How to tie wires correctly

Correct twisting: features and types of connection of electrical wires

Perhaps the most cherished dream of any electrician is electrical wiring without intermediate breaks. So that a separate wire passes from the panel to each switch or socket without connections. But this is a pipe dream - not many people will like the fact that dozens of wires will be connected to the electrical panel. And it gets expensive - you need a lot of wire. That's why the wires branch and connect.

Typical wiring in an apartment can have over a hundred connections. And electrical wiring faults, as a rule, appear precisely in these connections. Therefore, great attention must be paid to the correct connection of wires.

Wire connection methods

methods are used to connect wires :

• pressing (crimping);
• twist;
• PPE clips;
• screw terminals;
• welding;
• soldering;
• bolted connections;
• WAGO terminals.

What is better to choose for twisting wires?

To begin with, let's turn to the PUE. Paragraph 2.121 says that correct termination, branching and connection of cable cores and wires must be carried out using soldering, welding, pressing or clamping (bolt, screw, etc.). That is, of all the above options, only twisting is illegal. But twists will exist until the day there is electricity. Therefore, we will tell you about all connection options.

Twist

Despite the contradiction of the PUE, twisting is considered the most popular type of connecting wires. The main disadvantage of twisting is the gradual weakening of the fastening due to residual elastic deformation of the cable core. Moreover, the transition resistance in the twist increases, the cable begins to overheat and the connection is broken. It's good if there is no fire.

But a properly made twist can last a very long time without any cause for concern. Therefore, if other connection options are not available to you, then twisting can be done at home. But only high quality!

Important! This option should only be used as a last resort. If possible, use other options.

• Do not twist when the current in the circuit is more than 2-3 Amps.
• Do not twist when laying wires over flammable materials.
• Do not accept work from electricians if the connections are made by twisting without welding or soldering.
• Do not use twists if you are engaged in electrical work as part of an individual business or official duties - this will entail liability, possibly even criminal liability.

wires made of different materials (aluminum and copper), as well as multi-core and single-core cables in one twist For high-quality twisting, the insulation is removed from two cables to a length of 70–90 mm, the wires are laid perpendicularly crosswise and twisted. If the cable diameter is small (up to one sq. mm), then this can be done manually. But it is advisable to twist it with pliers. The coils must be tight.

The remaining edges of the cable (4-6 mm) are removed with pliers using a screw rotation, while the cable material seems to be smeared together. When attaching three or more wires, the freed ends from the insulation are laid together, parallel to each other, as tightly as possible and twisted by the ends with pliers. After this, the remaining ends are bitten off in the same way. The total twist size must be at least 12–14 diameters of the twisted wires.

Then you need to insulate the twist. To do this, use insulating tape, heat-shrink or polyvinyl chloride tubing, or special caps. It is advisable to thread the heat shrink tube twice, and wind the insulating tape in at least four layers. The insulating material must capture all intact cable insulation - this will protect the twist from moisture and prevent slipping.

Soldering

This is the most labor-intensive option for connecting wires, which requires some experience. Better quality twisting than poor soldering. Therefore, we will provide general information to those who have sufficient skills.

Before soldering, the cable is cleaned of oxides; if necessary, it is tinned, screwed (maybe not as tightly as when twisted), treated with flux and soldered. You can solder both aluminum and copper wires if you choose the right solder and flux.

There is no need to choose an acidic active flux - it will certainly remain on the wires and will destroy the connection over time. Soldering takes quite a lot of time, but the fastening is one of the most reliable.

Welding

The most durable option for twisting wires. Even with little experience, this connection option is relatively quick and simple. Welding is done with a current of any polarity with a voltage of 12-35 V. It is best to have the ability to regulate the welding current. For welding two copper wires with a diameter of 1.5 square meters.

mm 70 Amperes are enough, for 3 wires the voltage increases to 85-95 Amperes, for 3 wires 2.5 kW. mm, 95-110 Amperes are required, and 4-5 of these wires already require 110-130 Amps. With the correct current for welding, the electrode does not stick and the arc is kept quite stable.

Copper-carbon electrodes are used to connect copper conductors.

Insulation 60-70 mm long is removed from the wires and connected “for welding”. It differs from simple twisting in that the ends of the cores are not twisted by 6-7 mm. They are straightened and clamped parallel to each other. If three or more wires are screwed in, then there should still be only two wires at the end, the rest are cut to the length of the twist. This makes it easier for a melt bead to form when the welder is weak.

Important! Welding work must be carried out in compliance with all fire and electrical safety rules with the mandatory use of protective equipment (glasses with a thick filter or a welding mask, gloves, protective clothing).

Then the twist is placed in a welding clamp and the weld is made with an electrode. During welding, you need to melt the ends of the wires until a melt ball appears. For strong mechanical and electrical contact, the melting point must reach the main twisting area. After cooling, the wires are insulated in a way convenient for you.

For welding wires, you can choose different types of welding machines. inverter-type welding devices . Their advantages:

• have low electricity consumption;
• low weight and dimensions;
• large range of welding current regulation;
• provide a stable welding arc.

