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03-18-2022, 02:49 PM
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#1
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,669
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WAGO Electrical Connectors
Has anyone used the Wago lever type electrical connectors? If so what are your thoughts on them? I've got tons of all kinds of electrical connectors but I have never used these things. They look like they could be the cat's meow but won't know until I get them.
https://www.amazon.com/LEVER-NUTS-Co...ps%2C99&sr=8-3
Just came to mind before I butterfly these shrimp....
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Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
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03-18-2022, 05:11 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,317
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Very common in Grand Designs. I personally like them.
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2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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03-18-2022, 05:40 PM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,669
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Thanks Chuck. I'm thinking these may be pretty handy as my mobility and strength in my arms/hands were hugely reduced after my fall off our mountain. Thank you.
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Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
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03-18-2022, 09:00 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Rock Island
Posts: 457
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I’ve been told by an electrician those little guys could replace the old wing nuts completely.
Only used them a few times, but they do work well.
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03-19-2022, 07:11 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,397
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Have used them and love them. Much more secure contact to the wire…especially in a cluster of 3 or more. It’s fairly simple to achieve good contact with 2 wires in a wire nut but with 3 or more there is a better chance for one of the wires to be loose, causing opportunity for a fire.
I’m a fan of the Wago’s.
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Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana High Country 305RL
2015 RAM 3500 Crew Cab 4x4 DRW
Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
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03-19-2022, 07:54 AM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,979
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Just remember that they're a "spring loaded, lever actuated compression connection"... Essentially, they use the same "technology" as the quick connect holes on the back of a 15 amp duplex outlet or any other "spring loaded connector"... So, while they do have many applications, I'd suggest that where you would consider using the screws on the side of a duplex outlet instead of the holes on the back, consider the same limitations with these connectors...
They are only as good as the spring laying against the bare wire when you close the lever....
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John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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03-19-2022, 08:14 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: california
Posts: 102
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I think they are the best thing since sliced bread
I love them, my Forest River has them. You got 4 wires connected at a Wago—need to remove one-lift the lever it’s out, reinstall close lever done. My old keystone had the clear crimp connections— had to cut it off—restrip -twist -recrimp PITA! You will love the Wago! One more thing buy the real Wago they are UL listed- some of cheap knock-offs aren’t.
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03-19-2022, 08:16 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,397
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JRTJH
Just remember that they're a "spring loaded, lever actuated compression connection"... Essentially, they use the same "technology" as the quick connect holes on the back of a 15 amp duplex outlet or any other "spring loaded connector"... So, while they do have many applications, I'd suggest that where you would consider using the screws on the side of a duplex outlet instead of the holes on the back, consider the same limitations with these connectors...
They are only as good as the spring laying against the bare wire when you close the lever....
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Good point, John. There is a pretty good “snap” that holds the wire fairly securely…they won’t just fall out when connected correctly. However, you don’t want to place them in a situation where there is tension on the wire that might pull the wire loose from the connector. It’s pretty secure in an electrical box but use some caution in an open environment, such as the work we just did in my friend’s 5er in rewiring his landing gear. We made the connections using the Wago’s then gathered the wires together and zip tied them to prevent any pulling against those spring-loaded connections.
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Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana High Country 305RL
2015 RAM 3500 Crew Cab 4x4 DRW
Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
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03-19-2022, 08:48 AM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,979
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jsb5717
Good point, John. There is a pretty good “snap” that holds the wire fairly securely…they won’t just fall out when connected correctly. However, you don’t want to place them in a situation where there is tension on the wire that might pull the wire loose from the connector. It’s pretty secure in an electrical box but use some caution in an open environment, such as the work we just did in my friend’s 5er in rewiring his landing gear. We made the connections using the Wago’s then gathered the wires together and zip tied them to prevent any pulling against those spring-loaded connections.
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Here's the "locking spring mechanism illustrations"... As you can see, the connection is dependent on how tightly the spring clip pushes against the wire. Once locked in place, it won't come loose, but just like every other spring mechanism, it's subject to getting hot from amps heating up the metal and as the spring gets hot, if it should "lose its spring" then the only thing holding the connection is the plastic lever... As plastic gets hot, you get the potential for failure from deformed plastic and loose springs...
Do they work? Yes. Are they as good as mechanically connected screw terminals? IMO, no... YMMV
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John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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03-19-2022, 09:05 AM
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#10
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,669
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For me these would not take the place of screw connections if they were available. In the applications I am looking at (many) the other options are crimp connectors which in my experience have what seem to be about the same issues as the Wagos. I've seen lots of crimps that were marginal at best and then when cutting the wires to replace them you run out of wire length due to having to cut the wires and have to "add a length" to make things work. Hopefully these would eliminate that (or greatly reduce the trouble/effort) so really weighing their effectiveness against those types.
