The Best Wire Connectors
Whether you call them wire connectors or wire nuts, you can't deny that they're handy pieces of hardware. But the electrical world has tons of niche products, from wire connectors that simply snap shut to form a circuit to powerful multi-input terminals. To help you find the wire connector that you need, we've assembled this list of the best of the best, with plenty of variety for plenty of projects.
What to Look For
Wire connectors might seem like a simple business, but this corner of the market can actually be a challenge to navigate. We searched for the best wire connectors with four main questions to guide us: What kind of connection does it make? Is it easy to install? Do the terminals use a highly conductive metal like copper? Is the price fair for the quality? Our favorite option came from Peppy Products since their assortment of lever nuts includes 78 pieces of high-quality hardware. But if you need to split a current with a T-split connector, we recommend checking out Brightfour’s reliable 12-pack of connectors. There are several different designs and prices to consider, so let’s dive in.
Peppy Products WAGO 221 Lever-Nuts Assortment, 78 Pieces
The complete collection
Few wiring jobs involve wires of the same sizes and thicknesses. That’s why we love this assortment from Peppy Products since their 221 Lever model has several different connectors, each serving its job well. They’re designed for connecting two spliced copper wires together, and all you have to do is lift the plastic lever, place in the wire, and shut it tight. The copper terminals form reliable connections that can last for years. Best of all, the price is a bargain.
Pros:
- Excellent construction with hard plastics and durable materials
- Three different sizes for cables of different capacities and gauges
- Comes in a clear case for easy organization and identification
- The connectors are clear, so you can make sure that the terminal makes contact
Cons:
- They only fit a specific range of wire sizes, so you have to make sure that you’re using the appropriate connector
Brightfour Low Voltage T Tap Wire Connectors, 12 Pack
The right angle
When you need to form a three-way connection, Brightfour is a great place to turn. Their T-Tap wire connectors are compatible with 24-20 AWG wires, and they’re easy to set up and use. For wiring LED lighting, audio systems, and other light-gauge electronics, these are immensely useful. And, of course, we compared the different options and can confidently say this wire connector offers a fantastic value for the price.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Forms an extremely tight connection
- Ideal for delicate, low-gauge wiring projects, such as LED lighting
- Available in multi-packs with low cost per connector
Cons:
- You still may have to carefully strip the wires to make sure they contact the terminals
Glutoad Lever Wire Connectors, 20 Pieces
Speedy circuits
For those already familiar with lever wire connectors, you can probably appreciate the elegant simplicity of this design from Glutoad. This 20-piece kit offers has a voltage rating of 600V and a current rating of 32A, and it can fit wires as thin as 28 AWG to wires as thick as 12 AWG. They’re also resistant to corrosion, aging, shocks, and high temperatures, so they can serve your electrical needs for many years without fail.
Pros:
- Compatible with solid, flexible, and stranded wires
- Easy to flip up the lever and lock it back down securely
- You can clip the connectors side-by-side for better organization and management
Cons:
- The plastic shell isn’t transparent, so you can’t tell if the wire made contact until you turn on the current
Lukche WAGO 221 Series Wire Connectors Assortment with Case, 80 Pieces
The variety we need
Variety is the spice of life, and with this kit from Lukche, you can get exactly that. For a total of 60 connectors, this option comes with 40 two-slot connectors, 25 three-slot connectors, and 15 five-slot connectors. And because they’re semi-transparent, you can ensure your wire forms solid contact with the copper terminals without having to test the circuit. We also appreciate the compact and durable design, which is augmented further by the transparent carrying case.
Pros:
- Temperature rating of 221 Fahrenheit
- Wide compatible gauge range of 24 to 12 AWG
- More compact and space-efficient than most options
- Reliable thanks to the copper materials and strong levers
Cons:
- The connectors sit a bit loosely in the case, so you have to be careful when opening it to make sure everything doesn’t spill out
Lukche WAGO 221 Series Lever Nuts Assortment, 10 Pieces
Copper for your thoughts
There are a lot of different designs when it comes to lever nuts, but this one offers our favorite. The lever lifts smoothly and easily, and you can press it down with a firm push to ensure a strong connection. Add to that the semi-transparent materials, and you’ll pretty much always be able to tell that your wire’s end has made contact. These are also extra-compact, so they fit nicely within tight spaces. The only potential downside of their compact build is the upper size limit of 14 AWG. That being said, they’re perfect for wires that fall within the range of 20 to 14 AWG.
Pros:
- Extremely easy to use, with no learning curve
- Good to have on hand for unexpected splicing jobs
- The lever closes firmly, but it can still be lifted easily for repositioning or rewiring
Cons:
- Wires thicker than 14 AWG aren’t compatible
- We wish we could clip multiple connectors together securely without using electrical tape
Frequently Asked Questions
What does AWG mean?
AWG stands for American Wire Gauge. It’s a standardized measurement system for wire thicknesses. This is not determined by the thickness of the wire with its jacket but instead by the diameter of the wire when stripped of its sheathing. The AWG standard is based on an inverse logarithmic scale, so wires with higher AWG values are thinner than wires with lower AWG values. For example, a 12 AWG wire is thicker than a 14 AWG wire.
What tools are needed for lever-nut connectors?
Although some people may claim that lever-nut connectors don’t require any tools to use, we still strongly recommend a wire cutter with notches for stripping wires. That way, you can strip the jacket off the end easily so that it forms a strong contact with the terminals inside the wire connector. We also suggest cutting the wire to an appropriate length so that there isn’t too much excess tangling up your wiring job.
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