Wagobox-Light Wiring Conundrum

[GB.Kayak]

I have recently removed a single fluorescent tube fitting for a customer who wants it replaced with a Class I circular 3-spot unit in a back room on their small commercial premises. The wiring to the original fitting comprised a live feed, switch drop to a twin switch and onward feed to a second single fluorescent tube fitting in the same room. I opened up the second fitting to confirm that it was fed from the first. There was no other wiring apparent so I have not yet checked the purpose of the second switch. I did not have any Wagoboxes with me at the time and only a handful of Wago 224-112 2-wire lever connectors so as a temporary measure, having removed the original fitting, I reconnected the wiring in connector blocks to await my return.


Unfortunately I cannot rewire the original configuration because the cable entry in the new light fitting is only ~ 8 mm in diameter and the fitting appears to be intended to be connected L-PE-N using a switched live given the small opening size of the connector block. In addition, the combination of: the pitch of the fixing holes and position of the cable entry into the base of the light fitting, and the position of the joist into which 2 fixing screws will go mean that the solution must use the Wagobox-Light.


I am considering 2, in my mind equally valid, options and would appreciate opinion as to whether anyone would prefer one approach above another. The first option that I considered was to recreate the original configuration using Wago connectors in a Wagobox-Light but with a second switched live feed required by the new light fitting. This would require 4 T+CPC (T+E) cables and 4 connections:


- 2-way connection for live feed from supply to switch.


- 3-way connection for switched live from switch to 2 light fittings.


- 3-way connection for neutral feed from supply to 2 light fittings.


- 4-way connection to common the 4 cable CPCs.


Having looked at the size of the Wagobox-Light and that of their 222, 224 and 773 series connectors there appear to me be 4 alternative arrangements that will fit in the box and provide the required connections. They comprise:


- Combination of 3 x 222 and 1 x 773 Series connectors - 222-412, 222-413, 222-413 and 773-104.


- 224 Series connectors only - 224-101, 224-112, 224-112 and 2 interlinked 224-112.


- Combination of 3 x 224 and 1 x 773 Series connectors - 224-101, 224-112, 224-112 and 773-104.


- 773 Series connectors only - 773-102, 773-104, 773-104 and 773-104.


The second option is to use 1 Wagobox-Light to create a switched live feed and then another to split that feed to the 2 fittings. The first Wagobox-Light would require 3 T+CPC (T+E) cables and 4 connections:


- 2-way connection for live feed from supply to switch.


- 2-way connection for switched live from switch to second Wagobox-Light.


- 2-way connection for neutral feed from supply to second Wagobox-Light.


- 3-way connection to common the 3 cable CPCs.


Having looked at the size of the Wagobox-Light and that of their 222, 224 and 773 series connectors and 260 series modular terminal blocks there appear to me be 4 alternative arrangements that will fit in the box and provide the required connections. They comprise:


- Combination of 3 x 222 and 1 x 773 Series connectors - 222-412, 222-412, 222-412 and 773-104.


- 224 Series connectors only - 224-101, 224-101, 224-101 and 224-112.


- 773 Series connectors only - 773-102, 773-102, 773-102 and 773-104.


- MTB 2604 Wagobox-Light Modular Terminal Block L1+L+N+E.


The second Wagobox-Light would require 3 T+CPC (T+E) cables and 3 connections:


- 3-way connection to split switched live from first Wagobox-Light to 2 light fittings.


- 3-way connection to split neutral feed from first Wagobox-Light to 2 light fittings.


- 3-way connection to common the 3 cable CPCs.


There appear to me be 4 alternative arrangements that will fit in the box and provide the required connections, comprising:


- 222 Series connectors only - 222-413, 222-413 and 222-413.


- 224 Series connectors only - 224-112, 224-112 and 224-112.


- 773 Series connectors only - 773-104, 773-104 and 773-104.


- MTB 2603 Wagobox-Light Modular Terminal Block L+N+E.


Although all of these arrangements could deliver the requirement, and the last 2 arrangements under Option 2 could deliver a switched live feed to a third light fitting, few comply directly with the manufacturer's Product Description for the Wagobox-Light, linked here Wagobox-Light junction box. The stated 'maximum number of supported individual conductors', 12, would meet my requirement under Option 1 and the alternative that is nearest compliance is the use of 224 connectors only; however, this requires a mix of 5, not the stated 'Maximum connector capacity' of either 4 x 224-101 or 4 x 224-112 connectors. In the case of Option 2 alternatives, 2 are compliant with the manufacturer's Product Description, the 224 Series and 260 Modular Terminal Block solutions.


