How to correctly connect copper and aluminum wire - options and accessories. Connection of aluminum and copper wires to each other Connection of copper cable to aluminum

Depending on the type of connection you choose, you will need different materials and tools.

For mechanical connections:

• pliers;
• a knife or a device for stripping insulation;
• pPE caps;
• self-clamping terminals;
• liners;
• screw terminals;

Pressing requires presses (hydraulic, mechanical, manual of various types, press tongs, etc.).

For welding, you need the following:

• argon arc welding apparatus;
• oscillator;
• rubber boots;
• welding mask;
• burner;

For soldering;

• knife, or a device for removing insulation;
• (for small cross-sections of aluminum wires - 60-100 W; for cross-sections over 2 mm - 100-200 W);
• solder (POS40, POS60 solders are ideal for home conditions);
• steel brush;
• sandpaper;

The choice of fluxes deserves special attention, because the better the flux, the easier it will be to solder aluminum. Today, despite the large selection of fluxes, FIM, F-64, FTBf are the most preferable for soldering aluminum at home.

Connection methods

The need to connect aluminum products with copper, aluminum, or aluminum-copper, especially often arises in Soviet-built apartments - this is due to the failure of certain sections of the aluminum wiring, or in connection with its complete replacement.

Few know that the joints should be as strong as possible to prevent heating. If the work done is performed poorly, the resistance will increase, as a result of which they will heat up, which will result in a short circuit.

There are the following ways:

1. Soldering.
2. Welding.
3. Mechanical connections:
   • twisting;
   • use of terminal blocks;
   • use of contact clamps (self-clamping terminals);
   • connection with bolts;
   • crimping method (crimping);
   • spring devices;

Each of these methods has specific features.

Twisting

Considered the most short-lived way, especially when the connection is made with cables of other metals. However, there are rules for twists, the observance of which will significantly improve the quality of work, increase the service life and safety.

Types of twists:

1. Bandage twisting. Bandage twist is used to connect cables of large diameters. To strengthen the bandage twist, soldering is used - only after tinning the copper wire.
2. Groove twisting. The most durable twist.
3. Simple twist... Simple twisting is used exclusively in domestic conditions; in this way, conductive conductors are most often connected to.

It is especially necessary to treat the connection of stranded wires (cables):

1. Places twisting be sure to clean up.
2. To strengthen the received contacts PPE caps are recommended.

Welding

Welding aluminum wires at home - the process is laborious, requiring experience and special knowledge. The main feature is that the welds obtained during welding must form an exclusively integral whole with the original product - only when this condition is met, the current can flow unhindered.

Obtaining a positive result is complicated by the fact that when welding in air, the aluminum surface is covered with a refractory oxide film, therefore, argon-arc welding or fluxes are used.

Welding has a number of specific features:

1. Additive be sure to serve with short reciprocating movements.
2. Filler wire together with a special electrode during welding must be at an angle of 90 °.
3. Must be observed one selected arc length (most often - 1.5-2.5 mm.).
4. Electrode should be at a distance of 1-1.5mm from the torch tip.
5. Weld necessary exclusively from right to left.

Spike

The safest way is soldering - with certain skills, you can perform soldering at home:

1. Before soldering the ends of the wires must be tinned: the part that will be connected is thickly covered with rosin and lies on the grinding surface (circle, or skin).
2. Next with a soldering iron the wire is pressed to the surface, constantly adding rosin - until the required wire thickness is obtained.
3. Then the soldering is carried out in the usual way.
4. The most important thing in the soldering process is to prevent contact of the aluminum surface with oxygen - otherwise, the formation of a heat-resistant oxide film will occur. For this, the cable to be stripped is abundantly lubricated, or poured with flux, in some cases, heated.
5. In the case of soldering wires with a cross section of up to 4mm.kv., they can be cleaned directly in the solution.
6. If the cross section of the aluminum wire is 4-10 mm2, it is necessary to remove the insulation, strip to a shine and twist.
7. When soft solders are used, the AF-44 flux is optimal.
8. The resulting connection should be cleaned of the remainder of the flux, wipe with gasoline, cover with a moisture-resistant varnish, then - with electrical tape, then - again with varnish.

