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.

 

[Silly Sausage]

Aye, I think Tel was wondering if they were still going.
He rates them! Give them a call.

 

[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.

 

[HandySparks]

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.

If you can access the joint by taking down the light, I'd say that you don't need certified MF connectors. And, to be honest, I wouldn't expect the quality of the 2273 connectors to be less than that of the 773, it's just that they are a later design , so not certified MF yet.

 

[Silly Sausage]

Or just get them crimpers and heat shrink on the job.

 

[Mike Blair]

i find wago connectors "lever ones" don't grip and break easily? or could just be me picking up the dodgy ones haha!. Also has anyone seen Work done with the 6mm wago push connectors. To me that sounds scary :ack2:

 

[HappyHippyDad]

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.

Hi GB,

I contacted wago a while back and the chap was very helpful.

He made it clear that only the standard wago box are MF, and only then if they have a cable tie wrapped around them in the slot supplied. The wagobox light is NOT MF. The reason the wagobox light is not MF is because the cost that it would have taken to put it through the tests (to determine if MF) was too much.

I personally love the wago connections and boxes and find they save a great deal of time. I have held one of the lever types in a vice and pulled at the cable with a pair of pliers and it did not budge, so I am happy with the quality of the termination!

 

[telectrix]

i've held the missus in a vice and pulled her hair. it did not come out. does that mean she gets a BSEN number?

 

[HappyHippyDad]

i've held the missus in a vice and pulled her hair. it did not come out. does that mean she gets a BSEN number?

Unfortunately not Tel, it just means she's maintenance free!!