7 FATAL Wiring Mistakes Most DIYers Don't Know They Are Making | Most Are Guilty of 3
In this video I cover some of the biggest, most common, and potentially dangerous mistakes that people make when connecting electrical wires together. We are going to look at the mistakes of using wire nuts, wagos, and the wiring itself. Then I will show the correct ways each should be done and some better practices.
🧰 Products In The Video 🧰
Klein Combination Bit: amzn.to/40QiwxB
Klein 11 in 1 Magnetic Screwdriver: amzn.to/40EhXHK
Milwaukee ECX 13 in 1 Screwdriver: amzn.to/3U359bq
Milwaukee ECX Insert Bit: amzn.to/3U359bq
Wago 221 Assortment Pack: amzn.to/3KnYdSH
Ideal Tan Wire Nuts: amzn.to/3zkx4Ki
Klein Non Contact Voltage Tester: amzn.to/3zoWM0a
Klein MM700 Multimeter: amzn.to/3M8Tndt
Klein Wire Strippers: amzn.to/42VwWye
Klein Lineman Pliers: amzn.to/42YPUUE
🎥 Related Videos 🎥
Biggest Mistakes Made While Wiring Light Switches: • The BIGGEST Mistakes D...
Biggest Mistakes Made When Wiring Electrical Outlets: • The BIGGEST Mistakes D...
Shocking New Way To Extend Short Wires: • "SHOCKING" New Way to ...
ALSO, here is our How To Home Amazon Store, where you can find many of the tools, items, and shirts I use and wear in my videos! amzn.to/3mcqu1E
My KZhead Filming and Editing Gear: amzn.to/3kqqkGl
Thank you for watching and for subscribing. You can support the channel at no cost to you by using one of the above affiliate links. This helps support the channel for new content!
Blessings,
Adam
How To Home assumes no liability for damage or injury. How To Home highly recommends using proper safety procedures and professionals when needed. Our content is for entertainment purposes only. No information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not How To Home. How To Home will not be held liable for any negligent or accidental damage or injury resulting from equipment, tools, electrical, fire, electronics or any items contained in this video. Attempt projects and repairs at your own risk.
Be honest, how many of these did you catch yourself doing or have done in the past? I think at some point just about everyone has committed at least a few of these at some point.
I remember that I overloaded a couple wirenuts wiring up some outlets in my parent's house. But I was pretty good at checking them before closing it up and in 40 years since the house never burned down. After that I learned the proper way to do things and while not a professional, I do all my own work and help friends as well. I have an assortment of wirenuts of different sizes and just started to use the Wago style connectors.
@Tim Rock-It Saunders Agreed , All these are Bullshit ..
@Tim Rock-It Saunders wire nuts aren't junk. Actually quite an intelligent design, if you take the time to understand them. Use the right size for the application, follow the strip length and pre-twist, then cut the ends flush with each other before installing the nut. A solid, compact, durable connection never intended to be used in anything that moves. Bus bar in a switch box? How are you going to do that? crimp nut? want to add a pigtail? How are you going to do that? think about it.
Trying to join stranded to solid, mostly for light fixtures. Especially, as is typical, when the stranded from the fixture is so very much smaller than the 14 or 12 gauge solid. Now I exclusively use Wagos for that.
😊😊😊😊😊
Hi professional European electrician here. Wire nuts are pretty uncommon here, indeed I´ve never seen one in use here. The WAGOs are really hard to open, I can´t imagine that this could happen by accident. (theoretically when you pull in backwards direction only.) And all the information you need to know is printed on them: Voltage, current, wire style, AWG, cross section, even the strip length (as picture for the true length and also as number). Additionally the same information huge on the paper box. So if you are able to read...they are pretty safe. They even have a hole to check voltage without the need to open the connection. Tests show that they are more safe than screwd junctions and as soldered junctions.
Ja die wagos sind echt gut im Vergleich zu dem was es vorher gab
they are everywhere in sweden, i moved from denmark to sweden and had never seen them before, i dont use them my self think they are outdated
@@bikerpumbajh8108 the wagos of the wire nuts?
I don't think we'll ever se wirenuts used in Europe or the Nordic countries. I use Wago's too or the normal single or double screw block thingies. I prefer the 2773 in most cases where no stranded wires are used - but they are a bit of a bitch to take of sometimes. The 221 are multipurpose, but i feel they can easely open and they are very brittle if a painter has been there, and you can't really reuse them as the levers brake easely..
@@Hemshemsems The levers break easily?? What? I've never encountered that.
I love the WAGOs. Your starter frame just shows, "Bad" and points to the Wago which would lead people to think they are a bad option when they are really a great option and probably the safest option for beginner \ DIYers who would make some of the other mistakes you pointed out with the twist caps. Thanks for the videos.
In the video you see what the bad is pointing at with the Wago.
Wago is bad.
@@Faruk651 pretty generic response. Why bad?
@@NBSTL68 Because.
@@Faruk651 WAGO's make a better connection, are easier to use and have far less chance of falling off than wire nuts
Really appreciate how straight forward, concise, and knowledgeable you are!
Professional electrician here. I've worked in many houses and commercial buildings. My company does everything with WAGO. It grips the wire really well, it's really easy to make a proper connection and tests show it can handle electric issues much better than any other connectors. We use wire strippers to get perfect amount of wire isolation removed. I never faced the issues pointed in this video.
I've dealt with too many of those jab outlets with the same mechanic for making a connection. I'm not saying you're wrong, just that I personally would rather twist wire to wire and then add a wire nut or heat shrink for at least the next ten years. If those in wall wagos start to fail by then, even if it's only one in the ten to twenty range, I don't see it as worth the hassle long term. I might use these in applications where I can see the wires and don't need to knock a wall open in the meantime though.
WAGO made in a Chinese garage is not preferable!
WAGO is made in Germany.
WAGO is made in Germany.
WAGO is made in Germany.
DIY guy here.... Never had any of the shown issues with the WAGOs. If you have concerns with the levers or little space in a box, there are lever-less connectors as well (which work with solid wires only). 👍🏼
I've met fools who use them "successfully" with stranded in those push contacts. Never underestimate the DIYer with a vision and confidence.
