Debunking the Pros: Can WAGO Lever Nuts Handle Heavy Electrical Loads?

I setup a test to find out if WAGO 221 lever nuts can handle heavy electrical loads. I will test wire nuts vs WAGO 221 and take temperature measurements while running 23 Amps at 120 Volts through each connector for 20 minutes. At the end we will compared the results and confirm or deny the concern of many Pros that WAGO lever nuts can't handle heavy electrical loads and will fail.

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[JonnieB.]

The wago lever nuts are tested to European and German standards, and they are good standards for safety. While it may have slightly higher resistance due to the busbar arrangement, it is far less likely to experience user error and a poor connection in a DIY situation. The locations I use these most are for light fixtures, which have low draw. Good demonstration and good data. That was a well designed experiment. Thanks for putting it out there!

[davemiller]

I'm a licensed electrician. I've been working for 25 years. I've used Wagos for most of that time. We've used them in residential, commercial and industrial conditions. Lighting retrofits, new home construction, remodels, and pretty much everything including high amp loads. I've been back to some of those jobs months or years later for various reasons and been back inside some of the boxes with the Wagos installed. None were melted. All were perfectly fine. I've never had to go back to a job because of a problem with the Wagos.

They have been used in Europe for decades. They are tested to German standards. They are UL approved. And this test also shows that fears of Wagos being unsafe are unfounded. They are just fine. They are not a problem at all. I understand why some are skeptical but Wagos are perfectly safe. I have them in my home wiring.

Wagos are also clear so you can see how the wires are seated inside the device. You can't do that with wire nuts. You can't see inside to verify the wires are correctly seated. Wagos are also easier for a DIY to get right.

[docferringer]

I want to clarify something Scott keeps saying which is a little misleading (and that is Wago's fault): Wago 221 lever nuts are a FAMILY of products with different current ratings and gauges of wire. The ones Scott is using are the 221-41X side of the family which are rated at 20A/300V. The X represents the number of conductors, so 221-415 is a 5-wire Wago. Now the misleading part: there are different Wago 221s for higher current applications up to 30A/300V and supporting conductors from 20-10 AWG. If you need Wagos for higher current circuits then those are what you need, and they are available in 221-612, 613, and 615 sizes. Sadly, no inline splice connector in the higher range yet.

[Adi-S]

I can only say one thing:
If it is UL CSA CCA EU.... approved, you can use it without any worries, as long as it is used as intended.
I have been working with those standards on an industrial base for almost 50 years now and trust me,
you can rely on them. Also, spring terminals have been approved for industrial use for many years now!

[riffdex]

I’ve seen some shotty work done on home electrical components. It’s not uncommon to see a wire nut hanging on by a thread. I’d say if you know what you’re doing as an electrician you will get similar results from using either option (some prefer the ease of the WAGOs sure, but I mean in terms of function). But a poorly installed wire nut could actually be a bigger threat posed compared to the higher resistance of the WAGO connections.

[billbarto]

2:41 I have the same IR camera and something you should be aware of is the the surface material you’re measuring will definitely affect the temperature value shown. The factor is called emissivity and needs to be taken into account. Shiny or polished surfaces have very different values than dull or matte ones. You should be aware of this when comparing temperatures. Tables are available and a common trick is to use a piece of electrical tape where you want to measure to ensure each test point has the same emissivity.

[johnlichtenthal]

You read my mind. After seeing you recommend Wago numerous times in your videos, I still hesitated when it came to my projects. “But the resistance is higher with the Wago; it’s safer to stick to wire nuts, ” I told my self. Well, not any more! Thanks to your well-planned and well-run demonstration, I no longer have any hesitation. This is what I love most about your channel: you don’t just reach conclusions about different methods or parts, you take the time and effort to break them down and test them. Excellent work, yet again.

[brucea.]

I have been replacing my ceiling lights with integrated LED fixtures and exclusively used Wagos since the current draw is so much lower and is so much easier for me to install. No more hoping the stranded and solid wires will twist together.