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Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
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03-19-2022, 10:57 AM
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#11
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,979
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I think they'd be "as good as anything else" in a low amp, dry, vibration free connection. Things such as connecting LED lights, speaker wiring behind the stereo, thermostat connections, etc, I wouldn't worry about them. On hydraulic pump connections, high amp electric motor connections (landing gear, leveling systems or slide motors) or on brake connections or attaching a 7 pin cable to the trailer wiring, I'd be leary of using something like this. No doubt, they'd "look much neater than wire nuts wrapped in black electrical tape" or "ring type swedge connectors", but they may not have the same durability in those environments as they do above a new LED overhead light or behind a new running light. YMMV.
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John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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03-19-2022, 11:38 AM
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#12
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,317
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Grand Designs uses them in the A/C on the 110VAC connections. I guess that’s low enough amps and should stay dry.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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03-19-2022, 12:41 PM
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#13
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,669
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I am going to rewire the way the little LP/CO detector is wired through the back of the kitchen island. I think they'll work fine for that. It will also give me an opportunity to check them out as I install them to see just how good/sturdy they seem.
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Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
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03-21-2022, 10:49 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Newport
Posts: 215
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JRTJH
Just remember that they're a "spring loaded, lever actuated compression connection"... Essentially, they use the same "technology" as the quick connect holes on the back of a 15 amp duplex outlet or any other "spring loaded connector"... So, while they do have many applications, I'd suggest that where you would consider using the screws on the side of a duplex outlet instead of the holes on the back, consider the same limitations with these connectors...
They are only as good as the spring laying against the bare wire when you close the lever....
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We use them by the thousands here at work and have never had one fail. They have obsoleted wire nuts, but splices, and many terminal blocks here. We use the grey style. Lots of torture test videos out there that prove these things are great when properly used.
There are a few that show that if overloaded 4x their rating for extended periods, the entire plastic housing will fall off but the splicing device remains perfectly intact.
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2021 Keystone Cougar Half-Ton 32BHS 5th Wheel
2022 F-450SD, Lariat Ultimate, CC, 4WD, FX4, Rapid Red, Curt A16/R24 Slider
Upgraded: 2020 F-250SD, XLT Pre, CC, SWB, 4WD, FX4, HCTP, 6.7 PSD, 3.55 e-lock, Blue Jeans Metallic
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03-24-2022, 07:22 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Folsom
Posts: 366
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Perhaps I'm old fashioned, but if I'm splicing that I want to never fail, solder and shrink wrap, and then taped. I learned to solder when I was 9, my dad repaired TV's.
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2002 Montana 3250RL upgraded a bunch
2005 Ford F-250 6.0 Bullet Proofed - SOLD
2017 Ford F350 6.7 Lariet
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03-24-2022, 08:39 AM
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#16
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Westminster
Posts: 91
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I used them adding the side cameras on trailer, fan in the bedroom, switches for the bedroom LED lights. All work great and very fast to install.
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Bobby
2021 Nights Camped 55
2021 GD Reflection 150 260RD (Current)
2018 Keystone 24RKPR (Previous)
2016 Ram 2500 Tradesman CTD
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03-24-2022, 11:57 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 530
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They are great.
No solder, no crimp, no twist.
There is an WAGO electrical demonstration on YouTube that answers all the questions a novice or an electrical inspector ask.
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2020 Cougar Half Ton 29RKS Fifth Wheel
2019 F350 4WD Lariat SRW 6.7 Diesel SD
Anderson Ultimate 5th Hitch - JT Strongarm TST509 TPMS- 2200W(8)Solar Panels - 800AH BattleBorn Batteries. 3000W Victron MultiPlus II Inv. SoftStartRV on 2 AC’s - Predator 3500 generator Airlift 5000 bags
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03-24-2022, 12:59 PM
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#18
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,741
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I think the best use is when connecting 2 wires of differing types or guages. Most folks, and even some "seasoned" electricians, don't know how to properly connect a stranded wire to romex. This happens frequently with DIY homeowners installing a ceiling fan or light fixture.
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Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
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03-24-2022, 03:53 PM
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#19
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Phillips, WI
Posts: 18
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I have used them professionally since they were first introduced and never experienced any problems. I build industrial equipment and automation for a living and they are really handy in most situations. I keep a few in the glovebox of my truck and toolbox... never know when you have to perform emergency wiring on the side of the road.
If you're concerned about straining the wires, simply place a tie wrap ~1.5" away from the Lever Nut to secure the bundle. I've done this many times and it makes for very neat wiring. I also use a fine-point sharpie and write on the lever Nut for identification.
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03-29-2022, 01:49 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Northville, NY
Posts: 374
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I used them throughout my finished basement on the recessed lighting connecting stranded wire to Romex. Have had zero problems.
I was taught years ago by an electrician to always tape wire nuts because the frequency in the electricity can actually vibrate the nuts loose. These connectors eliminate that issue.
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Jim & Deb
50 years happy
2018 Montana 3731FL
2017 F-350, psd,4x4, lariat, c-c, swb, srw
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