Sealed connection of electrical wires. Connecting wires - methods for reliable ways to connect wires of different types, types and sections (120 photos)

When wiring or repairing electrical wiring, when connecting household appliances and a lot of other work, it is required to connect conductors. In order for the connection of wires to be reliable and safe, it is necessary to know the features of each of them, where and when, under what conditions they can be used.

Existing methods of connecting conductors

To connect the wires can be done in several ways:

welding is the most reliable method, providing high reliability of the connection, but requiring skills and the presence of a welding machine;
terminal blocks - a simple and fairly reliable connection;
soldering - works well if the currents do not exceed the normative ones and the connection does not heat up to temperatures above the norm (65 ° C);
crimping with sleeves - requires knowledge of technology, special pliers, but the connection is reliable;
the use of spring clips - wago, PPE - quickly installed, subject to operating conditions provide good contact;
bolted connection - easy to perform, usually used in difficult cases - if it is necessary to switch from aluminum to copper and vice versa.

The specific type of connection is selected based on many factors. It is necessary to take into account the material of the conductor, its cross section, the number of cores, the type of insulation, the number of conductors to be connected, as well as the operating conditions. Based on these factors, we will consider each of the types of connections.

Welding – high reliability in all conditions

When connecting wires by welding, the conductors are twisted, and their end is welded. As a result, a ball of metal is formed, which provides a stable and very reliable connection under any conditions. Moreover, it is reliable not only in terms of electrical characteristics, but also mechanically too - the metal of the connected wires after melting forms a monolith and it is impossible to isolate a separate conductor.

Welding - it is important to heat the metal, but not to melt the insulation

The disadvantage of this type of wire connection is that the connection is 100% one-piece. If you need to change something, you need to cut off the fused piece and redo it all over again. Therefore, for such connections, a certain margin of wires is left - in case of a possible alteration.

Other disadvantages include a welding machine, appropriate electrodes, flux and work skills. In addition, welding takes a lot of time, it is necessary to protect surrounding objects, and it is also inconvenient to work with a welder at a height. Therefore, electricians practice this type of connection in exceptional cases. If you are doing “for yourself” and know how to handle a welding machine well, you can practice on scraps. The trick is not to melt the insulation, but to weld the metal.

After cooling, the welding site is isolated. You can use electrical tape, you can use heat shrink tubing.

Crimping connection of wires

For crimping wires, a special aluminum or copper sleeve is required - it is selected based on the size of the twist (beam diameter), and the material is taken the same as that of the conductors. The wires that are bare and cleaned to a shine are twisted, a tube-sleeve is put on them, which is clamped with special tongs.

Both sleeves and pliers are different, there are several types. Each of them has its own rules of use (the number of wires that can be packed into a sleeve), in which you need to be well versed. It is necessary to pack the wires according to certain rules, measure the size of the resulting bundle, and adjust it to the requirements. All in all, a pretty tedious job. Therefore, this type of wire connection is mainly used by professional electricians, and even more often they switch to spring clips.

Terminal blocks

One of the simplest and most reliable wire connections is through terminal blocks. There are several types, but almost everywhere a screw connection is used. There are sockets of different sizes - for different sizes of conductors, with a different number of pairs - from 2 to 20 or more.

The terminal block itself is a plastic case in which a metal socket or plate is soldered. A bare conductor is inserted into this socket or between the plates, clamped with a screw. After the screw is tightened, it is necessary to pull the conductor well - make sure that it is well clamped. Due to the fact that the connection points remain uninsulated, the scope of the terminal blocks is rooms with normal humidity.

The disadvantage of this connection is that due to the plasticity of metals - especially aluminum - the contact weakens over time, which can lead to an increase in the degree of heating and acceleration of oxidation, and this again leads to a decrease in contact. In general, the connection of wires in screw terminal boxes must be tightened periodically.

Advantages - speed, simplicity, low cost, does not require any skills, except perhaps the ability to use a screwdriver. Another important advantage is that you can easily connect wires of different diameters, single-core and stranded, copper and aluminum. There is no direct contact, therefore there are no risks.

Soldering

First, about soldering technology. The connected conductors are cleaned of insulation, cleaned of oxide film to bare metal, twisted, then tinned. To do this, the conductors are heated with a soldering iron, applied to rosin. It should cover the junction completely. Tinned wires are twisted first with fingers, then squeezed using pliers. Soldering flux can be used instead of tinning. They wet the wires well, but after twisting.

Then, in fact, the soldering process begins: the junction is heated with a soldering iron or a narrow-torch burner. When the rosin or flux begins to boil, take some of the solder on the soldering iron tip, bring it into the soldering area, pressing the tip against the conductors. The solder spreads out, filling the gaps between the wires, making a good connection. When using a torch, the solder is simply added little by little to the torch.

Further, after the soldering place has cooled down, according to the technology, it is necessary to wash off the flux residues (they accelerate oxidation), dry the joint, cover it with a special protective varnish, and then insulate it with electrical tape and / or heat shrink tubing.

