wagobox report
sm_jamieson
The modules are neat and work well - when you have plenty of space and
the outer sheath stripped off a long way, the wires are easy to fit
into the modules even when joining, say, 4 TWEs.
The push-in connections inspire confidence since you can see the wires
and grips through the clear plastic moulding. However its hard to push
in a 1mm CPC with green/yellow sleeving, since the sleeving slides and
you cannot tell if the wire is going in or not by touch. Pliers would
help.
The module has a slot where you can push in a probe in for testing.
The cage modules (push-down levers) do not inspire as much confidence
since you cannot see the wires to check they are in far enough / not
gripping insulation etc. When using them with single wires, you can
give a little tug and check they have gripped. You cannot do this so
easily when 4 cables are being connected up and it's all in a bundle.
The module has a slot that looks like it would take a probe for
testing - but it does not - the slot is all plastic !
The junction box is interesting.
Fitting several cables into the wago junction box is not that easy or
quick. The wires all have to be about the same length so the
connection modules line up and can push down into the slot at the end
of the box. All cables coming out of one end is not ideal, or the fact
that the mounting buttons only fit on one side, so if you are mounting
to the side of a joist, only one direction is possible (unless you
mount it upside-down, where the mounting button could slide off). Also
you cannot really bent the wires like you can in a round screw
junction box to take account of differing lengths, since the box is
long and thin.
Strain relief is a plastic tag which digs slightly into the outer
sheath. It tightens when you close the box lid. It seems a little
tight with 1.5mm cable even using the middle position that is supposed
to support up to 4mm cable. It cuts into the outer sheath a bit but
not excessively on 1.5mm cable in the loosest position. Not sure about
the bigger cables. Not sure about the strain relief method.
When you push the cables into the junction box and close the lid, you
cannot really be sure a wire did not pop out. But a tug test suggests
they should be fairly secure if they are in correctly in the first
place.
I wired up 2 boxes.
1. One connecting 4 x 1.5mm TWE using 3 of the 4-way push in modules.
Not too fiddly.
2. Other doing a loop-in lamp / switch circuit with an additional 3
core and earth taking away a live, neutral and switched live (to
connect to a fan run-on timer). 4 cables connected, using 2 of the 4-
way modules, a lever 3 way module and a 5-way lever module for the
earths (there is no 4-way lever module
Conclusion.
Modules are neat, junction box can be awkward and does not really save
time as the adverts say, but is very compact.
And of course, "maintenance free".
With a traditional junction box where you can see the wires and
connection mechanism with the lid off, you can be more sure of what
you have done - you do not just have to trust the system.
You cannot run uncut wires though and just strip insulation to allow a
connection, as you can with a round screwed junction box.
You could of course use the modules in a larger open box. The wago
junction box is not right for all occasions.
Simon.
Tim Watts
> The junction box is interesting.
> Fitting several cables into the wago junction box is not that easy or
> quick. The wires all have to be about the same length so the
> connection modules line up and can push down into the slot at the end
> of the box. All cables coming out of one end is not ideal, or the fact
> that the mounting buttons only fit on one side, so if you are mounting
> to the side of a joist, only one direction is possible (unless you
> mount it upside-down, where the mounting button could slide off). Also
> you cannot really bent the wires like you can in a round screw
> junction box to take account of differing lengths, since the box is
> long and thin.
>
That was my impression too - good ideas - but they need to do a range,
including a bigger box with double end cable entry and a good bit of space
in the middle.
But I do like the cable grips in their own right.
I'm still on a quest for a box that is ideal for passthrough cabling - guess
I'll just have to use a regular equipment box and shove some pratley T+E
glands in (I have a pile). Although not strictly necessary if the T+E cables
are clipped close, I feel more inspired by some sort of cable clamping in
the box, particularly if it is full of loose cable connectors.
--
Tim Watts
Piers Finlayson
I was wiring 3x4mm T&E cables in a wago junction box last weekend and
it was almost impossible to get te damn thing to close.
When I managed to saw through a (live) 2.5mm T&E cable later in the
day, I used two of these guys to make a temporary repair:
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/ASJ804.html. I found it much
easier and quicker to use.
mike
> I'm still on a quest for a box that is ideal for passthrough cabling - guess
> I'll just have to use a regular equipment box and shove some pratley T+E
> glands in (I have a pile). Although not strictly necessary if the T+E cables
> are clipped close, I feel more inspired by some sort of cable clamping in
> the box, particularly if it is full of loose cable connectors.
