How to connect the wire to each other without welding. How to connect electrical wires? Mechanical connection of wires

27.06.2020

Electrical energy has firmly entered our lives. Without it, human existence is unthinkable, electricity will disappear - civilization will collapse. Factories, transport, the information network, in a word, everything rests on it dear. And one of the most important points of all electrical science is the knowledge of how to securely and correctly connect wires. It will seem to an ignorant person - well, what nonsense, twisted it somehow and it's ready. But no! Here we will talk about the correct connection of wires for different cases installation of electrical networks.

About the main types of wire connections

In this article, we will try to consider almost all types of wire connections that are encountered during the installation of an electric lighting network, when creating power and switching networks. All methods of connecting wires have both their advantages and disadvantages. The most important thing is that there should be reliable contact at the joints. If it turns out to be bad, then the junction will heat up and burn out over time, but this is not so bad. It can even start a fire! So the correct connection of the wires must be taken with all seriousness and responsibility.

So, what are the main ways of connecting wires:

twist;
soldering;
cap terminal;
threaded connection;
terminal blocks;
crimping;
rivets;
welding.

Let's consider each of them separately.

Twisted wire connection

Connecting wires by twisting a few years ago was almost the most important type of installation internal networks buildings, and even now they do not refuse it.

Features of creating this connection:

A knife and pliers are enough for the job.
It is strictly forbidden to twist a copper wire with aluminum, as well as wrap one wire around another.
When you still need to twist the copper wire with aluminum, then the copper core needs to be soldered. Use TOC as solder and rosin as flux. No acid-based fluxes!
When installing internal networks in junction boxes, it is allowed to connect up to six wires in one twist and with different cross sections.
When it is required to twist a stranded wire, then the place of its connection must also be tinned.
It happens that there is a need to build up the wires, then they do this: they clean each one by two or three centimeters and twist it, wrapping it around one another. Each wire must have at least two turns. If possible, then you can solder the twist. And in the end, the whole thing is insulated with electrical tape in three layers.
If you need to twist wires with a cross section of less than a millimeter (switching), then the ends are stripped by two or three centimeters and five or six turns are made on the twist. After twisting, it is bent in half to reduce dimensions and increase strength.

But at high power, the twisted wire connection does not hold loads. The twist will heat up, because of this, the wires will oxidize, and the contact on the twist will disappear.

Connecting wires by soldering

In the process of soldering, metals that are in a solid state are connected by solder, which, in molten form, flows into the gap between them. Connecting wires by soldering is considered one of the most reliable ways.

Consider soldering copper single-core wires:

The insulation is removed from the ends of the wire and the surface is cleaned of varnish, if the wire is covered with it.
Next, they make a simple twist, two wires wrap around one another or make a tap.
Then a flux is applied with a soldering iron and the joint is soldered with solder.
Use rosin or soldering oil as a flux, and TOC lead-tin solder or tretnik as solder.
If you solder stranded wires, then, having removed the insulation, they must be fluffed up, inserted one into the other and wrapped with thin wire, and then everything is exactly the same.
After soldering, insulation is applied.

The process of soldering aluminum wires is as follows:

Soldering aluminum wires occurs after the ends of the wires are connected with a double twist. There should be a small gap between the wire strands.
The wire connection is heated with a blowtorch or gas burner. The heating temperature should be such that the solder begins to melt.
Solder is heated in a flame and rubbed into the wire joint, filling the gap with solder.
Use F-64, FIM or FTBf - A as a flux, and TOC or Braze Tec as a solder.

Wire connections with push-on terminals

The connection with ring terminals is usually done on wires that have a cross section of less than one millimeter. This is a very common method. Almost all electrical wiring of transport is connected in this way. Yes, and in household appliances there are enough similar connections. Now on sale there are a lot of different cap clamps, such as "U" 3.7 - 4.75, "P" 2.8 - 6.4, "B" 2.8 - 6.4, "O" 3.7 - 5.

It is not difficult to fix the terminals on the wire:

It is necessary to strip the end of the wire - five to seven millimeters, put on it an insulator that comes with the terminal, and crimp the wire with special antennae.
There are two pairs of antennae on the terminal, the first one crimping the core of the wire, and the second one - the wire with insulation.
An insulating cap is put on the crimped terminal for connecting wires. If there is no special crimping, then pliers can be used.
For reinsurance, connecting the wire to the terminal can be soldered, but this is not necessary.

Slip-on clamps, only large sizes(1.25 - 3А.О, 1.25 - 3YS.U, etc.), wire connections are made in industrial electrical installations. They are pressed with the help of special crimps. You can’t invent “gags” there, because poor-quality contact can create big troubles.

Wires on threaded connections

Although soldering is a reliable method of connection, it is laborious, so it is better to use threaded connections. In a similar way, wires are connected in sockets and switches. Making a screw connection of wires is simple: you need to remove the insulation from the wire, about a centimeter or one and a half, if necessary, make a ring, then twist the wire to the connection point with a screw with a washer and a grover.

