On Mon, 06 Jul 2020 20:35:20 -0400, posted
for all of us to digest...


On Mon, 6 Jul 2020 15:46:37 -0700 (PDT), TimR
wrote:

I've lived in Europe where wire nuts are prohibited, and always thought a screw terminal, chocolate block, etc., was probably more secure.

Today I experimented, wiring a new light in my shed and using Alumiconns instead of wire nuts.

Well, they work. They're very secure. they cost $3.50 each instead of 9 cents. They don't save any space in the box; actually they take more, because they have to be oriented to not interfere. And while on the bench they look dead easy to install, up on a ladder inside a ceiling box it was a different story. I had a heck of a time getting everything lined up just right with stiff solid wire that had to be stripped to precisely 5/16 inch. It took at least 5 times
as long as to wire nut them, maybe more. Of course you'd get faster with practice. But I don't think anyone could afford to lose that much time in a production setting.

I vaguely remembered the box was missing a cover. So of course the one I bought didn't fit.

Properly made up, wire nuts are as good as anything out there. Like
most things poor workmanship is the enemy of reliability.

Was this aluminum wire? That is usually why you use Alumicons.

A lot of people seem to like Wagos but it is basically the same as a
back stabber.

Even the lever nuts? I asked Wago 20 years ago for a few
samples I wanted to try. I unded up with two bags of 100 each!
They are great with people for carpel tunnel syndrome - no
twisting your wrist - worked for my tests. Ideal has something
like the stabber ones but I don't think they ever caught on
around here, like the Wagos. If I can find them I will donate
them to the vo-tech school near me.

--
Tekkie