wago here, wago there....

[Fulthrotl]

this thread'll probably go everywhere.....

i'm not a big fan of stab back plugs.

left to my druthers, a device should have screw type pressure
connections, and cost about $5. then it's got a binder plate
inside pulled tight by a screw, and enough contact area and
pressure to carry any reasonable amount of current safely.

the stab in connectors that halo provides with their recessed
cans, i cut off and throw on the floor. i use wirenuts instead.

all that being said... my wholesale house handed me a cup of
wago wall-nuts, and asked me to play with them and see what
i thought.

so, with some #12 and #14 stranded thhn, i've been playing
with them this morning, as i'm still a bit under the weather from
stomach flu, and decided to take the day off for a change.

setting aside contempt prior to investigation, my first thought
is that the damn things work pretty well. :mad:

with a 6" pigtail plugged into one of these, i tried wiggling the
wire out, and pulled off the 6" of insulation from the stranded
wire without budging the wire a smidge.

even removing the clear plastic shield from the top of the thing,
you still cannot pull the wires out.

the V shaped metal bus under the grabber plate is heavy enough
to have enough cross sectional area to carry the current, which
is something stab back plugs don't do... there is just that little
metal prong to carry the current. contact pressure is far more
important than contact area, but you gotta have something
more than a bent piece of tin. these do.

tension is enough with #10, #12, and #14 stranded thhn that
you really need to use pliers to properly seat the wire into the
socket. fingers aren't good enough for a reliable connection.

the only thing i found problematic was with #14 MTW, the
stranding twist is greater than on thhn, at least with
southwire product, and it means you have to be more careful
pushing the wire in straight.

what i need is a test bench, so i could put a bunch of amps at
10 or 12 volts thru one of these, and see where it starts dying.

hm. i have an abundant source of current and a clamp on that'll read dc
amps.... a tig welder should do nicely. i'll let you know where they smoke.

after lunch, i'll try bbq'ing some wagos, but at this point,
i can find no fault with them. they work well.

please don't confuse me with facts. i have my mind made up. :D
i *hate* when this happens....

i still have an enormous aversion to stab back plugs. however, the
wagos, properly installed, seem good. maybe the variable in installation
techniques is the reason they have a crummy reputation.


randy

[mdshunk]

One of my bigger gripes about them is that you need to skin the wire pretty accurately. At least with wire nuts, if you skin them too long, you can chomp off the whole bundle to the right length with your pliers. Not much tolerance with the Wago's.

[peter d]

i'm not a big fan of stab back plugs.

I've never seen or heard of a back stab plug. However, I'm very familiar with a back stab receptacle.

[peter d]

left to my druthers, a device should have screw type pressure connections, and cost about $5. then it's got a binder plate
inside pulled tight by a screw, and enough contact area and
pressure to carry any reasonable amount of current safely.

They already make those. Cheap commercial grade ones are about $1.50 and they go up from there.

Or is this a special Fulthrotl designed version you are talking about?

[480sparky]

....Or is this a special Fulthrotl designed version you are talking about?

I think he's missing the boat. He needs to start making receps for the audiophile crowd for $400 a pop. http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc172/480sparky/Emoticons/music-smiley-004a.gif

[Karl H]

Trust me dont do it! If you do comm or Industrial your guys
will strip too much wire and in a metal J-Box can be real
dangerous. I have a couple of building managers that I work
for that will not allow them just for that reason.

[Fulthrotl]

I've never seen or heard of a back stab plug. However, I'm very familiar with a back stab receptacle.

ok. duh. i stand corrected. now stop it...:D

[Fulthrotl]

They already make those. Cheap commercial grade ones are about $1.50 and they go up from there.

Or is this a special Fulthrotl designed version you are talking about?

nope... just a spec. grade device. home desperate even sells them.
the blade contacts are a little heavier, and don't loosen up in service
over time as much. home desperate sells them for about $5.
basically hospital grade device without the certification or price.

[480sparky]

Trust me dont do it! If you do comm or Industrial your guys
will strip too much wire and in a metal J-Box can be real
dangerous. I have a couple of building managers that I work
for that will not allow them just for that reason.

As opposed to the exposed screws?

[Karl H]

As opposed to the exposed screws?