@@RolandsDad so true! i have seen so many strange diy things in the 20 yeears of beeing an electrician in germany :D
@@RolandsDad I don't know much about these connectors, but you seem to have a strong opinion about it. What is wrong with using stranded wire with these?
According to Wago they work with wires that has few strands (and solid ones as well). There might be two types. The Wago 2773 can use wires with few strands but the Wago 2273 seems to be for only solid wires.
@@danielwurmer2266 They rely on pushing force to load the retaining springs. With stranded wire, you cannot deliver sufficient pushing force without getting the strands messed up. It's like trying to penetrate without erection. Surely, by luck you may get a few of the strands into the spring-loaded contacts, working until the few connected strands get overloaded by the current meant to be distributed between all strands of the wire... Exceptions may be the wires with just a few, solid strands, sturdy enough to deliver the pushing force.
Never had any issues with Wago's! Easy to use, much faster to connect than using wire nuts!
And not as secure and not as conductive. Watch the video by Ideal. 2 wires into a red connector. I think the nut can hold a hundred lbs.
@@jamescole3152 Why does it need to hold on to 100 lbs ?? I believe/know.. yep, female ^retired now^ electrician here) that Electric wires aren't ment to hold even close such weights..
@@mademoisellekaya1438 meant to hold != can hold; obviously the statement is simply suggesting that a good wire nut is simply more secure. Also, I noted you didn't address the conductive point.
@@cwtrex Why should I have to go into the conductive point. That was not my point. I am from the generation that threw away those darn wire nuts, the first female Electricians in the early 90's . And no, not French as may the name suggest. And yeah, European.
@@mademoisellekaya1438 But WHY did you throw them away? The point here is supposedly wire nuts (good ones that is) have better conductivity and holding strength. You haven't made a single point as to why you would throw them away or why you would disagree. And I don't understand what anything else you've said has to do with anything relating to those points other than distract from them. Not sure if you are simply looking for a high five or whatever, but I am more interested (regardless of your background) as to why you might disagree with the point that was made.
I've been watching vids in preparation for installing a pendant - and then to figure out why it didn't work (lol). Huge problem with a lot of them is that the person talks through what they're doing BUT they don't show close ups. "Then you twist the wires into..." but showing the guy saying that instead of the wires so you have no idea what they actually did or what it should look like. This video cleared up about 10,000 (okay - hyperbole - but after all of these vids it feels that way!) questions and misunderstandings in less than 15 minutes. Just wish I'd found this one first! Great job.
Been in the electrical industry for 25 years, last 20 being heavy industrial. We started using the WAGO connectors a couple of years ago and they are a much better option than wire nuts. We still have a use for the wire nuts in certain applications but we always tape them up as well.
I love Wagos, they are fantastic especially when you are on a ladder trying to terminate a fixture with one hand. If you are not convinced, they are German engineered and I have been using them for decades and never had one fail.
I agree. The older Wago 222's were quite bad, but obviously still better than wire nuts, however the Wago 221's are just amazing. Been using them for around seven years.
Wago 2273-205 is perfect for permanent install, not 221
@@stijnvandamme76 I am just going to respectfully disagree with you on this. I love the 221 and they work and last well.
I'd say both are great, just different purpose
I had a Volkswagen and it was German “engineered” to cost me a fortune. Had to basically take the engine out to change a light bulb. Whatever a repair cost on a decent car cost 4X that for a VW. Thing was always in the shop. German engineered is trash. I’ll stick with 3M. Best products in the world.
The Wago levers are pretty hard to lift and unless you pull the wires and the level catches on a cover edge or something, there is no way it's opening by a little jostling. (Assuming you chose the right Wago size for your wires etc.) Clamping the levers down manually does nothing to the spring force inside the Wago. The wires are held in place by a spring and lifting the lever by half a millimeter, or whatever play there is, does nothing.
I might be a derp but I just bought my first set of wago connectors and had this exact thing happen to me. I caught it immediately and rectified before continuing to stuff the wires in the box but a little electrical tape will probably go on my future connectors just to simplify. Especially for my application with smart switches - things get tight REALLY quickly.
@@RussSchampersyeah trying to install smart switches right now and holy hell they take SO much space.
ive used tons of wagos and they work so great. never had one do anything. i can see the tape the levers helping.
This adds a good layer of robustness. I usually try to pre-twist, but with this explanation I feel a greater necessity for this level of detail and I shall improve my method. Thanks!
It's great that WE don't make these mistakes but thank you for posting this kind of stuff because maybe you'll save a DIYer's life! Great stuff! Details matter.
The Wagos are experiencing the same resistance as PEX , shark bites and pVC did with plumbers. I have been using the stab in Wagos and now the lever locks for years and never had a problem. You should probably put the line feed wire in the labeled lever chamber as good practice and always pull on the wires to be sure they are seated. As a bonus , the Wago lever types have a small probe hole if you need to check for voltage or continuity. Like anything ,you have to do a little research and reading and follow the directions.
I needed something for making quickly temporarily connections during renovation, so i tried wagos because that was quick and reusable. I did not feel resistance. I only felt like why this didn't exist when i was young,? Now my lighting circuits are all connected with wago and if i feel like reconfiguring or adding something, i can do it in minutes without even switching off the electricity. For the outlets i don't use wago though. For that i still use the same massive 5 pole screw terminal as 40 years ago. It's still 100% mount compatible, only made of cheaper materials now and the machining of the copper is not so clean as 40 years ago. But ok it became cheaper for the same functionality. Anyway, i bet wago will also still be there in 40 years.
It is what you are comfortable to work with. I have been using shark bites and wagos for years and my house is still in one piece (no flood/burning).
Years ago there was so much hate around shark bites, I am SO GLAD I used them for my recent water heater change. Professionals might mind the extra cost over convenience for things like shark bites and wago connectors, but for DIY it's all cheaper than hiring someone to do it for you.
Because wagos, like pex and shark bites are lazy assed contractor in and out crap. Fast and convenient for them, but a pain in the ass for the home owner at 2am when your shark bite lets go or your dumb pex takes a piss inside your walls.
