WAGO lever connector build quality

As important as the product logo is where you bought them.  Logos can be easily forged.

Chuck

Interesting, I had no issues at all with the ones I used on my layout, there are several hundred of them under there.  I don't recall a single failure during the wiring.  I used them with everything from #14 through #24, no issues with any wire size I wired with them.

Maybe it's because it is a portable layout.  There is a lot of jostling.

Are you using tinned wires in them or un-tinned?

John

I’ve used them with no problem with various types of wire, but not under fastrack.

When did the OP mention the layout was portable?

I can't imagine why the layout being portable would affect the use, you shouldn't be yanking on the wires in any case.  I'm in a modular club, and we pack our modules around all the time.

The biggest internet sales platform on the planet is rife with foreign sellers offering counterfeit merchandise, as a previous poster alluded to.

@PRR1950 posted:

As important as the product logo is where you bought them.  Logos can be easily forged.

Chuck

Amazon.  They came in a Wago box as well.

John

Are you guys tinning the wires first?

John

Nope, I didn't tin any wires, and I can't imagine why that would be necessary.  The lever nuts clamp each wire individually, that's why they work on a wide range of wire sizes.

There is a metal spring clamp inside the Wago lever connectors that holds the wire. The lever only releases tension on the spring clamp inside the connector when pulled up. When a larger wire is inserted into the connector, there is slack on the lever. This does not mean that the wire would be loose.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Nope, I didn't tin any wires, and I can't imagine why that would be necessary.  The lever nuts clamp each wire individually, that's why they work on a wide range of wire sizes.

Maybe I am being too critical.  I was using XHF Compact Slicing Connectors in electrical boxes instead of wire nuts before this.  But for layouts they are too thick to fit under FasTrack.  The levers on the XHF really lock down hard by comparison. 

I am sure the WAGO lever connectors will be fine (with un-tinned wire to boot).

Thanks for the insight,

John

If you're trying to fit them under the Fastrack roadbed, I can see why it's a challenge.  The ones I used certainly wouldn't fit there, but I had a bit more room under the layout, it's 40" high!

@SteveH posted:

There is a metal spring clamp inside the Wego lever connectors that holds the wire. The lever only releases tension on the spring clamp inside the connector when pulled up. When a larger wire is inserted into the connector, there is slack on the lever. This does not mean that the wire would be loose.

OK.  I was expecting that the lever would stay all the way down at all times.

Thanks,

John

@gunrunnerjohn  The ones I have and I think Craftech has are the low profile versions (purchased in store at Menards in the electrical section):

They average about 0.32" thick (a hair over 5/16) and fit nicely under FasTrack roadbed if you avoid putting them under the rail tabs.

@Craftech If you need the levers to stay closed temporarily, a thin half wrap of tape should hold the levers down while you attach the roadbed to the base.

Yep, I had no need for low profile, so I opted for low price.

There's hundreds of Youtube videos, some stating they are junk and you should never use them, others say the next best thing and say good by to wire nuts.  They are approved for home wiring and UL approved.  I have not used them with stranded wire or the layout but have used them for the train room lighting fixtures.   I'll never go back to wire nuts.

If the levers are loose and popping up, could you cut a thin piece of electrical tape to wrap around and hold them in place semi-permanently ?

I've used them for my 220 volt timers in my pool box for more than a year.

Steve was right.  With the lever slightly popped up the wire is still secure.   So I won't worry about it.

I don't know about the WAGO connectors in an electrical box though.   The XHF connectors are much more robust:

John

I probably have about 40 or 50 wagos' installed at this point... 0 problems ...great when adding new power/ground feeds or when moving things about.  I swapped out a few crimped connections and most (if, not all) wire nuts in favor of wagos'.

For me, they are tough to close, so I can't imagine them popping open. Me thinks, the first response to the OP; fake copies. Buying from Amazon doesn't guarantee anything unless the seller is Amazon. I'm wiring my layout with Wago. As others have said, they are listed by UL.

I've used them bought them off a Ebay seller.  Used them to wire my hobby building. Light's and 20 amp outlets. It's been several years and not 1 problem.

I will never use wire nuts again unless it's my only option.