Anything better than wire nuts?

[Rustyiron]

Some of the pics BCP posted are what the hardware store had and the guy said they aren’t that great. I was joining solid wire, Romex, with stranded wire from the fixture.

That's what gives me trouble too, stranded fixture wire, probably 18ga. attaching to a 14/16ga single solid.
My (right or wrong) solution is stripping a much longer bit of the stranded wire and the right size wirenut.

 

[Diggin It]

Dunno whatizit a Wago, but winged wire nuts work wonderful.

Sized right, right number of wires stripped right and they won't come off. Sometimes not even when you want them to.

Only trouble I've had is with green ones (winged or not) for ground wires. For some reason the plastic wants to crack. Never had that with orange, yellow or red.

 

[Oaktree]

Some wire nuts are just threaded plastic which I throw those in the trash. The wire spring ones work ok for me if sized to the wires. About 1/2" insulation stripped, wires twisted tight together with pliers before wire nut. When that's tight I wrap electrical tape around it.

I was told by an electrician NOT to twist the wires together before putting them in a wire nut. Something about not making/maintaining as good contact that way.
I've just used the ones Lowes/HD sell, never had a problem.

 

[MossRoad]

I've used these Ideal brand connectors in 2, 3 and 4 wire sizes for quite a while. They work for solid or stranded. Never had a problem.

Under $10 for 100 at Lowes.

 

[Doughknob]

'Anything better than wire nuts'..... certainly....

Whole cashews.........

I am partial to the black wall nuts.

 

[Deere Dude]

I use wire good nuts all the time. It may take a little more time but I twist the ends together using two pliars then snip the ends off to the shortest wire. Then crank the wire nut on. Seems to work for me.

 

[dodge man]

I watched a couple of videos on using wire nuts, I tried different sizes. It’s something I only do once a year or so. It’s like a lot of things, it seems so simple but it’s probably a learned skill.

 

[5030]

I am partial to the black wall nuts.

So is the resident squirrel....lol

 

[4570Man]

I watched a couple of videos on using wire nuts, I tried different sizes. It’s something I only do once a year or so. It’s like a lot of things, it seems so simple but it’s probably a learned skill.

It’s well worth a dollar or 2 per fixture to use wago’s at least to me. Trying to get 2 12 gauge solid wires and a tiny stranded wires together in a wire nut while on a ladder while holding a fixture is a real PITA.

 

[5030]

Wiring on a ladder is usually a PITA for anyone.

 

[k0ua]

It is. I twist the wires together with your "nines" 9 inch electricians plyers, and then snip the bare ends to the correct length to fit into the nut and using the correct sized winged wire nut for the job. You can also wrap the assembly with tape to prevent any vibration over the years from ever loosening them. Also another trick I do, if it is an outdoor receptacle where moisture may accumulate in the box is to make sure the wire nut is pointing up so that any moisture will not accumulate in the nut and wire junction but will run out of the nut or be diverted around it. Maybe a silly precaution, but I have never had any issues with doing it this way for many decades.

On the very small stranded light pigtails, and if mixing with several other No. 14 solid wires, I will often strip back enough of the very small stranded wire to wrap around one of the solid striped wires then twist the bundle of solid wires together with the plyers as outlined above. I have never had a problem with doing this. ALSO and this is important, if you are going to twist the wires together and if you have enough wire to actually do this, make sure that the direction of the twist is the same direction as you twist the wire nut on otherwise the application of the wire nut will try to untwist them. There is more to putting on a wire nut than you might initially think. To the OP, I feel your frustration and pain, but like anything else, you learn as you go along and things get easier with practice.

I watched a couple of videos on using wire nuts, I tried different sizes. It’s something I only do once a year or so. It’s like a lot of things, it seems so simple but it’s probably a learned ski

 

[k0ua]

Wiring on a ladder is usually a PITA for anyone.

Not if you worked on a ladder for decades doing wiring. It becomes a learned skill, just like everything else. If you do it only once in a while, then yes, it is difficult.

 

[5030]

At my age, any ladder is an issue.

 

[4570Man]

Not if you worked on a ladder for decades doing wiring. It becomes a learned skill, just like everything else. If you do it only once in a while, then yes, it is difficult.

I use this whenever I can. It’s way more comfortable than a ladder and I’ve got the shelf to stack tools on. If I was only hanging one fixture I’d probably grab a ladder but if I’m painting or hanging several fixtures it’s well worth the effort to bring the scaffolding.

 

[/pine]

...twist the wires together with your "nines" 9 inch electricians plyers...

Also often referred to as 'Kleins'...rhymes with nines (lineman's pliers)

 

[k0ua]

Also often referred to as 'Kleins'...rhymes with nines (lineman's pliers)

Yep, I have a couple of pairs of Kliens 9 inch, one found in the drop ceiling left by some hapless electrician, and one set I actually bought new and are still pristine. Over the years I have found a lot of tools left in drop ceilings.

 

[shooterdon]

I bought sampler pack of Wago's. Wire nuts are OK for 95% of my needs but there are times I need something better.

 

[MossRoad]

Yep, I have a couple of pairs of Kliens 9 inch, one found in the drop ceiling left by some hapless electrician, and one set I actually bought new and are still pristine. Over the years I have found a lot of tools left in drop ceilings.

A couple months ago I left my flashlight in a drop ceiling while changing a ballast. I didn't realize it until the next day. I went back to location 18 hours later, and it was still there and lit. It's an LED flashlight with 6 AAA batteries. I'm still using it daily on those same batteries.

I've found many of my coworkers' tools in the drop ceilings. It helps to engrave your initials in them. I gave the ones I knew back. The one's I can't identify go into the shop tools bin. Lots of screwdrivers, pliers and channel locks in that bin.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

My skills at electrical work are a little lacking. I was replacing an outside double flood light today. I’ve never had good luck with wire nuts. I was trying to get the wire nuts to stay connected, get the wires stuffed back in the box, and get the fixture screwed back into the box while standing on a ladder. It didn’t happen when I dropped it and broke an insulator where one light bulb screws in. I definitely broke it when I threw it in a trash can as hard as I could..

I went and bought another fixture and asked the guy at the hardware store if there was anything better. He said there is a setup where the wires are inserted and it snaps shut on them but he says they don’t work that great. With the wife helping we got it installed but it still took three tries to get the wire nuts to stay. Is there a better way?

Wire nuts should be just fine if you use them properly. I'm 51 and my dad was an electrician that I worked for a lot. I'm color blind, which is why I didn't pursue it. House wiring is fine, not too many colors. Solder and shrink wrap works good. But I'm happy with wire nuts, buy them by the gallons.

 

[mark in portugal]

I like wirenuts; when they're on properly, they're rock solid. The wire spring holds the conductors together with good tension and large connection area. I don't think I've ever seen one fail. I've installed hundreds of them.
When doing larger jobs, I used a battery drill and a nut driver to screw them on. Very fast.

But I changed over to the Wigo things because they're so easy to use. The EU ones are rated for 16A (pretty much the standard maximum for domestic current).
I like the levers that allow for disconnection. I don't quite trust those push-in only ones, except for light users.

I use more solid screw down connectors for circuits to the workshop where my welder plugs in, even though it only uses 16A.
20A max.