Now about the advantages and disadvantages of this method of connecting wires. In low-current systems, soldering is one of the most reliable ways to connect wires. But, when wiring electrical wiring in a house or apartment, it is criticized mercilessly. The thing is that the solder has a low melting point. With the periodic passage of high currents through the connection (it happens if the circuit breakers are incorrectly selected or faulty), the solder gradually melts and evaporates. Time after time, the contact gets worse, the connection heats up more and more. If this process is not detected, it may well end in a fire.

The second negative point is the low mechanical strength of soldering. The point is again in tin - it is soft. If there are a lot of wires in a soldered joint, and if they are still rigid, when trying to pack them, the conductors often fall out of the solder - the elastic force that pulls them out is too great. Therefore, the connection of conductors by soldering when distributing electricity is not recommended for use: it is inconvenient, long and risky.

Spring terminals for connecting wires

One of the most controversial ways to connect wires is with spring clamps. There are several types, but the most common two are wago terminal blocks and PPE caps. Externally and by the method of installation, they are very different, but both designs are based on a spring that creates a strong contact with the wire.

There is controversy about this spring. Opponents of using wago say that the spring will weaken over time, the contact will become worse, the connection will start to heat up more and more, which, again, leads to an even faster decrease in the degree of elasticity of the spring. After some time, the temperature may rise so much that the case (plastic) will melt, but what can happen next is known.

Spring clips for electrical wiring - popular wire connection

In defense of the use of spring clamps for connecting wires, if they are used in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, problems are very, very rare. Although there are many fakes of both wago and PPE, as well as an abundance of pictures of them in a melted form. But, at the same time, many use them, and, under normal operating conditions, they work for years without any complaints.

Clips for wires wago

They appeared on our market a few years ago and made a lot of noise: with their help, the connection is very fast and easy, while it has high reliability. The manufacturer has specific recommendations for the use of this product:

Inside these devices there is a metal plate, which provides the proper degree of contact. The shape and its parameters of the plates were developed and tested specifically. The tests were carried out on a vibration stand for many hours, then heated-cooled. After that, the electrical parameters of the connection were checked. All tests were passed as "excellent" and branded products always show themselves as "five".

In general, the Wago product range is very wide, but for wiring or connecting household appliances, lighting fixtures, two types of wire clamps are used: the 222 series (detachable) with the ability to remake or change the connection and the 773 and 273 series - which are called one-piece.

Detachable

Spring clamps for electrical wiring Wago 222 series has a certain number of contact pads - from two to five - and the same number of flags-clamps. Before starting the connection, the flags are raised up, the conductors stripped of insulation are inserted into them (up to the stop), after which the flag is lowered. At this point, the connection is considered complete.

wago wire connectors - connection methods

If necessary, you can remake the connection - raise the locking flag and remove the conductor. Convenient, fast and reliable.

The 222 vago series can be used to connect two or three, even five conductors made of copper or aluminum (you can connect different metals in one terminal). Wires can be solid or stranded, but with rigid wires. The maximum section is 2.5 mm 2. Soft stranded wires can be connected with a cross section from 0.08 mm 2 to 4 mm 2.

One-piece

There is another type of clamps that does not provide for the possibility of redoing the connection of wires - the 773 and 273 series. When using these terminals, the work is generally seconds: the stripped wire is inserted into the appropriate socket. The spring present there clamps it, providing contact with the plate. Everything.

These spring-loaded wire clamps can be used to connect solid aluminum or copper wires with a cross-sectional area from 0.75 mm2 to 2.5 mm2, stranded wires with rigid wires from 1.5 mm2 to 2.5 mm2. Soft stranded conductors cannot be connected using such connectors.

To improve contact, before connecting the wires, it is necessary to clean the oxide film. To prevent further oxidation, wago manufacturers also produce contact paste. It fills the inside of the clamp and it itself corrodes the oxide film, and then protects the wires from further oxidation. In this case, only highly oxidized, dark conductors need to be pre-stripped, and the clamp body is filled with paste.

By the way, manufacturers say that, if desired, the wire can be pulled out of the clamp. To do this, they take the wire with one hand, hold the terminal box with the other and rotate them back and forth with a small range, in opposite directions, stretching in different directions.

Clips for lamps (construction and installation terminals for lamps)

For quick and convenient connection of lamps or sconces, wago has special terminals of the 224 series. With their help, you can connect aluminum or copper wires of different sections and types (solid or stranded with rigid wires). Rated voltage of this connection is 400 V, rated current:

for copper conductors - 24 A
16 A for aluminum.

Cross-section of connected conductors on the mounting side:

copper 1.0 ÷ 2.5 mm2 - single-core;
aluminum 2.5 mm2 - single-core.

Cross-section of connected conductors from the chandelier/sconce side: copper 0.5 ÷ 2.5 mm2 - single-core, stranded, tin-plated, crimped.

When connecting copper wires, the use of contact paste is mandatory, and aluminum wires must be manually stripped to bare metal.

This product has two drawbacks. First, the price of original terminals is high. The second - there are a lot of fakes at a lower price, but their quality is much lower and it is they who burn and melt. Therefore, despite the high cost, it is better to buy original products.

PPE caps

PPE caps (stands for "connecting insulating clips") are very easy to use devices. This is a plastic case, inside of which there is a spring that has a conical shape. Conductors stripped of insulation are inserted into the cap, the cap is scrolled clockwise several times. You will feel that it has stopped scrolling, which means the connection is ready.