You don't tape your screws?

[480sparky]

You don't tape your screws?

Why? Unless it's a spec, there's absolutely no reason to.

[Karl H]

Why? Unless it's a spec, there's absolutely no reason to.

Ever had to pull a recept out of a cut-in box with no tape and the
unsed screws not tightened?

[iwire]

ever had to pull a recept out of a cut-in box with no tape and the
unsed screws not tightened?


Turn off the power

[480sparky]

Ever had to pull a recept out of a cut-in box with no tape and the
unsed screws not tightened?


All the time.

I just shut the power off first so I'm working safely.:wink:

[Karl H]

I knew you would say that. lol
So you guys are saying that no matter what in service
you were always alllowed to turn off and shut down an modular
furniture farm to remove a plug during business hours?

[480sparky]

I knew you would say that. lol
So you guys are saying that no matter what in service
you were always alllowed to turn off and shut down an modular
furniture farm to remove a plug during business hours?


"Yes, Ma'am, I realize it's an inconvenience on your part to shut the computers down, but it would really be an inconvenience for my family to have to plan my funeral. I can, if you like, re-schedule this for off-business hours at ______ rate....."

[iwire]

I knew you would say that. lol
So you guys are saying that no matter what in service
you were always alllowed to turn off and shut down an modular
furniture farm to remove a plug during business hours?

What I am saying is that I do not do my work today bassed on what you want to do a year from now.

Personally given your example it sounds like a real bad idea to just go for it because you will look like an idiot if it does short and take the circuit down unexpectedly.

[electricalperson]

i use the stab in connectors in the halo cans and never had a problem. you can wire up a light so fast with those things. problems only occur when they are installed wrong. if its UL listed then its fine. i still dont backstab devices i use the screws. just the way i was taught and how i like to do it.

and i wrap tape around devices in metal boxes :smile:

[480sparky]

What I am saying is that I do not do my work today bassed on what you want to do a year from now.

Personally given your example it sounds like a real bad idea to just go for it because you will look like an idiot if it does short and take the circuit down unexpectedly.

Yep.... a year or two from now, that tape is going to just fall off anyway and uslessly hang off the wires when you pull it out.

[emahler]

I've never seen or heard of a back stab plug. However, I'm very familiar with a back stab receptacle.

and for some unknown reason, your still not married:D

[Karl H]

[QUOTE=480sparky;980559]"Yes, Ma'am, I realize it's an inconvenience on your part to shut the computers down, but it would really be an inconvenience for my family to have to plan my funeral. I can, if you like, re-schedule this for off-business hours at ______ rate....."[/QUOTE

Ok,I'm a service guy of 25 years Comm,Industrial. You guys are
right and I'm wrong there has never been a time in our
careers that we've ever had to work anything HOT.Granted, I'm smarter now.
I'm going to share some knowledge with you guys that have never done
hot work. You have to be real careful electricity will kill you.
I have to admit I've made BAD decisions you can always turn the power off.

[peter d]

and for some unknown reason, your still not married:D

Yeah, I wonder why? :confused:

Oh yeah, because I hang out way too much at an electricians forum with a bunch of weirdos. Present company included of course. :)

[electricalperson]

"Yes, Ma'am, I realize it's an inconvenience on your part to shut the computers down, but it would really be an inconvenience for my family to have to plan my funeral. I can, if you like, re-schedule this for off-business hours at ______ rate....."

ken your one hell of an electrician. your a good guy. there is no reason to work on stuff hot. the famous line i hear when i want to shut off power to receptacles is "its only 120 just do it live" "you cant die from 120"

people should read overcurrents and undercurrents. they talk about people who were killed on 120 because of lack of gfci protection

i stil lremember the day when my boss made me replace a 277 volt single pole switch in bathrooms and i asked if i could shut it off and he said no it cant be done. to this day i dont understand why i couldnt shut off the bathroom lights.

[Karl H]

:DYeah, I wonder why? :confused:

Oh yeah, because I hang out way too much at an electricians forum with a bunch of weirdos. Present company included of course. :)

LOL That's what my wife says!

[iwire]

Karl I have been at it about as long, and in the past I would work anything hot, now I think more about how much my two kids would miss me vs knocking out a few PCs delaying the office workers solitaire games, on line shopping and private emailing.

