Fulthrotl
~Autocorrect is My Worst Enema.~
- Occupation
- E
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
