Most Common DIYer Electrical Mistake - Don't Let This Be You!

Summary

In this video, Scott from Everyday Home Repairs demonstrates the common mistake made when connecting stranded wire to solid core wire, often seen in light fixtures and smart switches. He highlights the risk of loose connections leading to heat, arcing, or fire hazards. Scott then shows the correct technique using a wire net and the best practices, including a preferred method with AWG 221 connectors for a consistent and secure connection. He emphasizes the importance of proper wire connection for safety and durability in DIY electrical projects.

Takeaways

• ⚠️ The number one mistake made by DIYers when connecting wires is combining stranded wire with solid core wire, which is common in light fixtures and smart switches.
• 🔥 A loose connection can cause additional heat, reduce the life of connections, and potentially lead to arcing or short circuits, posing a fire hazard.
• 🛠 To connect stranded and solid core wires properly, use a wire net and follow best practices to ensure a strong connection.
• 📏 When stripping wire, use the correct gauge for stranded and solid core, and avoid pulling at an angle or wiggling the strippers to prevent damage.
• 👍 Pre-twist stranded wires to avoid frayed strands and ensure a secure connection within the wire nut.
• 🔧 The correct approach is to lead with the stranded wire when connecting, ensuring the wire nut bites into the stranded wire, not just the solid core.
• 💡 WAGO 221 connectors are recommended for DIYers as they provide a consistent and reliable connection, especially for those new to electrical work.
• 🔌 WAGO 221 connectors are lever nuts, not push-in connectors, and are approved for use with both stranded and solid core wires.
• 💰 While WAGO connectors are more expensive than wire nuts, their reusability and reliability make them a good investment for DIYers.
• 🔗 WAGO 221 connectors have been tested and proven to handle loads up to three times their rated capacity without failure.
• 🌍 In European markets, WAGO lever nuts are more common than wire nuts due to their consistent and solid connection quality.

Q & A

What is the main mistake that DIYers make when connecting stranded wire to solid core wire?

The main mistake is not ensuring a tight connection, which can result in a loose connection that may lead to additional heat in the junction box, arcing, or even a fire hazard.

Why is it important to avoid a loose connection when connecting wires in electrical work?

A loose connection can lead to increased heat, which might reduce the life of the connections, and in the worst case, cause arcing or a short circuit, posing a fire hazard.

What is a wire net and how is it used incorrectly in the script's example of a common failure?

A wire net is a tool used to secure wires together. In the example, the wire net was biting into the solid core wire, but the stranded wire was just loosely wrapped around it, leading to a weak connection that could be pulled out easily.

What is the correct way to connect stranded wire to solid core wire using a wire nut?

The correct way is to lead with the stranded wire, inserting only about an eighth of an inch into the wire nut, ensuring that the wire nut bites into the stranded wire properly, creating a strong connection that won't come loose.

Why is it recommended to pre-twist solid core wires before putting a wire nut on?

Pre-twisting solid core wires helps to ensure a more consistent and secure connection, even though wire nut manufacturers usually advise against it and suggest letting the wire nut do the work.

What is the recommended method for DIYers to connect stranded to solid wires according to the script?

The script recommends using WAGO 221 connectors, also known as lever nuts, as they provide a more consistent connection and are easier for DIYers to use correctly.

What are WAGO 221 connectors and why are they preferred by the script's author?

WAGO 221 connectors are a type of electrical connector that uses lever nuts for a secure connection. They are preferred because they offer a consistent connection, are approved for use with stranded wires, and are reusable.

How do WAGO 221 connectors ensure a secure connection with stranded wires?

WAGO 221 connectors have a bus bar that fully seats the wires when the lever is closed, ensuring a secure connection. They are also designed to accommodate both solid and stranded wires.

Why are WAGO 221 connectors more common in European markets according to the script?

In European markets, WAGO 221 connectors are more common because they provide a solid and consistent connection, which is preferred for their reliability.

What is the main advantage of using WAGO 221 connectors over wire nuts for temporary light fixtures in renovation projects?

The main advantage is that WAGO 221 connectors are reusable. They can be easily removed from the wires without damaging them, making them ideal for temporary setups where wires need to be disconnected and reconnected.

How can one find a sample kit of WAGO 221 connectors as mentioned in the script?

A sample kit of WAGO 221 connectors can be found in the description of the video, which likely contains a variety of pin sizes suitable for different wiring projects.