[emahler]

Yeah, I wonder why? :confused:

Oh yeah, because I hang out way too much at an electricians forum with a bunch of weirdos. Present company included of course. :)

see...admitting you have a problem is the 1st step to recovery....have you tried a plumbers forum? they have all the glory and get all the girls...and they don't worry about toilet opening up or toilet opening down...

[peter d]

see...admitting you have a problem is the 1st step to recovery....have you tried a plumbers forum? they have all the glory and get all the girls...and they don't worry about toilet opening up or toilet opening down...

Nah, one forum takes up enough of my time already. Plus you couldn't pay me enough to handle pipes that carry poo. I'm all set with that. ;)

[peter d]

ken your one hell of an electrician. your a good guy.


Oh great. Now that will go to his head. :D

[Volta]

...and they don't worry about toilet opening up or toilet opening down...

That's funny!:D

[iwire]

Lets get back to the wagos for Randy

[peter d]

Lets get back to the wagos for Randy

I only use them on ground wires. The 10 port are especially handy when you have to make up a box full of EGC's.

[tonyou812]

One of my bigger gripes about them is that you need to skin the wire pretty accurately. At least with wire nuts, if you skin them too long, you can chomp off the whole bundle to the right length with your pliers. Not much tolerance with the Wago's.

I'm a wire nut and lineman guy all the way. For #14-10 awg wire the best technique IMO is to twist the wires with your lineman's first and use a good wire nut.

[Karl H]

[QUOTE=iwire;980577]Karl I have been at it about as long, and in the past I would work anything hot, now I think more about how much my two kids would miss me vs knocking out a few PCs delaying the office workers solitaire games, on line shopping and private emailing.[/QU

I understand completely. "Back in the Day" we HAD to do Hot
work.So we took preventive measures like taping recepts.That's
were that came from if you or Sparky remember.Like I said working
HOT is wrong and stupid but back then we HAD too and you both
know it.Luckliy we are here today to tell the stories of how it
used to be. I still today tape recepts and switches because of habit
yes but,also I know someone with less knowledge of electricity
will attempt to change them while energized.

[ceb58]

I will admit I have used the wagos in boxes where the drywallers hit the wire with a rotozip. The nick in the wire made it about 2'' long easier to install the wago with a pigtail than getting in with a wire nut.

[Karl H]

I will admit I have used the wagos in boxes where the drywallers hit the wire with a rotozip. The nick in the wire made it about 2'' long easier to install the wago with a pigtail than getting in with a wire nut.

That's a technique I use as well.

[mdshunk]

That's a technique I use as well.
I do too, but I'm still not sure why I let them off the hook so easily. When you and I do that, we're basically hiding a code violation. I could point it out to the inspector to make him give me a red tag so that I could get a change order to fix it.

[Karl H]

I do too, but I'm still not sure why I let them off the hook so easily. When you and I do that, we're basically hiding a code violation. I could point it out to the inspector to make him give me a red tag so that I could get a change order to fix it.

Actually I have and back charged the drywallers for the repair
in order to pass final.

[Fulthrotl]

I still today tape recepts and switches
because of habit yes but,also I know someone with less knowledge of electricity will attempt to change them while energized.

i do as well. don't tape up receptacles and switches on plastic boxes,
do tape them on metal boxes. (can't use the word plugs... must remember)

back to the wago's.... trying to keep you guys all on the same
topic is like trying to herd 11 cats into the same corner of the room.

still haven't gone out to bbq the wago's for lunch, and now i'm snacking
on frito's. spoiled my appetite. i'll save the wago's for dinner.

seems that the main problem is that wago's are less tolerant of sloppy
install techniques. however, done correctly, i'm gonna go out on a
slippery and unpopular slope here, and say that i think there's less
chance of a wire coming out from under one of these, than there is
from one of 6 #12's coming out from under a wirenut. you can see
each conductor and if it's inserted fully.

as for twisting wires, that works well with solid, not with stranded
wire. the only stranded wire i use is fixture wires, if i can help it.

randy

[Karl H]

Actually I have and back charged the drywallers for the repair
in order to pass final.

