Wago wire connector is a special spring clip (clamp, terminal block) used to reliably join two or more conductors. Due to the large number of advantages over other types of clamps, wagons are gradually gaining more and more popularity, displacing screw terminal blocks, caps and twists.
Distinctive features of Wago
Compared to other similar devices, Wago terminal blocks have a number of the following characteristic features only for them:
- a wide variety of models, both for household electrical circuits and industrial power lines;
- the presence of single and reusable clamps - in some models of such terminal blocks, if it is necessary to dismantle or repair a separate section of the electrical circuit, the clamped conductor can be easily removed from the latch;
- reliability and simplicity of design;
- body strength;
- clamp resistance to low and high temperatures;
- reliable fixation of conductors in the clamp and no risk of their spontaneous jumping out.
Also, wagons for connecting wires are small in size and easy to maintain.
Device and technical parameters
For the most part, wagons for connecting wires have a fairly simple device that includes the following components:
- Housing with openings for conductors located at one of the ends. Make this part of the clamp resistant to overheating and frost cracking of Polyamide 6.6. Depending on the number of connectors, the clamp can be double, triple, etc.
- The retainer is a plate made of spring chromium-nickel steel grade bent in a certain way. The latch located inside the case opposite each hole (connector) for conductors has a special window into which a conductive conductor cleaned of insulation is inserted.
- The contact bus is a copper plate, with the help of which the conductors clamped into the clamps become part of a single electrical circuit.
In reusable models, the guide wire is fixed in the clamp using small levers.
The variety of types and models of clamps for Wago wires allows them to be used to connect conductors in electrical circuits with the following characteristics:
- voltage - from 100V to 1kV (1000V);
- current strength - from 6 to 323 A;
- current frequency 50-100 Hz.
A wide range of these clamps allows you to connect conductors from various materials (copper, aluminum) with a cross section from 0.08 to 96 mm2.
The main types of Vago
In the connection of wires with Wago terminals, the main role is played by the internal spring clip.
Disposable wires for connecting wires Push Wire have a wedge-shaped V-shaped spring clip. They are used to connect copper and aluminum conductors with solid cores. Currently, such clamps are rarely used, gradually giving way to more perfect and convenient counterparts.
Reusable Clips Cage clamp differ from others by a characteristic spring clip in the form of the letter "p". Suitable for connecting solid and stranded conductors containing a large number of small and thin cores.
Wagi Fit-Clamp - the latest development of manufacturers of these types of clamps. They differ from other models by the presence of a special cut-in contact, which makes it possible not to remove the insulation from the conductors inserted into it.
Vag connector series
Among the wago wire connectors, the most common and popular today are the 733, 222 series.
Clamps 733 are a multi-plug system consisting of a Cage Clamp plug and a socket with soldered contacts. Models have protection against incorrect connection, code pins for marking various conductors.
Most often, such wago clamps are used to connect butt stranded wires.
Reusable models 222 are spring-loaded clamps of the Cage Clamp type. Designed for connecting copper and aluminum solid and stranded conductors with a cross section of 0.08 to 4 mm2.
The series includes models designed to connect 2,3,4,5 conductors.
Models such as 221, 223,773 are also in great demand among electricians and DIYers.
How to use Wago
The process of connecting conductors using the most common 222 series terminal block consists of the following steps:
- With the help of a special tool, 10-12 mm of insulation is removed from the ends of the conductors to be connected.
- All clamp levers move up without sudden movements.
- Each of the conductors is inserted into a separate hole in the clamp.
- Alternately, all levers are lowered to their original position.
After connecting, by twitching each conductor, the strength of the resulting connection is checked.
Before pulling out the wire from the Wago terminal, it is necessary to de-energize the section of the circuit on which it is planned to carry out electrical work.
Which is better to use, twist or Vago
When laying wiring and connecting electrics, the wagon still competes with such a method of connecting conductors as twisting. To decide what is better to use - twisting or wagons, you need to consider the advantages of each of the connection methods.
Advantages of Vago over twisting
The main advantages of such terminal blocks in comparison with twists:
- Quick installation - using electric wagons, they speed up the process of wiring, connecting lighting devices. With a dedicated stripping tool (stripper), clamping two conductors together will take less than 5 seconds.
- Convenience - with the help of such a clamp, you can assemble the necessary section of the electrical circuit, quickly connect the lighting device.
- Ease of use - every home craftsman can connect the wires with wagons without instructions.
- Safety - the conductors connected in this way are reliably protected from oxidation and moisture.
- Disassembly possibility - if necessary, assembled using clamps, the connection can be quickly and effortlessly disassembled.
Also, the connection assembled with the help of such clamps will take up little space and look more aesthetically pleasing than a twist wrapped with electrical tape. This advantage of the wagi over twisting is noticeable when using a power cable with a large cross section.
Advantages of twisting over Wago clamp
The few advantages of twisting over wagons - the cheapness of such a connection, resistance to extreme loads - when the electrical characteristics are exceeded, the clamping contact of the wagi heats up more than that of the twist, which leads to burning of the insulation and the body of the device itself.
Also, the use of twisting is preferable to fake clips of dubious quality - in order to figure out how to pull the wire out of the fake wago terminal block, you have to disassemble the terminal block.