The increase in cost between Option 1 arrangements and their corresponding Option 2 arrangements is between 73 % and 93 %. If the 'tailored' solution of the 260 series Modular Terminal Blocks is used then the price is just over 2 1/2 to just over 3 times the price of Option 1 arrangements.


Which option and alternative arrangement would you choose and why? Would you do something completely different? If so, what would you do?

 

[Leesparkykent]

Blimey all this for replacing a light fitting lol

 

[telectrix]

use a big choc block and double wrap in electrical tape.ram it in the ceiling . that manufacturer's advice a la b&q.

 

[Octopus]

Go to the wholesalers, buy the bits above and have a "play"

 

[GB.Kayak]

Blimey all this for replacing a light fitting lol

First foray into Wago connectors and want to start with a standard approach. Do I take it that 'anything goes' or whatever is on hand is the order of the day?

 

[GB.Kayak]

Go to the wholesalers, buy the bits above and have a "play"

Thanks M, have got box full of bits and being perhaps so some tell me a bit OC, I have played with the bits and come up with some workable configurations. Hence the post.

 

[GB.Kayak]

use a big choc block and double wrap in electrical tape.ram it in the ceiling . that manufacturer's advice a la b&q.

Thanks tel, if I wanted to deliver the worst possible "tradesmans'" or Electrical Trainee botch or just a DIY 'knows no better' job then that is what I would have done! Well done; your bait taken ... hook, line and sinker award to tel.

 

[Leesparkykent]

First foray into Wago connectors and want to start with a standard approach. Do I take it that 'anything goes' or whatever is on hand is the order of the day?

Definitely not. But then again I wouldn't need advice on connecting a few light fittings up!

 

[GB.Kayak]

Definitely not. But then again I wouldn't need advice on connecting a few light fittings up!

Nor do I need advice ... I too can connect 'a few light fittings up!', in a vast number of different ways! Compliant or otherwise.

 

[Anthony S]

What did people use before the birth of the wago ?

 

[Leesparkykent]

Nor do I need advice ... I too can connect 'a few light fittings up!', in a vast number of different ways! Compliant or otherwise.

I hope so lol

 

[ruston]

Providing there are no heat (IE the lamps are remote from the fitting) issues you may be able to cut a single deep fastfix box into the ceiling and wire it from there. The lamp base may cover the blanking plate. this will save you from the black tape lol.

 

[richy3333]

What did people use before the birth of the wago ?

There was a time before Wago?! Did it involve dinosaurs?

 

[ruston]

There was a time before Wago?! Did it involve dinosaurs?

Speaking lol.:dots:

 

[Octopus]

There was a time before Wago?! Did it involve dinosaurs?

Dinosaurs and Telectrix!

 

[Des 56]

My only experience of Wago's was seeing them on conductors in a socket box,removing them with contempt,then re making the connection that they were supposed to be making correctly

 

[HandySparks]

I haven't studied your options in detail. However...

You don't have to stick to a Wagobox-light; you could use a standard one, which is slightly bigger.

If I'm tight for space, I use the compact 2273 series connectors for all connections and maybe add 224 connectors if I need to connect to fine stranded cable to supply the light. If you can run a piece of solid core into the light, then use 2273 only.

On lighting stuff I don't worry about number of cables or connections in the box unless it's very heavily loaded, which would be unusual.

 

[GB.Kayak]

I haven't studied your options in detail. However...

You don't have to stick to a Wagobox-light; you could use a standard one, which is slightly bigger.

If I'm tight for space, I use the compact 2273 series connectors for all connections and maybe add 224 connectors if I need to connect to fine stranded cable to supply the light. If you can run a piece of solid core into the light, then use 2273 only.

On lighting stuff I don't worry about number of cables or connections in the box unless it's very heavily loaded, which would be unusual.

Thanks HS, I only wish a few more would be as helpful. Unfortunately I think that I will need to stick to the smaller dimensions of the Wagobox-Light in this case. Given other discussions recently, I am left a little concerned that Wagobox have only certified their product as MF with certain limited combinations of Wago connectors. I bought the Wagobox Expert Kit which does not include the smaller 2273 connectors.

 

[Silly Sausage]

http://lineproducts.co.uk/LINE_Facts/LINEFeaturesDiagram.jpg

 

[GB.Kayak]

http://lineproducts.co.uk/LINE_Facts/LINEFeaturesDiagram.jpg

Thanks Archy, I thought that there were some on here who were having problems with satisfaction of orders by Lineproducts and there were questions over their continued trading.