@@steverich136 What are you talking about, I've never seen contractors using anything but the cheap wire nuts because they care more for low cost over convenience. Sounds like you're talking about an incompetent contractor.
Just an FYI... those Ideal Tan wire nuts fit right in the 5/16th socket driver on a typical 10-in-1 screwdriver. really saves the fingers when trimming out a house and you're doing dozens of wire nut connections.
This was invaluable advice to aid me in installing a smart light switch in my kitchen. I struggled to the point of giving up for more than a year because of the three solid wires I'd need to join to the stranded wire of the light switch for the neutral connection. The Wagos really helped with this.
Good timing for asking for a thumbs up. I see people asking for this right at the beginning. I'm not giving a thumbs up until I've watched your video. Others won't ask at all and I'll forget this helps you and costs me nothing. Happy to give you a thumbs up after explaining two solid core wires.
Learning this in hobby electronics as a kid makes these lessons seem like common sense but it's AMAZING WHAT YOU FIND IN THE WILD.
Rule 1: never trust whoever did the electrical work before you 😂
Thanks for the tips. Just when you use the piers to twist the cable together, make sure that you twist it the same direction as you would twist it with the wire nut. Otherwise, the twisting done later by the wire nut, may untwist the previous twisting you have done before.
3:52 pre twist those wires first.
In the correct direction, of course.@@danlux4954
@@danlux49540:40
Never pretwist never had a problem
I remember being a first year and they asked if I twisted or spliced the wires... well gee what's the difference? I could tell you making the twist below the nut was a no no in the residential commercial jobs I was part of. The secure mechanical electrical connection was to be at the conductors contact as a pre twist could potentially unravel. As an apprentice I didn't argue. Stop thinking about it and get it done some would say. That wire nut should not come off after a test tug. Try it on some spare wire first because some wire nuts can be faulty. Of course you can't re use the the one you tested but the rest should be uniform.
Thanks so much for such an explicit step by step Video instructions on proper wiring techniques! It helped a lot, especially the tip to keep the stranded wire slightly longer than the solid wire because that’s what I encountered with my house wiring and my new light fixture! I appreciate your help in allowing me to do this myself! The only extra tip that no videos or written instructions in the box itself included for installation of a light fixture was to adjust the back screw on the bracket that holds the screw caps to secure the fixture to the wall/box to be long enough just to accommodate the washer and screw cap. I had to learn the hard way after wiring everything and securing to the wall only to have too much space/slack to tighten it tight against the wall. That’s it, no big deal just more time, which it started to rain so I had to hurry! Thanks again, Christine
I love your mention of the WAGO connectors. I started using them in industrial work several years ago because you never know when you might need to move, remove, or update either a circuit or a heavy device like a motor. I've seen more than enough stranded wire just totally messed up and continually shortened by using wirenuts. The result is usually inadequate wire available for solid contact.
Absolutely! Wire Nuts versus Wago's is a "no contest" for me. Wago's are head and shoulders better than wire nuts will ever be even if properly used they way they need to be. Too many times I have seen the "professional" install of wire nuts on my jobsites and it just makes me cringe!. In all fairness I am sure the wire nuts we done as a "repair" and not part of the original install so probably not inspected for code.....but....doesn't matter. Wago's are now main stream as well as HD carries them. Best Tip...only buy actual Wago's: not the knock offs you can find elsewhere...
Thanks for the tips! I'm new to these.@@hansmanschaft2593
WAGOs are a godsend to industry. makes the work easier, safer and faster
As a new home owner with zero electrician training, your videos are a godsend. Thank you.
Thanks for the tips and the 'trips' and especially for the Wago connectors, which I just purchased for the first time. Your video is very effective in communicating and not just telling. Years ago when I was a helper for a 'would be' electrician who thought he knew everything, we (he) did a lot of jobs that left potential problems behind. Hopefully none of the buildings burned down!
I just had an electrician out to do a 240w EV install and to troubleshoot a breaker that keeps tripping. I think you may have just helped me solve my DIY and the trip issue. Thank you. Most helpful! P.S. He replaced the breaker and offered to come back to help further if it continues to trip. Great guy.
I wrap some electrical tape around my diy wire nuts before putting it in the box. Use tape around outlet connections also.
@@billneurohr8509sounds really sketchy
I have found wirenuts in walls remodeling that were actually split open. One had 12 gauge wires in it like you demonstrated, but rather than change the nut they added a couple outlets by undoing that nut and cramming another 2 wires in. It was hilarious, and a bit scary. Side note: I ripped every wall down, and redid all the wiring properly. It's odd, but I enjoy waking up not on fire. I'm just weird that way.
"I'm just weird that way." you missed a perfect opportunity to say "I'm just wired that way."
Thanks for explaining
You should never find wire nuts in a closed wall. That’s a code violation.
Damn straight it is! If you were in a situation of passing an inspection by an NEC officicial you're gonna eat that job when it has to be ripped out and done to code@@crosisofborg5524
Poor quality of the wire nuts. Or the electrician...
I started my apprenticeship 5/91. The journeyman i tooled with taught me to pre twist the wires and to put the stranded wire just past the solid one. Over 3 decades later I'm still doing it with success. I've just come across the Wago and plan to use them for connecting control valve wiring on a job this summer. Great video my late tool buddy would give it a thumbs up.
@Sheila Walker does your brother have an Electrcaul license?
@@gnaskinyAnWinyan Ummm, NO. Tape just ends up a gooey mess. The only time you MUST tape a wire nut is if there is some odd requirement from the AHJ. Wire nuts installed correctly are what the NEC calls for.
@@uisignorant Imagine being the electrician getting the approved electrical designs that say "All wire nuts must be taped in place where they cannot be removed without first removing the tape."
I have been doing DIY wiring since circa 1955 and am prepping for my final rewiring of an old house. I am sure I am guilty of the mistakes you illustrate. I will be doing a much better (and safer) job this time, thanks to you.
Mr Brexton, I was born in 1955, if you were 18 then, you would be 85, are you certain you want to re-wire a house at your age?
@@henryjames8654 It beats not having any electricity. PS I am only 81 :)
@@henkerj are you old enough to know what a "ding-batter" was? I didn't start pulling wire until 1981, so you have a few years on me. Good luck with your project.
