The connection of electric wires - 8 best ways

Today there are many ways to connect the wires in the junction box.

Here are some of the factors depends on the choice of connector:

1. Core material (copper, steel, aluminum).
2. conditions of work (on the street, in the apartment, in the water, in the ground floor, the usual conditions).
3. number of conductors (two, three, four, etc.).
4. cross sections (same, different).

Based on these factors, the most appropriate and proper method.To begin, consider the materials that can be used to connect electrical wires in the junction box.

Existing methods

most popular and effective are the following connection options:

• use of terminal blocks;
• setting spring clips (wago);
• fixing SIZami (plastic caps);
• crimping sleeves;
• soldering;
• twist;
• installation "nuts";
• use bolts.

consider the essence of the advantages and disadvantages of each method!

use of terminal blocks

Terminal blocks are plastic products, within which there is a brass sleeve,having to twist the screws on both sides.

In order to connect the two wires to each other via the terminal block, it is necessary to insert at each side of the end product and properly tighten the screws (torque).This method of connection is most commonly used in distribution boxes, and in installing lamps, switches and sockets.

Please note that the terminal blocks are available with various inlet, suitable for a particular section of the core.

Advantages:

• low cost terminal blocks;
• quick and easy assembly of products;
• good quality bond;
• can combine aluminum with copper.

Disadvantages:

• Very often, the terminal blocks are of poor quality, which is fraught with breakage of the connector during installation.
• possibility of combining only two wires together.
• terminal block is not recommended to delay or stranded aluminum products.This is due to the high fragility and subtlety of aluminum stranded wire lived: when tightening the screws can damage the contacts.
• When using soldering reliability will be significantly higher.

Spring terminals Spring

wago terminals entered the market relatively recently, and undoubtedly become the most effective and safe connectors.

difference terminal blocks Vago from conventional terminals is that a special mechanism, rather than a screw to connect electrical wires.This mechanism allows you to gently lever type lock the product without damaging it.In order to carry out their own bond vagami, you must clean up the insulation and insert the wires into the hole.

draw your attention to the fact that there are disposable and reusable terminal blocks Vago.The first option is a one-time connection, and restore it when wiring repairs no longer happen: it will be necessary to cut the breaking bar, fix the problem and install new terminals.Reusable terminals wago more expensive, but they can be free to disconnect the contact if necessary.

advantage wago:

• opportunity gluttony aluminum and copper conductors;
• connectivity few lived at the same time (more than two);
• wago terminals allow to fix the thin stranded wire without damage;
• terminal blocks are very compact;
• work does not take much time;
• good quality bond;
• terminal block Vago has a special opening that allows you to monitor the performance of the power supply using a screwdriver indicator.

only drawback - the high cost of the terminal.

Setting caps

PPE PPE stands for connecting insulated clips.Products are ordinary plastic caps that are in a special spring, which keeps the wire.

Most of these caps are used to connect lived in distribution boxes.

benefits of using these products:

• low cost of PPE;
• caps are made of non-combustible material, so the self-ignition wiring in place twisting does not occur;
• quick installation;
• caps have a wide range of colors.For example, if the wires are not color-coded, using Sizov can note the phase, zero and earth (using white, blue and green cap).

Disadvantages:

• relatively poor quality of the insulation and fixing;
• impossible to combine aluminum with copper.

special crimping sleeves

crimping sleeves is one of the most reliable options.Its essence lies in the fact that the exposed wires are placed in a special tube - sleeve and crimped firmly.After crimp sleeve is carefully insulated with heat-shrinkable tube (cambric) or electrical tape.

conductors can be sent from different sides of the tube or to one side.In a first embodiment of the joint should be approximately in the middle of the sleeve, in the second case, a cross section of all the living (total) should not exceed the liner section.

Advantages:

• quality connection and insulation;
• liners are inexpensive.

Disadvantages:

• sleeve disposable (one-piece).If repairs are needed, the sleeve must be cut off and discarded, and then install the new one.
• For connection requires a special tool: press the tick and cutter (to shorten the sleeve if necessary).You can also use a special tool for removal of insulation, which has a compact crimping tool.
• Compressing the aluminum and copper wire is possible when there is only a special sleeve, which can be seen in the sales is not so often.
• Electrical work will require more time.

soldering or welding

This method is the quality of all.In order to connect the two wires together in the junction box, you need to carefully clean up the ends, twist and dip into the molten solder.Further conductors must be immersed in the solder bath.Thereafter, they should cool down and, eventually, through cambric insulated or insulating tape.

draw your attention to what is strictly forbidden to cool soldering in cold water, becauseIn this case, the bond quality significantly deteriorated (due to the appearance of microcracks).

advantage soldering method - excellent connection quality and reliability.

