Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 05-10-2021, 07:13 PM   #1
Guru
 
HopCar's Avatar
 
City: Miami Florida
Vessel Name: Possum
Vessel Model: Ellis 28
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,299
Wire nut replacement

I’ve just become aware of a wire connector called a Wago 221 lever nut.

It looks like a much better connector than a wire nut for shore side use but is it good enough for use on boats?

Has anybody used these? What do you think?
Attached Thumbnails
F988F097-E978-4519-92E0-BCED91841FF6.jpeg  
__________________
Parks Masterson
Retired from Hopkins-Carter Marine Supply
HopCar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2021, 07:29 PM   #2
Enigma
 
RT Firefly's Avatar
 
City: Slicker?
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 16,540
Greetings,
Mr. HC. Didn't watch the vid but "...good enough for use on boats?" Waterproof/water resistant? 'Nuf said.
__________________
RTF
RT Firefly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2021, 07:48 PM   #3
Guru
 
HopCar's Avatar
 
City: Miami Florida
Vessel Name: Possum
Vessel Model: Ellis 28
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,299
Hi Rufus, there are lots of wire connections used on boats that are not water resistant. Take a look at the back of your breaker panel. Also buss bar connections have no water protection. I certainly wouldn’t use it in the bilge but elsewhere, maybe.

I think the problem with wire nuts is that they can vibrate loose. I don’t think these can.
__________________
Parks Masterson
Retired from Hopkins-Carter Marine Supply
HopCar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2021, 07:59 PM   #4
Moderator Emeritus
 
Comodave's Avatar
 
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Black Dog
Vessel Model: Formula 41PC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 21,129
Seems like a solution in search of a problem. We already have a good solution for wire connections.
__________________
Boat Nut:
If you are one there is no explanation necessary.
If you aren’t one, there is no explanation possible.
Comodave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2021, 08:33 PM   #5
TF Site Team
 
Bacchus's Avatar
 
City: Seneca Lake NY
Vessel Name: Bacchus
Vessel Model: MS 34 HT Trawler
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,808
[emoji106]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Comodave View Post
Seems like a solution in search of a problem. We already have a good solution for wire connections.
__________________
Don
2008 MS 34 HT Trawler
"Bacchus"
Bacchus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2021, 09:04 PM   #6
Guru
 
HopCar's Avatar
 
City: Miami Florida
Vessel Name: Possum
Vessel Model: Ellis 28
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,299
Quote:
Originally Posted by Comodave View Post
Seems like a solution in search of a problem. We already have a good solution for wire connections.
I see it as an easy replacement for butt connectors. It’s faster to install and you can disconnect the wire without cutting it shorter.

They are available in 2,3 or 5 connections.
There is a DIN type rail that they can be mounted to.
You need only one connector to connect a wide range of wire gauges.
No crimping tool needed to make the connection.
__________________
Parks Masterson
Retired from Hopkins-Carter Marine Supply
HopCar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2021, 09:11 PM   #7
Guru
 
Russell Clifton's Avatar
 
City: La Conner Wa.
Vessel Name: Sea Fever
Vessel Model: Defever 49 RPH
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 877
I saw these awhile back and bought some not knowing exactly what I would use them for. Well last week I replaced a ballast in a fluorescent fixture and they worked perfect. If they get wet on the ceiling of the engine room, I've got bigger things to worry about.
Russell Clifton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2021, 09:13 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
jimdavi's Avatar
 
City: San Francisco
Vessel Name: Couple’s Retreat
Vessel Model: 2019 North Pacific 45
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 460
They work great. I have used them, no issues.
jimdavi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2021, 09:14 PM   #9
Scraping Paint
 
City: 'Merica
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 3
I also use them all the time for multiple applications.
400DB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2021, 09:50 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Bustlebomb's Avatar
 
City: Seal Beach, California
Vessel Name: Snooker (for now.....)
Vessel Model: 1981 34 Californian LRC
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 147
I've used them extensively at home. They work really well and it's nice to have the ability to take the wires out and reconnect if needed. They are much more secure than wire nuts.

I'm embarrassed to say I've never thought about using them on the boat....but I will now!
__________________
Matt

"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
Bustlebomb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2021, 06:24 AM   #11
Guru
 
catalinajack's Avatar
 
City: Edgewater, MD
Vessel Name: Catalina Jack
Vessel Model: Defever 44
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,585
Wow. Beats hell out of butt splices. Plus, with triples, it's so much better than other solutions. They may not be ideal in a few situations but few and far between.
catalinajack is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2021, 06:43 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
City: St. Petersburg
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 413
Discovered these years ago when working on a boat made in South Africa. They are great when used in the proper applications. No, they are not water resistant, but for running lighting circuits or when "downshifting" or "upshifting" wire size, they can' be beat. The original model can accommodate AWG 24 to AWG 12 and is rated for 20A.
__________________
Charlie Johnson
ABYC Master Technician
CharlieJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2021, 03:13 PM   #13
Guru
 
twistedtree's Avatar
 
City: Vermont
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 10,076
All of my overhead lights are wired with a Wago variant of this connector. It's an excellent application for them, and makes it much easier to pull the lights and disconnect them when pulling down a ceiling panels. They really beat the heck out of spade or bullet connectors.
__________________
MVTanglewood.com
twistedtree is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2021, 01:21 PM   #14
Guru
 
sbu22's Avatar
 
City: New Orleans
Vessel Name: Panache
Vessel Model: Viking 43 Double Cabin '76
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,253
On my last survey, the surveyor wrote up several wire nut connections I had associated with overhead lighting in the saloon. This was temporary 12v LED fixtures that were in place while I was redoing the headliner/overhead. Told me ABYC standards did not allow wire nuts under any circumstances in any application.

I had a couple of other disagreements with the guy, and the wire nuts remained. As observed above - if water exposure is an issue on the ceiling of the saloon, I have way bigger issues than wire nuts.

Any idea where the surveyor world is on these? I really like the concept - first I heard of them was here. Thanks again, TF.
sbu22 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2021, 01:51 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
City: St. Petersburg
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 413
@sbu22:
First of all, twist on wire nuts are not compliant with ABYC E-11;

11.14.3.6 Twist on connectors (i.e., wire nuts) shall not be used

The Wago LeverNuts are acceptable, although not explicitly called out, because they meet the minimum pull out requirements for connectors.

11.14.3.3 Each splice joining conductor to conductor, conductor to connectors, and conductor to terminals shall be able to withstand a tensile force equal to at least the value shown in TABLE 15 for the smallest conductor size used in the splice for a one-minute duration without breakage to any conductor strands.

Table 15 lists a tensile pull test of 35 pounds for AWG 12.
__________________
Charlie Johnson
ABYC Master Technician
CharlieJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2021, 02:17 PM   #16
Guru
 
sbu22's Avatar
 
City: New Orleans
Vessel Name: Panache
Vessel Model: Viking 43 Double Cabin '76
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,253
Thank you, Charlie.
sbu22 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Trawler Port Captains
Port Captains are TF volunteers who can serve as local guides or assist with local arrangements and information. Search below to locate Port Captains near your destination. To learn more about this program read here: TF Port Captain Program





All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:24 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2006 - 2012