Outlines

00:00

🔌 Avoiding Common Electrical Mistakes

In this segment, Scott from Everyday Home Repairs addresses a prevalent issue in DIY electrical work: the improper connection of stranded to solid core wires, often seen in light fixtures and smart switches. He emphasizes the importance of a secure connection to prevent heat buildup, arcing, or short circuits, which could lead to fire hazards. Scott demonstrates a common failure point where a wire nut does not adequately secure the connection, resulting in a loose wire. He then shows the correct technique, which involves stripping the wires properly, pre-twisting the stranded wire, and using a wire net to ensure a tight connection. The goal is to have the wire nut bite into the stranded wire, creating a strong and secure connection that can withstand a pull test.

05:01

🛠️ Introducing WAGO 221 Connectors

Scott introduces an alternative solution for connecting wires, the WAGO 221 connectors, which he has found to be a better option for DIY electrical projects. He explains that these lever nut connectors provide a more consistent connection than wire nuts, especially for those who don't work on electrical projects frequently. The WAGO connectors are approved for both stranded and solid core wires and have been tested to handle three times their rated capacity without failure. Scott demonstrates how to use the WAGO connectors, highlighting their ease of use, reusability, and the secure connection they provide. He also mentions that while more expensive than wire nuts, the reliability and consistency of the WAGO connectors make them a worthwhile investment for DIYers.

10:02

🛒 Recommended Tools and Final Thoughts

In the final part of the script, Scott provides a quick note on expanding one's tool collection and suggests checking the description for a link to his Amazon store, where he lists his recommended tools, including a utility knife and wire strippers. He then returns to the topic of connectors, recommending the WAGO 221 for those with multiple projects ahead. Scott mentions sample kits containing different pin sizes as a good starting point for DIYers to try these connectors. He also invites viewers to watch another video for more best practices when working with electrical outlets. The video concludes with a reminder of the importance of using the correct techniques and tools for safe and effective electrical work.

Keywords

💡Stranded Wire

Stranded wire is a type of electrical conductor made up of a number of smaller wires that are woven together. This construction provides flexibility and is less prone to breaking than solid core wire. In the video, the importance of correctly connecting stranded wire to solid core wire is emphasized to avoid common electrical mistakes, especially in light fixtures and smart switches.

💡Solid Core Wire

Solid core wire is an electrical conductor made from a single solid strand of metal, typically copper or aluminum. It is more rigid than stranded wire and is often used in fixed wiring applications. The video discusses the common issue of connecting this type of wire to stranded wire and the potential hazards of improper connections.

💡Wire Nut

A wire nut, also known as a twist-on wire connector, is a device used to secure and insulate electrical connections. The video script describes a common failure point where a wire nut does not create a strong enough connection between stranded and solid wires, leading to potential electrical issues.

💡Pull Test

The pull test is a simple method to check the integrity of an electrical connection by applying force to the wires to see if they come loose from their connector. In the script, Scott demonstrates that a proper pull test can reveal a weak connection where the stranded wire comes out of the wire nut.

💡Wire Stripper

A wire stripper is a tool used to remove the insulation from a wire in preparation for making a connection. The video mentions the importance of using the correct gauge settings on a wire stripper for both stranded and solid wires to avoid damaging the wire and affecting its performance.

💡Pre-Twist

Pre-twisting is the process of twisting wires together before making a connection. This technique is often used with stranded wires to prevent fraying and to ensure a secure connection. The video script illustrates the correct method of pre-twisting stranded wires before inserting them into a wire nut.

💡Loose Connection

A loose connection in electrical work refers to a wire that is not securely fastened, which can lead to increased heat, reduced connection life, and even fire hazards due to arcing or short circuits. The video emphasizes avoiding loose connections, especially when connecting stranded to solid wires.

💡WAGO 221

The WAGO 221 is a type of electrical connector that uses lever nuts to secure wires in place. The video recommends these connectors as a preferred method for DIYers due to their consistent connection quality and approval for use with stranded wires. WAGO connectors are highlighted as a more reliable alternative to wire nuts.

💡Bus Bar

A bus bar is a conductive strip, often made of metal, that serves as a common connection point for multiple electrical wires. In the context of the WAGO 221 connectors mentioned in the video, the chrome bar within the connector acts as the bus bar to ensure a strong electrical connection.

💡Load Test

A load test is a procedure used to determine the maximum load an electrical component can handle before failing. The video references a load test conducted by the Silver Symbol YouTube channel, which demonstrated that the WAGO 221 connector could handle three times its rated capacity without permanent damage.

💡Junction Box

A junction box is an electrical enclosure that contains connections between electrical wires. The video script discusses the importance of making secure connections within a junction box to prevent heat buildup and potential fire hazards due to loose or faulty connections.

