Wago 221 vs Ideal Gen II Connectors

Sam takes a closer look at two of the fastest-to-fit electrical cable connectors currently on the market (January 2022). Sam uses his professional expertise as an electrician to compare the Wago 221 and Ideal Gen II connectors.

Which is the best and how do they stack up against each other?

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🛒 Purchase from Amazon here:

Ideal Push-In and Lever Connectors

Ideal in-Sure 2-Port x100, 3-Port x100, 4-Port x100

WAGO 221-412 x50, 221-413 x30, 221-415 x20

Wago Connectors Set Serie 221 Compact, 25 pieces

Wago 221-2411 Compact through Connection

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#connectors #Wago #Ideal

[mikeymccaffrey]

I'm not sure if you're using different wago 221's than I am but the ones I have allow you to push conductors in without lifting the levers

[normbograham]

The first day I used the wago, was the last day I used a wire nut.

[jeffw]

Since both connectors are very similar, the decision point (for me) is often the price and availability. Wago 221 have become very easy to purchase online and at many electrical supply houses...in contrast, it's much more challenging to locate the Ideal Gen II connectors. Wago 221 also seems to be priced well and consistently.

[cryptapocalypse]

Thanks very much for this video! I have used many Wago lever connectors, including the larger ones for 10 g (US) wire, and really like them versus wire nuts. The main reason for bad connections using the Wago connectors for me is not making absolutely sure the wire is pushed all the way into the connector before the lever is dropped (my bad- I can't always see the wires well in the connector). However, I would very much like to try the Ideal Gen 2 lever connectors because the wire ports are opposite of the levers and they would seem to be easier to use in tighter boxes. Like others, I am not able to find a US supplier or a UK supplier willing to ship to the U.S. I also sent an email to Ideal using the email address you provided below.

I just saw small packets of the Wago lever connectors on sale at a Home Depot in Colorado. They were very expensive (versus Amazon), but it was good to see them there. The Ideal push-in connectors have been for sale for years at both Lowes and Home Depot. It seems to me that the lever action connectors will be displacing wire nuts and Ideal push-in connectors over time for many DIYers like me. Thanks again for the video.

[markrothenberg]

In the U.S. both are certified (UL Listed) for 600 Volts. The 450 Volts is the European certification. There is also certifications, symbols printed on the side, for China and Japan. There wasn’t enough space to print 600 Volts so there is only the UL mark. This information is provided on the Sparky YouTube channel by a manufacturer rep.

[aytviewer]

Thanks for showing the pullout strength of both. Heck I think they may both be better than traditional wire nuts!

[billonthehill]

Here in the states, i.e. northern New England, I have NOT seen the WAGO's ( made in Germany ) connectors in HD or Lowes... The non-lever Ideals are widely available at Home Depot where I have used the 12-2 with ( 4 ) ports with excellent success, they do NOT pull apart...The Ideal blues with the locking levers is a far better design over the WAGO's hands down, however I don't believe they are available in the states yet, ironically the non-lever Ideals I use are made in the USA & are available at my local HD...
All the best,
Bill... :~)

[mos]

I use Whatever my co. gives me from the giant pile of boxes on layers of pallets in the acres of storage yard. Ive landed many boxes with nuts, wagos, ideals, all mixed together.

[TomCee]

You don’t need to lift to insert in Wago, but in my experience they’re a bit stiffer going in.

[Garage]

Hadn't seen the Ideal before. Both great. Beat wire nuts for sure.

[mikeenglish]

Loving these vids, channel has a lot of potential 👍

[davidkinnaird]

I'm a DIYer and have used both. I don't have a preference and like the ease of use. My biggest fear is when pushing into the box I will accidentally lift a lever without realizing it so I always wrap a length of electrical tape around the body to hold the levers down.

[MannyAguilarJr]

Wago has a test port on both sides they're both in the middle above the wire port. Or on one of the sides on the two slot wagos. Even on the thumbnail you can see it's the darker hole above where the wire entrance is.

[annquach]

The ideal connectors been trying to catch up to levernuts since they were introduced. Looks like they've finally made a decent product. The ideal push in connects were so hated it pretty much killed every alternative except wire nut varieties

[rkalle]

If you use Wago to install SINGLE stranded wires in a house building or likewise I recommend Wago type 2273 push only with no lever at all. You may disconnect Wago 2273 by twisting the wire out in the rare case of rewiring. Wago 2273 is even more compact.

[Phynellius]

curious to know how it compares impedance wise, I know the Wago is a bit worse vs a well installed wire nut. I doubt it actually matters operations wise, just gives you an idea of how much wattage you would generate at the connector under load conditions

[ElegantSolutions]

Good info, but you need a Mic to hear you better and a camera stand to help with focus.

[alexb.]

I've only used the wagos and I have had the clips lift up often when putting them in the j-box. Frustrating to say the least. It's to the point that I put tape over the top of the flips to stop them from lifting up.

[garbo]

As a life long sparky can tell you that anybody bidding on a job will almost always use the cheapest wire connector = wire nuts. If installed properly wire nuts will never fail. Have installed them on vibrating machines that were installed in wet always damp areas and never failed. I always strip my wires longer then I strict jobs state then twist with a large pair of side cutters until you have at least halve a turn of twisted insulation then trim the ends then tighten wire nut with large side cutters followed by several wraps of quality ( & not garbage cheating china crap ) Electrical tape. Have came back to splices that I made 35'years earlier and still working great.

[trafficsignal]

The HVAC dude preferred them for the control circuit small wires. I still prefer the good old wire nut. The small blue work great, in fact the manufacturer sends them with the order usually.