Should We Use WAGOS or WIRENUTS?!?!

In the latest segment of Electrician U, Dustin answers the question- Should we be using Wire Nuts or Wago’s out in the field to splice our wires? While the answer in your head should seem easy enough, there are several things to consider when choosing your wire splicing materials.

01:39 - Pre-twist gang
02:50 - CODE TIME
08:55 - Why I use what I use

🤘⚡️EU Learning System⚡️🤘
-Video courses on every side of the electrical trade (theory, code, safety, wiring, install, troubleshooting, leadership, and more)
-Practice exams for 2017, 2020, 2023 code
-YouTube videos categorized and searchable
-Audio lessons
-Forum
-Business version has admin portal and ability to assign learning to technicians and monitor progress
-Any business size from 2 techs to 2,000!

🎓💡CONTINUING EDUCATION💡🎓
-State Approved
-Video Based

✍📝PRACTICE EXAMS📝✍
-2017, 2020, and 2023 NEC versions
-Online Residential Wireman Exam
-Online Journeyman Exam
-Online Master Exam
-300 Question Online Code Cannon (not license specific, all code)
-Take as many times as you want
-All of the above come with printable PDFs

🎤🎧PODCAST🎧🎤
Spotify:
Apple Podcast:

📱👍SOCIALS👍📱

🎧🎹Music, Editing, and Videography by Drake Descant and Rob LeBlanc🎹🎧

#electrician #electrical #electricity

First, lets establish WHAT a Wago is. Just like almost everything else in the electrical industry, there are several terms for each material! Wago is actually a brand name (one of the first to produce the product) of a push in type wire connector; whereas a wire nut requires twisting force to accomplish the connection. They both have metal connections within the wire splicing item to ensure continuity of the splice, but Wago type wire connectors are much more efficient as they do not require the electrician to twist the wires together with a tool before applying the connector (or using the connector to do the twisting) but the electrician simply pushes the wires into the connecting holes and the metal jaws do the rest of the work.
The NEC requires that things be installed per the manufacturer’s instructions. You can find the code reference in Article 110.3(B) of the NEC. In a nutshell, it states that if you do have a piece of equipment that is labeled, listed, or both that you SHALL install AND use per the instructions that are included in the labeling or listing. There are instances within the NEC that do require things to be listed, but this is an item-by-item requirement and should be researched for each task you are performing. Article 110.14 (Electrical Connections) governs wire splicing materials. In essence, it tells us that they wire connectors be identified for the material of the conductor (either copper or aluminum or both) AND shall be properly installed and used. So, having said all of that, as far as the NEC is concerned, if we are using a wire splicing method that is approved for what we are doing with it, identified for the materials being spliced, and installed per the manufacturer’s instructions, pressure type wire connectors are fine.
If the NEC is good with it, next would be installer preference. If it is an item that probably won’t be serviced or changed often then wire nuts would be the way most of us would go. We would twist our wires together, install the device, and push it back in the box and leave it. There is really no need to get back into it unless something goes wrong, or the device wears out or something like that. If it is something that will most likely require replacement (such as the rows of fluorescent fixture ballasts in warehouses or large retail stores) then a Wago type wire connector may be more beneficial for us to use as we would not have to untwist each and every joint to replace the item.
Wire composition is another factor to consider. Most pressure type wire connectors do not do a great job on stranded conductors but are made more for solid wires. However, Wago DOES have some lever lock type push in wire connectors that will accept stranded wires. As with anything, do your research on what you are wanting to use to see all the different options available.

[neplatnyudaj]

Why to use Wago:
- Way easier to install correctly(especially when connecting stranded to solid or different gauges)
- On first sight you can see if it's installed correctly
- Easy to troubleshoot and redo
- Does not damage wire
- Cheapest way to properly connect Cu with Al
- Saves time
- Can be used on shorter wires where you couldn't install wirenut
- Better in vibrating conditions

Why to use wirenuts:
- Cost

[rmyerscmi]

Wago’s excel in several areas. 1- Connections that will need to be remade. I do all light fixtures with Wago’s since designs change and people want new styles of fixtures. 2- Installed smart technology devices like smart switches and fixtures. 3- Mixing stranded and solid wire. Makes a more sure connection. 4- Hot work. You can quickly put a Wago on the hot conductor to prevent accidental contact and it never needs to be exposed again to finish the work. 5- Wires that are too short to make solid twist connections.

[helmanfrow]

My contention with twisting wires—and my subsequent love of lever locks—stems from the fact that I've opened hundreds of boxes in the last 30 years to find 'work hardened' wires so brittle that the twists simply snap off the wire. Almost invariably the junction has already been reworked multiple times and wire is too short to reach the outlet and barely long enough to splice.

[KameraShy]

I recently discovered the Wago Lever Nuts and am so glad I did. Especially for two problematic applications: 1) Wires cut too short in small boxes and tight places and 2) Connecting solid and stranded, like for light fixtures. For me trying to twist solid and thin stranded has always turned to a miserable mess. And light fixtures are almost certain to be swapped out as styles change.