Crimping (crimping method using sleeves)

For cases when it is necessary to connect a stranded cable, or more than 2 single-core wires in one connector, it is best to use crimping (crimping) sleeves:

1. In such a sleeve start stripped wire ends.
2. Then the sleeve is crimped using a press or special pliers, reliable, permanent contact.

This method is most widely used when connecting powerful consumers.

Instead of sleeves, NKI lugs are widely used, at one end of which there is a small crimping sleeve - cable cores are inserted into it. At the other end there is a slip ring, thanks to which you can get a high-quality connection with screw terminal blocks.

Using terminal clamps

The easiest way to combine aluminum cables into a single current-carrying conductor is to use terminal clamps.

Their types:

• polyethylene clips;
• self-clamping terminals (terminal blocks);
• screw;
• spring (PPE caps);

Advantages of contact clamps:

1. Do not need additional insulation, to connect, it is enough to strip the aluminum cables, collect them in a bundle, then screw the clamp onto the bundle until it stops (insert into the terminal, or tighten with a screw, etc.);
2. Received contacts have much higher mechanical strength than twisting;
3. Received contacts do not heat up, which minimizes the possibility of short circuits and fires.

Screw connection

Screw (bolt) connection - the most common contact connection of aluminum wires and cables to electrical appliances, devices, machines. However, the properties of this metal to spread under excessive pressure, along with the difference in coeff. thermal expansion of aluminum and metal of the screw (bolt), can lead to mixing of the screw terminal of the wire.

Subsequently, the ring gradually creeps out from under the flat washers, most often used for screw (bolt) contacts.

To prevent the described violation (which can lead to short circuits), the cable clamps must have the following devices:

1. Limiting untwisting the cable ring (limiting star washers).
2. Do not allow weakening of the contact pressure subsequently flowing (standard spring washers).

Spring connection (PPE caps)

These are caps made of non-combustible plastic; metal springs are located inside. After the PPE is screwed onto the wires (twisting), the springs move apart, compressing the cable cores and ensuring a tight and reliable contact, and also removes the oxide layer from the wires.

At the same time, the plastic serves for the entire connection as electrical insulating, fire and mechanical protection. For good contact, the size of the PPE caps must be selected correctly - they must be screwed onto the cables with effort.

Safety engineering

1. Connecting wires, it is necessary to be careful and strictly follow the operating instructions, which prohibit simple twisting (spiraling) a wire made of aluminum and any other metal (copper, aluminum copper, aluminum). The reason is that, oxidizing, aluminum emits galvanic vapor, which sooner or later will break the contact, and sparks that arise when high-power currents pass through such contacts often cause a fire.
2. Most traumatic is aluminum welding - be sure to wear rubber boots and a welding helmet to avoid trouble.
3. In roomwhere welding is carried out, there should be no wooden objects - in order to prevent fire.
4. Even wooden floors it is recommended to cover with iron sheets.

1. When using a bolted connection, it is necessary to remember about the fluidity of aluminum - the clamping bolt must be tightened periodically so that the aluminum does not leak out over time. At the same time, the mechanical pressure on the cable without tension should not exceed 150kg / cm2. When the tip is clad with copper, the pressure should not exceed 100kg / cm2. When heating wires under tension, the maximum pressure is not more than 200 kg / cm2. If these values \u200b\u200bare exceeded, the live aluminum cable will “leak”.
2. If you have no other choicebesides using a simple twist, it must be remembered that the contact will be more reliable when using certified PPE caps. Remember that any cable terminals covered only with electrical tape are not recommended.
3. For fast and high quality soldering aluminum cables must be replaced with high-quality mineral oil (for sewing machines), or gun oil.

