Why Lever Nuts Are Superior To Push-In Connectors

Not all wire connectors are created equal and I wanted to clear up the differences between push-in connectors and Wago 221 Lever Nuts. As you might already know Wago 221 Lever Nuts are my go-to wire connector and I really don't think there is a better wire connector on the market for those taking on electrical projects around their house.

Free Home Maintenance Checklist:

DISCLAIMER: This video and description contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission.

[warlok]

Wagos are great, but the Ideal push in connectors are easily removed. It tells you how right on the package. Just twist the connector back and forth a few times while gripping the wire and the wire comes out. I've done it a hundred times.

[mp-xtrg]

You can just twist the wire back and forth and it will come out of the ideal. It's super easy to release them.

[Brian-Burke]

I'm another big fan of the Wagos. You see the connection, they're easy to use, reusable and maybe the best thing of all, they take up so much less space than wire nuts. My house was built in 1963 and most of the boxes are pretty small so every little bit of room I can save is a bonus.

[marklundeberg]

As a new homeowner and novice DIYer, the wagos are very appreciated for their stranded wire compatibility (and everything I do so far involves stranded wires: dimmers, smart switches, lumieres). I have tried wire nut connections between stranded and solid, and I can't do them reliably enough that I can trust my own work. I don't like to go to bed worried about hidden fires in the walls of my house. 😁

[jeffeverde]

One MAJOR caution on Wagos - if you have a box with a lot of conductors in it, it's easy for the lever on the Wago to snag on another wire and flip open - especially when working with 12ga conductors. I was doing repair work on a 4-gang box, and swapped a couple wire nuts for 220's. As I was folding everything back into the box, I twice had a Wago open. So be aware when working with a crowded box - especially when doing rework on a box that was badly routed and using 12ga.

[flipsolo]

I’m a big fan of the Ideal push-in because I just find it so convenient, and definitely more robust than a typical screw nut, but I haven’t tried Wago yet though.

[orestwitiw]

I bumped into your Channel and I have to say I appreciate the effort you put into helping DIYers with home repairs. I really enjoy your electrical tutorials and I like the fact that you say you aren’t a licensed Electrician and you willingly accept critiques and tips from the Licensed Electricians. I’ve leaned a lot from watching your videos. I even researched and bought the Wago 221 kit and hope to use them as I replace receptacles in my home. I always kill the power at the panel before I even consider working on outlets or other electrical work and have a Klein receptacle tester and a Fluke non contact voltage tester. Keep up the great work I enjoy watching your informative videos.

[blackshirej]

One thing...the Ideal connectors can be reused IIRC. I think I read on the package that if you wiggle the wire back and forth, it will release from the connector and can be reused. But I have had them break wires off trying to remove them as well. I just used Wago 221's for the first time last week and I am totally sold, especially for stranded wire.

[VampireOnline]

Thanks for showing the play in the level! I've noticed that and I've just taped it down if I see it happen! good to know it's nothing to worry about!

[Toyotajunkie]

I honestly can not understand why there is still an argument about Wago's... at least the genuine ones.
Love your videos, and appreciate the time and effort!

[blastum]

I'm an occasional DIYer and I love the Wago connectors. Be careful of counterfeits.

[charlesenfield]

I'm fond of telling people that "Engineering is the art of 'good enough'." Spending extra money for over-built products doesn't lead to quality. It leads to waste. In theory, the Wago's are the better connector. They accept a wider range of conductor size, they can be used with flexible stranded wire (not just coarse stranded), they can be reused with any size conductor, and (in my experience) pull-out force is slightly higher than for the in-sure. However, those features are not generally important for household wiring. Wagos also have the disadvantage of being slightly larger, which can be an issue. If you want the best product, you should probably buy the Wagos, but if you're a electrician that wires homes for a living, In-sure provides the better value proposition for routine use. I'd keep some Wagos on hand for lighting applications where transitioning from solid to stranded conductors is common, but they're not worth the extra money most of the time.

If you're a homeowner, who isn't buying these things by the thousands, all the Wago benefits are probably worth the price. They're what I use at home now.

[Chrissers]

Testing these connections by measuring the voltage drop on each side of these connectors at the full rated current (say 20 amps) will tell you how much the actual contact resistance and localized heat that will be produced at the connection point. Everything I have seen so far indicates the push in connectors are significantly lower resistance than the lever type Wago. I do think the lever Wago has other advantages.

[PersonaNGrata]

Ideal In-Sure push-in’s, you just need to twist and pull to release the wires.

[Buffaloc]

I started using wagos after seeing them on this channel. I especially like them when connecting stranded to solid which in the past I always seemed to screw up.

[PNWSCOTTY]

In this case, more play on lever is better. Just means more spring tension=less resistance in the connection. Push connectors are garbage, we cut them out of can lights and use wire nuts. WAGO connectors are also nice. For 20a 12awg circuits i perfer wire nuts. WAGO are good for lighting in my opinion. WAGO are 100% better than an incorrectly installed wire nut on a 20a circuit. Nice video man.

[loganscreationswv]

On the push in's twist and pull wire to remove it.

[rfnovo]

There is another advantage of lever nuts is that it works with both solid and stranded wire, while the push-in would only work with solid wires.

[jerseyjim]

I suspect if there were any issues with the pushins we would've known it by now. But I think when dealing with stranded wire or temporary hookups, the lever type are the way to go.

[ereman]

I find if you twist and pull the push-in type connecter, the wire will pull out with the slightest forceful pull. I have reused these push-in connectors at least twice. The hold that the push-in has on the wire doesn't get any weaker with multiple use. Rarely the wire breaks off inside and then the push-in is done. I am going to use the wago, however, since it is made to be re-usable. In my experience I can re-use the push-ins two, sometimes three times.