Get right on that next job …you’re bound to burn a home down sooner or later 😂
@@gan1440 Piffle, I gave up on homes years ago, I specialize in commercial property.
Great video! Yup -- seen these issues and early on made them - but realized it and fixed and learned to do it correctly the first time. I realized early on that the wire nuts without metal inside don't grip so I bought packages of different sizes just to have them. When I changed out barn lights for LED tubes, bought boxes of wire nuts and found the crappy ones were used originally. I haven't used the two terminal connector shown. Will get some. I don't like wiring as it always seems too much is crammed in the boxes. So, it is nice to know how to do it correctly the first time and NOT create a fire hazard.
Nice and clear explanations. Thank you. I was taught by an electrician to wrap the finished connection with electrical tape as an extra measure.
A lot of this video mistakes are why I stopped using wire nuts and prefer WAGO connectors, they work great and are way easier to get a good connection. Of course you still have to strip the wires according to the strip guide. A word from the wise, dont trust any knock offs of the wago connectors. The cheapos have very poor contact area on the wire and small levers that are harder to operate. Great educational video and you covered the topics very well ! Good work.
No reason to use wire nuts anymore. However so far I have seen 2, 3 and 5 pole Wago connectors, but recently I would have liked to have a 10 pole. The reason is that the cable I was installing had both a shielding and a separate protective ground wire and they can be wired together at each end. The cable has the quite complex designation S07Z1A5EZ1-U but is more known as EQLQ in Sweden and is very common for outdoor and industrial use. The shield can either be to just protect against penetration or used as a signal ground. But it depends on your specific use case.
Spent ten years installing and repairing cable. All the sizes for cutting the wires on the big stuff, 1/2 inch or bigger, was on the linemen's pliers. the wire sticking out the end of a standard fitting, used on tv, was the thickness of a nickel, or the size of the Klien lineman's pliers from the cutting side, the length of center conductor going into the amps on the telephone poles was the width of the pliers, etc. there was also one for the thickness of the pliers. I am curious if the stripping guide for the WAGO is on the lineman's pliers also, or maybe the width of your wire strippers, which could be brand specific. I know using the lineman's pliers to cut the lengths of the center conductor saved a lot of time so you didn't have to hold the wire, a fitting and the cutters all while 20' literally above traffic was nice, one less thing to have to hold when you were afraid of heights.
@@ehsnils I have a few inspectors that won't let me use wago in new construction residential. The reason is because failure is high. I have to pre twist and use proper size nuts, Wago doesn't use full contact area and become loose from degradation cycles and are commonly overloaded by H.O from vacuum cleaners to sump pumps, hvac motors, garage strings, exterior receptacle strings, hot tub\pool pump and other high amp items on 15 and 20a strings. Stab-backs and Wago (unless the 'lights' have built in Wago) are forbidden at my jobsites for fire safety and overload reasons. Every time someone makes a youtube video about connectors, it turns into a debate about Wag's. Well, let's not forget to include Stab-backs and surface area of connection to the subject. I've removed numerous fire hazard, burnt or overheated rotted Wago and stab-backs. Always pre-twist and trim tip, and use proper size cap. Always! Also replace old switches and receptacles to get rid of any stab-backs. Connect properly with screw and proper torque.
@@DevJB it´s the first time I´ve hear about problems with WAGOs. Correct usage provided. I´ve tried to find objective information. Could you please share some. Most - even USA - sites tell that WAGOs are more reliable than the twist ones. Whole Europe relies on WAGOs. Never heard of quality problems causing fire or so.
@@DevJB would you care to give the inspectors names so that we can verify with them that Wago connectors are not allowed due to high failure rate?
Great job on providing awareness and safety! One item not covered is the non-lever "Way-Go" which is typically used in the industry, especially since the lever model is still starting to gain popularity. But from a cost point (I have purchased >100K) the non-level is much more economical and has less chance of, as you stated, pushing the lever and releasing the wire. Another good point with the "Way-Go" is that you can test the voltage through the top holes without exposing yourself to any bare copper.
It's just wago.
While many of the previous comments state they've never seen the Wago open up accidently, I have. And you know what they say about Murphy's Law; If you say it won't happen it probably will sometime in the future. Simply wrapping a couple times with electrical tape to make sure they stay shut isn't all that hard an additional step IMO. Good info Adam. Thanks for putting this out there. And it's a great refresher video for those that don't do this everyday as a profession, etc. Thanks again.
Relly nice job explaining and editing. I've install many lighting fixtures, outlets etc... and have made some of the mistakes you pointed out!
All of these are great to know, and they follow a very important rule: A good electrical connection requires a good mechanical connection. This was hammered into my head when I started as a technician over 40 years ago, and it is still the #1 rule to follow.
A loose connection can cause arcing which can cause a fire.
Wow this was helpful. I have replaced a few lights in my house over the years and I just learned I've been installing the nuts wrong... I'll definitely be doing it correctly in the future thanks to this video.
Excellent presentation. Great information for the lay person. Wish every homeowner could see this video . I have been doing it wrong for years . I’ve been lucky so far in my 35 plus years of home repairs. I always use electrical tape around the wire nut and the wires. Thanks for the great information !
I do as well, especially if it is outside and especially if it is in a large service box with other connections.
Thank you for sharing...Converting a large shop / garage currently with 2 tube fixtures R17D ( 8 ft 110 W F96T12/CW/HO-O to 45 W R17D LED adjustable and rotatable ) Removed the ballast and used Wago connectors where possible -- made a job easier neutral to tombstones at one end and live to other and put covers back on and intall LED tubes and let there be lLIGHT -- 💡
Very helpful, thank you very much. I've done the wire-nut things too often, but I've had the common sense to wrap all my connections up with electrical tape. Thus far no fires or equal, but I'll be sure to double check my connections and redo them when I get the chance.
I rarely use electrical tape, but I make sure the wire nuts are inside the nut.
I just commented the same. Electrical tape for extra safety
As an electrician, I appreciate your video. It has good and accurate information and highlights some of the DYI mistakes many home owners make. Those mistakes keep me in a job however:)
This is a good video. A lot of people really make these errors and don’t understand what they did wrong. Thank you for this video. It’s wonderful.
