Whether wiring your home or ensuring an excellent operational order for the electrical wires is crucial. You want to focus more on safety besides hiring a licensed electrician. However, household owners often feel confused to Push In Wire Connectors Vs Wire Nuts.
Push In Wire connectors don’t require any tool to install. They are simple to install. In contrast, correct wire splicing and stripping are necessary to provide a reliable electrical connection for wire nuts. Push In Wire connectors has more wide usage than wire nuts.
About Push-In Wire Connectors
Push In Wire connectors helps electrical to connect several wires together. They have insulations to provide long-term safety for any electrical system. This wire connector was first used in 1951. WAGO is the first company who introduce this connector in the market. That’s why its name was “WAGO Connector.”
About Wire Nuts
Wire nuts are traditional-based wire connectors that allow you to connect several electrical conductors together. It is also known as wire connectors. They were first used in 1914 by a Canadian electrician. The trade name for these wire nuts was regarded as “Marrette.”
Push in Wire Connectors Vs Wire Nuts: Quick Comparison Table
Specifications | Push In Wire Connectors | Wire Nuts |
Features |
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Suitability | Advanced solution | Traditional solution |
Materials | Transparent plastic or polycarbonate materials | Insulating plastic |
Compatibility/Types |
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Maximum Voltages | Capable of supporting up to 450 volts | Capable of supporting up to 600 volts |
Ideal Place To Use |
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Certifications |
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Price | $0.05-$0.10 per piece | $0.04-$0.08 per piece |
Differences Between Push-In Wire Connectors And Wire Nuts
Should you choose Push In Wire connectors or wire nuts? It is tricky to decide unless you know the core differences, right? Here are the common dissimilarities between these two connectors.
Features
Push In Wire connectors is simpler to install because you don’t need any extra tools. Plus, they require less space than wire nuts. This will save time and money. You can use this type of wire connector for different kinds of DIY home repairs. They are available in both commercial and professional quality versions.
Wire Nuts are one of the most widely used electrical connectors for securing wires. They come in different colors that determine the size and wire type. This wire connector has a polyolefin construction that can block typical fluids and solvents. You can easily remove them to change switches, outlets, or fixtures.
Suitability
Since Push In Wire connectors came after wire connectors, they are a more advanced solution than the latter. Both items are made for specific purposes. However, when it comes to common usage for these two electrical connectors, Push In Wire connectors can perform better than wire nuts.
Materials
Push In Wire connectors is made from Transparent plastic or polycarbonate materials. Their maximum functional temperature is 115–130 °C, and their minimum operating temperature is −40 °C. This compound is strong and optically transparent.
You can easily mold and thermoform them. In contrast, Wire nuts are made from insulating plastic, which is highly resistant to electrical current flow. They can effectively block electrical conductivity. This special compound has high dielectric strength and outstanding fire-resistance properties.
Compatibility/Types
Push In Wire connectors is compatible with various connectors, such as screw-in, wire-splice, etc. You can use this connector for terminal blocks because they have a strong insertion point. That’s why experts called them an efficient wiring method.
On the other hand, wire nuts have several variants. For example, Ceramic twist-on connectors are ideal for increased-temperature applications, especially heating items. You can use distinctive feedthrough twist-on wire connectors on wire pigtails protruding.
Maximum Voltages
Voltage is important when choosing electrical connectors. Higher voltage means minimal corrosion. Any average Push In Wire connector can support up to 450 volts. Contrastly, Wire Nuts can support up to 600 volts.
Ideal Place To Use
As we have already mentioned, all connectors are made for particular purposes. Though many of them are suitable for common use, it is better to use the recommended one. Push In Wire connectors is ideal for using various places, such as home and building wiring, digital signage, junction boxes, distribution boxes, etc.
On the other hand, you can use Wire Nuts for unique purposes, such as splicing electrical wires, breaker panels, etc. Also, this connector is great for relocating light outlets or switches or doing any repairs.
Certifications
Since both Push In Wire connectors and Wire Nuts are made from high-grade materials, they are less likely to show any fires and equipment failure. Both connectors are UL listed. Hence, they can ensure maximum safety against potential hazards.
As a bonus, Push In Wire connectors has also met the CE electrical code to ensure maximum safety for installation and maintenance. After all, they are adequately tested before introducing to the market.
Price
Wire Nuts are a slightly more affordable option than Push In Wire Connectors. You must spend around $0.05-$0.10 to buy each Push In Wire connector piece. Contrastly, Wire Nuts will cost about $0.04-$0.08 for every piece. They are generally available in small and large packages. Buy them based on your electrical project.
You may also be interested to learn about the differences between combination squares and speed squares.
What Are The Similarities Between Push-In Wire Connectors And Wire Nuts?
Since both items are electrical connectors, some common things exist between them. Below are a few common similarities between these two connectors.
Common Usage
You can use Push-In Wire connectors and Wire Nuts for similar purposes, such as light or fan fixtures to connect switch wires. However, either option may perform better based on its quality and endurance capabilities.
Increased Insulating Properties
Both types of wire connectors have excellent insulating properties. They are generally made from special plastic or similar items to block unwanted contact with other conductors of electricity.
Authentic Certifications
Push In Wire connectors, and Wire Nuts are certified by UL. Hence, they are safer than any uncertified wire connectors. However, choosing a reliable brand is vital. After all, UL certifies these wire connectors individually by inspecting the quality of products for each brand.
Which One Is Better: Push In Wire Connectors Or Wire Nuts?
Though both wire connectors are suitable, Push In Wire Connectors appears better for several reasons. You can easily remove and replace them. They provide visual verification of electrical connections because you can check whether the wires inside have a solid connection to each other or not. Additionally, some countries and states of the USA restrict people from using wire nuts for specific purposes. You can’t often see the wire for a particular electrical system. This increases the probability of shortages and even firetraps. However, you can use wire nuts for any primary purpose.
You can also read: PEX Crimp VS Sharkbite Crimp Tool – A Comparative Analysis on 10 Key Factors
Frequently Asked Questions
Do electricians use push in connectors?
Professional electricians use push in connectors only for the basic electrical system. They don’t use it for any heavy jobs because it may lead to failure issues.
What is better than a wire nut?
Wago lever nuts are a better choice than wire nuts because it allows you visually confirm the connections between two or more wires.
Are Wagos as good as wire nuts?
Wagos can give electricians more advantages than wire nuts since it ensures clear housing by letting technicians check the physical condition of wires.
Are wire nuts and wire connectors the same?
Yes, wire connectors and wire nuts are the same. They look like little round little plastic caps.
Are push in connectors NEC approved?
Push in connectors must have NEC approval to ensure optimal safety. The governing body of a municipality must inspect and test the product before approving the product.
Do push connectors cause fires?
Though modern push connectors are more reliable than traditional ones, their quality, installation approach, and installation area will determine how safe the connectors are.
Can you reuse push-in wire connectors?
You can reuse push-in wire connectors if the electrical system has solid wires from the same wire gage or larger.
Final Thought
So, which option have you decided to pick between Push In Wire Connectors Vs Wire Nuts? Push In Wire Connectors is a better choice than traditional wire nuts. However, wire nuts are not a bad option if you want to use them for any basic purpose and save a few bucks. Just make sure it doesn’t put any risk to your house’s electrical system.
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