength and electrical connection comes from pretwisting the wires together. I can't tell you how many times I've pulled of a wire nut to have all the wires instantly pull apart. Granted the Can-Twist are better than regular wire nuts in this regard but I still wouldn't rely on them for that.

 

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[oberkc]

Oh no.  Another religious argument.  To pre-twist or not.

 

My perceptions are that both have strong advocates, and both work if done properly.  At least that is what I read on the internet.

[giesen]

I guess it's a good thing I'm not religious? Not trying to start an argument, just offering my (superior) point of view

 

 

In all seriousness though, to each their own. As long as you make a good connection that's what counts.

 

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Edited July 16, 2017 by giesen

[stusviews]

Wire nuts are considered pressure connectors. As such, it is not necessary to twist the wires together, but there is no rule that prohibits twisting.

[larryllix]

Where is Chubby Checker when you need him?

Edited July 16, 2017 by larryllix

[oberkc]

In all seriousness though, to each their own. As long as you make a good connection that's what counts.​

In my limited (but sufficient to also have a superior point of view) this about sums it up.  I have had enough connections pull apart that I always tug on them after initial assembly.  More important, I have found it good to ensure that the conductor ends a the same point and fully engage.  Like Larryllix, I have found that, once twisted together via wire nut, regardless of pre-twist or not,upon inspection I found the conductors twisted together quite well.  Still, from time to time, I twist them together beforehand.  It just depends.

 

I must not be religious, either.

[oberkc]

Where is Chubby Checker when you need him?​

 

Clearly he would be an advocate of pre-twisting, yes?

[larryllix]

In my limited (but sufficient to also have a superior point of view) this about sums it up.  I have had enough connections pull apart that I always tug on them after initial assembly.  More important, I have found it good to ensure that the conductor ends a the same point and fully engage.  Like Larryllix, I have found that, once twisted together via wire nut, regardless of pre-twist or not,upon inspection I found the conductors twisted together quite well.  Still, from time to time, I twist them together beforehand.  It just depends.

 

I must not be religious, either.

With twisting them together before hand I have found half of my connection fall apart when putting the wire nut on them.

 

After years of superior experience I discovered the fix for this strange phenomenum and found that geisen is only half right.

 

What I found was the half that didn't work I did by holding my Linesman pliers in my left hand whereas all the wire nuts where I held my LinesMan pliers on my right hand improved the connection.

 

...always pretwist your wires the same direction as the wire nut twists!!!

 

 

Who's the wire nut now? :)  Food for thought? :)

Edited July 16, 2017 by larryllix

[oberkc]

...always pretwist your wires the same way the wire nut twits.​

 

I will have to try it the opposite way to see if I can get mine to fall apart.  For some reason, I have never tried to twist them in the opposite direction but I am always interested in expanding my experience.  

 

I have always found it interesting to open up some wiring and find conductors beautifully twisted together and cut at the same length afterwards.  I always felt that I was looking at the results of someone who took pride in their work.  Perhaps that, alone, is enough reason to twist them together (in the correct direction, of course) beforehand.

[stusviews]

I sometimes twist the wires first, always in a clockwise direction. Twisted or not, I always tug at each wire after the wire nut is on.

[larryllix]

I strip mine about 2 inches long, Slide on a Marr connector, tighten the screw,  trim the ends flush with a fine saw,  file them smooth, and then spin on the cap, especially if I know oberkc is coming over for a beer later, and I may have to leave him alone where my wiring can be seen.

 

I am installing a metal detector for my guests soon.

 

 

The wire nuts with the directions stamped on every one cost  a bit more, but avoids the confusion of two directions for us old guys. I mean I can't keep anti-clockwise and counter-clockwise straight.

First they don't tell you which end to look from for the direction of turn, and I have all digital clocks.

Edited July 16, 2017 by larryllix

[giesen]

 

 

 

Who's the wire nut now? :) Food for thought? :)

You're all nuts

 

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[oberkc]

especially if I know oberkc is coming over for a beer later

 

I will be checking out your service panel, so be sure it is nice and organized.

[mwester]

Well, I carefully twist them all together, clockwise, then cut them to length, put a wire nut on them, tighten it thoroughly, then remove the wire nut, and using a small diagonal trimmer, cut the wires (which have often shifted a bit due to the extra twisting) to precisely the same length.  Then I solder them together, put on a new wire nut (no used wire nuts will mar MY installs!), and finish by wrapping the base of the wire nut and the wire with electrical tape, choosing the tape color to match the wires.

 

It seems a shame to hide such craftsmanship -- but I've yet to find transparent cover plates for the switches and outlets.  

[oberkc]

wrapping the base of the wire nut and the wire with electrical tape​

 

oooh!  Never wrap wire nuts with electrical tape.  I also read that on the internet.

 

The rest sounds really good.  I should hire you to do my electrical work.

[larryllix]

I must admit, many of us would  tape the wire nuts, especially  if they are outside with dampness, or subject to vibration as in power transformer circuitry.  We never wanted our nuts to fill with water, or oil in  some cases. Open side always went down inside the  boxes to further avoid liquid problems.

 

Some electricians taped every wire nut connector, every connection. I think with the new wing types untwisting would never be a problem. You can get a lot of torque.

Edited July 16, 2017 by larryllix