Connecting wire without wire nuts

I was at my local HW store and noticed a type of wire connector I've not seen before. It is flat and can accept, I believe, 4 wires. This certainly looks convenient but I would like to make sure using these devices is as safe as a wire nut.

 

Are you referring to the gel filled connectors used for splicing telephone and control wires? They are flat with a round red circular "reflector" like piece that is squeezed after the wires are inserted. They work great, if that's what you mean.

 

These are similar but are not gel filled. I bought one and my 12 ga romex fits well.

 

Wire nuts are still better.

 

I know the connectors he refers to. I have not used them myself, but I've heard that they are very fast to install. Unlike wire nuts, they are not reuseable.

 

We use crimp sleaves here at work. A little rubber boot then fits over the whole assembly. They are nice & quick to install but they can't be reused. It's a toss up between a connector like that and wire nuts. I think sleaves offer a better, more stable, connection than a wire nut, but a wire nut is reusable. Using test leads on wire nuts is difficult as well. If you remove the wire nuts the joint will often open up & fall apart especially if you are joining solid number 12 and a smaller stranded wire. On the crimped joints you just remove the rubber boot and clip your test leads to the metal sleave. When you are done you just reinstall the rubber boot.

 

This sounds like a WAGO connector.
Is it made of clear plastic, 3/4" X 3/4" X 3/8"?
Wago is a German company and I think the part is made in Japan. It shouldn't be sold unless it is UL approved so perhaps it is. The connection mechanism is much like the stab-in connectors of cheap receptacles but of the more robust sort. That is, the wire is held by a spring pressing it against a flat piece of brass so there should be fairly good contact. The wire CAN be removed by pulling and twisting at the same time.
Hope this helps.
~Peter

 

I agree it sounds like a Wago.
Many feel the same about them as they do about quick wire receptacles.

I have never used them so I can't form a formal opinion. Of course they look easy, you know what they say about easy.

Crimps and crimp sleeves have no place in the residential electrical world, except for ground crimps. Industrially and in electronics they are fine. Also for larger wires.

Wire nuts are and will be the standard connector for 14ga-8ga wire.