It's no secret that it is not recommended to connect copper and aluminum wires... But many, even knowing this, still neglect it, hoping for the Russian "maybe it will pass."

As a result, such a copper-aluminum pair will not live long. And if the connection is on the street or in a room with high humidity, then the life of such a pair is several times shorter.

But quite often situations arise when we need to connect copper and aluminum wiring. Often this situation occurs when repairing electrical wiring in houses where aluminum wiring is installed.

To get out of this situation, we will be helped by special terminal blocks and bolted connections, through which we will connect copper and aluminum wires. By using terminal and bolted connections, we do not allow direct contact of the copper-aluminum pair.

Without going too far into the design features of the terminal clamps, we will consider the most used of them.

Some of the old and proven ways to connect wires are terminal connections type "nuts"... They got their name because of the external resemblance to nuts.

Connections of this type consist of three plates, between which, in fact, the wires are clamped. One of the advantages of this type of connection is that there is no need to break the line to connect the outgoing wire. It is enough just to unscrew 2 bolts, insert a wire between the two plates, and tighten the bolts in place. The outgoing wire is inserted between the middle and the remaining plate. That's it, the connection is ready.

The next most popular can be called. These connection terminals can be made from aluminum and copper. It is enough just to strip the wires by 10-15 mm, insert them into the hole of the terminal block, and everything, the next connection is ready to work.

The inside of the terminal block is filled with a special grease that prevents the wires from oxidizing. We recommend using this type of connection in lighting circuits. We do not recommend the use of these connections in power circuits, since a heavy load can lead to heating of the spring contacts, and as a result to poor contact.

Another popular connection is. Outwardly, they are a strip with terminal blocks. It is enough to strip the end of the wire, insert it into one hole and tighten with a screw. The stripped end of the second wire is inserted into the other hole. These terminal blocks also allow you to connect wires from different metals.

Bolted wire connections. This type of connection can also be used if you need to connect copper and aluminum wires. When installing the connection, it is necessary to install an anodized metal washer between the copper and aluminum wires.

All installation work must be carried out by a specialist. All screw and bolted connections must be checked: for aluminum wires, once every six months, for copper wires, once every two years.

Sergey Seromashenko

There are still quite a few apartments in which the electrical wiring is made with aluminum wires. And since manufacturers of lighting devices and electrical engineering switched to copper power cables, the question of how to connect copper and aluminum wires is still relevant today. Due to the fact that copper and aluminum have different electrical potentials, then a voltage will necessarily form between them. If this bond of two metals were located in a vacuum, the bond would last forever. The same cannot be said about an airy atmosphere where humidity is present. She is a catalyst for chemical processes inside the contact of copper and aluminum.

Experts have long come to the conclusion that a potential difference of more than 0.6 mV is already dangerous for wire connections. Such contact cannot be called long-term. As for copper and aluminum, the electric potential between them is 0.65 mV, which is higher than normal. It turns out a galvanic pair, like in a battery. Therefore, it is not allowed to connect them in electrical wiring. But what about those who have an aluminum wiring diagram in an apartment or house? There are several ways out.

Twisting two wires

The oldest option for connecting electrical wires is twisting. It is also the simplest one. We return to the electric potentials of metals. For aluminum with lead-tin solder, the potential difference is 0.4 mV, for copper with solder it is only 0.25 mV. It turns out that if one of the wires to be connected is treated with this solder, then they can be safely connected. Usually the solder is applied to the copper wire.

You can tin both single-core wire and stranded wire. In the second case, the veins must be twisted, and their number is taken into account. For cables with a large cross-section, three conductors can be tinned, for small cross-sections (no more than 1 mm²), five conductors.

But even this connection option does not give a 100% guarantee that the contact will work for a long time. There is such a thing as the linear expansion of metals, that is, under the influence of temperatures, they expand. When twisting, it is not always possible to achieve a tight clamping of the wires to each other. When expanding, gaps are formed between them, which reduce the density of the abutment. And this leads to a decrease in the conductive value. This is why twisting is rarely used today.