Highlights

The video aims to help viewers avoid the common mistake of connecting stranded wire to solid core wire, which is crucial in electrical work.

Loose connections can lead to additional heat in the junction box, potentially reducing the life of connections or causing arcing and fire hazards.

The importance of a proper wire connection is emphasized, especially in light fixtures and smart switches.

A demonstration of a common failure in wire connection is shown, highlighting the need for a pull test to ensure a tight connection.

The correct method to connect stranded and solid wires is explained, emphasizing the need to lead with the stranded wire.

Pre-twisting wires before putting on a wire nut is suggested for a stronger connection, despite some manufacturers' recommendations.

The use of wire strippers with the correct gauge callouts for stranded and solid wires is demonstrated to avoid damaging the copper.

Stranded wire should be stripped carefully to avoid breaking strands and reducing current capacity.

A wire net should not be used to bite into the solid core wire but rather to ensure a tight connection with the stranded wire.

The presenter recommends using AWG221 connectors for a consistent and reliable connection, especially for DIYers.

WAGO 221 connectors are approved for use with stranded wire and have been tested to handle three times their rated capacity.

WAGO connectors are reusable and do not damage wires when removed, making them ideal for temporary setups.

The cost of WAGO connectors is higher than wire nuts, but the presenter argues that the reliability justifies the expense for DIYers.

A sample kit of WAGO 221 connectors is suggested for DIYers to try out and see if they prefer these types of connectors.

The video includes a link to a load test of WAGO connectors, showing their durability even at high amperages.

The presenter offers a note on expanding one's tool collection with recommendations for utility knives and wire strippers.

A final reminder to check the description for additional resources and tools recommended by the presenter.