If you have to connect two wires, then perform the following actions:

First, remove the insulation from the ends of the wire and clean the metal core to a shine (you can scrape it with a knife).
Then the rings are rolled up. They should be slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of the bolt that connects them.
We put a washer on the bolt, then two rings and again a washer, then a grover and clamp it with a nut.
So you can connect wires of different sizes.

And if you want to make a connection between copper and aluminum wire, then put a steel washer between the rings. Copper and aluminum oxidize when they come into contact. And if there is no steel washer, the twist contact will disappear.

This method also has a drawback. Bolted connections must be tightened from time to time. Especially if there is a wire with an aluminum core in the twist. Aluminum has a certain fluidity, and no matter how reliable the contact is, it will weaken over time, and if it is not tightened, the twist will heat up, the wire will oxidize and the contact will disappear.

Connection by terminal blocks

Connecting terminal blocks are mainly used in electrical installations where you need to connect many wires at once. For example, you can easily connect aluminum and copper wires.

They are different types and sizes, made from various materials:

The base of the carbolite terminal block is made of insulating material - carbolite (does not burn, charred at high temperatures), and brass tires are inserted inside. The wires are fixed with steel bolts, and through the transparent cover you can always observe the quality of the connection.
There are terminal blocks with spring contact, they are used for wires of small sections, mainly for switching wire connections. When clamping the wires, the spring plate will prevent the thin core from breaking. The pad body is made from non-combustible material polyamide.
Terminal blocks for connecting wires, the body of which is made of polyethylene, are convenient for installation, they are easily cut into separate sections. True, they cannot be used where there is even a slight heating. Polyethylene begins to melt at low temperatures.

Terminal blocks have two types of fasteners: screw and DIN rail. Connecting wires through the terminal block is very simple:

The insulation is removed from the ends of the wires - about ten millimeters.
Unscrew the screws on the terminal block, insert the wires on both sides and tighten the screws back.
When clamping the screws, you must work carefully so as not to transfer the wire with the screw and not to break the thread from the screw.

Crimped wire connection

There are cases when it is necessary to connect the wires in an integral way. Then they use pressure. The very essence of crimping lies in the fact that under the action of a compression force, the sleeve and the wire that is in it are simultaneously deformed. There are several types of crimping work - this is either local indentation or continuous compression.

The connection of wires by crimping is carried out as follows:

When it is required to crimp aluminum wires, due to the fact that they are covered with an oxide film, the wires are cleaned to a shine and treated with a special lubricant. You can use quartz-vaseline lubricant. It will not allow an oxide film to form, and the conductivity will be better.
Copper wires are lubricated only with technical vaseline. This is done so that the cores are not damaged during operation. During compression, the lubricant will be squeezed out, and there will be no increase in contact resistance due to the lubricant.
For crimping, special sleeves are used. Wires are inserted into the sleeve, and the joint should be in the middle. Making two indentations, we compress the sleeve on both sides.
It happens that it is necessary to connect the wires only on one side, then the wires are inserted into the sleeve and everyone does the same. After crimping, the connection is isolated.
If it is possible to connect copper and aluminum wires, then use a copper-aluminum sleeve.

For proper crimping, it is best to use PMU pliers with manual drive, and for a quality connection, use the sleeves GA, GM, GAM, GML.

Connecting wires with rivets

The connection of wires with a rivet is very similar to the threaded one. Only if the bolt can be tightened or untwisted, then in the case of a rivet, the connection is one-time. Work with a riveted joint is done with a special tool - a riveter. There is different models riveters: 001, 0050, 0400 reinforced, 004 with 90 degree rotation, two-handed Master 0710.

The rivet connection is done like this:

Special rivets are used for connection.
The insulation is removed from the wire, two or three centimeters, and rings are made.
Then a grover, a washer and wire rings are put on the rivet, then a washer again.
The whole thing is inserted into the riveter and the riveting process is performed.
If aluminum and copper wires are connected, then a steel washer must be put between them.
Always leave a spare wire so that in the event of a connection failure, it can be redone without any problems.

Connection of wires by welding

Every electrician with experience knows that the connection of wires by welding has the most reliable contact, or rather not even a contact - a single monolith. When melted, the wires become one whole.

Making the connection of two wires by welding is not particularly difficult:

First you need to remove the insulation from the ends of the wire, optimally - somewhere around five to seven centimeters. Then we twist the strands into a twist and bite off the end of it with side cutters.
Direct welding takes place with carbon electrodes. If you could not buy the original ones, then it is not difficult to make them from carbon-graphite brushes from a commutator motor.
Feed the mass to the twist (you can use the crocodile clip) and touch the end of the twist with the electrode. From touch, an electric arc will occur, which will fuse the wires into a single whole.
If a ball appears at the end of the twist as a result of reflow, then the connection is made with high quality.
The arc burning time should be no more than two seconds, otherwise the heating temperature will damage the wire insulation.
When choosing at what currents the welding will take place, consider the cross section of the wire and the thickness of the twist. The thicker the twist, then apply more current.
When welding wires, use a welding machine or an inverter. The latter is preferable, since the inverter has a fairly large range of smooth current adjustment.

