Wago Connectors Under Load

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This video is a continuation of the resistance testing I did in QTV #14. I test the following configurations with a 20 amp, 30 amp and 50 amp load:

Solid core, 12 AWG - 0.6 mΩ
With Wago 222 lever connector - 0.8 mΩ
With Wago 773 puch connector - 2 mΩ

Fine stranded 16 AWG - 1 mΩ
With Wago 222 lever connector -1.5 mΩ

18 AWG 16 strand wire - 0.5 mΩ
With Wago 773 puch connector - 5.5 mΩ

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[richarddunkling]

An informative video. A comparison test employing the Wago connectors with stranded cable terminated with a ferrule versus a non ferruled stranded cable would be interesting.

[royamberg]

thanks for the test. I wouldn't have guessed that it would have stood up that good

[nixxonnor]

I am glad you posted this test. Your video was actually posted only 1 hour after i suggested such a test in a comment on part 1 of these Wago Connectors test.It seems that the wires were overloaded bigtime. The wires seemed to produce almost all of the heat. When the Connector is used With ~AWG15 (1.5mm2 wire) and 10A Circuit breakers, it should be fine. (using a 7 strand wire). The same applies when using a ~AWG13 (2.5mm2 wire) and a 20A breaker. The Wago reuseable Connectors are really Nice.

[andypalm]

Very interesting. I'm thinking of using the lever types on some jobs. Thanks for doing all the "homework" now, i feel confident trying them.

[aricmacbsb]

Good to know Martin, I have used a lot this Wago connectors!! Thanks a lot!!

[dondonaldson]

Excellent test, glad I found this after your previous resistance test!!! Thanks for the thoroughness!

[dave-d]

Excellent vid. There is just something "loose" about these things I find it hard to have confidence in. A screw terminal just seems more "snug" if made correctly. All the young sparks are into them here in UK. Still undecided. Thank you for burning your fingers for us!

[justrailroads]

Thanks for that Martin. Most times when I predict an outcome, I don't have the equipment to test it out. So, really, thanks again! I still hold to my previous theory that the wire temperature was heating up the outside of the wago connector, per your second test. Perhaps, the jacket of the stranded wire on that side was in physical contact with the plastic case of the wago connector. I don't think we ever saw the other side of the connector? But, I'm glad to know I can stand behind my previous statements.

[dynotec]

Thanks Martin. This was really interesting.

[mc_cpu]

So they look to be fine for my 100W 0.5A LED lighting strips I'm using them for. That's a relief. ;-)

[louisnemick]

I really appreciate your videos Martin.

[ericgee]

Nice to know as I must have fitted hundreds of these connectors (1.5 and 2.5 mm solid core cable) over the last ten years. No KNOWN failures :)

[AlexandreJasmin]

The programmable load in this setup is there for convenience. Given a high current, low voltage power supply with current limiting: only the wires and connector would have to be in the circuit. For instance, there's only a small voltage drop across the wires feeding a light bulb. By removing the bulb from the circuit, an appropriate power supply could still subject the wires themselves to that small voltage drop and current.

[jesjames]

My Wago lever connectors do heat up, I noticed first day I started using them. I carry DC 12-16V at a maximum of 8A on a 10mt cable, and they reach 42°C which seems high to me; the cables are quite cool and I don't like all that heat around connector. The cables are 2.5mm stranded ones used for AC home appliances in Italy, I suppose they're AWG14, rated for 450-750V and 300°C.

[shazam]

The temperature measurements are not measuring the temperature of the wire! They are showing the emissivity of the target. The FLIR screens show the Insulation on the on the wire and alligator clips as being very hot, yet the actual alligator clip is not much above ambient. This would mean that the plastic insulation is conducting the current and transferring the heat to the clips & the wire. This is just another example of being led to bad conclusions by the 'magic' and convenience of Infrared Temperature meters/scopes. Use thermocouples (+/- 3c) or RTDs (+/- <1c). These would show the temperature of the wire and clips.

[patrickmagee]

Glad im not the only one who uses a thermal camera with 0.05 degree resolution but cant help but cant help touching what im imaging to see if its hot.

[line]

Interesting videos.
I think the melted connectors say it all, with high currents, large surface areas and low contact resistance are the order of the day. That's why the terminals on a car battery are meaty, done up tightly and contact most if not all of the posts surface area. Also when you connect such high current via a less than ideal connection you will create a heater effect at the contact points, that heat will then try to "sink" itself back into the (copper) cable you are trying to test, I think that may be a contributor to the overall heat readings of the test. I think you may need to make a better connection to the "wire under test" so you are certain you are only testing the connector under test.
...keep up the good work.

[fieldsofomagh]

John Ward put 150 amps through these connectors and only then began to melt. They are rated for 25 amps.

[wiatroda]

Would really like to see how a block connectors performs in comparison to the Wago

[the-d-r]

Hi, there is one problem with your Test. I think the most heat wasn't produced by the connectors, but by the wires. And the "issue" multi stranded wire was, because you have a much greater surface (=more heat can flow from the wires to the connector) than with the solid wire.