Thank you for helping to make buildings safer and for improving installation work.
I am a big fan of Wago connectors so I keep getting hooked in every time I see Shots like yours with a "BAD" pointing at the WAGO. I always know it will be too much or not enough insulation, but you get me to watch... just in case.
Love your vids. Could we have a video on what to do for the error codes on the outlet tester?
Was just watching your video randomly, and I think you just solved my 60v at an outlet issue. Thank you.
Best use of the KZhead platform. I'm sure you've saved someone some heartache. Well done.
I always do the tug test, I was going to mention making the stranded longer, but you already had it in the video. Well done sir.
Really glad to hear you liked it! Thanks a lot for the feedback!
All good tips! I have learned to ALWAYS pull on those wires, even if I’m pretty sure the wire nut is on OK. Maybe one slipped. That stranded to solid is super common when people add outdoor lights, and the stranded wire on that new motion sensor light may be as small as 18 gauge, while your 20 amp lighting circuit is 12 gauge solid. Thanks for a useful video.
And Wago make connectors specially designed for the scenario of a mix of stranded and solid connectors.
Great Advise! I was always taught to use my lineman's and pull & twist then screw the wire nut. I just bought some of the Wago for the first time and for some reason I felt the need to wrap them with electrical tape. Maybe my old school training and seeing too many things happen when you don't do things right. I also screw in my receptacles and switches instead of using the quick connect and I do wrap the contacts with electrical tape as well
My problem with this is electrical tape is horrid stuff. It does what you need when you need it, but if I ever have to change a fixture or some wires, I have to take apart that sticky garbage and now it's all over my fingers and ... god I hate electrical tape. I don't think there's anything else I hate as much that I still use from time to time.
Love your videos man. The one about 3 way switches helped me fix my wiring for 3 way light switch.
Wagos are awesome...been using them for years with absolutely no issues....I will continue to use them.
As an electrician. Legally the wires should be twisted with pliers, twist pliers, and then cut with side cutters and cut the tip at a 45-degree angle. that's the rule. . Thanks though for mentioning how real electricians do it. Good for the average handyman. Don't twist the wires when you have a solid and a stranded. Keep tention on both wires when applying a wire nut.✌
NEC 110-3b = Read and follow manufacturers instructions. Waste time pretwisting if you want but this guy is correct.
Subscribed! Very useful videos with an Unparalleled level of detail to safety. Although I took electrical courses decades ago in high school, this makes a great refresher for me and also covers things that have changed. I have been forced into becoming a DIY guy since the cost of living in my country has skyrocketed.
Very good info. Everyone should watch this even if you know how to do it the correct way. It never hurts to refresh your knowledge base.
I'm an electrician in the UK, we use Wago connectors a lot these days and have virtually zero problems with them, they are pronounced 'Vaaaygo', I think it's German. I have seen a 'wire nut' only twice in my whole career, back in my apprenticeship, they were used for lighting circuits only, back when we had rubber cables in the 50's and 60's! I remember they were small and ceramic. They are now illegal for use in the UK (for the last 40 years at least) and rightly so.
I've been using wire nuts for 40 years. Have a shop with 40 electricians. never had a problem. There engineered to work and work perfectly.
In Switzerland we use Wagos. In 15 years, I've never seen a single wirenut in use. I heard, something similar is used here in high explosive areas, but the connections are soldered underneath as well. When i did electrical work in the US, it was very odd seeing this type of connection. It reminded me of very old installations in Switzerland, where multiple wires are connected with one screwed connection. Wagos are quicker and wires can be connected or removed individually. We often use Wagos, that don't have that lever, wires can just be stuck inside.
Wow Ive been using those wagos wrong by not knowing how much ive stripped off for a good connection testing with the probe thinking good, but now it makes sense why some of my lights dont work like they should. Thanks time to check them again.
Great video. Thanks for the reminder on how to properly use wire-nuts. In the walls next to my washing machine, I twisted the wires as you stated, then I soldered the connections, then I crimped a Closed End Splice Connector over them & finally used electrical tape over them. It may be overkill, but I feel it is better safe than sorry, since my kids continue to overload the washer & it dances around on the floor bouncing against the walls.
and you still did it wrong. all those splices in your walls should be in accesable boxes
You way over did it, but it is worth it, if it makes you sleep better.
Here's a tip for you, use Wago 221 connectors and be done in literally 10 seconds.
Great videos, thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge!👍
You are very welcome! Really glad to hear you liked it. Thanks a lot for the feedback Denis!
I've done a lot of wago usage, never ever did the leavers open while pushing them into a box. Also for boxes you often use the wago without levers. Same as the wire nuts, you have to use them how they are intended. Then they are safe and much nicer to use.
he sure seemed to trash the Wago's. Personally, I only work with them if possible. I use them all the time.
@@jstone1211 I agree. Now when you buy light fixtures (such as LED pot lights) they come with Wago clips instead of wire nuts. It's the future for sure. One thing he didn't say in this video is that those Wago clips are rated for current and voltage (in his case 20A/300V Wagos were used - written on the side of the Wago clip).
@@joireland just like everything, there is a use/place to use them. key is knowing the when/where. I will use them on 15A lighting circuits but not on the 20 amp receptacles although they are rated 20 amps...just my personal preference. I usually take the conservative approach....
@@jstone1211Most electricians are slow to change. In the UK you only see Wago connectors (hard to find those old wire nuts anymore - especially in Germany). Something you probably didn't realize based on your comment. There's 30A Wago clips called Wago 221-612. You can also get 3 connector (Wago 221-613) and 5 connector (Wago 221-615) variants. For the 5 wire variant you can also leave some of the connectors empty and still pass code.
@@joireland thanks I will get a few to try...great sharing info from across the pond. Here in America, all hell is breaking lose so...hard to tell if we will make it another five years.
Thanks. Great tutorial. I learned a lot
Thank you! Very Helpful! I'm rewiring my old home, & appreciate your tips!
You are very welcome! Really glad to hear it was helpful. Thanks a lot for the feedback!