While handing the bill to the Drywall Co owner.He told me he would have
his guys repair the wires.I laughed and said,"You're guys aren't electricians."
His reponse was;"it's just wire." My response; "It was just drywallers that caused the problem."

[MF Dagger]

i use the stab in connectors in the halo cans and never had a problem. you can wire up a light so fast with those things. problems only occur when they are installed wrong. if its UL listed then its fine. i still dont backstab devices i use the screws. just the way i was taught and how i like to do it.

and i wrap tape around devices in metal boxes :smile:

I have never seen a halo can with wagos that has all the wires seated properly.

[Fulthrotl]

I have never seen a halo can with wagos that has all the wires seated properly.

that was my thought.... but those are the evil home desperate halo
cheapies..... the gray ones.... i still don't care for those...:D

but these clear ones, seem to be a good product... friend of mine
uses the wago blocks on din rails, and he has never had problems
with them.

wago makes din rail products that are ul and csa listed for 4/0.
225 amps at 600vac.

http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/FulThrotl/power_clamp_95_g.jpg

[rexowner]

I only use them on ground wires. The 10 port are especially handy when you have to make up a box full of EGC's.

AFAIK, there aren't any wirenuts listed for > 6 conductors,
so this seems like a pretty big advantage, even for
current carrying conductors.

BTW, I don't use Wagos, and don't plan on starting.

[Short.Circuit]

I taught Sparky Jr. to use wirenuts & twist them enough for the wire to
twist together. Even if wirenuts fails, circuit is still intact. Jr. get's ahold
of some wegos & in his finite wisdom, twists the damn thing, wires & all.
Stresses the wago & it melts...great...

[ceb58]

Actually I have and back charged the drywallers for the repair
in order to pass final.

Finding the drywall crew would be hard enough for me. Let alone trying to back charge them

[peter d]

AFAIK, there aren't any wirenuts listed for > 6 conductors,
so this seems like a pretty big advantage, even for
current carrying conductors.

Yes, exactly. 8-)

[peter d]

Finding the drywall crew would be hard enough for me. Let alone trying to back charge them

If you did find them, would you keel them? :D

[480sparky]

Finding the drywall crew would be hard enough for me. Let alone trying to back charge them

Um, wouldn't, like, you know, the builder know who they are?

Or do you have these mysterious drywall crews that just show up, rock a house, then vanish into the night?

[steelersman]

but those are the evil home desperate halo
cheapies..... the gray ones.... i still don't care for those...:D

all halo's from home depot I've seen are orange. Never seen any gray or clear ones that come with the halo's.

Also FYI, when I use wirenuts I twist the wires with my dykes instead of my kleins unless it's like 4 #12's then I'll use my kleins, but I learned to use dykes and it's much faster that way.

I know I know, it's not quantity but quality that matters, but when wiring houses speed counts.

[LarryFine]

Um, wouldn't, like, you know, the builder know who they are?Why let him off the hook? You didn't hire the drywallers. Bill the builder and ley him do the chasing.

[mdshunk]

Finding the drywall crew would be hard enough for me. Let alone trying to back charge them
No problem. That's not your problem, and that's not how backcharging works. You charge extra to the person that hired you (the GC), hopefully with a signed change order, and he either takes it out of the drywaller's last payment or he asks them for reimbursement.

[Ed Carr]

if you did find them, would you keel them? :d

good one !!!

[480sparky]

Why let him off the hook? You didn't hire the drywallers. Bill the builder and ley him do the chasing.

My point exactly... why bother 'looking' for the drywallers? I have no contract with them, and no easy way to collect. I would bill the builder/GC, who is the one who hired me, and I have asigned contract with..... a contract, which, just happens to have a clause in it for just such an occurance. http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc172/480sparky/Emoticons/fiufiu.gif

[augie47]

I was just watching "destroyed in seconds" on TV. Keep thinking as I saw this neighborhood up in flames....."investigation showed some guy was testing wago's in his garage and.....":D

[mdshunk]

Every time I here the word "Wago's", my mind instantly plays Jackie Gleason saying "And awaaay we go!" (http://haminahamina.com/Away.wav)

[luckyshadow]

Here's something to ponder .....
You will have no choice but to use the "wago" type wire connectors when it comes to fluorescent lighting. Code requirement - disconnecting means for ballast replacement.
All the lay in troffers I've seen come with an orange stab in connector.