Connecting wires by banding

The connection of wires by banding is used both in conjunction with other types of connections, and independently. The procedure for connecting the wires is simple. The insulation is removed from them and these sections are connected to each other. Next, the connection is tightly wrapped with a soft wire of the same material as the wires to be connected.

That, perhaps, is all about the basic wire connections. Let everyone choose what he likes. Some need to connect faster, others need to be more reliable. But remember one more thing: before you start working with the wires, make sure that they are disconnected and there is no voltage on them. Use proper tools and protective equipment when working!

At least once, but almost everyone had to twist the wires. You say it's enough simple procedure. On the one hand, indeed, in order to intertwine several cores and put them into a junction box, you do not need to have special skills.

But not everything is so clear! After all, to make a twist of wires is one thing, but to perform it QUALITATIVELY and RELIABLY is a completely different matter.

Unfortunately, homemade twisting of wires often causes electrical wiring to ignite. That is why such a procedure should be approached very responsibly. So that you can be confident in your work and not worry that somewhere you have poorly insulated or twisted the wires not securely enough, we will tell you how to do everything right.

Why can wire twisting be dangerous?

So, let's fix it: twisting wires is rightfully considered the most dangerous connection method. Why?

This is because the degree of contact of two or several conductors at once depends only on the quality of the work you have done. Moreover, over time, weakly bent veins will gradually become even weaker. What is the risk? Well, at least the fact that at high loads of electric current in this zone there will be too weak contact. As a result - heating of the wires, destruction of the insulating layer and a deplorable ending in the form of a short circuit (we are generally silent about fire and electric shock).

According to the rules of the PUE, this method of connecting wires is completely prohibited. Although, of course, almost all electricians resort to a similar method in ordinary everyday work. And this is what practicing professionals say: if you twist the wires correctly and insulate them carefully, you will not have any problems at all. At the same time, the veins themselves can faithfully serve for another couple of decades.

This begs the question - how to make the twisting of wires correctly and "for centuries"? We tell.

Reliable twisting of wires: detailed instructions

For the sake of example, let's take the simplest situation - it is necessary to fasten a pair of single-core wires together (assume that both conductors are made of copper). The course of action is:

We carefully clean both cores with a special tool or a simple knife, removing the insulation by about five centimeters;
Degrease bare contacts with acetone;
We take a piece of sandpaper and clean the ends of the conductors to a pronounced metallic color;
We put the bare veins crosswise and slowly wrap one vein around the other (the procedure is performed using pliers, the number of turns is at least five);
We wind the second core in the same way;
We tightly wrap the twisting zone with electrical tape (it would also be nice to use a heat-shrinkable cambric - a special tube that will protect the bare area from the external environment).

You can safely see that there is nothing complicated in the procedure. The main thing is that we expose sections of wires by at least five centimeters and confidently twist them together with pliers, thereby ensuring strong contact.

Options for twisting single-core wires

What about the more complex situation where you have to twist solid and stranded wires together? Here it is necessary to complete the first two points of the above instructions, after which - cross the products together and tightly wind the stranded wire around the single-core (at a distance of a couple of centimeters from its end).

Wrapped up? Then we take the remaining single-core end and bend it in one smooth movement towards the turns of the stranded conductor. When the task is completed, the wires are insulated and placed in a distribution box. Absolutely the same course of action will help with the twisting of two stranded wires.

By the way, what is important - we absolutely do not recommend twisting copper and aluminum wires. This is indicated not only by professional electricians, but also by regulatory documents - the same GOST. You should not make such twists because copper and aluminum have different metal resistance indicators. Also, when they interact, oxidation occurs, and this, in turn, significantly worsens the contact.

There is also the following nuance: copper and aluminum have different physical properties in the sense that one of the metals is hard and the other is soft. This will also have an extremely negative impact on the quality of the contact between the two conductors.

Video about twisting wires

If you want to be sure of the quality of the connection you made, we advise you to read the following recommendations:

Use these tips, they definitely will not interfere with you when performing any electrical work where there is a need to connect wires to each other. What is important to pay attention to - the above methods do not allow you to make the twist waterproof. So if you decide to fasten the cores in the wall under a layer of plaster (besides without a box), be sure to isolate the junctions with cambric.

What is the conclusion?

So we told you about how to make a twist of wires with your own hands. We advise you to resort to this method only as part of the installation of temporary electrical wiring, in other cases, use more modern and safer methods. Also, never forget to turn off the electricity in the house before doing any electrical work. Good luck!