Threaded contact

It is believed that threaded connections of copper with aluminum are the most reliable contacts that will serve without problems the entire service life of the wires themselves. The ease of connection and the ability to join several cables in one node make this type in demand today. True, it is usually used for joining wires of large cross-section. The number of electrical lines to be connected will be limited only by the length of the bolt (screw).

We return to the electric potential of metals and determine that between aluminum and steel (all the elements of the bolted connection are made of it), the potential difference is 0.2 mV, between copper and steel - 0.45 mV, which is again less than the standard. That is, oxidation does not threaten all metals present in the bond. The strength of the connection of aluminum wires with copper wires in this case is ensured by a well-conducted nut clamp. Steel washers are installed between the two cores as a contact limiter or breaker.

Attention! During the operation of the threaded connection, care must be taken that the nut does not spontaneously loosen under the influence of vibrations of the building. This will weaken the contact. Therefore, a Grover washer must be placed under the flat washer.

How to make the correct contact with a threaded connection

To correctly connect aluminum and copper wires to each other, you must:

• Remove the insulating layer to a length equal to four bolt diameters. If an M6 bolt is used, the length of the open section must be 24 mm.
• If the veins already have oxidation on the surface, then they must be cleaned.
• The ends are rolled into rings with a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the bolt.
• Now, in sequence, they are put on the bolt: a simple flat washer, any one wire, a flat washer, the second wire, another flat washer, Grover's washer and a nut that is tightened all the way.

Please note that for clamping in this way wires with a cross section of no more than 2 mm², you can use an M4 bolt. If the copper wire is soldered, it is not necessary to place a washer between the two conductors. The end of a stranded copper cable must be soldered.

One-piece connection

This type of contact is similar to the previous one, only it is one-piece. And if it becomes necessary to add another wire to it, then you will have to break the connection and make it in a new way. Basically, this contact is based on a rivet clamp. The process itself is carried out using a special tool called a riveter.

• The ends are cleaned from insulation, as in the previous version.
• Rings are made slightly larger than the rivet diameter (its maximum value is 4 mm).
• The aluminum end is put on first.
• Then a flat washer.
• Copper end.
• Another washer.
• Insert the end of the rivet into the riveter and squeeze the handles of the tool until it clicks, which indicates that the steel rod has been cut.

Contact in the terminal block

This type of connection between copper and aluminum wires is most often used in lighting fixtures. The pads are supplied with the fixtures. In terms of connection reliability, they are inferior to threaded contacts, but this is one of the simplest options. There is no need to twist rings, or to tin the ends, to carry out insulation. It is necessary to strip the wires to a length of 5-10 mm and insert them into the terminal grooves of the device. The clamp is made with a screw. Effort will have to be applied, especially for the aluminum wire.

If copper and aluminum are connected using a terminal block, then the device cannot be laid under plaster. It can only be used in closed boxes: in a junction box or in a luminaire cover.

Terminal block

Wago

There is no way to bypass the Wago adapter. This is a German-made device with which you can connect aluminum and copper together without effort and without tools. The only thing to do is clean the ends of the wires.

The Wago terminal block is a spring-loaded device into which the cable cores are inserted, and it automatically clamps them. Today the manufacturer offers two types of pads: disposable (773 series) and reusable (222 series). In the first case, the wires are inserted into the terminal block and you can only pull them out of there by breaking the device. The second option is a device that includes levers. By raising or lowering them, you can pinch or release the end of the core. Each plug socket has its own lever.

In a disposable terminal block, you can install wires with a cross section of no more than 2.5 mm² (it can withstand a current up to 10 A), in a reusable terminal block no more than 4 mm² (current up to 34 A).