How to make a wire connection using PPE

These conductor connectors are produced by many manufacturers, there are different sizes, for different diameters and the number of connected conductors. In order for the wire connection to be reliable, the size must be selected correctly, and for this it is necessary to understand the markings.

After the letters of the PPE comes a few numbers. Depending on the manufacturer, the number of digits varies, but they mean the same thing. For example, there is this type of marking: PPE-1 1.5-3.5 or PPE-2 4.5-12. In this case, the number immediately following the letters indicates the case type. "1" is set if the body is an ordinary cone, on the surface of which grooves can be applied - for a better grip. If there is a PPE-2, then there are small protrusions on the case, which are convenient to take with your fingers and twist.

All other figures reflect the total cross section of all conductors that can be connected using this particular PPE cap.

For example, PPE-1 2.0-4.0. This means that the body of the connecting cap is ordinary, cone-shaped. With it, you can connect two conductors with a cross section of at least 0.5 mm 2 (in total they give 1 mm, which corresponds to the minimum requirements - see table). Maximum conductors are included in this cap, the total cross section of which should not exceed 4 mm 2.

Connecting wires using PPE caps

In the second marking option, after the PPE abbreviation, there is only a number from 1 to 5. In this case, you just need to remember which one is useful for which wire section. The data is in another table.

PPE caps and their parameters

By the way, only copper wires can be connected with PPE caps - aluminum conductors, as a rule, are thicker than the maximum allowable for these connectors.

Bolted connection

This connection is assembled from a bolt of any diameter, a suitable nut and one, or better three, washers. It assembles quickly and easily, serves quite a long time and is reliable.

First, the conductors are stripped of insulation, if necessary, the upper oxidized layer is removed. Further, a loop is formed from the cleaned part, the inner diameter of which is equal to the diameter of the bolt. To make it easier, you can wrap the wire around the bolt and twist it (the middle option in the right picture). After all this is assembled in this order:

A washer is put on the bolt.
One of the conductors.
Second puck.
Another conductor.
Third puck.
Screw.

The connection is tightened first by hand, then with the help of keys (you can take pliers). That's all, the connection is ready. It is used mainly if it is necessary to make a connection of wires from copper and aluminum, it can also be used when connecting conductors of different diameters.

How to connect aluminum and copper conductors

By the way, let us recall why it is impossible to directly connect copper and aluminum wires. There are two reasons:

Such a connection is very hot, which in itself is very bad.
Over time, contact weakens. This is because aluminum has a lower electrical conductivity than copper, and as a result, when the same currents are passed, it heats up more. When heated, it expands more, squeezing out the copper conductor - the connection gets worse, it heats up more and more.

To avoid such troubles, copper and aluminum conductors are connected using:

terminal blocks;
wago;
bolted connection;
branch clamps (make wire connections on the street).

Other types of connectors cannot be used.

How to connect wires of different diameters

If it is necessary to connect conductors having different diameters, twisting must not be present to obtain good contact. So you can use the following types:

terminal blocks;
wago;
bolted connection.

First of all, you must understand that different types of connections can be used in different conditions. And their choice depends on the specific task.

For example, it is much more convenient to connect wires of small cross sections up to 2.5 mm2 in a compact junction box with terminal blocks or clamps. But if we are talking about a strobe or a cable channel, then sleeves come out on top here.

Consider the three most simple and at the same time reliable types of connections.

Let's start with a PPE type connection. It is decoded as:

FROM connecting

AND insulating

W excitement

It looks like a simple cap. There are different colors.

Moreover, each color means belonging to specific sections of the veins.

Cores are inserted into this cap and twisted together.

How to do it right, first twist the cores and then put on a cap or twist them directly with the PPE itself, is discussed in detail in the article “.”

As a result, thanks to PPE, you get the good old twist, only immediately protected and insulated.

On top of that, with a spring-loaded contact that does not allow it to loosen.

In addition, this process can be slightly automated by using a PPE attachment for a screwdriver. This is also covered in the article above.

The next view is the Wago terminal blocks. They also come in different sizes, and for a different number of connected wires - two, three, five, eight.

They can join together both monocores and stranded wires.

Moreover, this can be implemented both in different types of Vago, and in a single one.

For multi-wire, the clamp should have a latch-flag, which, when open, allows you to easily insert the wire and clamp it inside after snapping.

These terminal blocks in home wiring, according to the manufacturer, can easily withstand loads up to 24A (light, sockets).

There are separate compact specimens on 32A-41A.

Here are the most popular types of Wago clamps, their marking, characteristics and for what section they are designed:

Series 2273 Series 221-222 Series 243 Series 773 Series 224

There is also an industrial series for cable sections up to 95mm2. Their terminals are really large, but the principle of operation is almost the same as that of the small ones.

When you measure the load on such clamps, with a current value of more than 200A, and at the same time you see that nothing is burning or heating, many doubts about Wago products disappear.

If your Vago clamps are original, and not a Chinese fake, and at the same time the line is protected by a circuit breaker with a correctly selected setting, then this type of connection can rightfully be called the simplest, most modern and easy to install.