When installing an additional outlet, connecting a new chandelier, or fixing a malfunction in the wiring, you will have to do electrical work. Without practical experience, it is difficult to ensure reliable contact between conductors from different material having a different cross section or a completely different number of cores.

The article we have proposed describes in detail all the methods of connecting electrical wires that are used in the construction of electrical wiring. We analyzed technical and technological features each option. Based on our advice, you will be able to successfully repair or upgrade the power grid.

Any electrical work should be carried out with skill. It is important to remember that the safety and life of all people and animals living in a house, apartment or country house depend on the correctness of their implementation. An oversight is unacceptable - at best, there will be no good contact. And these are non-working electrical outlets.

In the worst case, one of the family members, friends or acquaintances who dropped in on a visit may be shocked by an improperly insulated connection. Or the wiring will ignite, which could lead to a fire.

For high-quality and correct connection of electrical wires, you need:

knowledge of the main types and principles of connection;
availability of special tools for electrical work;
availability of all Supplies, which will be useful when performing a specific type of connection;
preliminary training on individual pieces of wire.

When everything you need is available, you should carefully prepare the future place of work. To do this, you need to de-energize all the wires that you have to deal with. This is a very important step that should not be ignored!

Without knowledge of electrical installation, it is better to entrust the replacement of electrical wiring to a professional electrician.

In order not to get an electric shock, it is better to make sure once again that the apartment or house is really de-energized. In this case, it is convenient to use an indicator screwdriver - this is an inexpensive tool that can be purchased even in an online store.

It is convenient when, in addition to the desire to do everything with your own hands, there is also right tool- with it, electrical work is carried out many times easier and faster

In a situation where there are serious concerns about the advisability of carrying out electrical work with your own hands, it is better to contact an electrician. Moreover, only an experienced master should be invited, who has not only experience in carrying out such work, but also special education.

The services of an electrician will be especially relevant if you have to / at home. You can’t save on this - as a result, you can pay a double or triple price, or even pay with your property.

Overview of popular connection types

The main types of connections used in for household needs, there are about 10 options. Among them stand out as simple ones that can be performed without many years of experience, and more difficult ways where not only experience is required, but also special tools and skills to work with them.

Complex connection options

The connection of two or more wires is carried out in order to obtain a quality contact. It is he who will ensure the operability of all electrical points in a particular house or apartment.

You can establish reliable contact between the conductors on your own or invite a specialist. It all depends on the type of connection chosen, the availability of tools and the skills to carry out such work.

Complex types of connections include:

soldering;
welding;
crimping.

These options will be quite difficult for a beginner to deal with. The fact is that to solder a knot of two or more conductors, you will need a special tool, the skills to work with it are one awkward movement, and instead of reliable contact, you can get the opposite result.

For soldering, you need to take a tin-lead alloy solder, rosin and a brush for applying it, a soldering iron and sandpaper for stripping the core

The essence of this method is to remove the insulation from the cores of the connected conductors and clean them with sandpaper to a shine. Then you need to apply rosin on each vein with a brush and warm it up well with a soldering iron - the cleaned metal should be covered on all sides with an even layer of rosin.

When all the strands of the conductors are prepared, it remains to twist them well and heat the solder with a soldering iron, and also heat the resulting twist to a boil of rosin. Now you need to apply solder with a soldering iron to the heated conductor assembly and ensure its uniform flow between the individual veins.

When using welding, soldering and pressing tongs, a strong and incredibly reliable connection is obtained. In such nodes, contact will not be lost even after 30 years

As soon as it was possible to obtain a full distribution of liquid solder over the entire surface to be soldered, soldering can be completed. Now it remains to wait until the resulting node cools down naturally.

Welding is an even more complex type of connection. To complete it, you will need:

welding machine;
carbon electrode;
flux, which will protect the melt from oxygen exposure;
a protective mask on the face and special heat-resistant gloves on the hands.

And the most important thing when working with welding is the ability to use the device. In the hands of an amateur, instead of a reliable contact that can last 30-50 years, from under welding machine melted conductor and damaged insulation will come out.

Before starting welding, you need to twist, as before soldering, to a shine. The essence of welding is to get a monolithic metal connection. To do this, you need to pour flux into the recess of the carbon electrode, turn on the welding machine and lower the end of the twist into the same recess.

The ball at the ends of the cores of the connected conductors will provide reliable contact. Moreover, this method is great for stranded wires.

As a result of the impact of welding, the ends will melt and a metal ball will form on them. You need to wait for it to cool, clean it from the flux and varnish it.

Crimping will also require special equipment - press tongs, which are also called a crimper, and a metal sleeve made of copper, aluminum, a combined alloy or insulated.

To get a quality contact in this way, you need to prepare the cores of the conductors in the same way as before soldering. For stripping, it is better, in extreme cases, side cutters. Then take the sleeve and place the prepared cores of one conductor on one side, and the second conductor on the other.