Disadvantages:

• need for special tools - soldering iron and, accordingly, the ability to work with him;
• volume of work;
• soldering closed-end;
• limit the conditions of application in accordance with the SAE;
• soldering resistance increases with time, which affects the voltage drop and the conductivity.

Accordingly, the solder is recommended to avoid using more modern methods of bonding.

It should be noted that there is also the connection of electric wire welding.The process of the same, but requires the use of the welding machine instead of soldering, and, consequently, the skills in welding.

Stranding and isolation

Old "antiquated" method involves twisting lived together.The essence of the work lies in the fact that the wires are stripped and carefully twist the pliers and then twisting the place is isolated.

Advantages:

• ease of installation works;
• lack of material costs.

Disadvantages:

• poor quality bonding lived;
• unacceptable compound of aluminum and copper products.

Most often twist the wires used in the wiring installation time.For the insulation is recommended to use end sleeves.According to the EMP a way to connect the wires in the junction box can not be used in rooms with high humidity and in a wooden house.

Clip "nut»

«Nut" is a cable clamp having two special plates and four screws in the corners, as shown in the photo below.To connect the wire nut is necessary to smooth the two ends of the wires and fix in the plate, and then put on karbolitovuyu shell.

Advantages:

• low cost clamp;
• «nuts» installation process does not cause any difficulties;
• can connect copper and aluminum conductors;
• enough good insulation.

Disadvantages:

• need to periodically tighten all the screws;
• dimensions "nut" is not suitable for installation in the switch box or other small places.

Using bolt

Simple, but, nevertheless, effective option connection of electric wires to each other - with the bolt.All that is needed is to have at hand a short bolt, washer and nut 3.

on the thread of the bolt is put the puck, then screwed deburred lived, after it put one more puck - lived - a washer (as shown above).In the end, the bolt carefully tighten the screws and insulated.

Advantages:

• simplicity and low cash costs;
• can connect aluminum and copper conductors.

As for the drawbacks, they are as follows:

• poor quality of fixation;
• need to spend a lot of isolation;
• bolt dimensions are not together in the junction box.

with current wiring in the box sorted out, now look at the rest, the important question of the topic.

What if some wires?

not normally occurs during contact bonding two problems.But what if at the same time it is necessary to combine three, four or more?

In this case, it is recommended to opt for the following embodiments, the compounds (from best to worst):

• via terminals wago;
• crimping sleeves;
• soldering;
• twisted with Sizov;
• twisting and winding tape.

For connecting wires for each of the methods we have analyzed above.We strongly recommend that you use the first option, becauseIt belongs to the most modern and efficient.This vag cost is not too high, and the wiring is more than 30 years.

What if conductors of different section?

to connect living of different sections in the junction box is recommended to use all of the same terminal blocks Vago, a cheaper option - conventional terminal blocks.In this case, you need to carefully tighten the screws or wires to fix the flag, and all work is done.

Please note that if the wires are made of different material, the special pads should be used with pasta inside, which prevents oxidation lived.These blocks include products from wago.

different sectional veins also can be attached by soldering.

Combining multi-core and single-core products

compound of solid and stranded wires individually does not have any features, so you can use any of the methods listed above.

To implement the bond is necessary to choose one of two options: either solder terminals Vago.Here already all depends on your preferences, advantages and disadvantages of each method we have provided.

How to conduct work in the water and the earth?

during electrical works often occurs such a situation when it is necessary to seal the wiring under water or in the ground.Now we briefly consider the specifics of each of the cases!

in water (for example, when installing a submersible pump), it is recommended to use the following technique.To start the ends are welded, then carefully place the soldering isolated melting over which is worn shrinking.If done efficiently and conscientiously, the joint is tight and secure.Otherwise, it may cause a short circuit and the output power of the system.

to connect electrical wires in the ground (for example, after mechanical damage), it is recommended to use the method provided above (hot melt and shrinking), but it is better to protect yourself, and use the following procedure.Clamped ends of the cable via the terminals, install a sealed terminal boxes, then carefully pour box special silicone sealant.Please note that the road under the ground must also be placed in the pipe or duct, to provide protection from rodents!

also recommended to combine the damaged ends of the wiring in the ground using a special cable box, as in the photo below!

That's all that I wanted to tell you about this issue!If any nuance was lost, we advise you to view the visual video tutorials.We hope that now you know what a wire connector is best used for those or other conditions of use.
Also read:

• How to find the wiring in the wall
• How to find a junction box in the wall
• How to make hidden wiring
• Height outlets GOST