Violate any of the above conditions and the result will be quite natural.

Therefore, you do not need to set wago to 24A and at the same time protect such wiring with an automatic 25A. The contact in this case will burn out during overload.

Always choose the right vago terminal blocks.

Automatic machines, as a rule, you already have, and they protect primarily the electrical wiring, and not the load and the end user.

There is also a fairly old type of connection, such as terminal blocks. ZVI - insulated screw clamp.

In appearance, this is a very simple screw connection of wires to each other. Again, it happens under different sections and various shapes.

Here are their technical characteristics (current, cross section, dimensions, screw torque):

However, ZVI has a number of significant drawbacks, due to which it cannot be called the most successful and reliable connection.

Basically, only two wires can be connected to each other in this way. Unless, of course, you don’t specifically choose large pads and shove several wires there. What to do is not recommended.

Such a screw connection is well suited for solid conductors, but not for stranded flexible wires.

For flexible wires, you will have to press them with NShVI lugs and incur additional costs.

You can find videos on the network where, as an experiment, the transient resistances on different types of connections are measured with a microohmmeter.

Surprisingly, the smallest value is obtained for screw terminals.

But we should not forget that this experiment refers to "fresh contacts". And try to make the same measurements after a year or two of intensive use. The results will be completely different.

Combination of copper and aluminum

Often there is a situation when it is necessary to connect a copper conductor with aluminum. Since the chemical properties of copper and aluminum are different, direct contact between them, with the access of oxygen, leads to oxidation. Often even copper contacts on circuit breakers are subject to this phenomenon.

An oxide film is formed, resistance increases, and heating occurs. Here it is recommended to use 3 options to avoid this:

They remove direct contact between aluminum and copper. Communication occurs through steel.

The contacts are separated from each other in separate cells, plus the paste prevents air from entering and prevents the oxidation process from developing.

The third simple way to connect conductors is crimping with sleeves.

GML sleeves are most often used for joining copper wires. Deciphered as:

G ilza

M single

L narrowed

To connect pure aluminum - GA (aluminum sleeve):

For the transition from copper to aluminum, special GAM transitions:

What is the pressing method? Everything is quite simple. Take two conductors, strip to the required distance.

After that, on each side of the sleeve, the conductors are inserted inside, and the whole thing is crimped with press tongs.

With obvious simplicity, there are several rules and nuances in this procedure, if not followed, you can easily ruin a seemingly reliable contact. Read about these mistakes and rules on how to avoid them in the articles ” ” and ” ”.

To work with conductors of large sections 35mm2-240mm2, a hydraulic press is used.

Up to sections of 35mm2, you can also use a mechanical one with a large span of handles.

The sleeve must be crimped two to four times, depending on the cross section of the wire and the length of the tube.

The most important thing in this work is to choose the right size of the sleeve.

For example, when connecting monofilament, the sleeve is usually taken to the size of a smaller section.

And in this way, you can connect several conductors at the same time at the same point. In this case, only one sleeve will be used.

The main thing is to completely fill its internal space. If you crimp three conductors at the same time, and you still have voids inside, then you need to “fill in” this free space with additional pieces of the same wire, or conductors of a smaller cross section.

Sleeve crimping is one of the most versatile and reliable connections, especially when it is necessary to extend the cable, including the lead one.

In this case, the insulation turns out to be almost equivalent to the main one, while also using the outer tube HERE as a casing.

Of course, you will not use either PPE or Wago for these purposes, but the GML sleeves are the very thing! At the same time, everything comes out compactly and easily decreases even in a strobe, even in a cable channel.

Welding and soldering

In addition to all the above connection methods, there are two more types that experienced electricians rightfully consider the most reliable.

And not always, even with its help, it is possible to connect an aluminum solid wire with a flexible copper stranded wire. In addition, you are forever tied to an outlet or extension cord.

And if there is no voltage or generator nearby at all?

At the same time, elementary press tongs, on the contrary, are present in 90% of electrical installers. It is not necessary to purchase the most expensive and fancy ones for this.

For example, batteries. Convenient of course, go and just press the button.

The Chinese counterparts also cope well with their task of crimping. Moreover, the whole process takes no more than 1 minute.

The most important elements of any electrical network are the connection points of the wires. The reliability and durability of the electrical network depends on the quality and correctness of these works. Unfortunately, such low-quality work cannot be diagnosed, the shortcomings appear when the system is loaded. At the same time, a poor-quality connection begins to warm up and this often leads to a fire, which is far from always possible to localize.

This review describes the main types of wire connection with a photo, their classification and application.

Regulatory documents

There are many ways to connect wires. Their use or prohibition is regulated by the current rules for the installation of electrical installations (PUE), which are approved by the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation. They must not conflict with the current document.

The regulatory framework is adjusted over time, as there is a steady increase in electricity consumption and some types of connections do not provide the reliability required in modern conditions. For example, in accordance with the current rules, twisting without additional fixation, which was widely used earlier, cannot be used, since there are better and no less affordable modern technologies.

In order to determine how best to connect the wires, it is necessary to study all available technologies, determine their advantages and disadvantages. First of all, they are classified according to the need for additional skills to carry out the work. They do not require fastening using terminals, various spring clips, bolts and PPE caps.