The Wago connectors come in different sizes to suit different wire gauges. If you use one that is too small for the wire gauge, then it will cut the wire, as shown in the video. You just have to make sure that the right size is used for the right wire.
@@gary851 You talk nonsense.
@@gary851 I work industrial and a lot of oil field clients are making wagos standard.
@@gary851 So wrong. These are standard in so many commercial buildings now. You just have to use the right ones, with the right wires, in the right places.
@@DansDrives exactly. I used them on all the high voltage lighting 12 years ago. The push in kind not the lever kind, but it made working on live circuits much safer, and any facility electrician knows there's no other way to get it done at times. Now on my military jobs they always required terminal strips. I wonder if these wago connections would be ok. Would have made the job much easier...
@@beentheredonethatoriginals5673 The push in kind is very good for solid strand conductors I hear. Mechanically it's about the same as the levered model but there's no easy way to get the wire back out.
Great Video. I hate using wire nuts for anything. I normally twist them as you show but i always use electric tape to be certain they will never come apart. I know never say never but it greatly reduces the chances. I have never used the lever type but I like your Idea of using tape also with those. I am no more than a DIY'er but I am extremally concerned with the potential for fire. I mostly do this wiring in my own garage and sometimes in my own home. I just hate wire nuts and even worse with stranded and solid. But I feel a lot more confident now that I have watched this video and of course I have read the packaging none the less I feel much better about using the regular wire nuts. And in addition I do not use the cheap ones that come with anything. Always IDEAL is my choice. Especially pig tailing. Great video. Thank you and I will try the clip on ones at some point. I would guess they are not cheap but for peace of mind what is expensive?
Just switch to Wagos. Thank us later.
Other guys channel showed even partially closed (improperly) they hold 20 lbs of force pulling on it. WAY more than it should ever see inside a box. 27 lbs when fully properly closed.
GREAT!! Thanks for the video. Side note, really like how you wait till part-way thru video before you asked for a thumbs up--you got mine!
As an electrical newb I found this very helpful, thank you.
I never heard of WAGO levers being opened accidentally. Only option I see is that the lever was never really closed in first place. BTW: when dealing with solid wires, you can also use the WAGOs with no lever, push in, let the spring do the securing. BTW: it looks as if you have taken off the insulation too much. Usually the WAGOs have printed the correct stripping length (usually 12mm) on the case. Wire nuts may have have their advantages and disdavantages, but I wonder if you really can connect 8 wires with drilling. No problem for a 2273 WAGO.
Spingo Wagos huh? Sounds like a fast eddy electrical fire in about 15 years to me. Don’t be a fast eddy.
I've had a wago lever pop open several times when doing rework on a crowded box full of twisted and wire nutted connections. Specifically, this has been in 3 and 4 gang switch boxes, with 4 and 5 conductor twisted/wire-nutted connections that are bulky and don't fold in well - especially when it's a box full of 12ga. I have not had this issue in an all wago box -- the conductors fold in much better without the thick twisted pigtail
Wago is no better than the "push-in" connectors on outlets or switches
@@jimbritttn - Great explanation! I'll counter with "Yes it is!"
I have been a DIYer since my dad made me do all of the work starting at age 10 or so. Most of the problems you stated are common sense and people making them have no business doing their own wiring... When people ask for me to do wiring for them I usually tell them to hire a professional though, because me wiring my house is one thing, but someone else's needs a person that is bonded.
To be fair, while the laws may be different where you are from, where I am, a non compliant household is the responsibility of the owner. Unless it was signed off by a registered person within about 2 years and no changes have been made to the installation since then, in which case they will be held responsible. This is why you get a professional to do it. If your house burns down it will be considered negligence on the owners part, even if they got a qualified person to do the installation but did not get a registered person to ensure it was compliant and sign it off as such.
Great video about using wire nuts for solid and stranded wires. I always use electrical tape wrapped around wires and wire nuts to be safe.
Your information is highly useful, and can prevent electrical failure and fires. Thanks 👍
You are very welcome! Really glad to hear you liked it. Thanks a lot for the feedback Bruce!
Great video. I recently had to deal with this issue, installing a ceiling light fixture. The cheap manufacturer only had about two inches of stranded wire protruded from the fixture making it very difficult to get your hands between the fixture pan and the ceiling box to connect the wires. Add pigtails to the solid core wire... then you have two more connections to potentially fail, plus would have been even harder to fit that extra solid wire in the pan, more stranded wire would be much easier. Wago's would have made the job much easier, but I haven't seen them sold in Canada... It seems like every product you buy these days is made with the absolute minimum and sometimes less than minimum amount of material, how much more would it have cost to have two more inches of wire, one cent??
These are great tips because they're probably what leads to most electrical fires in the first place. It's those little details that get us every time, so thank you. I subscribed today because your videos are great. You teach like you're just having a conversation with us. I was in Lowes on Friday and noticed Ideal is now making the Wagos-style connectors that are just the 'Push-In' type, along with the lever type. Not too sure about those 'Push-In' types, as I've had issues with wall outlets that had the push-in feature through the years.
Generally speaking I’d say one would really have to make glaring errors to start an electrical fire. Those top mistake la would be not having right connections, and putting 15 amp wire on a 20amp (or higher) breaker …. And even with those mistakes …. There still probably be no 🔥🔥 that being said I’m a stickler for the 2 rules I mentioned before. Ohhh 1 more ….. use the clamps in metal boxes ….and staple wire close to both plastic and metal boxes..
I agree, I don't trust them.
Thanks for the trick using изолента over the wago connector.
Excellent info! I never knew there was info on the back of the WAGOs. And that you had to strip the wire to the right measurement. Details! In fact, in electrical work, the motto is: Read the fine print. WAGO is a German company, and they make very good connectors. Pronounced VAH-GO in German. As for the wire nuts, I think I've made every single mistake you pointed out, ha ha! I really needed this tutorial. Thank you!!! ❤❤
Good tips along with common sense reasoning. Thanks!
As a retired electrician, I can say that I have never had a wire connection come loose, ever ! While I did use Ideal wire nuts (the non-winged version), I also used 3M brand wire nuts. OH... There's an inexpensive installation tool just for those wingless nuts...