The distance to be stripped from the cores of the conductor depends on the connection method chosen.

Now it is necessary to compress the connection on both sides with press tongs. It is important that the sleeve or another type fits the diameter of the cross section of the connected wires - the cores must freely enter inside.

After compression with a crimper, you should check the quality of crimping - you need to pull one and the second wire. If they are tightly clamped and do not fall out of the sleeve, then the contact is successful.

All connections obtained as a result of soldering, welding or crimping must be insulated. To do this, use tape or heat shrink tubing.

The second option is more convenient and is now used by both professional electricians and home craftsmen. Moreover, when creating a contact using crimping, the heat shrink tube must be put on before inserting the cores into the sleeve.

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Choose a sleeve of the right material and with the correct inner diameter

Choose the right size heat shrink tubing. It is important to put it on the wire before crimping with a crimper.

Press tongs to compress the connection on one and the other side, trying to create a reliable contact

Put a heat shrink tube on top of the resulting assembly and heat it with a building hair dryer or a lighter so that it tightly clasps and insulates the contact

Step 1: Choose the sleeve of the desired diameter

Step 2: Choose your heat shrink tubing

Step 3: Press tongs to crimp the connection

Step 4: Put on the top of the tube

Easy Ways to Create Contacts

In addition to time-consuming and complex options for creating contact, requiring skill and the availability of special tools, there are simpler ones that you can easily master with your own hands. Such methods are acceptable for connecting two or more wires with different or identical cross-sections. Yes, and the material of the cores can be different - copper, aluminum or steel.

The simple methods most often used in domestic conditions include the following compounds:

twist;
bolted;
screw;
self-clamping.

There are two options for twisting, which are done at home. The first - they simply twist the cores cleaned to a shine and wrap electrical tape or heat shrink tubing over it. The second option - a PPE cap is screwed over the twist.

It is extremely inconvenient to use insulating tape, especially in hard-to-reach places. It is better to buy a heat shrink tube of the desired diameter. What's more, the price is quite affordable.

The first option is a relic of the past. Such connections are unreliable, they can break up and the contact disappears. In the second case, reliability is opposed by a high price for one cap. Buying cheaper products is not worth it - they cannot withstand the inclusion of a powerful heater in the network or other electrical appliances.

For a bolted connection, it is necessary to prepare a bolt, washers one more than the number of conductors to be connected, and a nut. When creating a contact, the cores are prepared in the same way as before welding or soldering. One condition - the length of the stripped core should be enough for 3-4 single windings around the bolt.

First, a washer is put on, then the core of the conductor is wound, then again the washer, again the core of the second conductor, again the washer, etc. When the cores of all the conductors are wound, the last washer is put on and all this is fixed with a nut. The key will have to tighten the connection well to ensure good contact. The resulting node must be isolated.

Another simple and inexpensive way is screw connections. They are made using terminal blocks. Moreover, the length of the section to be cleaned from insulation to a shine depends on the model of the device and the cross section of the conductor.

Image Gallery

The PPE cap is easy to put on, as if it is wound over the twisting of the cores. It is important to buy an original analogue, not to be tempted by a cheap fake

Bolted connection allows you to create a contact of conductors from different materials, and the diameter here does not play a fundamental difference

Screw terminal blocks are inexpensive, they can be cut into the required number of cells, but they are not suitable for stranded conductors

PPE cap is easy to put on

Bolted connection

Screw terminals are inexpensive

Terminal block with pressure plate

The easiest option is self-clamping devices or. They create a secure contact and are easy to use. Another advantage is their reusability. Even a person who is very far from electrical installation can remove and reinstall WAGO.

Which option to give preference?

In order to choose the right method of implementation, you should take into account the peculiarities of your situation, assess the volume of future work and your skills. If a we are talking about replacing a chandelier, it makes no sense to study the intricacies of welding and buy a welding machine. Here you can spend money on buying original German WAGO terminal blocks.

When there is a full-scale repair of an apartment or house with the replacement of wiring, it is more expedient to use the welding method here. If you do not have the skills to work with this equipment, then you can practice doing high-quality crimping and create all the contacts yourself.

Junction boxes often use screw or. But there is one caveat - they should be tightened periodically. Therefore, you need to arrange the boxes in such a way as to provide easy access to them for revision.

One-piece clamps for disposable use. If you need to break the connection and create a new one, you will have to cut off the old contact node

It is extremely dangerous to use ordinary twisting and, as before, winding electrical tape on top. Moreover, this option is prohibited by electrical installation rules.

Technical nuances of the main types of connection

Each of the popular types of creating contacts has its own characteristics. So, twisting can only connect single-core conductors from the same material.

If you have to create a contact with stranded wires, then you need to use special tips here - they compress a bunch of small wires. After installing the lug, the conductor can be connected to the terminal without a clamping plate.