Each solution has its own advantages and disadvantages. First of all, they differ in ease and reliability of installation. In general terms, we can say that quickly made contacts using various terminals and clamps can weaken over time and lead to accidents. High-quality contacts made using sleeves, soldering or welding require more time and are not disassembled.

Thus, reliability is directly proportional to the complexity. Before connecting the wires with your own hands, you should read the instructions. It should be noted that in all works, preliminary cleaning of materials from the oxide film is required.

Specifications of the various options

Let's take a closer look at wiring methods that require additional tools. They allow you to get reliable connections designed for high currents.

Soldering

This type of connection of electrical wires is widespread. Most often it is used for copper conductors. To do this, you need a soldering iron, tin and rosin. The tip is wetted with a small amount of molten solder, which is then transferred to the twist when it is heated. Residues of rosin evaporate when heated. Before soldering several cores, it makes sense to tin each of them separately.

Such solutions are very convenient to use for conductors of small diameter, both single-core and with a large number of cores. Work should be done as quickly as possible so as not to melt the plastic insulation. Aluminum can also be joined in this way, but this requires a special flux and solder.

Welding

Welding withstands high currents and has mechanical strength. So you can connect both copper and aluminum. It is very suitable for large diameter veins. They are twisted into one bundle, and using a welding machine, a large current is passed through it, which melts the metal at the end of the twist.

In order to get a neat contact, you must first practice and select the parameters of the welding equipment. This can be done using unnecessary trimmings. It is necessary to melt the metal without damaging the insulation.

Crimping

Crimping is performed using sleeves and a special tool. They are made of copper and aluminum. This operation is quite simple, but requires the selection of sleeves of the right size and a special tool to compress them.

The work is quite simple: the cores are folded into a bundle, inserted into the sleeve and crimped in several places. It can withstand large current. The biggest difficulty lies in the selection of sleeves of the desired diameter: they should not be too large or small.

Twisting

As described above, this method cannot be used without additional fixation. Since it does not allow you to create a reliable contact. Twisting is used in combination with soldering, welding, crimping or the use of PPE. Before fixing, the wires are twisted.

The three methods described provide for their subsequent electrical isolation. To do this, use insulating tape for electrical work or heat shrink tubing. They are made of a polymeric material, which allows, when heated, to reduce their diameter by several times.

Products of various nomenclature are produced. First of all, it is necessary to highlight the need to use light-resistant materials outdoors. For shrinkage, it is best to use an industrial hair dryer or gently heat the polymer tube with a soldering iron.

For reliability, after installing the first tube, mount a second tube of a larger diameter. After shrinkage, the material must securely close the ends of the contact.

The following solutions require no additional tooling and make it easy to make the right wire connection at an entry-level skill level.

Terminal blocks

Previously, they were widely used due to their low cost and reliability. On it you can connect wires of different sections. They can be copper or aluminum, can consist of one or many strands. They are clamped with screws on the terminal block.

The disadvantage is that they are connected only in pairs. For a larger number of connections, special jumpers are required. There are other options for easier connection.

Connecting insulating clips

One of them is the use of PPE caps. This is a plastic cap inside which a metal spring is installed. It is wound onto a bundle, twisting them, plastic serves as electrical insulation. Such contact is very reliable. There is a domestic development of the KZT company, which is put on directly on the twist.

Wago clamps

This type of connection conquered the market with its convenience and ease of use. They connect all kinds of conductors. Clips are issued on various number of connections.

The disadvantage is that there is a spring in the design, which can weaken over time, which can lead to an accident and fire. Therefore, you should purchase only original, branded products.

Bolted fasteners

This type of fastening is classic, it allows you to connect copper with aluminum. Consists of a bolt with a nut and three washers. It can be made independently in the absence of other connectors.

Conclusion

The choice of how best to connect the wires depends on their type, budget and time. If you follow the rules of the PUE, then you can make safe and reliable contacts that will last for many years. It should be remembered that in any case, these works must be carried out as carefully and prudently as possible, without haste.

Photo of the wire connection process

Electricity is not the area where you need to save. It is advisable to do everything carefully, to select high-quality materials, to choose sizes / diameters / ratings carefully. Let's start with the fact that even the conductors must be connected correctly. And choosing how to connect wires is not as easy as it seems.

There are about a dozen ways to connect wires. In general, they can be divided into two groups: those that require special equipment or specific skills and those that any home master can successfully use - they do not require any special skills.

The first group includes:

Soldering. When connecting wires of small diameter in the amount of -2-3 pieces - a very reliable method. True, it requires a soldering iron and some skills in owning it.
Welding. We need a welding machine and special electrodes. But the contact is reliable - the conductors are fused into a monolith.
Crimping sleeves. Sleeves and special pliers are needed. Sleeves are selected according to certain rules that you need to know. The connection is reliable, but in order to remake it, it will have to be cut off.

All these methods of connecting wires are performed mainly by specialists. If you have the skills to handle a soldering iron or a welding machine, after practicing on unnecessary scraps, you can make them yourself.

Some wiring methods are more popular, others less so.