So, with a fairly large number of electrical installation works, purchasing a welding inverter can be considered the best choice; this device will be useful in many other works.

PPE connection

This is a plastic cap with a square metal wire inside, installed in a spiral cone. Often its cavity is filled with a special lubricant that protects the wires from moisture and prevents oxidation. When connecting wires using PPE, it is important to choose the size of the clamp correctly, taking into account the number and diameter of the wires being connected. As a rule, this information is located on the packaging.

For fastening, the insulation is removed from the wires to a size slightly smaller than the length of the cap, laid together and the PPE is screwed on top. Moreover, the edges of the square spring remove the layer of oxides from the surface of the core, its cone moves apart and, thanks to its elasticity, reliably clamps the wires together. For reliability, some electricians prefer to first do the usual twisting and then install the PPE.

The advantage of PPE is the simultaneous fastening of wires and insulation of their connection area. Disadvantages include weakening of the spring over time, which leads to increased contact resistance. It is not advisable to install PPE in high-current circuits.

Screw terminals

This fastening is very widely used when connecting switches, electrical sockets, lighting devices and other electrical fittings to wires. Screw clamps are often used when assembling electrical panels , as they make it possible to carry out neat and quick installation.

The obvious advantages of clamps include the absence of the need to isolate the fastening. Using these clamps, you can fasten wires made of various metals (copper and aluminum).

Of course, there are also disadvantages. It is not possible to install a multi-core cable into the clamps - it must first be crimped or soldered. In addition, screw terminals require maintenance - they need to be tightened from time to time to prevent the connection from loosening. In general, if there is a free approach to the connection areas, then screw terminals are an inexpensive and reliable solution.

WAGO terminals

This fairly new type of fastening is based on the installation of insulated spring clamps manufactured by the German company WAGO. These WAGO connectors are manufactured in a large assortment and include connectors of various designs, for various purposes, for a wide variety of cross-sections, types and numbers of wires. Therefore, it is advisable to buy WAGO connectors in a specialized store and always check the certificates.

The main advantages of these connectors include quick and easy installation without any special devices, as well as simultaneous insulation of the connection and fastening of the wires.

WAGO fasteners have all the necessary tests, are certified and are widely used both in our country and around the world. Therefore, there are no serious reasons not to trust them. All cases of any problems are due to the wrong choice of WAGO fastening for a certain load or the installation of fakes. It is these points that you need to pay great attention to when using for connection.

Crimping

This option means connecting the wires using crimping with a lug or tubular sleeve. Tips and sleeves are made for cables and wires with a core diameter of 2.6-250 square meters. mm.

Crimping is quite convenient for “set and forget” fastenings, but requires special equipment and the correct selection of sleeves for the specific diameter and number of wires being fastened.

The tools used are crimping presses, as well as manual hydraulic, electric and mechanical pliers.

For crimping, select the required sleeve; if necessary, adjust or select the working end of the tool. The insulation is removed from the wires, the conductors are cleaned and lubricated with a special paste, the sleeve is put on and clamped. A high-quality tool clamps the entire length of the sleeve in one pass; cheaper ones require several clamps at a certain distance from each other. After this, the sleeves are insulated with heat-shrinkable tubing or insulating tape.

Bolt fastenings

Used in circuits with high voltage . A washer of the required diameter is placed on the bolt, then the wires are wrapped around the bolt, another washer is put on and the whole thing is carefully clamped with a nut. If you install an additional metal washer between the cores, you can connect copper and aluminum wires together. In residential electrical wiring, this option is almost never used due to its bulkiness.

All completed installation connections of any type must be accessible for further maintenance and inspection. Correctly selected connection of wires is the main guarantee of the reliability of electrical wiring in an apartment or private house.

Source: https://stanok.guru/oborudovanie/raznoe/pravilnaya-skrutka-i-vidy-soedineniya-elektricheskih-provodov.html

How to connect a wire to a stranded conductor correctly, connection rules

A wire with a stranded core (stranded wire) is one of the most commonly used in electrical wiring, as it has sufficient elasticity and flexibility better than others, and the connections with it are strong and durable. The wire consists of many strands tightly intertwined and covered with a layer of insulation. This type of wire is used not only at home, but also in large-scale production.

If a person does not have special knowledge and skills during the installation of electrical wiring, then incorrect connection of these wires can lead to serious negative consequences. There are so-called “Electrical Installation Rules” (RUE), which clearly state that electrical wiring must be used in a residential area, which is made only with copper wires!

Stranded and single-core wires can only be connected using soldering, pressing, welding, or squeezing.

Let's take a closer look at each of these methods.

Pressing

One of the advantages of this method is the faster connection speed than soldering.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2J-6t4Rfb0

The pressing method involves the use of special sleeves, hollow from the inside, into which wires are inserted and then clamped with pliers. Sleeves can be aluminum, copper and brass. Aluminum is used with aluminum wires, copper is used with copper, and others are used for both types of wires.

When the sleeves are compressed, the wires are deformed and, rubbing tightly against each other, create the necessary electrical contact, and the junction becomes quite strong.