[Karl H]

I have no problem with wagos in light fixtures.

[Pullnwire]

I've never seen or heard of a back stab plug. However, I'm very familiar with a back stab receptacle.

Plug, its a west coast thing. You should try it, fewer syllables to translate the foreigners on the job....

[Fulthrotl]

I was just watching "destroyed in seconds" on TV. Keep thinking as I saw this neighborhood up in flames....."investigation showed some guy was testing wago's in his garage and.....":D

actually, it went like this...."investigation showed some guy was testing wago's in his ex best friend's garage and....."

a lincoln 225 should be sufficient, don't you think? mark's got one, and
he doesn't live within burning radius of me.... good choice.....

film at 11...

[ashtrak]

I only use them on ground wires. The 10 port are especially handy when you have to make up a box full of EGC's.

Could someone tell me what a wago is.Mabe a picture. Is that the connector they are supplying in the recessed fixtures.I know, I've got a lot to learn.

[480sparky]

Could someone tell me what a wago is.Mabe a picture. Is that the connector they are supplying in the recessed fixtures.I know, I've got a lot to learn.

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc172/480sparky/Material/wallnuts.jpg

[LarryFine]

a lincoln 225 should be sufficient, don't you think? mark's got one, and
he doesn't live within burning radius of me.... good choice.....Need a good high-current, low-voltage test load? Just wire it in series with your truck's battery and hit the starter.

[sawdust454]

Some time in the past I did load up some wagos up to 50amps and took pictures with our fluke thermal imager.
We used an old calibration device built to test current clamps. The end results where the connectors was cooler the the wires connected to them. I will try to find those pictures and post them later.
Thye bottom line is I have faith and trust in these connectors if you install them correctly.

[Fulthrotl]

Some time in the past I did load up some wagos up to 50amps and took pictures with our fluke thermal imager.
We used an old calibration device built to test current clamps. The end results where the connectors was cooler the the wires connected to them. I will try to find those pictures and post them later.
Thye bottom line is I have faith and trust in these connectors if you install them correctly.

that's kinda where i'm at. thanks for the feedback.

[steelersman]

The end results where the connectors was cooler the the wires connected to them. I will try to find those pictures and post them later.
Thye bottom line is I have faith and trust in these connectors if you install them correctly.


errors 'o plenty

[LBwIReman2]

Some time in the past I did load up some wagos up to 50amps and took pictures with our fluke thermal imager.
We used an old calibration device built to test current clamps. The end results where the connectors was cooler the the wires connected to them. I will try to find those pictures and post them later.
Thye bottom line is I have faith and trust in these connectors if you install them correctly.

Hmm, I wonder if the plastic covers are the right type of plastic to emmit the proper temperature for a good IR reading, I haven't researched it yet, but its food for thought. Connections on wires are almost always hotter than the wire itself.
But with that said, i also trust those connectors, however i only trust them with solid wire, mainly because they are such a pain to use when connecting stranded, 14 AWG or otherwise. I really like the red connectors rated for 10 AWG, major time and wrist saver :D.

[electricguy61]

I've been using wago's exclusively (excluding stranded wire) for 4 years. Not a single failure when properly installed, meaning each employee has had one or two failures because they didn't ensure all wires were properly seated.

Now, everyone knows to visualize that the wire is fully seated in the wago and presto chango, NO PROBLEMS.

Of course, I believe the earth is round as well.

[LBwIReman2]

Did you cover the wagos with some vinyl tape before taking the IR pic? Thats a good way to get a true (true-er) reading.