Nuts

Another structure with which you can dock aluminum with copper. The device consists of a metal plate-type connecting element and a plastic case, somewhat similar to a nut. Hence the name.

The fastening principle is the same as for the threaded version. Only by design, these are two plates that are pressed against each other by four screws. In one of the plates, a thread is cut in the holes, onto which screws are screwed, squeezing the plates together. Combine aluminum with copper as follows:

• Protects the ends of the conductors.
• One is inserted from one side into a specially formed groove between the plates.
• On the other hand, a second is inserted. It is important here that the two wires (aluminum and copper) do not touch inside the connector. Therefore, the walnut contains an additional steel plate, which is located between the clamping elements. So one wire must be placed on top of this plate, the second one under it. This will ensure that there is no contact between copper and aluminum wires.
• The screws are tightened to the stop, which ensures reliable contact.
• The construction is closed by a spring-loaded body.

Manufacturers today offer a wide variety of nuts, both in strength and in size. There are options in which the case itself does not open, and the entire filling is hidden in it and is inaccessible. The connection is made by inserting the end of the wire into the socket, where it is clamped with a screw. There are nuts with a serrated connection, you just need to insert the conductor into the groove, where compression with the teeth will occur, which will ensure reliable contact.

Returning to the questions of whether it is possible to connect, and how to properly connect copper and aluminum wires, it is necessary to generalize that there are many options. Each has its own pros and cons, but for the necessary requirements, you can choose one correct one, which will create the conditions for long-term operation of the electrical wiring diagram.

If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.

We have long and ubiquitously switched to copper wires in household wiring. But the likelihood of joining with aluminum conductors from the past is still high. This usually occurs when replacing or repairing existing electrical wiring that has been installed previously. However, aluminum is also contained in the new self-supporting insulated wire (self-supporting insulated wire), with which it is now customary to make connections from the pole to the house. Everything would be fine, but aluminum and copper are not “friends” at the molecular level, and we have to solve this problem on our own. Let's see which method works best for you.

Twisting is not the best method

In the old days, ordinary twisting was used to connect the wires of household wiring. This was a familiar procedure, and no additional devices were required at all. This method is used quite often even now, because it is difficult to refuse simple and quick solutions. If you still have to twist, then try to minimize the risks: the wires must be tightly wrapped around each other. A completely unacceptable way is when one core is straight, and the other wraps around it - such a connection will be initially defective.

In the connection, we select the number of turns in accordance with the diameters of the cores. If the diameter is less than 1 mm, we make 5-6 turns. When twisting wires of larger diameter, three turns are enough. After tight twisting, you need to seal the joint with a protective varnish with waterproof properties.

Easy way with screws

Wires of different materials can be successfully connected using screws and nuts. It is convenient that such a connection can be quickly disassembled and redone if necessary. With the correct execution, the threaded connection will be quite high quality and durable. The attractiveness of this option is the ability to simultaneously connect several wires, the number of which can only be limited by the length of the screw itself.

The screw method is well suited for connecting wires with different numbers of cores and different diameters. The main thing is that there is no conflicting rapprochement between wires made of different materials. Washers are used for separation. The procedure is simple: we remove the sheath from the cable to the required length, and then we make wire rings according to the screw diameter. We successively put on the screw rod a spring washer, a wire ring, a washer, a ring of the next conductor, etc. At the end of the assembly, tighten the nut until the spring washers are completely straightened.

When there is a riveter at hand

This method of joining resembles a bolt, but instead of a nut and a bolt, a blind rivet is used, which forms an integral connection. But after fixation, it will not be possible to fix the connection without "surgical" removal of the assembly. From the stripped ends of the wires, we make rings with the same diameter as the rivet. We use galvanized washers in the connection. Having threaded the assembly, we pull out the rivet and get a very high-quality connection. But it can only be used inside the back box.

