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Wago connectors with too many wires

The electrician who wired my (new) home takes the live feed to a light switch in each room (rather than to the rose).  Thus each room has a light switch back box with four neutrals commoned in a WAGO 2273 connector (feed in, feed onward, wiring to luminaire, wiring to spots).  I'm guessing the spots were a surprise to him as he seems only to have had a stock of 3-way WAGO connectors.  He's consistently managed to wedge four 1mmsq wires into a 3-way WAGO 2273.

I know this is wrong, the "extra" wire just can't be clamped like the WAGO design intended.  What is driving me nuts is that nowhere can I find it written down that it is wrong !

  • WAGO 2273 are suitable for solid conductors only (1 strand conductors) - i.e. 1 strand per way. This is stated in the manufacturer's data , by saying the product is suitable for only SOLID conductors (only 'sol' marking on the product)

    Each way will, however, accept pin crimps or suitable crimped ferrules of a suitable length, provided the total CSA and current rating per way is less than the max stated, so there is a way of connecting either stranded or flexible cables, or even 2 conductors to each way, if you put the two conductors into a pin crimp or 2-conductor ferrule with long enough distance to reach all the way down into the base of the WAGO, and also maintain IP2X at the way entry.

  • Can you use ferrules with solid conductors?

  • Is having more than one conductor an issue, what about seven strand wire?

    EARTH GREEN YELLOW 2.5MM 7 STRAND 24A SINGLE CORE 6491X ROUND POWER PVC INSULATED CONDUIT WIRE

    ccsukltd.co.uk/EARTH-CABLE-GREEN-YELLOW-2-5mm-7-strand-reel-100m

  • There appears to be an error in the data sheet: https://wago.priintcloud.com/datasheets/2273-203/en/d2b822af06e35fee01cfbb9f672d4e89?attempt=1&signature=addde37dc3fc658431d20e94856bb823_1g0bva58k

    Whilst it specifies "3-conductor", it also says, "Push-in termination of up to eight solid conductors". I think that this sentence is common to all the sizes with the biggest one being 8-conductor, whereas the software which generates the .pdf should have chosen the number properly. 

  • Is having more than one conductor an issue, what about seven strand wire?

    EARTH GREEN YELLOW 2.5MM 7 STRAND 24A SINGLE CORE 6491X ROUND POWER PVC INSULATED CONDUIT WIRE

    ccsukltd.co.uk/EARTH-CABLE-GREEN-YELLOW-2-5mm-7-strand-reel-100m

    It depends on the marking on the product. Following is a brief summary of the marking (see Table 2.1, page 26, in the latest 9th Ed GN 3, March 2022):

    If the connector is marked "sol", then you can't use stranded conductors (Class 2, 5 and 6) in it at all, unless the manufacturer has, as in this case, considered the use of crimp pin or ferrule.

    If the connector is marked "r" (for "rigid") then it may be used for solid or Class 2 stranded (not flexible Class 5 or extra flexible Class 6) conductors. Again, some products may be suitable for use with ferrules or crimp pins.

    If the connector is marked ("f") it is only suitable for use with Class 5 and 6 conductors.

    If the connector has no marking, it may be used for all stranding classes of conductor to BS EN 60228, i.e. Classes 1 (solid), 2 (stranded), 5 (flexible) and 6 (extra-flexible)

  • Well the only folk that will be able to tell you it is right or wrong are wago as the design authority for the connectors - after all there are some terminal designs that do take bunches of cables - though this is indeed not really one, though I suspect it will work just fine on a lightly loaded circuit.  Certainly the lever design wagos can take multiple thin flexes, sleeved and dressed to present as if it was one flex with a larger number of cores.  I'm inclined to agree that what you describe is not right, though if wago say so in print is another matter. You could do worse than ask wago technical

    Mike.

  • I agree that bit could be clearer.

    This outlet's web-site says that the 2273's can be used with solid or stranded: https://www.screwfix.com/p/wago-2773-series-32a-3-way-push-wire-connector-100-pack/428PF?tc=VB2&ds_kid=92700055281954475&ds_rl=1249401&gclid=CjwKCAjwo8-SBhAlEiwAopc9W79fkVlNcWzLm8UGy9UfQbcqY1LeOKlcHhOdThx33BdriwxK5DuDpBoC36IQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

    EDIT - not that this outlet is wrong according to the manufacturer's full product data, just that preparation using crimp pin or ferrule is required for stranded (or flexible, for that matter, yet the outlet doesn't mention that) ...

    But this one says solid only: https://uk.farnell.com/wago/2273-203/terminal-block-pluggable-3pos/dp/2428569?gclid=CjwKCAjwo8-SBhAlEiwAopc9W9ALWNopXJSYKlpSJCt2uLqCNb7x_x-QeJHFh0tVdvy28ynt69ypzRoCMoUQAvD_BwE

    Just to be clear, though, I think the types of conductor are now shown on the boxes as well as moulded into the connector, clearly shows solid only (unless WAGO have more recently changed their specification):

  • Agreed, but see above ... they say solid only on product/packaging (and data sheet further qualifies crimp pin or ferrule could be used for other stranding classes), so I can't see them giving the "go ahead" to be honest.

    Quick fix with either ferrule or crimp pin (of the correct length, of course) to make it fully compliant ... it's a "no brainer", but I think the issue is compounded with conflicting (or more truthfully, incomplete) information at the distributors as above.

  • Then it is a good thing I have a selection box of connectors to pick and choose from 

    Around twenty years ago I was doing electrical work and kitchen fitting for a kitchen company who started supplying some small round under wall cabinet lights that took a compact fluorescent lamp. These had push fit connectors built into them and the manufacturer said they could be wired with flex, so long as you tinned the conductors.

    Because they were so fiddly to wire I took to prewiring them at home, so I could get them in quickly back on the job, I remember sitting at the dining table at home on a Sunday evening wiring lamps for the next morning and getting told off for the smell of flux in the air.

    This went on for a couple of months and probably half a dozen kitchens, then I was told the other electricians had all refused to install them, I went to do the electrical work for a kitchen that some of the others guys were fitting and they asked why I hadn’t complained about the lights and refused to fit them like the other electricians, I explained and told them what I had been doing, the fitters laughed and said that explains a lot, apparently I was the only electrician with a soldering iron.

    I have seen all sorts of variations in manufacturers instructions, for example Ideal connectors take seven strand conductor:

    https://youtu.be/HirYwBAxYzw

  • sorry I agree totally the marking on that box is actually quite clear, just I had started typing my reply at about 10 o'clock and then got interrupted without pressing 'reply' so had not read the later answers when I came back and did so. But  in short its not quite the right sort of connector.

    Wago UK are normally helpful

    Technical support

    installation, configuration,application,fault analysis

    01788 568 008     ukmarketing@wago.com

    Customer service

    quotations and pricing,availability and delivery, product consultation,invoice assistance

    01788 568 008        uksales@wago.com


    Mike.