What you will need:

• Connection sleeve
• Special pliers

Stages of work:

1. Using a special knife, remove the insulation from the wire. Insulation is made along the length of the sleeve.
2. They do a twist.
3. Twisted wires are placed inside.
4. Then the sleeve is squeezed with pliers.
5. Insulation of the connection point.

Advice! To prevent oxidation of the wires, the connection point should be preserved with technical petroleum jelly.

Compression connection

According to the PUE, the compression method is the connection of conductors using bolts and screws. This also includes the use of Wago self-clamping terminals.

Connection with bolts

This type of connection is quite simple, but at the same time not very strong. In order to increase the reliability of the connection, it is necessary to strip the ends of the insulation, then tin the sections and fasten them with a bolt or nut, placing a washer between them. Due to the fact that connection using bolts is quite cumbersome and not entirely aesthetic, it was replaced by another, more convenient method of clamping using screws.

Connection with screws

This method is used to join types of metals such as copper and aluminum. The screw terminal block is presented in the form of a brass tube with two holes and a thread into which screws are inserted, which firmly compress the wire placed in the tube. Due to their small size, screw terminal blocks are used when connecting wires in junction boxes.

Self-clamping terminal block Wago

This method is widely used both in production and at home due to the fact that, firstly, it is simple and easy to use, and secondly, it does not take much time.

In terminal blocks of this type, the wire snaps into the socket. With its help, you can simultaneously connect up to 8 wires at once. Some terminals already have a special contact paste applied to them, which prevents oxidation of the aluminum conductors.

Source: https://remboo.ru/inzhenernye-seti/elektrika/soedinit-provod-s-mnogoprovolochnoj-zhiloj.html

Correct connection of electrical wires: do-it-yourself soldering

There is wiring in every house. And the correct connection of wires is part of the safety of the electrical network and its trouble-free operation.

Installation of electrical wiring in an apartment or cottage involves connecting the wires of distribution boxes and switchboards. The safety of the electrical network and its trouble-free operation depend on how correctly and efficiently all connections are made.

Correct connection of electrical wires

 
Methods for connecting electrical wires

Electricians use the following methods for connecting wires:

• twisted;
• soldering;
• using terminal blocks;
• crimping;
• with bolts;
• plastic PPE;
• “Wago” – spring terminals;
• "nuts" made of plastic.

The choice depends:

• from the material of the wire (cable) cores;
• on the operating conditions of the electrical network (external or internal wiring, hidden or laid openly);
• from the cross-section of the connected conductors;
• on the number of cores in one connection.

The connection of the distribution box wires must be made in such a way as to ensure reliable contact and avoid heating the wires. Here is an overview of the above methods for connecting current-carrying conductors.

 
Features of using terminal blocks to connect electrical wires

 
The terminal block consists of a plastic housing, a brass or copper bushing with threads and screws located on both sides.

This device allows you to:

• save on electrical equipment: the terminal block is cheaper than other connectors;
• connect the wires securely;
• connect cores of dissimilar metals (copper with aluminum);
• reduce installation time.

Disadvantages of terminal connectors:

• unsuitability for connecting more than two conductors;
• difficulties when connecting aluminum conductors: if the screw is over-tightened, the metal may break;
• unsuitable for use with multi-core wires.

The connection of electrical wires in the terminal block is carried out as follows.

The outer insulation is partially removed from the cables and the cores are exposed. The length of the bare conductor depends on the size of the terminal.

The length of the wire section without insulation is checked, for which you need to unscrew the terminal screw and insert the core completely into the hole. The excess is cut off with side cutters.

To improve contact, the copper wire is tinned. The connected cores are inserted into the terminals one by one and clamped with screws in several stages.

The reliability of the connection is checked.

Tip: in order to remove the insulation without damaging the core, it is recommended to use a special tool. If this is not available, only the surface layer of insulation is cut in a circle with a sharp knife, after which the wire should be bent along the cut line. After breaking, the insulation is removed with a light movement of pliers.

 
We use spring terminals to connect electrical wires

The connection of conductors with spring terminals is carried out using springs that press the contact plate to the metal of the core. The mechanism is driven by a special lever.

Wago type terminal connector

The Wago technology has a number of advantages over other installation methods:

• allows you to connect aluminum wires with copper;
• can be used to connect more than two wires;
• allow you to switch wires in small junction boxes;
• installation is carried out efficiently and in the shortest possible time;
• conductor cores are not damaged;
• After installation, it is possible to check the continuity of the circuit using a device probe or indicator through a hole in the housing.

In order to connect the wires using Wago terminals, it is necessary to remove the insulation so that the exposed wires are not visible, then insert the wires into the connector sockets and press the levers until they stop.

Note: Wago spring terminals are available in reusable and disposable versions. The latter, if it is necessary to repair the connection, are cut off, after which new connectors are installed.

