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Review on πŸ’‘ Wago 221 413 LEVER NUTS Conductor Connectors: Secure and Efficient Electrical Connections by Mike Bucher

Revainrating 5 out of 5

Only twisted electricians still use wire nuts

My daughter asks "What's gray, crusty and hanging from the ceiling?" Answer: Hobby electricians. Wiring 101: Basic tools for working inside an outlet: a regular screwdriver, needle-nosed pliers, wire strippers, a utility knife, pliers, and standard wire nuts. To mount the wire like a boss, also grab a wireless driver, a #1 square bit (switch/socket screws), a #2 square bit (socket/switch terminal screws), and some 3- and 5-wire (221-413 & 221-415) lever nuts Wago. I don't buy double stranded lever nuts because if there's only two wires in the box it's usually a socket and the stripped wires connect to the terminals. The rest of the time I use 3 wire nuts and leave the slot blank. I've also tried 773-164 (4-wire) compression nuts but rarely use them. They are more difficult to insert, are not compatible with braided wire, and require the wires to be cut to separate. If there's a chance I'll end up back in the box I'll be happier in the future, I used a 5 strand lever nut instead. Note: The correct way to attach a nut is to grab the stripped ends of the wire with pliers and twist them. stripped wires and a few inches of insulated part tightly together. It's really easy with the right tool. Twisting will join the wires and no nut is required to connect them securely. Then unscrew the swivel nut to insulate the conductor and ensure the tight braid connection is maintained. With these Wago connectors, the wires do not have to be twisted, but simply stripped and secured. Because all the wires are straight, it's usually easier to bend a few individual wires than a twisted bundle. When a braided wire is in the mix, individual levers for each wire are fantastically better than any other type of connector. Twist Nuts deform braided wire and often require more than one assembly for a secure connection. Lever nuts always work.

Pros
  • Quality construction
Cons
  • Requires outlet