Wago Connectors

I used them on my layout and they are excellent. No solder connection and it’s easy to join multiple wires together.

I have also discovered them recently. I have been using them for electrical work in my house and in my train room. They are awesome! So much easier than wire nuts. I read on the internet that you are not supposed to reuse them when using them for electrical work for the house. The cheapest I have found them is about 60 cents each on Amazon for a bag of 10. Of course higher quantities will yield a lower price. So worth it for the amount of time and labor they save. I never thought of using them for the actual train layout but that’s a great idea. Thanks!

I bought the clone lever nuts from Amazon, and they were used for all my layout power wiring.  They work great, and it was way easier to wire with those than soldering or crimp wiring, and you can change wiring easily as well.

@Hudson J1e posted:

I read on the internet that you are not supposed to reuse them when using them for electrical work for the house.

I have no idea why you wouldn't reuse them if necessary given their operation.  Of course, you can't always believe what you read on the Internet.   There are also several different types of Wago nuts, the lever nuts and the push-in nuts, so you have to be specific as to which type you're talking about.

Key to proper use, of these connectors, is a clean cut/shear end to the wire, that is not flared or bent.  IMO, designed for solid wire, residential use.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I bought the clone lever nuts from Amazon, and they were used for all my layout power wiring.  They work great, and it was way easier to wire with those than soldering or crimp wiring, and you can change wiring easily as well.

I have no idea why you wouldn't reuse them if necessary given their operation.  Of course, you can't always believe what you read on the Internet.   There are also several different types of Wago nuts, the lever nuts and the push-in nuts, so you have to be specific as to which type you're talking about.

 

You’re right John. Not being an expert I figured best to play it safe and not reuse them for house electrical wiring but I didn’t really know for sure. Just that some you tube guys said it wasn’t code to reuse them and obviously they weren’t talking about train layouts. I would reuse them for the train layout wiring as much less likely to cause any trouble if something did come loose. I forgot there were different kinds. The ones I was talking about is the one on the right in your image above.

I saw mention of a special tool to remove the wiring from this one, I suspect that's needed to get the wire out.

Genie 33996 Screwdriver, but it appears that you could ad-lib with any small tip screwdriver.

There's a new smaller version of the Wago connector with a clear plastic body and orange levers.

I have found that I can get the non-lever types off with a twisting motion. The wire will come out gouged up though. They are great if you have an older house with shallow electrical boxes since they take up less space. They do not work on stranded.

You can find cheap Chinesium knock offs of all three types on fleabay and aliexpress . I would not use them on my house wiring. I have not bought any knock offs, worried I would grab the wrong one in a hurry.

Well... this is timely!  I need some of these.  Has anyone tried the *Levered* connectors

@Dennis-LaRock posted:

Well... this is timely!  I need some of these.  Has anyone tried the *Levered* connectors

I used these on my layout, no issues at all and they seem very solid for connections.  I used both the 3-connection and 5-connection types.

XHF 50 Pcs 222-413 Conductor Combination Compact Wire Connectors

Using this connector on sanded wire I have learned if you tin the wire it will go into the connecter much easier than just twisted stranded wire. I had a very tough time trying to push the twisted strand wire in did nit want to stay stiff enough. I am open to any suggestions that will keep me from having to tin the wire first GRJ!

I'm pretty sure tinning the wire for connectors like this is not a good idea.

https://www.eptac.com/ask/when...n-and-not-tin-wires/

A quote from the page above.

"The reasoning behind not tinning the wire is, if the wire is tinned, when the screw closes down on the wire, it would break the solder joint and leave an opening within the strands, which can be susceptible to vibration, loosening and corrosion. By not tinning the wire, you can get a better gas tight joint."

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I used these on my layout, no issues at all and they seem very solid for connections.  I used both the 3-connection and 5-connection types.

Ordered!  Bought the 3 & 5 connectors... Thank you John!

I've been using these.  They come in 2, 3, 4 and 5 pole terminal strips.  each pole has 4 connector positions, 2 on each side of the strip.  They can be mounted thru a hole in the center of the strip, I just cannot recall the screw size or length.  Just to know that it takes a little bit of effort to compress the contact.  Do an internet search for WAGO 862-532 for the 2 pole, 4 position.