[r_merc]

To me it seems that WAGOs have their application just like Wire nuts do. Technique does have a major influence on any of the work we do. I can't count the time that I find wire nuts that have internal arc damage because the installer didn't take the time to do it correctly, didn't read the instructions or put too many wires in the thing. At least that is something you can't do with a WAGO

Rick

[Fulthrotl]

Hmm, I wonder if the plastic covers are the right type of plastic to emmit the proper temperature for a good IR reading, I haven't researched it yet, but its food for thought. Connections on wires are almost always hotter than the wire itself.
But with that said, i also trust those connectors, however i only trust them with solid wire, mainly because they are such a pain to use when connecting stranded, 14 AWG or otherwise. I really like the red connectors rated for 10 AWG, major time and wrist saver :D.

was reading on the box.... the rating on the things is 105c. gonna have
to turn the welder up a bit more.....:D

[LarryFine]

gonna have to turn the welder up a bit more.....:DRead post 61 again. :wink:

[Fulthrotl]

Read post 61 again. :wink:

ok. i read it again. i've got a diesel, with two oddesy batteries to
crank it. a wago ain't gonna cut it, vern. we are talking 500 amps here.
not even a mighty wago can hang with that....


randy

[BLACK4TRUCK]

those Wagos are not cheap.. why is Halo giving them out for free?? My guess is Cooper Lighting is the manuf. :grin:

[Mr. Wizard]

OK, dummy alert here. What is a WAGO? I understand that it has something to do with the way something is wired, but I have never heard that term until now. :confused:

[BLACK4TRUCK]

OK, dummy alert here. What is a WAGO? I understand that it has something to do with the way something is wired, but I have never heard that term until now. :confused:


You have to go wayyyyyy back to the beginning of the post for pics of a WAGO

[480sparky]

OK, dummy alert here. What is a WAGO? I understand that it has something to do with the way something is wired, but I have never heard that term until now. :confused:

You have to go wayyyyyy back to the beginning of the post for pics of a WAGO
No he won't!

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc172/480sparky/Material/wallnuts.jpg http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc172/480sparky/Material/wallnuts-1.png

[Mr. Wizard]

No he won't!

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc172/480sparky/Material/wallnuts.jpg

Thanks 480sparky! I know exactly what those are! Never heard them called a wago, but I've heard them referred to as "stab-locks". I've used them with no trouble in the past. It's a booger to get your wire out if you accidently stab it in the wrong hole.

[480sparky]

Thanks 480sparky! I know exactly what those are! Never heard them called a wago, but I've heard them referred to as "stab-locks". I've used them with no trouble in the past. It's a booger to get your wire out if you accidently stab it in the wrong hole.

They're also called Wall-Nuts.

[Karl H]

Wago is a "trade" name, just like "Romex" is a "Trade" name for NM cable.
That's why the electrical industry is so full of mis-communication.
If your old school,new school,even home schooled.
All materials are called a name that was popular when you entered the field.

Scotch Locks,greenfield,heaters,zip cord,4sq box,1900 box,fuse box,etc.:D

We never did find out the results of Randy's tests.:D

[steelersman]

They're also called Wall-Nuts.
why not chestnuts?

[480sparky]

why not chestnuts?

Those get roasted on an open fire.:grin:

[360Youth]

I like to use wagos for a few things. Mostly for splices within a panel box or connections in strip receptacles (they take up less room than a wire twist and a nut). Outside of the cost factor, I am not sure I am up to using them in large quantities spread out throughout a circuit. If there is a problem I do not want to have to check every wago in every box for the one wire that slipped out. Also, when you inevitably have to add or remove something from an outlet box they are more laborsome to do so than a good 'ole wirenut.

I have never seen a halo can with wagos that has all the wires seated properly.

I really like the wagos in recessed lighting. It cuts time in half, at least, but you do have to watch them. I have more problems with the factory connection than the field. But so far they are worth what few call backs I have found.

[wirebender]

...... I have more problems with the factory connection than the field. .........

I agree and I always it a point to remind co-workers to check the factory connection.

[wawireguy]

Like someone said they are great when you have a lot of wires to bundle together such as multiple grounds. In the case of using them for grounds like that they just need to be able to clear the occasional fault and not withstand continuous load. I like them for that application. And when you have a lot of neutrals to tie together a wago can really help for that, such as in a switch box with multiple switches and lights.

[iaov]

Turn off the powerHere here!! And by the way nice picture Bob!

[iaov]

Like someone said they are great when you have a lot of wires to bundle together such as multiple grounds. In the case of using them for grounds like that they just need to be able to clear the occasional fault and not withstand continuous load. I like them for that application. And when you have a lot of neutrals to tie together a wago can really help for that, such as in a switch box with multiple switches and lights.I've been using them for grounds also with the same thinking about the occasional ground fault. I did put some in some garage lights over a year ago as a test. None of those connections have failed yet. They are all with #14 solid conductors. None of these circuits are being loaded with more than 4-6 amps tho.