Transcripts

how's it going you guys it's scott with

everyday home repairs and today i want

to help you avoid the number one mistake

i see di wires do when they're jumping

into electrical the mistake comes from

when you need to connect stranded wire

to solid core wire this is extremely

common in light fixtures such as vanity

lights ceiling lights i have one right

here which is an led

recessed wafer light

and inside the junction box all your

connections are going to be stranded

with your neutral hot and your ground

you will also see this with a lot of the

smart switches that are becoming more

and more popular and why this is so

important is because a loose connection

can equal at minimum additional heat in

your junction box which might lower the

life of some of these connections and at

maximum can't equal arcing or short

which can be a fire hazard so let me

quickly show you how to connect these

two together with a simple wire net and

what the best practices are and then

we'll finish off with actually my

preferred method which i think is

perfect for diy-ers so here's the

example of a common failure

the wire nut is connected i don't have

any exposed copper it feels pretty tight

where the wire nut is biting into the

wire but then many people forget to do a

pull test

so if i pull i can already

see that the wire is coming out and

there the stranded came out and i had a

very weak connection now the wire net

still connected on but that's because it

was biting into the solid

so here's the example you can see the

wire net actually was just biting into

the solid core

and then the stranded was just getting

wrapped around the solid core but really

with a very loose connection

this is a classic

failure point

and something that can be avoided with a

simple technique let me show you how

so first up we're going to strip off

some new wire

and remember in your wire strippers you

do have the gauge callouts for stranded

and then on the opposite side for solid

and those will be different stripping

holes depending on if you're doing

stranded to solid

now this is 14 gauge so 14 gauge solid

would be here

and usually i'll be stripping three

quarters of an inch or maybe just a

little bit more

you'll pull that straight off you will

not pull at an angle and you shouldn't

wiggle

the strippers too much because that can

cause damage to the copper itself

now that's especially true with stranded

because stranded can you can break off

some of those strands right and then

you'd be lessening the current capacity

of that wire

so 14 gauge here and again we're gonna

do about

three quarters to an inch

again pulling straight out

you can see sometimes if you if it's a

little bit harder you can go to the

piece of insulation that no longer has

any wire in it you can pinch down on

that piece of insulation and then pull

it the rest of the way off

now for the stranded

it is nice to put a little bit of a

pre-twist on there just to make sure you

don't have any

frayed wire

then the correct approach is pretty

simple and this is going to ensure you

get a nice strong connection between the

stranded and solid

what you want to do and what we did

wrong last time

is we just put the wires

we just put the wires within the wire

net and what ended up happening is the

solid actually led the stranded so the

wire nut actually just bit on to the top

part of the solid and the stranded just

got wound loosely around the solid core

that is not what you want you want to

actually do the opposite you want to

lead with the stranded

you can really do only about an eighth

of an inch and that's going to be enough

often when you have solid core wire

many professionals will pre-twist

they'll pre-twist the wires together

prior to putting the wire nut on even

though the wire nut manufacturers

usually call out to not pre-trust and to

let the wire nut or a wing nut like this

do the work

all right so now once we have that

folding on

we can look down inside

you can see the stranded is much higher

up and is biting into that wire nut so

that same pull test is not going to pull

the wire out like it did last time

so you can kind of yank on these all you

want and it's just not going to happen

now a correctly installed wire nut is

really hard to beat in terms of price

and the proven durability the challenge

is it does take a little getting used to

so if you're starting off on your

electrical project i actually have a

better solution and it is the connector

i've been using for the last year let me

show you one quick note if you guys are

ever looking to expand your tool

collection you're kind of building out

as you build up your diy skills and

projects

you can look down in the description

you'll see our amazon store it has

things like my favorite utility knife

which is the milwaukee fastback

you'll see

my go-to wire strippers which are now

this hybrid set from canipix

which are great brand but they're a

little costly so sometimes i will put

kind of the higher end and a more mid

tier

that i also prefer

you'll see the pictures you can kind of

run through it quickly and see if we

have a recommendation for tools so just

something to check out and you'll see

that in all of our different videos so

now on to the connectors that i

recommend

these connectors are called awgo221

if you've seen any of my other videos

you've seen these connectors because

they are my go-to

now these are both three wire connectors

they are called lever nuts they are not

push in connectors do not be confused

with something like this which would

just be a push in connector

these are a little bit different

why i prefer these i think especially

for di wires you can get a more

consistent connection using the wago

lever nuts than you can with a wire nut

considering you're only doing so many

electrical projects a year so you don't

get a lot of reps with the wire nuts

which it does take a little time to get

used to them

the smaller wago two two one which you

get a two pin three pin five pin those

are the ones i carry on me all the time

this goes up to 12 gauge and then the

bigger one can actually go up to 10

gauge so the smaller which has the

smaller envelope which is easier to fit

in the junction box is by far what i

recommend and why i recommend these for

di wires you will see

so we open up our two

slots here by releasing the lever

we place our solid core in you'll see it

through the housing it's fully seated

and that

chrome bar there is actually the bus bar

so i'll close that lever and that

secures that wire in place

then with a pre-twist

on the stranded just to make sure i

don't have any stray

strands

that get caught up i'll also seat that

in

and the big thing is

wago 221s

are approved for stranded not just solid

core there's some confusion out there

there's also some confusion seems like a

lot of pros say that these cannot handle

load i'll put a link in the description

the silver symbol which is a great

youtube channel you guys should check

out

did a load test and went three times the

the rated capacity so went up to 60 amps

and the wago

did generate heat but had zero issues

once it cooled down still fully

functioning and that was even after

three times the rated load

so

as long as it's installed as you see

here

with the wires fully seated the wago is

going to stand up to the test of time

and actually over in the european

markets

things like the wago lever nut are much

much much more common than wire nuts

and that's just because it's a solid

consistent connection

and here's an example of that this is a

221-613

which can handle 10 gauge and we have 14

gauge stranded wire in the middle

i know others have commented that the

levers are loose

and they are loose but that actually

does not release the wire so we can show

here the lever

looks like it's starting to come

released but it's actually just some

play within the levers and if we zoom

out here you'll see my little

cheap test rig and that shows

that single stranded wire

holding

25 pounds of weight without failing

you could push back a little bit on cost

these are gonna be quite a bit more

costly and cost you five to ten times

more than a standard wire nut but for

sdi wires that aren't doing a ton of

jobs we're not doing commercial jobs i

don't think that cost really makes a

huge difference

why i also like the wago i use them on

like temporary light fixture at

renovation projects because they're

reusable

you can take them right off the wires

are not damaged you can reuse those

they're just a great overall connector

and i do highly recommend them so now

you know if you're installing that

ceiling light or vanity light you just

want to use the standard wire nuts in

the package no problem now you know how

to safely connect up stranded to solid

but if you have a few projects ahead of

you i do recommend getting yourself

some wago two two ones there's some

sample kits that have two three and five

pins you'll see that down in the

description and i just think it's a

great starter kit for diy-ers to see if

you prefer these type of connectors now

if you want to see other best practices

and just things to avoid when you're

swapping out outlets around the house

check out this video right here i'll

walk you through three issues i actually

found in a newly built home in my area

so thanks for joining us on this video

and we'll catch you on the next one take

care