To make a reliable connection, stranded wires must be pressed with a special ferrule

The connection of wires in the junction box requires special care in execution. Not only the reliable operation of electrical appliances, but also the safety of the premises depends on how correctly the work is done.

Wires from the electrical panel are distributed to separate rooms of the apartment or house. Moreover, in each room there is usually not one, but several connection points (sockets and switches). To standardize the joining of conductors and concentrate them in one place, junction boxes are used (their other names are: "junction" or "branching"). The boxes contain cables from all consumer devices.

The wires in the box are not laid randomly, but in accordance with clear rules prescribed in the Electrical Installation Rules (PUE). According to the requirements of the PUE, all wire connections in the box, as well as branches, are carried out only inside the junction box. Conductors are guided along the top of the wall, but no closer than 15 centimeters from the ceiling. When the cable reaches the branch, it descends strictly vertically. At the site of the branch is a junction box. The connections in it are made according to the existing scheme.

Junction boxes are classified according to the type of installation. There are internal junction boxes and external ones. A niche is provided for flush-mounted boxes in the wall. Only the cover remains on the surface, which is installed flush with the finishing material. It is allowed to cover the cover with decorative panels. If the thickness of the walls or other circumstances do not allow the installation of an internal junction box, it is mounted directly on the wall.

The junction box can be rectangular or round. The number of pins is usually four, but in some cases there are additional pins. Each outlet is equipped with a fitting or thread to secure the corrugated hose. The presence of such a hose or plastic pipe greatly facilitates the process of laying and replacing wires. To replace the wires, it will be enough to disconnect the hose or pipe from the junction box and the consumer, and then pull it out. After replacing the conductors, the hose is returned to its place. If the wires are located in the strobe, you will need to break the layer of plaster, which is much more laborious.

The use of junction boxes entails the following positive results:

The maintainability of the power supply system is increased. Since all connections are easily accessible, it is much easier to find the damaged area.
The vast majority of faults are found at the joints. Since all connections are concentrated in one place, it is easier to carry out routine inspections.
Thanks to junction boxes, the degree of fire safety increases.
Using junction boxes saves money and reduces labor costs when laying cables.

Ways of connecting conductors

There are many options for connecting wires in a junction box. The choice of a particular method depends on the following factors:

the material from which the cores are made (steel, copper, aluminum);
conditions environment(street / indoor, work in the ground or water, etc.);
number of wires;
matches or mismatches of the cross section of the cores.

Based on these parameters, the most appropriate method is selected.

The following methods of connecting wires in the junction box are used:

terminal blocks;
Wago spring terminals;
self-insulating clamps (PPE, or plastic caps);
twist;
crimping with sleeves;
soldering;
"nuts";
bolted connections.

Below we consider the features of each of these methods.

Terminal blocks

Terminals are devices made of plastic, inner part which contains a brass bushing. There are screws on both sides of the bushing.

To connect the wires to each other, you need to insert a conductor on each side of the terminal block and fix them tightly with screws. The indicated method of docking is most common in junction boxes, as well as during installation. lighting fixtures, sockets and switches.

Note! The inlet holes of the terminal blocks differ in diameter depending on the cross section of the conductors intended for them.

Advantages of the method:

low cost of terminal blocks;
simplicity and convenience of installation work;
reliability of conductor fixation;
the ability to connect incompatible materials such as copper and aluminum.

Disadvantages of the method:

The pads offered for sale are often of low quality, which is detected during docking and forces the product to be rejected.
Only two wires are allowed.
Terminal blocks are not suitable for aluminum or stranded wires, as aluminum is brittle and stranded conductor strands are too thin.
Although the method is reliable, a better connection can be obtained, for example, by soldering.

Terminals Wago

Wago spring terminal blocks are one of the most popular devices used when connecting wires.

Unlike standard terminal blocks, in Wago docking is carried out not with screws, but with the help of a special mechanism. The device is equipped with a lever that allows you to fix the conductor, while maintaining its integrity. Before using Wago, you need to remove the insulating layer. Next, the wires are sent to the shoe hole.

Note! There are both disposable and reusable pads on the market. Disposable mounts mean that they can only be used once, and if the wire is replaced, the pads become unusable. Reusable terminals are more expensive, but they can be easily removed and then reused for their intended purpose.

Advantages of Wago spring pads:

It is possible to connect both conductors from one metal, and dissimilar materials.
There is the possibility of joining multiple cores (three or more).
When fixing stranded conductors, thin conductors do not break.
The pads are small in size.
Working with pads does not take too much time, the process is not labor-intensive.
The fastening is of high quality.
The block has a hole for an indicator screwdriver to control the functioning of the electrical network.

Wago has one drawback - the high cost of products.

Self-Isolating Clamps (PPE)

A self-insulating clamp (or a connecting insulating clamp) is a plastic cap, inside of which there is a special spring for fixing the wire.