[ktever]

You guys are all over the place with subject matter, I think the original post was to bring attention to a new technology, and improvements made on an old connection. I have been using Wagos in commercial, and residential for a little over 3 years now, and have found them to be extremely valuable as far as time, and installed reliability are concerned. They work well in an existing application where you fiind wires are cut short in an existing box, and you need to pigtail the wire, no fumbling around trying to get a wire nut on a short wire, in a crowded box. New installations are a breeze in boxes with multiple wires involved, especially GFCI outlets, and make up of light boxes above ceilings. Folding wires back into a box is much easier with the wires in a straight line, and not twisted together. Everyone with doubts should at least request a sample, and give them a try. Thanks for your time. Ken T.

[jimmyglen]

the only experience I have had bed with them is someone used them in plugmold in a tight tight space

the lady plugs her toaster into the plugmold and in less than a year the wago burned up

but recess cans and that - hard to beat

[Vertex]

I never wrap tape around receptacles. Then again, I am an electrician, not a handyman.

[MGordon]

I was always trained with wire nuts. When I transferred from Residential to Commercial Electric I was introduced to the Wago. They save time but if you don't make sure they are seated right they will fail. I always give a tug test when I use them just to make sure they are gripping good. And I'm sorry but if you can't look at the wago and see that how big or small they are then you shouldn't be in the trade. 1/2" is a pretty good gauge when you strip the wire to put in the wago

[steelersman]

They save time but if you don't make sure they are seated right they will fail. I always give a tug test when I use them just to make sure they are gripping good. And I'm sorry but if you can't look at the wago and see that how big or small they are then you shouldn't be in the trade.

What do you mean by looking at them to see how big or small they are? Why do you need to see how big or small they are? I don't have any experience with them other than the ones from the factory that come with the halo cans (orange wagos) but I don't see where this comes into play.

[LarryFine]

I was always trained with wire nuts.That's funny; I don't remember seeing you there. :D

1/2" is a pretty good gauge when you strip the wire to put in the wagoI usually use the thickness of my Kleins as a stripping gauge.

[peter d]

I usually use the thickness of my Kleins as a stripping gauge.

I don't need a stripping gauge because I can do everything with laser beam precision by eye. 8-)

[Mr. Wizard]

I don't need a stripping gauge because I can do everything with laser beam precision by eye. 8-)

That's what the guy at the repair shop told me while I was dropping off my torpedo level to have it calibrated :grin:

[LarryFine]

I don't need a stripping gauge because I can do everything with laser beam precision by eye. 8-)

"We can rebuild him! We have the technology!"

[weressl]

One of my bigger gripes about them is that you need to skin the wire pretty accurately. At least with wire nuts, if you skin them too long, you can chomp off the whole bundle to the right length with your pliers. Not much tolerance with the Wago's.

In general, equipment engineered in EU mainly follows German engineering practices. German engineering practices rely on 'meisters' - highly trained craftsman that (used to) superwise all installations. They also have elaborate training and instructions.

As you say Wago has little tolerance for error in installation and relies on the skill of the ionstaller for proper fuctioning. Equipemt engineered in the US - especially which can be in the hands of DIY also - has a much hoigher allowance for ignorent or inadvertent installation errors.

[BLACK4TRUCK]

Anyone know why Halo is using them in their recessed lights?? I would guess Cooper lighting.. the company that owns Halo. is going to start mass producing them.

[peter d]

Anyone know why Halo is using them in their recessed lights??

Probably because they are a selling feature, and selling features build value into a product (whether real or imagined) and value helps the bottom line.

[weressl]

Probably because they are a selling feature, and selling features build value into a product (whether real or imagined) and value helps the bottom line.

Yep, it is like cupholders.

[LarryFine]

Yep, it is like cupholders.That's true. I bought my computer because it came with two of them.

[cparrott1984]

One of my bigger gripes about them is that you need to skin the wire pretty accurately. At least with wire nuts, if you skin them too long, you can chomp off the whole bundle to the right length with your pliers. Not much tolerance with the Wago's.

It says BANNED under his name??? LOL