I wondered about that from a pro's point of view. There are 10k of these videos like all wire nuts or connectors are on a moving ship and coming loose. I dunno, but probably should be 10k videos on how to drive more safely LOL then wire nuts and wago connectors that probably come loose 1 in 100000000 occurrences.
42 years in the trade and I'm 100% in agreement with you. I never had an issue with any brand of wirenut. 3-M or Ideal, they work everytime all the time. I also hear non electrical terms "solid core vs. stranded core" and "braiding. He just sounds like another WAGO salesperson.
I Agree .. Many of these videos are bullshit
How would you know if they ever came apart after you've left. A year down the track, and they wouldn't come looking for the original sparky (electrician)
🤣⚡️🤣⚡️🤣⚡️🤣🤣3 phase
Thank you for the information. I always try to learn something everyday.
Casting aside comments such as: "The Wagos are experiencing the same resistance as PEX," this is a really clear, confident and straight to the point type of presentation! - Growing up in Ireland, I am indeed familiar with [wire nuts] operating within the: 220 volt supply! I commend you for the no need for the completely unnecessary use of background music - and no distracting reference to the like of your gramma's crazy blue rinse rubbish...! Thank you for presenting something clearly worth my time and worthwhile in order to [allay my fears] of never getting things done right! *I am elderly and I e-mail the links to really good videos, links [such as yours] in addition to subscribing and hitting the bell for you!. Thank you very much Sir!
25 years ago I wired a 24 unit senior housing, apartment building. All connections were made with Ideal tan "Twisters" . I have never had a single call-back on a failed connection. I still use mini blue nuts and small orange ones, usually for lighting applications, but the tan "Twister" is my everyday nut. 30+ year master electrician....
Wonder why USA have one of the highest fires caused by electrical problems percentage...
and in the factory i worked at, with all kinds of extreme conditions wirenuts would untie themselves and fall apart. WAGOs didnt
And maybe they were installed improperly !@@TraktorTarzan
I'm glad I just watched this video. For 30 years I didn't pre-twist with the thought that it was correct but never confirmed it. Yesterday I decided to pre-twist when I installed a furnace motor. I have no idea why, maybe subconsciously doubting the process I had used for years considering I have never had any formal training and have heard electricians do it that way. Glad to learn my way is okay. My thought now is how long would I have pre-twisted if I hadn't watched this video. lol. Thank you! Edit: I forgot to mention how many of those mistakes I have made? All of them! Thank you for keeping homeowners safe!
It's better when twisted however if you have to take it apart hot(which I know as a electrician of 30 plus years never happens) those twists can make life tricky.
If you look on the packaging for the wirenuts, it’ll actually be printed whether you should pretwist the wires, or if it’s not required. I always pretwist my joints because there are less chances of joints coming loose. And to Brandon: yes, I am ALWAYS thankful the previous guy pretwisted the wires when I have to take a circuit apart hot.
For 30 years you never read installation instructions? I sincerely hope you only work on your own house and not in the general public
Your wiring connection technique is like Schrodinger's Cat. The wires are twisted, not twisted or partially twisted all at the same time until you go back and check them or one of them cause a fire.🙃
Thanks for the information. I know I have done several connections in a not so great manner.
This video really showed me some errors I have done over the years. Like many I have a jar full of wire nuts in various sizes. I will now be sure the wires have the twist.
Thank you so much for these tips. I am not a certified electrician, but I do a lot of my own electrical work at home. I am a believer in being safe and doing things the right way. I found all of your tips very helpful. Subbed, liked, and rang the bell! Thank you for sharing this information with us. Cheers, Dave.😎🤘
Doing prescribed electrical without a license is illegal in my country, im sure its the same for you ?
@markkennard861 nope. In the US most jurisdictions allow the homeowner to do their own electrical work. We have freedoms here.
Yea mate freedom is great but fires are not. NZ has 230v so twice the bang. Think home owners are allowed to change an outlet but that's where it stops. Any electrical work requires a certificate here.
@@markkennard861you must be Australian. Its nothing to do with safety and all to do with the ETU locking the industry down.
@@thericesquad Hi, close.. NZ. I guess im biased because in the 40 years in the trade iv never seen a wago in the field. I did see them on the shelf at the suppliers but I don't know a single electrician that would use them. Im going to get some and apply them as specified and them run specified current and see what happens. Looking at it from my prospective if you have two, three etc conductors to join then striping back, twisting and terminating into a suitable size strip connector under both screws is a no brainier. I don't mind admitting old dog new tricks scenario but why add cost to a job and more importantly you know its not going to fail and fry the customer in their sleep.
Thanks for helping DIYers with good tips! I've been DIYing for many years now. I've never did something without consulting first (especially that it's really easy now to get information compared to the pre-2000s). 10 years ago, I bought a late-70s house and the original owner was obviously a DIYer, but didn't have solid references to do things... and it shows. I keep on re-doing stuff (especially on the electrical side) as I come across them. No wire connectors at some places, no junction boxes, no ground wires in outlets, etc... I already have a head on the shoulders regarding the tips you're giving here because I am someone who's quite logical, plus I've consulted many videos in the past decades, but I still like to keep on re-confirming that my techniques are still on point and review them. Oh! And I can't overlook the superb french translation on the wire connectors package at 5m33s... Wire Connectors -> Télégraphier des Connecteurs 🤣 If any of you understands french, you know. 😄
Very informative. I’ve made these mistakes. Plenty of times. Thank you for bringing them up.
You are very welcome! I think if most people were honest, they would admit the same. Glad to hear you found value in it! Thanks a lot for the feedback!
Thank you very much I'm doing some repair work on some three-way switches I had mixed The travelers up 2 yrs ago when I didn't have a clue. Im fixing that today and any pigtails in going to connect properly
Good video. The number one place I've seen wire nuts come loose is in an attic. Numerous time on service calls I've found the heating and cooling cycle of the attic will loosen the connections made by DIY'ers adding lighting or ceiling fans. Poor wire connections (not twisted as shown) sometimes causes burning/melting of the wire nuts. As an apprenticeship instructor I always taught that you had to twist the wires and not rely on the wire nuts for the connections.