Ways to connect wires that do not require any specific skills are becoming more and more popular. Their advantage is quick installation, reliable connection. The disadvantage is that “connectors” are needed - terminal blocks, clamps, bolts. Some of them cost quite decent money (Wago terminal blocks, for example), although there are inexpensive options - screw terminal blocks.

So here are the ways to connect wires, which are easy to perform:

Among professionals there are two opposite opinions. Some believe that new ways of connecting wires - clamps - the best way out, as they speed up installation without compromising the quality of the connection. Others say that the springs will someday weaken and the contact will deteriorate. In this matter, the choice is yours.

Technical nuances of different types of wire connections

All types of wire connections described above are used when laying electrical wiring, but a specific type is selected based on several characteristics:

Consider each connection method, the technology for its implementation and the appropriateness of use in various situations.

Soldering electrical wires

One of the oldest and most widespread types of connection. To work, you will need rosin, solder and a soldering iron. The soldering process is as follows:

Actually, this is the end of the soldering of electrical wires. Not the most difficult process but requires certain skills. The main thing is to warm up the junction enough for the solder to flow between all the wires. In this case, you can not overheat, otherwise the insulation will melt. This is the art - not to burn the insulation, but to ensure reliable contact.

When can soldering be used? This method of connecting wires is excellent in low-current electrics. When connecting wires in a junction box, it is no longer very convenient. Especially if there are a lot of wires and / or they are of large diameter. Soldering such a twist is not a task for beginners. In addition, when trying to lay the connection in the junction box, the soldering begins to break down. To the point that some of the wires fall off. In general, the method is good for connecting conductors of small diameters.

Welding conductors in electrical connections

One of the most reliable ways to connect wires is welding. During this process, the metal of individual conductors is brought to the melting point, mixed, after cooling it is a monolith. This method works very well on large diameters or with a large number of connected conductors. It differs not only in excellent contact, which does not weaken over time and does not change its characteristics. It is also mechanically very strong - the fused part does not allow the connection to fall apart even under heavy loads.

The drop at the end of the twist is molten aluminum

Disadvantages are also present. The first one is just that the conductors are fused, that is, the connection turns out to be absolutely one-piece. If you need to remake it, you have to remove the fused part and start all over again. To be able to do this, you always need to leave a small backlog along the length of the wires. The second drawback is that you need a welding machine, skills in handling it, special electrodes for welding aluminum or copper. The main task in this case is not to burn the insulation, but to melt the conductors. To make this possible, they are stripped of insulation by about 10 cm, twisted tightly into a bundle, and then welded at the very end.

Another disadvantage of welding wires is a laborious process, which also requires jewelry precision in handling the welding machine. For the combination of these qualities, many professional electricians do not like this method. If you pull the wiring "for yourself" and know how to handle the equipment, you can spend some time. Just pre-practice on scraps, select the current strength and welding time. Only after several times you get everything perfect, you can start welding wires "in real life".

Crimping

Another method that requires special equipment is crimping wires with sleeves. Sleeves are copper and aluminum, different diameters. The material is selected depending on the material of the conductor, and the size is selected according to the diameter and number of wires in a particular connection. They should fill almost all the space inside the sleeve, but there should be free space. The quality of the contact depends on the correct choice of the sleeve size. This is the main difficulty of this method of connecting wires: the sleeve should not be too large or too small.

The technology of work is as follows:

The conductors are stripped of insulation (the length of the stripped section is slightly more than the length of the sleeve).
Each conductor is cleaned to bare metal (remove oxides with fine-grained sandpaper).
The wires are twisted, inserted into the sleeve.
Crimped with special pliers.

It seems that it is not difficult, but it is in the selection of the sleeve and the presence of ticks that the whole difficulty lies. You can, of course, try to compress with pliers or pliers. But it is impossible to guarantee normal contact in this case.

Twisting

In the first section of the article, we deliberately omitted the twisting of wires. According to the current standard, it cannot be used, since it does not provide proper contact and connection reliability. This method can replace any other methods of connecting wires.

Yes, they did wiring on the twists 20-30 years ago and everything worked fine. But what were the loads on the networks then, and what are they now ... Today, the number of equipment in an ordinary apartment or private house has increased significantly and most of the equipment is demanding on power supply. Some types simply will not work at reduced voltage.

Why is twisting so bad? Twisted wires do not make good enough contact. At first, everything is fine, but over time, the metal is covered with an oxide film, which significantly impairs contact. With insufficient contact, the junction begins to heat up, an increase in temperature causes a more active formation of an oxide film, which further worsens the contact. At some point, the twist heats up very much, which can lead to a fire. It is for this reason that it is better to choose any other method. There are some that are even faster and easier to do, but which are more reliable.

Connection isolation

All the methods of connecting wires described above - welding, soldering, crimping with a sleeve - provide for their insulation, since bare conductive conductors must be protected. For these purposes, electrical tape or heat shrink tubing is used.

Everyone probably knows how to use electrical tape, but we’ll tell you a little about heat shrink tubing. This is a hollow polymer tube, which significantly reduces its diameter when the temperature rises (by 2-6 times, depending on the type). The size is selected so that the pre-shrink volume is greater than the diameter of the insulated wires, and the post-shrink volume is less. In this case, a tight fit of the polymer is ensured, which guarantees a good degree of insulation.