[johnnyobigcatdaddy]

I have an older model mobile home, and if you have ever seen the nightmare of those plug-in receptacles, where there maybe 3 Romex wires at 1 receptacle, it will get a little spooky as to solve the issue of a replacement. So I came to YouTube to learn how to make my own repairs, and is where I learned about the WAGO Lever Nuts. So I went to Amazon, I ordered a small bag of them. The day they arrived I fixed my first receptacle, and before I went to sleep, went back to Amazon and ordered the BIG variety box of them. I did this 2 or 3 years back and have not had any issues so far, and will purchase them again if they are needed! I have rheumatoid arthritis, and these are so much easier to use than wire nuts! Peace and love and stay safe everyone, and remember to turn off your main breaker, before you begin your work!

[dubmob]

For the comparative testing, it's simpler to just measure the voltage drop rather than doing all the temperature measuring, because the heat generated is basically that voltage drop times the current. That calculation is the amount of power being dissipated in the box, and easily compared between each other as well as the baseline.

[ehsnils]

My experience with wire nuts is that they can be a bit tricky to get right, especially if you mix wire types. The Wago do allow you to transit between just about any wire types without risk of an unreliable connection.

[gerufish]

I am a DIYer, not an electrician. I have used Wago connectors and will continue to do so. After seeing your test, I feel more confident using them. Great test! I have learned so much watching your videos. Keep up the GREAT work.

[dfirth]

There is another YouTube video that tests Wago. They slowly cranked the amps up until the wires were smoking, but the Wago was not smoking. I love Wago. Much easier to use than wire nuts. You also have visual confirmation of the wire contacts. Wago is made in Germany and they have been in use in Europe for 20 years with no problems. Back in 1968 when I was studying to be an electrician we learned how to make solder splices like they did in the 1940s. After applying solder then wrap with rubber tape and then friction tape. I have run across old solder splices but I have never had to make one.

[Stickmanght]

Where I am a bug fan of the Wago lever nuts is for the final connection from the solid house wiring to the multi stranded wiring of lights. The ease of connecting these two types sold me on them.

[PaulHVAC]

As a HVAC tech I've been using WAGO for years. Wire nuts work fine and yes, you have to install them correctly. But I will tell you contrary to what all the WAGO naysayer "ELECTRICIANS" are trying to claim, the touting the supposed superiority of wirenuts. I can say, over decades of years of service, many times I have come across weak connections by "ELECTRICIANS" losing connections, particularly in multiple neutrals bundled. Also many older wire nuts I've seen with a hole burnt right through the end by heat.Usually caused by "ELECTRICIANS" poor connection technique or wrong size wire nut selection. So they are not with out their faults. I find the WAGO are fantastic for control wiring work, because you can join hard copper and stranded wires without the worry of a weak joint. Plus up to 5 wires joined together without worry of poor twisting technique. And they are removable Both work great BUT BOTH need to be installed correctly, and like all tools, each have their strength in a particular installation. The Naysayers seem to be the closed minded types.

[timh]

I switched to Wagos a couple of years ago and haven't looked back. They're better than wire nuts for many applications. like connecting stranded and solid wires, or connecting more than three conductors. You can visually check that all wires are fully inserted and it is easier to get everything in the box. Five 12 AWG wires in a blue wire nut with two full twists outside the nut (per code) is very difficult to stuff in a double gang or 4 square box. Wagos just make life easier.

[spudx]

Great move plotting the limit temp to scale the three connection options properly. I may be a mechanical engineer, not an EE, but a good experiment is a good experiment. I go Wago from here on out. I'll take a few degrees delta T at max load over an non-robust connection any day of the week.

[Herby-]

All of these devices are listed (usually by UL here in the USA). As such they go through LOTS of testing to make sure they aren't hazardous, or are prone to do nasty things (like start fires!). Also note that the NEC is a FIRE code (sponsored by the NFPA!), so their main concern is making sure things don't start fires. So, these items are all safe when used "properly" (follow the instructions!).

[vmccall]

I am glad that you put in the max temp on the graph. It really put into perspective.

[murphygaylord]

I am a remodeling contractor, formerly an electrician once. I use the Wagos all the time on 15 amp circuits but was always not sure how they would hold up on a 20 amp kitchen line. This was fantastic video. Great job! I am confident to use them on 20 now. Sweet! Thank you!