> --
> Tim Watts
Found these Wago competitors mentioned on electricians forums:
http://www.hellermanntyton.co.uk/products/product-highlights/helacon
The Medway Handyman
> First impressions:
I should say here that the first lot I used were a freebie from Adam
Wadsworth and seem to be Helacon not Wago.
>
> The modules are neat and work well - when you have plenty of space and
> the outer sheath stripped off a long way, the wires are easy to fit
> into the modules even when joining, say, 4 TWEs.
>
> The push-in connections inspire confidence since you can see the wires
> and grips through the clear plastic moulding. However its hard to push
> in a 1mm CPC with green/yellow sleeving, since the sleeving slides and
> you cannot tell if the wire is going in or not by touch. Pliers would
> help.
I've found that as well & use pliers.
My main interest is lighting wiring.
For that you need a 2 cable to 1 flex (for the neutral), a 1 cable to 1
flex (for the switch live) which Wago supply via my local TLC.
You also need a 3 terminal for the lives, which Wago don't supply -
their 3 terminal is huge & takes 2.5 to 6mm only - no good for lighting.
You can of course use a 4 terminal, but for such a common application
I wonder why they don't do a 3 terminal?
The other thing missing is a 3 cable to 1 flex for the earth. I use a 4
terminal with a sleeved piece of 1mm earth going to a 1 cable to 1 flex.
Again, such an obvious application I wonder why they don't have one?
--
Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
Andy Burns
> Found these Wago competitors mentioned on electricians forums:
> http://www.line.ac/
Don't forget that Wago make the connectors, wagobox is a separate
company, that make the ... err you get the idea.
Glad to see they haven't "wasted" any money on employing expensive web
designers :-) not so sure I like cable ties instead of other cable clamps.
> http://www.hellermanntyton.co.uk/products/product-highlights/helacon
Have use HT pre-made wiring looms for cat5e wiring, does save time, but
is expensive, not sure if these would be as expensive.
> http://www.wiska.de/eng/295,wiska-combi-1210.html
Looks like an improvement over an "A-Box", I've used a few of those.
Tim Watts
Ooh - the helacon looks interesting. Ta.
--
Tim Watts
sm_jamieson
wrote:
> On 06/04/2011 22:06, sm_jamieson wrote:
>
> > First impressions:
>
> I should say here that the first lot I used were a freebie from Adam
> Wadsworth and seem to be Helacon not Wago.
>
>
>
> > The modules are neat and work well - when you have plenty of space and
> > the outer sheath stripped off a long way, the wires are easy to fit
> > into the modules even when joining, say, 4 TWEs.
>
> > The push-in connections inspire confidence since you can see the wires
> > and grips through the clear plastic moulding. However its hard to push
> > in a 1mm CPC with green/yellow sleeving, since the sleeving slides and
> > you cannot tell if the wire is going in or not by touch. Pliers would
> > help.
>
> I've found that as well & use pliers.
>
> My main interest is lighting wiring.
>
> For that you need a 2 cable to 1 flex (for the neutral), a 1 cable to 1
> flex (for the switch live) which Wago supply via my local TLC.
>
> You also need a 3 terminal for the lives, which Wago don't supply -
> their 3 terminal is huge & takes 2.5 to 6mm only - no good for lighting.
I used a 3-way lever clamp for that rather than a push-in.
> You can of course use a 4 terminal, but for such a common application
> I wonder why they don't do a 3 terminal?
I ran out of 4-terminal push-ins from my mini-kit and had to use 5-way
lever clamp
module for the 4 earths I needed.
For some reason push-ins are even numbers, lever clamps are odd
numbers !
>
> The other thing missing is a 3 cable to 1 flex for the earth. I use a 4
> terminal with a sleeved piece of 1mm earth going to a 1 cable to 1 flex.
When you say "flex" connector, presumably you mean the lever clamps,
since the
push-ins are obviously no good for multi-strand flex.
burns...@gmail.com
> Don't forget that Wago make the connectors, wagobox is a separate
> company, that make the ... err you get the idea.
http://wago.ltd.uk/wagobox.html
Tim Watts
like the Ashley with an optional number of ports with cable clamps and a
bit of space for arranging a number of terminals and 4-8 cables.
Be ideal for lighting and CH wiring.
Dave Plowman (News)
> 8 April 2011 Andy Burns wrote:
> > Don't forget that Wago make the connectors, wagobox is a separate
> > company, that make the ... err you get the idea.
> Bought a couple of extra boxes today, and it looks like Wago have
> purchased Wagobox ...
--
*A bartender is just a pharmacist with a limited inventory *
Dave Plowman da...@davenoise.co.uk London SW
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