[eagdhj]

15 years in the trade, once i went wagos with lever nuts ive never looked back.
They are just superior in every aspect (exept the cost, wich is saved in time anyway)

[rogerhodges]

Wagos is the way to go when connecting solid to stranded!

[JStacy]

I use a mix of both. Wago's for Lighting and Wirenuts for outlets. I find lever wago extremely useful for changing out ballast or CFL ballast in small compact areas.

[karolrzepinski]

I had the same problem while implementing a modular hotel project for CitizenM in Seattle. In our country in Europe, Wago is the basic connector and the surprise was great when at the beginning the general contractor prohibited the use of these connectors. Ultimately, we used wire nut for socket circuits, i.e. 12/2 MC, and Wago was allowed to use for 24VDC only. It was about 4 years ago. In 2020, also for the CitizenM project in WDC, there was no such problem anymore and we used Wago everywhere. Greetings from Poland

[jeaxre]

Two advantages of WAGO connectors, that are seldomly mentioned:
1. You can inspect the connection, because the plastic is see through. (cable stripped properly, wire pushed in deep enough)
2. The connector has a tiny hole, which can be used for safe measurements on a live circuit without undoing any splices.

[aaron]

Wago for splicing 4 or more conductors. There is no way you can cleanly splice 8 conductors with a huge wirenut. But the 8-port Wago is beautiful. Great for multigang switchboxes with a crazy number of neutrals and grounds that need to be commoned.

[satoristeve]

I'm a DIYer (who spent way too much time researching this previously), so my comment is mostly aimed at other non-professionals. IMO unless you're a professional you should probably always use the clear Wago 221 series lever nuts. If you're a professional then you probably don't need my input. Pick what you like for whatever reason you find justifies it.

Pros of wire nuts: Cheap. Provides the "best" (most continuous surface contact) connection when properly applied.
Cons of wire nuts: You can't see the conductors inside the nut. Can be improperly applied creating a fire hazard. Twisting can be somewhat time-consuming comparatively. Typically requires trimming of conductors if the nut is removed (like to swap out a fixture), which can shorten conductors to a state where they're hard to work with. Sometimes difficult to properly connect stranded and solid conductors.

Pros of Wago 221s: Fast. Easy to use safely, even with little or no experience. You can see the conductor is properly inserted at all times. Easy to change/reapply/reuse. Typically doesn't require trimming conductors to reuse. Easier with stranded conductors. Easier for multiple conductors (3+).
Cons of Wago 221s: Comparatively expensive. Culturally considered "not as proven" or "uncool" in the US. Or so I've heard.

Also if a professional electrician winds up replying to my comment and handing me my ass for something I didn't know, listen to them. They're the professionals, not me.

[hjc]

Wagos are designed for 32 amp circuits. They have test videos where they far exceed that and they stay connected even after all the insulation burns off.

[BearStar]

I've always called the Twist On Wire Connecting Devices made by 3M, the ones with a the wings as 3M Scotch Loks. That's what we were taught in Trade School and the hard screw on Plastic ones were called Wire Nuts. I use 3M or Ideal Wing Tip Scotch Loks, some with the little rubber skirts and some without . Also use Wagos, Wire Nuts and the Push In type of Wire Connectors. I'm a Journeyman Electrician with over 55 years in the trade ! I even used the small crimp on copper barrel sleeves then wrapped with rubber tape and friction tape, the way they use to do wire connections BEFORE Wire Connectors were even on the market ! And I have even done Soldered Joint Connections then applied rubberized wrapping followed by friction tape wrapping !

[donackerson]

As a homeowner I love using wago 221's Especially with light fixtures. Solid and stranded.

[willjohnsonjohnson]

The wagos are nice for capping off potentially live wires while you work. Great for renovations with wires hanging everywhere.

[jamesburns]

WAGO's take up a lot less space in the box, which allows receptacles and switches to fit into the box without binding or crushing connections. In addition to enabling more space, they actually save copper by reducing waste. 🤔🤠🤓

[purenupe]

Wago lever nuts are amazing for ceilings fans and others lights where the manufacturer used the thinnest gauge of stranded allowed.

[brians]

Personal preference:

For the rare time I need to splice 4 solid conductors together, Wago all day. 3 or less solid conductors I’m indifferent. Wago all the time on 10AWG or smaller stranded & solid to stranded.

Those darn solid 12/14awg to a LED light fixture with stranded take half the time with a wago levernut. My time is worth money, and apprentices rarely mess up solid to stranded connections with a wago levernut.

[guygrotke]

I'd used wirenuts for years. Right up until one of my wirenut connections corroded, broke, or slipped out enough to start an arc fire. Vaporized the wirenut plastic and then the hot wire shorted out to the metal enclosure. That fried some parts in my $1200 solar inverter! So it's Wagos for me 100% of the time. Yes, they are a bit more expensive, but peace of mind for a few dollars is priceless. I've also seen a case where somebody used a wirenut that was too big for the conductors, and the homeowner had no power downstream of that wirenut. Fortunately, there was no load on it, so it didn't arc.

[piix]

Im glad you approve of wagos. I have small boxes in my 70s home and getting the boxes organized really helps my projects move along.