The advantages of PPE include the following characteristics:

Low cost.
Products are made of non-combustible plastic, therefore, there is no danger of spontaneous combustion of electrical wiring at the docking point.
Easy installation.
A wide variety of color shades, which allows you to mark the phase, zero and ground with colors.

The disadvantages of PPE include:

low fixing and insulating qualities;
impossibility of application for connection of aluminum and copper conductors.

Crimping with sleeves

Connecting wires in a junction box using sleeves is considered a method that ensures high quality splicing. The essence of the technique is to place the stripped cores in a special tube (sleeve), which is then subjected to crimping by compression. Next, the sleeve is processed with an insulating material, for which a heat shrink tube or ordinary electrical tape is used. Wires can be inserted both from both ends of the tube, and from only one end. In the first case, the joint will be located in the middle part of the sleeve, in the second case it is necessary that the total transverse section lived was no more than the section of the sleeve.

Benefits of pressing:

The connection is of high quality and reliable insulation.
Affordable prices for sleeves.

Disadvantages of pressing:

The sleeve cannot be replaced after it has been removed - this is a one-time mount.
The connection will require the use of a specialized tool (crimping tongs, pipe cutter).
Crimping aluminum and copper wires is possible only with the help of a specially designed sleeve.
The work is labor intensive.

Soldering

The connection by soldering is considered the highest quality of all possible. Before docking, it is necessary to clean the conductors well. Next, the bare ends are processed with molten solder, after which the cores are immersed in the bath. When the cores have cooled, insulating material (cambric or electrical tape) is applied to them.

Note! The cooling process should not take place in cold weather, because as a result of too rapid cooling, the material will be covered with microcracks, which will greatly impair the quality of the fixing of the conductors.

As already mentioned, the main advantage of soldering is the unsurpassed quality of the connection.

Disadvantages of the technique:

A specialized tool is required, as well as skills in handling it.
The job requires a lot of work.
The connection is one-piece, that is, one-time.
There are restrictions on the use of soldering, which are detailed in the PUE.
Over time, soldering resistance increases, which affects the form of voltage losses and electrical conductivity.

Thus, despite the reliability of the docking, specialists rarely turn to soldering.

Welding is sometimes used instead of soldering. The essence of this method is the same as in the case of soldering. The only difference is the need for different skills, namely the ability to work with a welding machine.

Twisting

Connecting wires in a junction box using the most primitive method - twisting - is not used so often due to significant limitations: poor bonding quality and the impossibility of joining aluminum and copper conductors. However, twisting is still sometimes found, since it is attractive for its ease of implementation, as well as the absence of financial costs. Most often, twisting is used when laying temporary electrical wiring. It is recommended to use cambric as an insulating material.

Note! Twisting is not allowed in rooms with high humidity, as well as in wooden buildings.

Clamp type "nut"

"Nutlet" is a cable clamp with two plates and four bolts in the corners. Before connecting, the insulation is removed from the wires. Further, the conductors are fixed in the plate and covered with a carbolite sheath.

Nut Benefits:

Low costs.
Installing the "nut" is not very difficult.
Connection of dissimilar materials (aluminum and copper) is possible.
Quality insulation.

The disadvantages of the method:

Fasteners loosen over time and need to be tightened regularly.
"Nut" is not the best way to mount in the junction box due to the excessive dimensions of the connection.

Bolted connection

Bolted connection - very simple, but effective method connecting conductors to each other. To do the job, you only need a bolt, three washers and a nut. The wiring diagram in the junction box with a bolt is shown in the picture below.

A washer is threaded onto the bolt thread. Next, the core is wound (previously, the insulation should be removed). After that, the thread is laid with a second washer and another core. At the end, a third washer is placed, which is pressed with a nut. The connection must be covered with insulating material.

Bolted connection has the following advantages:

low cost;
ease of implementation;
the possibility of joining copper and aluminum products.

Disadvantages of joining conductors with bolts:

Poor fixation quality.
You will need a lot of insulating material.
The bolt is too large and may not fit in the junction box.

Solving other problems

The connection of stranded wires has a number of features.

Connecting multiple wires

Above, the options for connecting two contacts were considered. If we are talking about docking multiple contacts, it is recommended to choose among the following options (in order of priority - from better way for the worse):

Wago terminal blocks;
sleeve crimping;
soldering;
twists;
insulating tape.

The rules for docking in the indicated ways, as well as their advantages and disadvantages, are discussed above.

Docking lived with different sections

To combine conductors of unequal cross-section in a junction box, you will need Wago terminal blocks, although you can get by with standard terminal blocks - the latter option will be cheaper. In this case, it is necessary to firmly fix the cores with a screw or lever.

Note! If the wires not only have different cross-sections, but are also made from various metals, you will need special pads, inside of which there is a special composition to prevent oxidative processes. Similar pads are available in the Wago range.

Cores with different cross-sections can also be fixed by soldering.