Connecting conductors using PPE caps

The PPE cap is screwed onto the connection clockwise

The abbreviation PPE means “connecting insulating clamps”. The connector is designed as a spring located in a plastic housing. The spring securely holds the wires together, which creates reliable contact. Advantages of this method:

• the ability to mark wires using colored caps: the “phase” conductors connect red PPE, “zero” – blue or white, “ground” – yellow or green;
• fire protection: connector bodies are made of non-flammable plastic.

Important: connecting copper and aluminum wires using PPE is not allowed.

Crimping with sleeves

Connecting conductor cores with sleeves

The method consists of putting a metal tube (sleeve) on the cores freed from insulation, which is crimped with press pliers. As a result, the conductors are tightly connected to each other. The connection point is isolated.

Important: connections of aluminum and copper conductors may only be made using sleeves specially designed for this purpose.

Welding or soldering technology allows you to obtain a reliable connection of wires

The disadvantage of this method is the inability to monitor the integrity of the network after installation and isolation, as well as the non-repairability of such a connection. Additionally, a DIY soldering torch is dangerous to use.

An alternative to soldering wires is to weld them. The process involves the use of a welding machine.

 
Wire welding technology

When connecting copper wires this way, it is recommended that you try out a DIY copper wire soldering transformer before you begin. It is important to know that copper is smelted at a temperature of 1080 °C, but above 300 °C this metal becomes brittle.

In the absence of a special soldering device, use a conventional inverter welding machine. The step-by-step process of welding wires is as follows.

Up to 10 cm of insulation is removed from the ends of the wires.
The cores of the connected wires are tightly twisted together. The result should be twists approximately 5 cm long.

The ground cable of the inverter apparatus is connected to the twist closer to its beginning.
The current adjustment knob is set in the position from 30 to 90 A (at a voltage of 12 - 36 V): the value is selected depending on the cross-section of the wire and their number.

The carbon electrode of the welding machine briefly (no more than 2 s) touches the twist so that an arc is formed. As a result, a welded monolithic joint is formed at the tip of the twist. After complete cooling, the connection is insulated with heat shrink tubing or adhesive tape.

At the ends of the cores connected by welding, a monolithic alloy is formed

Connecting electrical wires by soldering

Soldering copper wires is an old, proven method that allows you to obtain a reliable electrical connection. The technology allows the installation of monolithic and stranded wires of various sections. There can be several conductors in one connection.

The work is performed using the following technology.

The insulation is removed from the ends of the connected conductors using a special device (approximately 5 cm).
The strands are tightly twisted together manually or using pliers (depending on the number of strands and their sections).

The twist is treated with flux or rosin.
This is necessary to improve the quality of soldering. On an open fire (using a gas burner or a gasoline blowtorch), a cup soldering iron (futorka) is heated red-hot. The cup of the futor is filled to the brim with tin-lead solder grade POS 30, POS 40 or POS 61.

The solder is heated to the point of fluidity.
The twist is briefly (up to 1 second) completely dipped into the futor cup, as a result of which the solder should completely cover the exposed wires.

After natural cooling, the twist is insulated with PVC adhesive tape or a plastic cap.
Important: soldering of wires should be done with safety glasses and tarpaulin gloves. During work, fire safety rules must be observed.

Soldering copper wires is performed as shown in the video.

Connecting wires with simple twisting

Wire connection diagrams in a distribution box for low-power electrical networks can be implemented by simple twisting without the use of additional fixing means. In this case, it is important that the twisting step is as small as possible, and its length is at least 20 mm. Only cores made of homogeneous metals are connected in this way: copper - with copper, aluminum - with aluminum.

It is not allowed to use this installation method in damp rooms and in wooden houses.

After twisting, the wire connection should look as shown in the photo

Walnut clamp

For connecting wires with a cross-section of 4 square meters. mm and it is more convenient to use a “walnut” clamp. It consists of a pair of specially shaped plates that are pressed together with screws at the corners. Advantages of the method:

• ease of connection;
• the ability to connect copper conductors with aluminum ones;
• comparative cheapness of materials.

Important: the “walnut” clamp is not used in distribution boxes (dimensions do not allow). To ensure reliable contact, the screws must be tightened from time to time.

Using a bolted connection to connect electrical wires
To connect large cross-section wires, as well as to install grounding elements in an electrical panel, a bolted connection is used. The ends of the wires, freed from insulation, are screwed onto the bolt threads in a clockwise direction. The connection is pressed with a washer with an engraver and a nut, after which the bolt is isolated.

In conclusion, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the training video (master class with expert comments).

 published econet.ru  

If you have any questions on this topic, ask them to the experts and readers of our project here.

Source: https://econet.ru/articles/185364-pravilnoe-soedinenie-elektricheskih-provodov-payka-svoimi-rukami

How to connect wires together

Learn two wire splicing methods used by our master electrician.

How to connect two wires if one is very hard

Cut the cable at an angle so that the end is tapered rather than blunt. Leave the wire closest to the cut point about 7-8 cm longer than the other two wires. Straighten the stiff wire and make a small loop at the end.

Pass the wire through the loop and wrap it around the stiff wire. Start wrapping the electrical tape around the cable, over the connection. Wrap the tape tightly in a spiral until you get it over the wires.