You are correct. Twist the wires to make the connection, the wire is used only to cover the connection.
Also when you twist the wires you triple the conductivity at that bridge in the wires, less likely to fault or overheat at that point …
A lot of great information here! Thanks for educating us, a lot of people don't know any better.
You are very welcome. Really glad to hear you liked it! Thanks a lot for the feedback!
Morning. Great video by an electrician for DIY'ers on proper way to connect wires in switches, outlets, light fixtures, etc. The end of the video covers the newer quick connect devices too (old school me don't like them.... chintzy shortcut.) 🤓
😊excelent video! My 40 years of safety, I have seen so many electrocutions, caused by these mistakes! Thx
Wire nuts have pretty much disappeared in Europe over more reliable and fast connectors that use springs. Lever Wagos and push connectors (wago 2773 for example) are just reliable and cut down installation time considerably. Lever wagos are more expensive, but they are used where stranded wire is needed. The thing that you might want to consider with these connectors is that spring-loaded connectors will not loosen due to thermal explansion. Any screw connector will loosen over time, and this can cause fires. The wire loosening completely out of the connector is actually not that dangerous. But wires loosening just enough to cause sparking is something that can cause fires. The wires heat up and eventually melt. This is why flame retardant plastics are used literally everywhere, and connections are done inside plastic or metal housings that contain the potential fire. The industrial automation sector is moving heavily towards spring-loaded connectors in all applications since most industrial machines experience heat variation and vibration.
It's great to hear a electrician be concerned about fire . I see so many of these you tube videos where guys go from the outside to inside, just drill a hole thrue the wall and pus the wires thru , I recomend to go up to fire department and ask About those dangers . Of causing a home to burn. Because they dont understand pipe . Hats off to you iam 35 years in ibew 134 and never 1 time used romex . Take care bro.
Those type of uncrimped wire-nuts are totally banned here in Australia, & I doubt that those Wago fittings are legal either as I've never seen them before! Screw-terminal blocks are the predominate & safest wiring method nationally!
@@stevie-ray2020 the issue with screw terminals is that they sometimes dont screw in properly, and sometimes they loosen over time. youd experience this quite frequently if you work in industry. Wago lever has a spring that completely solves this issue.
In my personal experience, which while not infinite does stretch back to the 1970s, I have never seen a professional electrician pre-twist wires. All I have seen is twisting the wire nut tight and then going until you have 2-3 twists in the wire. As you neatly demonstrate that produces essentially the same end result as the pre-twisting with a lot less time and effort. Getting the right size wire nut and the right amount of bare wire are going to be huge factors in how well they work. I haven't used wagos yet, but they are intriguing and will probably make an appearance in my next wiring project.
Yes, you should really try the Wagos. My whole house electrics are done with those. Most of the time with the ones w/o the lever, though. Easy to install, to measure (!) and to change.
pre twisting is the way to go. Anything that increases quality and safety is a win. Is everything you do a race? Good work takes time.
Pre-twisting is what we were taught in school. I'm sure this is done as requested from the professional field. Don't know how else you would weld 4 or even 5 wires reliably.
I’m a electrician, remember reading on wire it bags “twisting wires not necessary”
*Wire nut bags
I love the Wagos, but I still find myself using wire nuts more often; it's probably because I have thousands of them lying around, and they are cheaper. But in the UK, it's the other way around. If you know what you're doing, they both work great. What still amazes me is how many times I've opened up a wire nut and found what you pointed out.
Man I appreciate you thanks for sharing your experience respetivly with us who need it
Thanks for the Wago tip on incorrect stripping - I suppose I have been not careful enough to strip to the correct length (too short), as I have a roof window that works, and then doesn't...will check and see if the stripping is causing that. In any case it's good practice for the next project.
The correct stripping length is printed on an edge of the WAGO, so you don't even have to measure, simply put the wire next to the template printed on the cage.
Hvac tech/model railroader. I love the wagos. They're expensive but when you've got 3 or more conductors the 3 or 5 conductor levernuts are my favorite.
and you save the costs on wagos on being able to redo and join wires quicker. its soo much faster than wirenuts, especially when redoing something
@@TraktorTarzan Not having to stip back to beyond the twists must help. Every time you have to redo a wire nut you are losing cable length. With a wago you don't. I also don't like the idea that the cable is being strained/distorted when twisting it.
Great video and demonstrations so easy to understand and kept nice and simple. There is no distractions of back ground music and too much jargon going either. 👍
Great instructional video. It is good for killing what you think is obvious and face the mistakes you are making. Can't wait to see more.
Good video. I was confused by the thumbnail showing an "X" for the Wago connector. It suggests not using the Wago. The wire nuts are old technology and the Wago connectors perform really well and have shown to be intact well beyond their rated 20 amps, sometimes even up to 100 amps. Most of us have seen boxes jammed with wires and wire nuts that we dread modifying or working with. These take much more time and effort to work on and require extreme care to push the wires and wire nuts in. Using the 3 or 5 terminal Wago lever nuts and leaving 1, 2, or 3 of the connectors empty is a brilliant move to allow room for further modifications or expansion. Also, you can use them to allow just 2 single conductors to be connected to the receptacle or switch, which greatly simplifies congestion and the common difficulty of fighting to get everything back into the outlet box. Also, they can be used to pigtail the bare copper grounding conductors and simplify their use. Overall the Wagos, even the 5-terminal variety take up much less space in the box than the classic wire nuts. Taping the Wago connector levers closed is a really good practice. Also, when using stranded conductors, invest in a very inexpensive ferrule tool and different-sized ferrule assortment, I bought mine from Amazon and they are fantastic for handling the stranded conductors and creating a crimped, solid bonding surface for the Wago connectors.
would have appreciated a demo of 3 or more wires twisted with pliers. Definitely harder to do and I've caught myself using the nut to twist them. I at least reverse it to check and tighten with a pliers but not sure if that's the best method.
Helped me understand alot more about wiring cause I am no Electrician and work on a fixed income through SSDI and can't afford a Electrician to come fix my problems so I learn from videos like yours