Heat shrink tubing for insulation of conductors can be of different diameters and colors

In addition to size, heat shrink tubing is selected according to special characteristics. They are:

heat-resistant;
light-stabilized (for outdoor use);
oil-petrol resistant;
resistant to chemicals.

The cost of heat shrink tubing is not very high - from $ 0.5 to $ 0.75 per 1 meter. Their length should be slightly longer than the length of the bare conductors - so that one end of the tube is pulled over the insulation of the conductors by about 0.5 cm, and the second sticks out by 0.5-1 cm. After the tube is stretched, take a heat source (you can use a lighter) and heat the tube. Heating temperature can be different - from 60°C to +120°C. After the connection is covered, the heating stops, after which the polymer cools quickly.

It takes a little time to insulate the wires with a heat shrink tube - seconds count - and the quality of the insulation is high. Sometimes, for greater reliability, two tubes can be used - a slightly smaller and a slightly larger diameter. In this case, first put on and warm up one tube, then the second. Such connections can be operated even in water.

Terminal blocks

This method is also preferred by electricians, but it can be easily used by a person who can hold an ordinary screwdriver in his hands. This is one of the first ways to connect electrical wires without soldering. Today, on almost every electrical appliance, you can see a variant of this connection - this is the output block to which the power cord is connected.

Terminal blocks are a contact plate, which is soldered in a plastic (polymer) or carbolite housing. They cost very little, they are available in almost any store selling electrical goods.

Terminal blocks are convenient, inexpensive, allow you to connect copper and aluminum wires, conductors of different diameters, solid and stranded

The connection takes place literally in seconds. The insulation is removed from the conductor (by about 0.5-0.7 cm), the oxide film is removed. Two conductors are inserted into the socket - one opposite the other - and fixed with bolts. These bolts press the metal against the contact plate, making the connection.

The advantage of this connection method: it is possible to connect wires of various sections, single-core with multi-core. The disadvantage is that only a couple of wires are connected. Jumpers must be installed to connect three or more.

PPE caps

Another way to connect wires that does not require special skills is to install PPE caps. They are a plastic cone-shaped case, inside of which a spring is sealed. They come in different sizes - from 0 to 5. You can connect wires of different diameters - each package contains the minimum and maximum and minimum total cross-section of the connected wires. In addition, there are cases simply in the form of a cone, there are with stops "ears" that facilitate their installation. When choosing, pay attention to the quality of the plastic - it should not bend.

Connecting the wires with PPE is very simple: strip the insulation, collect the wires into a bundle, insert it inside the cap and start twisting. A spring inside the cap grips the conductors, helping to twist them. The result is a twist, which is wrapped around the outer side with spring wire. That is, the contact is very high quality and good. This method of connecting wires with PPE caps has been used for a long time in Europe and America, it came to us about 10 years ago.

If you need ways to connect wires without welding - consider PPE

There is another way: first, the wires are twisted, then caps are put on them. This method was invented by the Russian company that produces these wire connectors - KZT. But this technique requires more time, and the quality of the connection is no different.

There is one more point: how long to strip the wire from the insulation. Manufacturers give clear instructions on this matter - each size has its own length of bare conductors. It is designed so that all conductors without insulation are inside the case. If you do this, the connection does not require additional insulation, which greatly speeds up the process. In addition, the expanded lower part does not prevent heat removal and such a connection is heated less.

Practicing electricians advise to strip the wires by 5-10 cm, and insulate the twist left without insulation. This is argued by the fact that the contact area with this option is larger. It is true, but this option heats up more. And the standard solution has reliability. there are no problems with contact (with normal quality of PPE).

Wago clamps

The most heated debate flared up precisely about Vago. Some people absolutely love this product, others don't. And, no less emphatically. Opponents of using Wago do not like the fact that the contact is based on a spring. They talk about how she might weaken. This will lead to poor contact and overheating. And they bring photos with melted clamps. Supporters of this method conduct tests and comparisons, they say that a properly selected branded clip lasts for many years without signs of deterioration in contact. Yes, and manufacturers say that, subject to technology, Wago terminal blocks can be used for 25-35 years. It is important to choose the right type and parameters and not buy a fake (there are a lot of them).

There are two types of Vago clamps. The first series is slightly less expensive, called Wago. These clamps are suitable for connecting solid and stranded wires with a cross section of 0.5-4 mm2. For conductors of smaller or larger cross sections, there is another series - Cage Clamp. It has a very wide range of use - 0.08-35 mm2, but also a high cost. In any case, the contact is provided by a good copper contact plate. The special shape of the plate allows you to achieve reliable contact.

Detachable

In addition, Vago spring-loaded clamps are detachable (222 series) and one-piece (773 and 273 series). Detachable ones are convenient to install in those places where changes in the network configuration are possible. For example, in junction boxes. They have levers with which the wires are clamped or released. Detachable Wago terminal blocks can connect from 2 to 5 conductors. Moreover, they can be of different sections, types (single-core and multi-core). The order of connecting the wires is as follows:

We repeat the same operation with another (other) wires. All this takes a matter of seconds. Very fast and convenient. Not surprisingly, many professional electricians have forgotten other ways to connect wires.