Each successive winding overlaps the previous one, reducing the likelihood that the edge of the tape will catch on something as you pull it through obstacles.

Copper wire is not as stiff, so it is more likely to come free from the connection in the style shown, so this method should not be used with it.

Connection of two flexible wires

If you are using copper wire as a fishing tool, please use Western Union connection. Start with two L's, then wrap each wire around the other without looping them over themselves. The recording step is the same for both methods.

How to connect wires correctly: 4 main ways

Methods of connecting wires are regulated by the Electrical Installation Rules. According to their latest edition, the following options can be used for connection:

• soldering;
• welding;
• crimping;
• squeeze

Nevertheless, many electricians still use one of the most common connection methods - twisting. According to current rules, this is not a complete process; it must be followed by soldering, welding or clamping. The soldering method is not given below.

How to choose a wire connection method

The choice of the optimal option depends not only on the personal preferences of the master, but also on a number of other factors. For example, when combining aluminum and copper, it is important to consider the possible oxidation process. Also, not all methods are suitable for a large number of wires in a connection. The load in the circuit, cross-section and number of cores, etc. also have an impact.

Connecting wires by welding

Compared to soldering, welding is an even more reliable connection method, but it is rarely used as a household method, since it requires a welding machine, personal protective equipment and welding skills.

The welding technique is approximately the same as in the case of soldering, but before the procedure it is necessary to take the free ends of the two wires, straighten them and press them parallel to each other in order to better form a melt ball.

Wire welding is considered one of the most reliable connection methods

The welding area must cool naturally before insulation is carried out. Submerging the wire in cold water causes microcracks to appear.

The disadvantages of the method include:

• high cost of equipment;
• the need for relevant skills;
• time costs.

Pressure testing of connections

Crimping ensures high-quality installation and reliable insulation. For this method, special tubular sleeves are used, which are selected in size depending on the cross-section of the wire. Connecting wires in this way requires a crimping tool: pliers or a crimping press.

Wire crimping option

After cutting the wire, that is, removing the insulation and stripping the ends, quartz-vaseline paste is applied to the wires, a connector is put on and crimped. Wires can be inserted from opposite or one side. If you use a high-quality and professional tool, you can crimp the wire in one go. After this, the usual insulation of the joint is performed.

Among the disadvantages of this method are:

• the inability to reuse the connector, as it is deformed during crimping;
• connecting copper and aluminum wires in this way is only possible when using a special sleeve, which is difficult to find on sale;
• takes quite a long time.

Connecting wires using compression

Wire compression can be done in various ways, some of which are more preferable, others less so.

Connecting insulating clamps resemble crimping sleeves, with the difference that inside they have a steel wire coiled into a spiral, which protects the wires from oxidation and presses them tightly together. The connections are easy to use, and you can use clamps of different colors if the wires are not color-coded to mark zero, phase, and ground.

The use of clamps is limited by the number of wires connected: they are suitable for two wires with a cross-section of 4 mm2 or four with a cross-section of 1.5 mm2. Over time, the spring weakens, causing resistance to increase and voltage loss in the network to occur. It is impossible to combine wires from different materials with this connection method.

Using a short bolt, three washers, a nut and electrical tape, you can quickly and cost-effectively connect wires from any materials, but the junction is very bulky, so this option cannot be used in a junction box.

Screw terminals are convenient for connecting lamps, sockets and switches. They allow you to connect copper and aluminum wires without additional insulation. The disadvantages include the need to maintain connections: the screws need to be tightened periodically.

Using modern terminal blocks is the simplest, fastest and most convenient way to connect wires of any type. Due to their small size, they easily fit into a junction box; there are different options for terminals for wires with different cross-sections.

They provide high quality connections and high installation speed. One of the disadvantages is the possibility of poor quality pads, which can cause disruptions in the network. Working with them requires care and attention to avoid damaging the wires.

Terminal blocks provide simple, fast and reliable connections

When choosing any of the above options, you must ensure the safety and reliability of the electrical network. It is very important that all wire connections, regardless of the method of their joining, are provided with convenient access for inspection and maintenance during operation.

Connecting the wires correctly

Apartment renovation

Many of you have probably heard the expression - electrics, the science of contacts. In this regard, our article today will be about how to connect wires correctly. By the way, when installing electrical wiring, about seventy percent of errors occur in this area.

Typically, unstable electrical operation occurs due to poor contact or its complete absence in wiring boxes or electrical appliances such as switches, lamps, sockets, as well as due to heavy load in electrical wiring lines. The last problem arises mainly due to the use of powerful modern electrical devices such as a hob, oven, washing machine, kettle, refrigerator, etc.

So, let's solve a common problem - how to connect the wires correctly so that there is stable contact. The following types of connections are currently commonly used:

• twist
• soldering
• welding
• crimping
• bolt clamps
• screw terminals
• self-clamping terminal blocks

Let's take a look at each type of connection.

 

How to connect wires correctly in an apartment

The greatest desire of every installer is to connect wires to the connection points without soldering or fastening together. Unfortunately, this dream will never come true. No one would agree to have so many cables used in their apartment. And this pleasure will cost a tidy sum, because a lot of wiring will be required.

