Wago connectors for prototyping?

[Youkai]

Does anybody use wago connectors (or some other type of pressure connector) for prototyping or building their project? I'm working on micro-controller projects and during the initial testing and programming phases being able to attach/detach components is quite useful, but sometimes a breadboard isn't terribly convenient.

Do these connectors work well with small gauge wires? They say they work from 12-24 gauge. Most of the wires I have currently are 22. Do those still get a good connection?

[thm_w]

There are two main styles, older (left), and newer (right), I think newer works better with stranded wire.
22AWG stranded seems to work fine with both, for temporary connections. They can be pulled out from the old style with a moderate amount of force.

For more permanent connections I'll put ferrules on then insert into the connector.
For low voltage wiring I just use the clone versions available on aliexpress.

[themadhippy]

The levers on the 221's aint as robust as the older 222,but both grip 7/0.2  (24 awg) fine.

[ataradov]

Both types will grip down to smallest diameter, they have spring loaded contacts. I just tried with a single strand from the multi-stranded wire, no idea what diameter it is, definitely way smaller than anything you would reasonably use for prototyping. And in both cases the wire broke first on pull.  With a thicker wire I had to use quite a bit of force before it pulled out, more than reasonable for a typical tugging in prototyping. The concern would actually be them breaking the thin wire, since that spring is quite strong.

I use them occasionally, but my issue with them is that the whole setup gets bulky and messy if you have more than a couple connections. They are good for quick connects between the circuit and power supplies and stuff like this, but I would not use them as a replacement for a breadboard.

[edpalmer42]

I really like them for temporary setups.  Forget solderless breadboards and alligator clips!  Wherever possible, I use Wago clones to ensure reliable connections that won't come apart at the smallest tug.

When I first saw them in a video I immediately started looking for them.  I had no idea what they were called, but I knew I wanted them!

[Youkai]

Awesome. Thanks guys.

[SmallCog]

Yes x2

I use them frequently when prototyping. In my role I'm forever evaluating new hardware from different vendors, often supplied with a potted cable with bare wires or a proprietry plug and bare wires.

Easiest way to get that 4-20mA or Modbus or whatever working is some wago style connectors! On occasion I've stuck through hole components like LED's and Resistors in them too.

As for installations I use them here too. You'll often find them in a junction box in my installations, often where a sensor has a potted on cable. I'll run my own cable to near the sensor, into a junction box, join it up with a connector, then on to the sensor. When the sensor fails it's a 2min job to replace it.

For anything more than prototyping I use bootlace ferrules for any sort of clamp/spring/screw terminals the last thing you want is something to go wrong because your wire worked loose.

I favor the multipole ones, and purchase them from Altronics. I've had no issues with quality.

https://www.altronics.com.au/p/p2246-3x3-way-joiner-splicing-terminal-block/

[Doctorandus_P]

Wago's are not a substitute for breadboads.

Just try to connect 28 Wago's to an ATMEGA328 and you'll understand why.

I do use and like them for making both temporary and permanent connections for higher current stuff. Working with motors, high power PWM, heating elements, etc.

You can put one end of a "dupont wire" into a wago and grip it fimly, but it will bend and damage the pin a bit.
They always make good contact, even with thin wires, but with very thin wires there is a risk you cut through them, and this is less than ideal.
You can strip a longer part of those wires and then double or quadruple them before you put them in the Wago.

They can be reused a few hundred times before the spring wears out because of metal fatigue. This is quite noticable when you open and close the thing.

I'd say, just buy a bunch of them. You can't go wrong and will find a use for them on your test bench.

The Wago's do not need bootlace ferrules. They can be used (oficially!) with stranded wire.
I do find it useful to have a bunch of pieces of silicone insulated wires with the bootlace ferrules for making quick test setups. They're almost as quick to use as banana plugs, they are a lot smaller and cheaper.
The default ferrules are too short for this though. If you want to use them in wago's, then order some longer ones specifically, and also make sure you have decent pliers to crimp them.

If you want to use stranded wire repeatedly on your bench, then you can twist them first and tin them lightly (the strands should remain visible) I do not recommend this for permanent connections.

[Bobson]

WAGO has a lot of specially designed PCB connectors.
https://www.wago.com/us/c/pcb-interconnect
They are widely used in the industry, along with cheaper clones.

[Bud]

Never heard of it and just looked it up, i have no idea how would one use it as breadboard substitute... can someone post a photo?

[thm_w]

Never heard of it and just looked it up, i have no idea how would one use it as breadboard substitute... can someone post a photo?

https://content.instructables.com/ORIG/FAN/MJ33/JVWNSJGU/FANMJ33JVWNSJGU.jpg
https://www.instructables.com/Task-Manager-a-Household-Chore-Management-System/

[wizard69]

First off lets get one thing out, there are legitimate used for every type of connector!    Personally I've not used WAGO's, simply due to having other solutions that work.   I would not go out of my way to buy some for anything planed at the moment.

Does anybody use wago connectors (or some other type of pressure connector) for prototyping or building their project? I'm working on micro-controller projects and during the initial testing and programming phases being able to attach/detach components is quite useful, but sometimes a breadboard isn't terribly convenient.

At times breadboards can be hell so I understand.   What is the best solution really comes down to what is being done.   Ideally a breadboard should be mounted on a plate and frame so that commonly used devices can be mounted adjacent to the bread board.   The first item here would be binding posts/banana Plug sockets for secure connection to power supplies, and meters/instruments.   There is nothing worse than scratching ones head only to realize that a long lead pulled a wire out of the bread board.  The idea here is that a banana socket is far more secure for a DMM connection than a wire and alligator.

More along the issues that you are trying to address with Wagos it might be better to also mount a DIN rial to the plate and snap on a few similar DIN rail terminal blocks.   The same logic applies here, the idea is to have an interposer between the breadboard with the delicate connections there and the off board world.   The goal is the same, to keep things from being pulled out of the breadboard.   Also having a DIN rail ready to go allows mounting a massive array of stuff from other manufactures.   In any event if you have a lot of projects planned where you have many external devices that you don't want creating problems at the breadboard, it is nice to have a solution that prevents tugging the breadboard.   There are other similar approaches that don't involve DIN rails.   In any event there are dozens of suppliers of this sort of technology, you can find a block for almost any need.

Do these connectors work well with small gauge wires? They say they work from 12-24 gauge. Most of the wires I have currently are 22. Do those still get a good connection?

Working and trouble free are two different things.   Some of these spring connectors have a bit of a death grip that is not ideal for small wires.   However most terminal solutions are so encumbered, the reality is fine wires break easily.   This is where wire ferrules are a life saver for small diameter wires.  I'd suggest that getting a ferrule crimper should be high on your priority list if you are using any sort of spring clamp or set screw type connector in conjunction with small diameter wires.   This especially if you want reusability.   This is one reason I wouldn't jump at these sorts of Wago connectors, they are more designed for electrical wiring.   With the DIN rail components or similar direct mount devices, you have all sorts of blocks available.

So again I don't want to completely dismiss these connectors I just wanted to point to alternatives that might make more sense.   The idea to have a few banana jacks available for example can solve the problem of instrument leads or power supply leads, pulling out of a breadboard.   If you get on a DigiKey or similar web site, there are literally tens of thousands of ways to make up connections to help with prototyping.   I don't want to suggest the more questionable ways but I've literally have used alligator clips to kee two wires together.    Use what you have at the time.

[edavid]

Are there any recommended Wago types or clones that I can buy from a US supplier, eBay, or AliExpress?  Maybe an assortment kit?