According to the technical requirements of the ПУЭ, connections of electric wires are carried out only by means of special stocks or terminal connections. The main condition is the reliability and strength of connections, which directly affects the fire safety and accident-free operation of the wiring. Professional electricians use German terminals Wago, a feature of which is a convenient design and connections due to the permanent action of the built-in spring.
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Why Wago terminal blocks are needed
Unlike similar products from other manufacturers, Wago clamps have a wide range of applications, because they can be used for electrical wiring in both homes and factories. A successful design solution makes them safe to use even in conditions of high voltage and high electrical current. The housing of the Wago terminal blocks is made of a special modified polymer that is impervious to moisture and resistant to temperature variations. In this way, the Wago terminal blocks are suitable for all possible wire types.
With the help of connecting terminals Wago can be docked copper and aluminum cables of different cross sections and types (solid and stranded), while ensuring high reliability of installation. They are used when laying outdoors and hidden wiring, inside junction boxes, in areas where, because of the technological complexity it is impossible to perform soldering. To connect the wires using Wago terminals just insert the wire into the hole until it stops and clicks.
Advantages and disadvantages
German Wago terminals have significant advantages, the main of which are the following:
- clear fixation by means of a spring, excluding accidental disconnection;
- easy installation, even in hard-to-reach places and in low-light conditions;
- compact size, allowing easy concealment of the terminal in the junction box;
- high shock and vibration resistance;
- no need for special maintenance;
- easy disconnection in case of need.
Modern connectors Wago also have such a property as compensation of temperature expansions, so that the connection remains intact even with strong variations in temperature and humidity. The disadvantages of reusable connectors is a high cost, but given the high quality and reliability of the connections, the price is fully justified.
Technical characteristics
All Wago terminals, regardless of modification and size, are made of electrolytic copper alloy with special tinning, with a chrome-nickel spring in the design. Dielectric housing, consisting of an alloy of polyamide and polycarbonate, which has a high current resistance. The manufacturer produces dozens of modifications of such products, defined by a series 222-773, where a Vag clamp of one of the following types is used:
- fit-clamp: a plunge IDC contact is used, allowing you to connect cables without first removing the insulation;
- cage clamp: here the steel spring is made separately from the tinned copper busbar of conductive type, which makes it possible to connect both solid and stranded wires.
There are both reusable and disposable Wago models, making it easy for the technician to choose the option that suits him best.
Types of terminal blocks
The manufacturer's range of Wago terminals can be divided into the following types:
- WAGO Compact (221): the universal terminal connection, which is perfectly suitable for multiple clamping of different cross sections and types (solid, stranded) of copper and aluminum. It is used when there is not enough space in the junction box because the terminal has compact dimensions.
- Push Wire (773, 273): used for solid connection of solid wires in outdoor and indoor (buried) junction boxes.
- Push Wire (243): Mostly used to connect small section single-core electrical wires.
- Compact Push Wire (2273): these terminals are required for junction boxes, connecting inside them copper and aluminum wires (with a large number of cables).
- Wago Compact (221): used for the reusable connection of solid and stranded aluminium and copper conductors from 0.2 mm² and up.
- Spring-loaded terminals (222): suitable for the connection of electrical conductors of 0.08 mm² and the convenient self-clamping terminals from Wago.
- Series 224: has a small diameter socket, because it is designed to connect fine wires used for lighting devices.
- Wago Linec (294): terminals specialized for connecting power supplies, as well as in the wiring of three-wire wiring with zero, protective earth and phase.
If it is necessary to connect aluminum wires, it is recommended to use Wago terminals with paste, which can reliably protect the lugs from oxidation. When purchasing Wago terminal strips, ask your retailer or a qualified electrician how to use them. For those who have never used these products, information about connecting wires with Wago terminal strips is helpful.
How to Use
A terminal block connection is more reliable than traditional soldered-pairing, making the wiring last much longer, withstanding high voltages and high currents. All modern Wago clamps, how to use which will be described below, have earned the respect and recognition of many professionals.
So, as an example, let's take the most popular type of Wago terminal clamp from the 222 series, to use which perform the following steps:
- Remove the insulation from the end of the wire about 5 mm.
- Lift the orange clip in the terminal.
- Insert the end of the stripped wire up to the stop.
- Lower the clamp until it clicks into place.
After that, the wire is securely fixed in the socket, the master attaches all the other wires in the same way. There is nothing complicated about how to use Wago terminals, so many professional craftsmen actively use these pads to connect wires.
If you ask an experienced electrician if you can twist the wire strands, he will answer that you can not, because the load during the operation of modern household appliances is not small. In this case, twisting can not withstand high currents and overheat, which can lead to fires. Therefore, it is best to use Wago terminals when installing, allowing you to connect the cables safely.
Note! We are talking about poorly made twisting of wires, without welding.
Giving preference to reliable contacts - Wago terminals, as well as using copper cable with the right through cross-section, the master ensures the reliability of the wiring. In some cases, aluminum conductors can also be used, but over time they oxidize, and this leads to a deterioration of the contact. Active use of Wago terminals in practice confirms the high quality of such connections, so the cost of the products is fully justified.
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