This is the main reason that the network has many contacts. Each average apartment can have up to hundreds of such associations. It should be noted that wiring problems most often occur in the places where the ends of the wires touch.

In order to connect contacts correctly and safely, it is necessary to carefully study all the methods and options that are practiced by electricians.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRHLv23JFv4

Any living space today has wiring

So, if the question arises of how to connect wires at home, it is best to turn to the bible of every self-respecting electrician - the Electrical Installation Rules (ELR). Paragraph 2.1.21 of this reference book states that it is best to use the following methods:

• soldering;
• welding;
• crimping;
• bolted connection.

But other methods are also practiced that are not listed here. Twisting remains illegal, but connections with screws, insulating clamps such as PPE, and WAGO terminals are, one way or another, permitted. Let's look at each of them in more detail.

Bolted connections

This method is best used when working with networks with high current. The idea is simple - wires are laid between two washers on a bolt, and then tightly fixed with a nut of a suitable size. Moreover, you can connect aluminum and copper wire if you use steel nuts. However, within an apartment, this method is not particularly popular, since it does not look aesthetically pleasing.

Finally, we need to remind you that all wire connections, no matter how you do it, must be accessible for correction and inspection. If you've ever connected two or more wires yourself, please share your comments below.

Source: https://repaireasily.ru/volt/soedinenie-provodov.html

How to connect wires

How to connect the wires? Soldering or welding? Long and inconvenient. You need to look for a soldering iron or welding machine. But I’ll tell you a secret that the best connection is welding, then soldering. Twisting wires? It's a good thing, but not aesthetically pleasing. And according to the new rules, it is forbidden to use it, except on the sly in the country. Nowadays, special connectors for wires have been invented, which make life much easier for electricians and electricians. We will talk about them in this article.

Connection screw terminal block

It is used very widely in production, as well as in the home for connecting two wires to each other. Sold in cassettes of 10 pieces or more. We cut off as much as needed and use it as needed. Mainly used for connecting copper wires. Not recommended for aluminum ones. Aluminum wires have the property of fluidity. This means that after some time the clamped aluminum wire will “spread” from under the clamping bolt and the connection will weaken.

The advantage of connecting terminal blocks is that they are very cheap and allow you to connect two wires to each other without problems in a matter of seconds. The main thing is to find a suitable flat-head screwdriver.

PPE caps

PPE is a connecting insulating clamp. It is used for connecting single-wire wires and then screwing them clockwise. PPE caps are very convenient, but still not very reliable. Therefore, if you have a critical part of the electrical wiring, then it is better to give preference to the cooler competitors of PPE caps.

As you may have noticed, there is a spiral inside the cap, which, when screwing the cap, compresses the connected wires.

In practice, it all happens something like this: we strip two wires, and then screw the PPE cap onto them

WAGO terminal blocks

Vago terminal blocks are currently the top-end wire connectors. Although they also have their drawbacks - they are expensive and have a weak switching current. The photo below shows the operating principle of Vago terminal blocks.

Conclusion

At present, blue electrical tape can already be shelved. If earlier the Soviet Union was built with its help, now there is no need for it. It’s much easier to go to the nearest store and buy connectors for wires. It won't hurt your pocket too much. As a result, your electrical installation will be much stronger and safer.

Also, do not forget about the current strength for which these connectors are designed. For example, you should not use VAGO terminal blocks for various electric boilers and powerful energy consumers. In this case, they may not be able to withstand heavy loads, which will lead to even worse consequences.

Source: https://www.RusElectronic.com/kak-sojedinit-provoda/

Examples of connecting wires in home wiring

Consequences of connecting wires through Vago terminals

In this article I will tell you about a real case of connecting wires in an apartment. I already have a lot of such articles, I will provide some links along the way. As usual, there will be a lot of photos, tips and instructions)

So, the story began with the fact that a client called me to his place, who was flooded by his upstairs neighbors. The house is an old two-story barracks, pre-war, the wiring is terrible. Namely - aluminum and copper in different combinations. The house and apartment were completed and rebuilt many times, and the wiring was redone accordingly.

Therefore, when water got on the electrical wiring, it led to the apartment being completely de-energized. The situation was aggravated by the fact that the apartment had just been renovated with good finishing, the walls were covered with expensive wallpaper and decorative stone. And, as always, before making repairs, the owners did not think about the fact that the wiring left much to be desired. That is, it is in unsatisfactory condition.

For a Russian person, as usual, until the thunder strikes. But for now it works - and okay!

So, I came that evening and restored the apartment from an electrical point of view, connecting the wires in the junction box with what I had in my arsenal - Wago of different models, PPE connectors.

But I immediately said that I don’t give any guarantee - perhaps in a day everything will burn again! And all the wire connections will need to be done in a normal way.

And now, half a year later - a call! It's time! It literally burned, the photo is at the beginning of the article, and here:

Consequences of connecting wires in a box through Wago terminals. At the top there is a hole in the suspended ceiling.