One-piece

One-piece series differ in structure: there is a clamp body and a cap. The cap can be made of transparent polymer (773 series) or opaque plastic (223). There are holes in the case into which wires stripped of insulation are inserted.

To ensure normal contact, it is only necessary to remove the insulation correctly - exactly by 12-13 mm. These are the requirements of the manufacturer. After the conductor is inserted, the bare part of it should be in the terminal block, and the insulation should rest against the housing. Under such conditions, the contact will be reliable.

Bolted connection

Another type of connection of electrical wires with a solid experience is bolted. It is called so because a bolt, nut and several washers are used to connect the wires. Contact through the use of washers is good, but the whole structure takes up a lot of space and is inconvenient to install. It is mainly used if it is necessary to connect conductors from different metals - aluminum and copper.

The connection build order is as follows:

We clean the wires from insulation.
From the cleaned part we form a loop, the diameter of which is equal to the diameter of the bolt.
We put on the bolt in the following sequence
- washer (it rests on the head of the bolt);
- one of the conductors;
- another puck;
- second conductor;
- third puck;
We tighten everything with a nut.

So you can connect not only two, but also three, and more wires. Please note that it is necessary to tighten the nut not only by hand. You have to use wrenches, make a solid effort.

The best ways to connect wires for different occasions

Since different wires can be connected, they can be operated in different conditions, the optimal method must be chosen taking into account all these nuances. Here are the most common situations:

These are the most common options for non-standard connections.

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

Here are some factors that determine the choice of connector:

Core material (copper or aluminium).
Working conditions (outdoors, in an apartment, in water, in the ground, in the floor, normal conditions).
Number of conductors (two, three, four, etc.).
The cross section of the veins (the same, different).
Core structure (single-wire or multi-wire).

Based on these factors, the most appropriate and correct method is selected. To begin with, consider the materials with which you can connect electrical wires in a junction box.

Existing methods

The following connection options are considered the most popular and effective:

use of terminal blocks;
installation of spring terminals (wago);
fixation with PPE (plastic caps);
sleeve crimping;
soldering;
twist;
installation of "nuts";
use of bolts.

Consider the essence, advantages and disadvantages of each method!

Installing PPE caps

PPE stands for connecting insulating clamps. Products are ordinary plastic caps with a special spring inside, which holds the wires.

Most often, such caps are used to connect cores in junction boxes.

Benefits of using these products:

low cost of PPE;
the caps are made of non-combustible material, so there will be no twisting at the place;
fast installation;
caps have a wide range of color shades. For example, if the wires do not have, you can mark with the help of PPE (using a white, blue and green cap).

Disadvantages:

relatively poor quality of insulation and fixation;
it is impossible to combine aluminum with copper.

Crimping with special sleeves

Twisting and insulation

The old "grandfather" method consists in twisting the cores together. The essence of the work is that the conductors are stripped and carefully twisted with pliers, after which the place of twisting is isolated.

Advantages:

ease of electrical work;
no material costs.

Disadvantages:

poor quality of fastening lived;
connection of aluminum and copper products is unacceptable.

We figured out the existing methods of connecting wires in the box, now we will consider the remaining, important issues of this topic.

What if there are several wires?

When bonding two contacts, problems usually do not arise. But what if you need to combine three, four or more at the same time?

using wago terminal blocks;
sleeve crimping;
soldering;
twisting using sizov;
twisting and winding with electrical tape.

The order of connecting the wires for each of the methods we discussed in detail above. We strongly recommend that you use the first option, because. it is one of the most modern and efficient. At the same time, the cost of the vag is not too high, and the wiring has been serving for more than 30 years.

What to do if the conductors are of different sections?

To connect conductors of different cross-sections in a junction box, it is recommended to use all the same terminal blocks of the car, or a cheaper option - ordinary terminal blocks. In this case, it is necessary to carefully tighten the wires with a screw or fix with a flag, and that's all, the work is over.

Please note that if the wires are made of different materials, then it is necessary to use special pads with paste inside, which will prevent the wires from oxidizing. These pads include wago products.

Also, conductors of different sections can be fixed by soldering.

Combining stranded and solid wires

Connecting single-core and stranded wires separately does not have any features, so you can use any of the methods listed above.

In order to carry out bonding, it is necessary to choose one of two options: car terminals or soldering. It all depends on your preference, the advantages and disadvantages of each method we have provided.

How to work in water and land

During electrical work, a situation often occurs when it is necessary to fasten electrical wiring under water or in the ground. Now we will briefly consider the features of each of the cases!

In water (for example, when installing a submersible pump), it is recommended to use the following technology. To begin with, the ends are soldered, after which the soldering point is carefully insulated with hot-melt adhesive, over which it is put on. If everything is done efficiently and conscientiously, the joint will be tight and safe. Otherwise, power outage may also occur.

To connect an electrical wire in the ground (for example, after it has been mechanically damaged), it is recommended to use the method provided above (hot glue and heat shrink), but it is better to protect yourself and use the following method. Clamp the ends of the cable with a terminal block, install a sealed junction box, and then carefully fill the box with a special silicone sealant. We draw your attention to the fact that the underground track must be additionally placed in a pipe or box in order to ensure reliable!