We connect with a terminal block

A fairly popular method of connecting conductors with special terminal blocks, of course, loses to the screw in reliability, but it makes it possible to connect wires as quickly and easily as possible. To do this, it is enough to remove the insulation from the connected ends of the wires by about 5 mm, insert them into the terminal block and tighten with a screw. Tighten the soft aluminum wire with little effort.

Terminal blocks are convenient to use when connecting the chandelier to aluminum wires. Periodic twisting often leads to a break in such wires, which is why almost nothing remains of their original length over time. In such cases, the block helps out, since only a short end of the wire is enough to connect with it. Docking with terminals is well suited for broken wires laid in the wall, when laying new wiring is difficult, and the remaining length of the wires is clearly not enough for connections in other ways. But such pads can only be plastered when installed in a junction box.

We use spring clips

More recently, modified terminals with spring clips have appeared. There are disposable express terminals, in which the wires are fixed without the possibility of their further removal, and reusable ones - with a lever that allows you to remove and insert wires repeatedly. The most popular are the so-called terminal blocks of the German company Wago with paste, specially designed for connecting copper to aluminum. Disposable ones allow you to connect single-core wires with a cross section of 1.5 to 2.5 mm 2, and manufacturers allow their load up to 24 A. But professional electricians still do not recommend supplying such terminals with a current higher than 10 A. Strictly speaking, it is better to use Wago terminal blocks only in lighting fixtures. With increased load, the contact spring overheats, and the contacts between the conductors are critically broken.

The reusable express terminals are equipped with a pressure lever (usually orange) and can connect wires with any number of cores and a cross-section up to 4 mm 2. The maximum current for them is allowed up to 34 A. If the terminals without levers simply snap into place, then for reusable ones you need to lift the lever up to the stop, insert the wire and smoothly lower the lever. As a result, the wires will be securely fixed. The cost of such a connection will be much higher than the dubious twisting, but the work is done quickly and without the use of any additional tools.

Let's pay attention to the "nuts"

This practical type of connecting (branching) clamps is successfully used on the facades of private houses when it is necessary to switch from aluminum air conduit of wires to noble copper inside the house, since aluminum is prohibited from entering the house by the rules. This is where simple and reliable clamps in a rounded black polycarbonate case, popularly nicknamed nuts for their external similarity, come in handy.

Inside the case there are two steel dies and an intermediate plate, which we compress with screws after installing the wires. Dissimilar wires here do not conflict on an electrochemical reason - they are located on different "floors" of the clamp, completely not touching and honestly performing their current-carrying function. To get to the inner parts of the clamp, it is necessary to disassemble its body by removing the two retaining rings on the sides. In the dies, we will see prudently stamped grooves for veins of a certain section. It remains only to choose the right standard size, depending on the cross-section of the conductors, so that the connection is strong and reliable.

You can also use branch clamps in cases where you do not want to break the integrity of the cable. After all, it is known that the more connected breaks in the power circuit, the lower its reliability. And if this is a grounding cable, then it should not be categorically broken at all. Here reliable "nuts" will come to your aid. But in the connection of copper and aluminum wires, special care must be taken to ensure that our stay in the house is safe and comfortable.

I know the topic among themselves is as old as the world, but I want to touch on this topic and consider ways to connect wires from different materials.

When repairs begin in an apartment, the question arises of repairing or replacing (full or partial) electrical wiring. Someone wants to move outlets or switches, or add new ones. In this case, you cannot do without connecting wires. This is where the fun begins.

As you know, in old houses built in the Soviet Union, all electrical wiring was done with aluminum wire. Why? Aluminum is a cheap material, has good conductivity, is chemically resistant, lightweight, so there were no difficulties with installation. True, and the load in the apartments was small. With the development of technology, various powerful devices appeared, and the use of aluminum wires became impractical. Therefore, they began to use copper wires in apartments.

When repairing or replacing electrical wiring, use copper wire. It is good if there is a complete replacement of the wires. But what if we only partially change the wires? After all, then we need to connect the aluminum wire to the copper wire together.