The fact is that the machines in the entire apartment were set at 25A. More precisely, there was actually 1 machine, since one was on phase, the second was on zero. This is the shield that was installed throughout the entire apartment:

Electrical panel for apartment power supply

Let me remind you that you cannot do this, this bad tradition dates back to the times when round fuse plugs were installed after the meter. Why is this dangerous - if you hit zero (and here the chances are 50/50), and it seems like there is no “light” in the house, but all the electrical wiring is at phase voltage potential. Even the zero part, which was not dangerous before. Therefore, in this case there should be a two-pole circuit breaker, but not two single-pole ones.

This also happened because before there might not have actually been zero, but in reality there were two phases, with a linear voltage between them of 220V. And if there was a zero and a phase, then no distinction was made between them. Poverty and technological backwardness

I recommend my article about choosing machines for an apartment building.

It is clear that the connection of wires in the box with such protection burned out. Moreover, the wires that were connected through the terminals were old, oxidized, and of different sections.

It is important to remember that the terminals for connecting the wires are the last thing to blame here, so I would like to immediately warn Vago’s opponents - if they are used correctly, they will last for many years!

For those who are not in the know, I highly recommend the article - Examples of practical connection of wires through Wago terminals.

Not only the input wire box (above the meter) burned out, but also the distribution box in the hallway, through which power was supplied to the kitchen and bathroom. Here's what happened to her:

Burnt connection between aluminum and copper wires.

As you can see, a whole collection of different terminal blocks was used to connect the wires.

This photo can be characterized by the words from the song - “I made him from what was”

At the same time, Vago terminal blocks took on bizarre forms of techno-art:

What can terminals for connecting wires turn into 1

What can the terminals for connecting wires 2 turn into?

What can the terminals for connecting wires 3 turn into?

What can the terminals for connecting wires 4 turn into?

I repeat, these photos are not anti-advertising at all. Rather, this is a warning that you need to use Vagi correctly!

Replacing connections

So, we have two junction boxes, the wire connections in which are completely useless. What should be done in such cases? Here are the main points:

• Cut out the old terminal blocks with pliers,
• Strip the wires to a good metal that has not darkened due to temperature. If necessary, cut the wire even shorter,
• If necessary, extend the wires so that they can be connected,
• During all these manipulations, understand the train of thought of the electrician who acted here 20-40-60 years ago. In other words, understand the wiring diagram,
• Install a new junction box,
• Connect the wires to each other using terminal blocks.

Here's how I did the electrical wiring repair in this case.

After the meter, there were initially two 25-amp circuit breakers; from their output terminals I powered the following electrical panel:

Electrical panel in which the correct protection of electrical wiring from overload is installed

I don’t remember the exact connection diagram now, but that’s not important right now.

I installed the following boxes:

We install distribution boxes for connecting wires

Why two boxes instead of one? You will need to fit everything - all the wires and terminals. In addition, cutting off the burnt ends of the wires makes them shorter.

From this place, wires spread throughout the entire apartment (both copper and aluminum), and two VVG 3x2.5 cables arrive:

Connecting wires in a junction box with different terminal blocks

In this case, I use the TB2504 terminal block to connect the outlet circuits.

I’ll talk about such terminals later in this article.

For connecting lighting circuits - Vago terminals. Here's a closer look:

Connecting copper and aluminum wires using terminals

I am quite calm about such connections, and I can give a multi-year guarantee for such electrical wiring repairs.

Connecting wires with terminal blocks

Why do I like making connections with terminal blocks? The fact is that I can be quite confident in such connections, unlike Vago terminals (see photo of what happens in this article)

Such terminals have very low contact resistance and very high reliability if used correctly. The situation is almost the same with crimp connection sleeves. But for the sleeves you need a special tool - press pliers, and for the terminal block a screwdriver is often enough.

For better installation, you need to try to ensure that the area of ​​contact of the wire with the terminal pad is maximum, and the wire itself is as clean as possible. Ideally, a flexible stranded wire should be terminated with lugs.

I already wrote about lugs for stranded wires in an article about the practical use of Vago terminals, the link was above. In addition, stranded wires are discussed in the article about making electrical harnesses.

There are many names for such terminals, and sometimes confusion arises.

Possible names are: a line of screw terminals, a terminal block, a terminal block, a terminal block, and, ultimately, a black carbolite terminal block.

In English, this name sounds like Screw Barrier Terminal Block. Abbreviated as Terminal Block, the first letters of these words (TB) are included in the trade name. Next come two numbers indicating the rated current, and two more numbers indicating the number of terminals in the block.

For example:

• TB1512 (15Amp 12 terminals),
• TB3504 (35A, 4 terminals),
• TB45, TB60 – terminal blocks for 45 and 60 Amps.

Here's an example of how I used these terminal blocks to power an entire office:

Using terminal blocks to connect input wires

Using TB4504 terminal blocks to connect input wires

More details on such important connections can be found in the article about connecting three-phase voltage relays.

These are the terminals I use where there are high currents and a high cost of error. For example, in hard-to-reach places, at the entrance to homes, etc.

