Best Wire Connector For DIY Electrical Projects

The WAGO 221-2401 (Inline Splice) has made its way into my electrical kit and has become a great addition that I use regularly around the house. There are 3 main uses I have been using the inline splice which I think you might find handy on your own DIY electrical projects.

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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.

[avsrule]

Electrician here: I usually don't use WAGO connectors due to cost, but there is one scenario in particular where they are a lifesaver. If for whatever reason you have a very short conductor inside of a box that's maybe 1-2 inches long, it is very hard to get a solid and reliable connection with a wirenut to extend that wire. The end to end connector is great for this scenario. (most often the case if drywallers knick your wire). Also works great if you have to do a splice in an LB

[wingdwolf]

If I’ve gotten nothing else from this channel, I got WAGO connectors. Greatest thing for me! Of course, there a many other reason I like this channel!

[otter-pro]

Ever since I heard about wago connectors on youtube, I've been using them exclusively over wire nut. Definitely worth its cost.

[handlealreadytaken]

I would still prefer the 2 wire connectors for light fixtures, but the breaker panel sounds like a good application. The one thing that I found them extremely valuable for was troubleshooting two different Lutron smart 3-way switches. I was quickly able to swap the switch around with the secondary accessory switch and get them working. Nothing is more annoying that doing and undoing wire nuts with stranded wires on smart switches. Would also be nice to one day see houses built with something like Wagos as it could make electrical work more plug and play if basically none of the copper wire was exposed.

[bernsfindsandmore]

Crazy that you made a video on this cause I was browsing Amazon last Saturday and ordered these for upcoming light fixture upgrades. That light you were hanging are the same ones I ordered from Home Depot on Saturday as well... Thanks for all your tips.

[hassanbazzi]

The temporary light fixture is a great idea. I never used this product but seems it is a breakthrough. Thank you for sharing

[EngineerMikeF]

The Wago lever type connectors are IMHO the best option for stranded wire. The lever on the sheet metal conductor inside the Wago flattens the strands out for a better connection, way better than wire nuts which were well demonstrated in this vid

[incasejstn]

I love these wago connectors! I recently installed a few light fixtures (ceiling fans, flush/semi flush mount lights etc) and these made install a breeze as some were replacement fixtures and some were new fixtures. I wish I had saw these single connectors before I started my project but that's on me! I have a few left over but if I were to need more I'm checking your Amazon store for sure! Thank you!

[huejanus]

Those are so worth buying just for the temporary lighting. Thanks for keeping us updated with your videos.

[renegaded]

I just recently used the line connectors for extending speaker wires. Very easy and solid connection. Much better than braiding and taping.

[ncooty]

Great product update.

Also great for pigtailed extensions on short wires.

Hope Wago adds an in-line 3-in/ 6-out connector for splitting off from a branch line without needing to pull slack from existing line (e.g., cutting into an 12/3 to feed an additional 12/3 branch). Such things are available from their competitors, but I prefer Wago.

[TRAjim]

I sometimes use the inline connectors when making automotive wire repairs/additions. Especially for things like audio equipment, where components may be swapped out at a later date, and there’s little room for a crimping tool. For more permanent/weatherproof connections, I’ll side on a piece of shrink tubing over the connector.👍

[TheKingOfInappropriateComments]

Thanks to you making me aware of these a couple years back I used these to connect a 12v wiring harness to an FM repeater where the company that took it out of service cut the wires very close to the enclosure. It was such an easy and clean fix where you wouldn't ordinarily use a wire nut, you'd have to do some soldering and repair it like you did those cell phone charging cables. So it's not just good for high voltage. These buttsplice connectors would be even better.

[CAceDubz]

I'm the electrical lead of one of my local highschool FRC robotics teams and we actually use these wagos a lot for our canbus connections. For our power connections we use Anderson powerpoles though.

[brianboot]

Love the Wago’s, when you have a 4 square box with 2 outlets in the middle of a run that’s a lot of ground wires and multiple wire nuts to make it all up. I don’t need to tell you that takes up a lot of space, gets kinda tight in there 😅. One thing, I also put a bit of tape around the levers just as a precaution.

[davidwayneprins]

So agree on the Wagos being a live saver. Just changed a light switch and the old one had really short wires screwed to it (house was built in 1910 and it's knob and tube wiring). Wagoed (spell check says it is a word) the K&T onto some extensions made from Romex scraps.

As for the inline splices, I have not yet used them but one spot I can see them being handy is on a portable stereo I have. The charger cord fatigued where the charger's barrel plug entered the stereo's charging port. Spliced a new plug onto the cord but since I suck at soldering, used the old school Wago's to make the connections. (wish Wago made something that had four ports but the bus bar was broken in the middle)

[zrinko]

Had to replace both wireing looms that go to the trunk in my BMW e61 Touring. You have to cut the old looms right behind the hinch above the speakers on the roof laying on your back. Both looms had about 15 individual wires. I have a bad back an they where a lifesaver in that monent. I know they are not really meant to be used in cars but it´s been almost a year and everything works fine. No malfunctions, no error messages .

[TomCee]

The temporary light is better than what I used to do. I would jus5 stick the wires into a plug to socket adapter and tape it in. Not particularly safe, so this is a much better idea. Thanks for the tip.

[thenexthobby]

Scott, I just ordered some of the 6-series because there are some 10ga wires I need to use for long home runs. But I also ordered some of Wago's 2773 connectors for two reasons:

1) I wanted a few 4-conductor, 6-conductor, and 8-conductor options that don't exist in the 221 lineup.

2) If you're "designing as you go" --- maybe because it's not yet clear where and how you can run lines in a renovation --- and want temporary use of a circuit or otherwise have not finalized all your home runs and feeder runs, you can finish up with the non-level 2773 style and save quite a bit of money.

Supposedly you CAN remove a solid wire from a 2773 connector with a twist and pull, for the inevitable times when that'll be needed. But hey, especially for things like junction boxes, you shouldn't really need to build in disconnects anyway. The only downside is that Wago has not yet released a larger version of the 2773's that will accommodate 10ga.

[michaelt]

i use these for testing lights for buzzing/humming with varying dimmers and overall light/dimmer functionality. you should too.