Previously, aluminum wires were connected using conventional twisting. Then copper wires were also connected. But copper and aluminum wires cannot be twisted,

Although many electricians did this before (and still do). Moreover, at present, twisting is generally prohibited by the rules (PUE). Someone will say that in this paragraph of the rules there is no direct prohibition on twisting, but twisting is not indicated. as one of the ways to connect wires, therefore it is considered that twisting is FORBIDDEN !!!

Why can't the wires be twisted?

Each material has such a property as linear expansion - a change in linear dimensions with a change in temperature. Copper and aluminum have different coefficients of linear expansion, therefore, when current flows through the twist, the contact between the wires weakens over time, the gap between the wires increases, the resistance at the contact point grows, the contact point heats up, which can further lead to the destruction of the contact, burning of the insulation wires. The photo on the left shows how the electrical tape on the aluminum-copper twist was burnt. And on the right is the same twist after removing the burnt electrical tape.

And here it is already close to trouble - a fire. Therefore, if the electrician offers you connect aluminum and copper wires using a twist and wrap with electrical tape, then drive it to the neck from your apartment.

How to connect the aluminum and copper wires correctly?

There are several ways to connect wires from different materials:

Each of these methods has pros and cons. Let's consider each of them separately.

Bolted connection

Such a connection will require a bolt and nut, several steel washers that will need to be laid between the wires, and electrical tape to insulate the connection. To make a bolted connection, you need to make rings at the ends of the wires of such a size that they include the bolt with which the connection will be made. Then we assemble our structure, laying washers between the wires, and with the help of keys we tighten the nut and we get an excellent connection, which is very reliable. One drawback: the connection is cumbersome and very difficult to fit into the junction box.

Screw connection

This type of connection is made using screw terminals (terminal blocks),

which are isolated from each other. Screw connection of wires is usually found in lamps and chandeliers. The screw terminals are brass tubes with a plastic housing. The tubes have two screws for securing the wire. In this way, you can connect wires not only from different materials, but also homogeneous ones.

Disadvantages of such a connection:

- the plastic case of the terminal block may burst, respectively, the insulation will be broken;

- the brass tube itself may burst. This happens. When you tighten the screws too hard;

- with a screw, you can pass the wire when tightening, later it will break off. And this applies not only to aluminum, but also to copper wires;

- the screw can be ripped off while tightening. Then there is no need to talk about good contact;

- if you apply insufficient force, you may not tighten the screw and get bad contact.

The screw terminal blocks are convenient to use as a temporary connection, or for connecting luminaires. They also help out in the event that it is necessary to build up a broken wire, the tip of which sticks out of the wall.

Connection with WAGO terminal blocks

In Russia, WAGO terminal blocks appeared not so long ago, although the first screwless terminal blocks were developed in Germany in 1951. There are many self-tightening terminal blocks WAGO, but we are only interested in those that are suitable for connections of aluminum and copper wires.

These are special terminals of gray or black color, inside which there is a conductive paste. This paste prevents oxidation of aluminum wires. These terminal blocks are disposable, although they can be reused if desired. However, the quality of the connection deteriorates.

WAGO self-clamping terminal blocks have many advantages:

• fast and neat installation;
• the connection does not need to be insulated;
• you can connect wires from different materials and different sections;
• the connection can be easily redone if required;
• connection with WAGO terminal blocks is less than twisting. Therefore, it is easier to fit in a junction box (see photo);

• can be used to connect multiple wires (2 to 8)

The only drawback of these terminals is their cost. Therefore, many electricians use screw terminals and even twist. But I believe that this disadvantage is compensated by pluses, and there are much more of them.

My colleagues and I, who carry out electrical work in Syzran, use exactly wAGO terminal blocks for connecting aluminum and copper wires.

If you need someone who will do everything correctly and accurately, then you can contact me using the information on. You can also ask questions in the comments to this article. I will be happy to answer them.