I see only one disadvantage of such terminals - size. Such terminal blocks do not fit into standard distribution boxes and must be placed differently. For example, as shown in this article.

There is another connection option - through the terminals of circuit breakers, where the reliability is no less, and this method is used everywhere.

Walnut type compression

And for large currents and cross sections (more than 63A and more than 10 mm2 for copper) - a completely different story and philosophy.

It often happens here that you need to connect wires of different sections and materials (copper + aluminum). And the best thing that was invented for this is Nuts. Like in this photo:

Nuts for connecting wires

Here is another example of connecting wires with nuts:

Walnut connection in the floor panel

Most often they are installed in panels for entry into private houses and apartment buildings.

by connecting wires

Summary of the article - connect the wires so as to be 100% sure! I wish everyone a good contact!

Source: https://SamElectric.ru/elektrika/primer-soedineniya-provodov-v-domashnej-provodke.html

How to properly connect electrical wires

In this article we will talk about how to connect wires to each other in an apartment. The issue of electrical wiring is very relevant, especially for those who decide to do their own repairs. Mostly people are interested in the possibility and technology of connecting wires of different materials and cross-sections to each other. Let's talk about everything in order.

CONTENT:

Is it possible to connect wires by twisting

Very often, especially in old houses, we start removing old wallpaper, unscrewing old sockets, disassembling dilapidated junction boxes and what do we see: a lot of wires twisted together and wrapped in insulation:

I know that many electricians still twist wires this way and consider it the most reliable. However, from a fire safety point of view, no firefighter will approve of electrical connections in an apartment made only by twisting.

The fact is that sometimes you have to connect wires of different sections and different materials, for example, copper and aluminum wires. And it is precisely for such cases that twisting is unacceptable. For example, with the same load on the network, it will act differently on thick and thin wires twisted together, one of which will feel good, and the other will heat up.

How to connect wires of the same material and cross-section

How to connect wires of the same material and cross-section to each other, for example, copper to copper for 2.5 squares? This is the simplest case, and twisting may well be suitable here:

Only instead of regular insulating tape, the store sells caps for twisting:

You need to take the cap and screw it onto the twist:

Is it possible to connect wires of different sections of the same material?

If, for example, you need to connect wires of different cross-sections (they are also suitable for the same cross-section) and the same material (copper or aluminum), then in this case the special connecting blocks presented below are well suited.

They have different numbers of inputs: in the figure, respectively: 2, 4, 6.

That is, this is a “sort of” twist for 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 wires.

Moreover, if you need to connect 3 wires to each other, then for this you can use a block that has 4 or 6 inputs:

By reading my blog, you are probably making repairs. this page to your bookmarks . This is where all the useful home improvement stores are located.

The block is simply pressed tightly onto the wires:

You need to understand that after connecting the wires in this way, they can no longer be removed from the block. Therefore, if you have never tried to work with such devices, buy a few of them in a store with a supply and practice at home. They cost pennies.

How to connect copper and aluminum wires

When you need to connect wires made of different materials (copper and aluminum), and even different sections, in this case you will be helped by pads whose inputs are filled with a special paste that prevents oxidation:

The same pads, of course, are suitable for wires of the same cross-section and the same material. As in the previous case, if you have already put wires on them, then they will no longer be removed from the blocks. Therefore, think through all your connections in advance.

Connecting blocks - latches

There are also jumper blocks that will allow you to connect wires together, but if you make a mistake, you can disconnect any of the connected wires. These are the so-called latches:

For latches, you should definitely check with the seller in the store about the possibility of connecting wires of different materials and cross-sections.

One of the options for connecting wires in a chandelier

If you need to connect a chandelier, then one of the options for connecting the wires coming out of the ceiling with the wires coming from the chandelier would be to use blocks in which the wire connection is secured using screws:

For a chandelier, the option of using wago type terminals, especially if the wires coming from the ceiling are short, will not be very good, since, as already mentioned, in this case the wires cannot be removed (for example, you will need to change the chandelier or wash it) and you will have to cut them off. In the case of terminals with a screw connection, it will be enough to simply unscrew the fastening screws and release the wires.

Important Notes on Wiring Connections

Let us note important points regarding electrical wires.

1. All wires twisted together should not dangle somewhere in the air! They must be placed in a junction box.
2. For all wire connections, ensure that the bare ends of the wires are completely hidden in the connection block. That is, try to make the connection so that after this connection it would be impossible to reach the bare end of the wire with your hand.
3. Do not try to remove the wire from terminals that are not intended for this purpose. For example, there are craftsmen who manage to remove wires from wago terminals. But I do not recommend doing this, since such removal is always associated with deformation of the wire. And this is unacceptable, because the load on the network should be experienced by whole wires, and not half-broken ones, which can lead to short circuits.

This is where the article ends. We have studied in detail the issue of how to connect wires in an apartment. Now, when moving the socket from one place to another, you can easily extend the wires by laying them in the wall and making the correct connection.

Source: http://rykinekruki.ru/elektrika-v-kvartire/kak-pravilno-vyipolnyat-soedinenie-provodov/