Splicing of stranded and solid conductors

The combination of conductors with one and many cores is carried out in the same way as all the others. In this regard, you can choose any of the above methods, but the highest priority is soldering or terminals (preferably Wago).

The procedure for carrying out work in land and water

It is not uncommon that there is a need to lay electrical wiring underground or under water. Let us briefly dwell on the features of performing electrical work in these conditions.

Wires can be laid in water, for example, during installation submersible pump. In this case, you need to solder the ends of the wires. Next, the connection is processed with insulating material (hot-melt adhesive), and heat shrink is put on top. If the technology is followed, the joint will turn out to be very reliable and safe. However, carelessness should be allowed, and the matter will end in a short circuit.

Ground wiring is protected in the same way as described above, however a more advanced technique can be used to obtain a secure connection. The ends of the cable should be pressed with a terminal block, and the sealed junction box should be filled with silicone. It is recommended to place an underground highway in a durable box or pipe to prevent acts of sabotage by rodents. Damaged cable ends are best spliced with sleeves.

Basic wiring diagrams

Above, we talked in sufficient detail about how to connect the wires in the junction box. However, the work is not limited to connecting wires in the junction box. You also need to connect the wires to sockets and switches.

Connecting sockets

A group of outlets is usually separated into an independent line. There are three wires in the box, each of which has a color inherent in its purpose. Brown is usually phase, blue is zero, and green/yellow is ground. In some cases other colors are used. For example, phase is red, zero is blue, ground is green.

The wires before laying are laid out in full length and cut so that they have the same length. It is necessary to have 10-12 centimeters of stock - just in case. The connection of conductors is carried out by one of the methods described above.

If only a pair of wires is involved (where ground is not used), then we are talking about a neutral and a phase. If the conductors are of the same color, you first need to find the phase using a multimeter. For convenience, it is better to mark the phase wire with electrical tape or a marker.

Connecting a one-button switch

In the case of the switch, there are also three groups, but the connection is made a little differently. There are three inputs: from the junction box or electrical panel, from the lighting fixture, from the switch. The phase wire is connected to the switch button. From the output of the switch, the wire is directed to the lamp. In this case, the lighting device will work only when the contacts of the switch are closed.

Connecting a two-button switch

AT two-gang switches the scheme is somewhat more complex. A three-wire cable must go to the switch that serves two groups of lighting fixtures (if earth is not used). One conductor is intended for the common contact of the switch, the remaining two are directed to the exit of the buttons. The phase is combined with the common contact of the switch. Zero wires from the input and two groups of lighting fixtures are connected. Phase wires from lighting devices and two conductors from the switch are combined in pairs: one - from the switch to the phase of one of the lamps, the second - from the switch to another lamp.

Any man strives to ensure that the electricity supply in own house or apartment was of high quality, uninterrupted and reliable. Therefore, when carrying out electrical work during construction or repair, it is necessary to correctly connect the electrical wires. But in everyday life, you still have to face problems when light wire broken, the outlet stopped working. Of course, if you have basic knowledge of electrical engineering and the ability to carry out electrical work, it is easy to eliminate all these malfunctions on your own.

The connection of conductors made of different metals must be carried out with the obligatory consideration of all the properties of the material from which they are made. Currently, copper, aluminum and steel are used to transmit electrical energy. Each of these metals has different density, electrical conductivity and resistance, which are taken into account when creating a good electrical contact. It is also necessary to take into account the magnitude of the electrochemical potential that occurs when a current is applied to a metal.

Therefore, if the aluminum and copper conductors are not connected correctly, there may be serious problems faced by many specialists who repair wiring in apartments. Previously used in homes copper wires, which, in terms of electrical performance, far exceeded aluminum ones. And at present use of copper conductors faded into the background.

Aluminum, having a high level of oxidation, forms a specific film when combined, which has a rather big electrical resistance . This property is manifested especially in a humid environment. The same film is formed in copper, only its resistance is much less. Therefore, due to this difference in resistance, the direct connection of these metals leads to difficulty in electrical conductivity. BUT oxidative processes lead to sparking, heating and ignition of wires.

Ways of safe contact

To create a reliable contact of electrical wires, there are several ways both with the use of special equipment and with the use of improvised means.

Types of wire connection:

Twisting (twisting) is the most common method, the use of which is desirable for a temporary connection.
Welding is the most reliable method that provides excellent conductor contact. Requires welding equipment and certain skills to carry out the work.
Soldering - has excellent connection performance, but requires compliance with the temperature regime (not higher than 65℃).
Terminal blocks are a fairly simple and reliable connection.
Connecting wires with clamps - subject to the operating conditions, allows you to get excellent contact. Installs very quickly.
Crimping with sleeves - requires special tongs and knowledge of installation technology, but the method is very reliable.
Bolted connection - used in difficult situations, easy to perform and does not require special devices.

When choosing the type of connection, it is necessary to take into account: the material of the conductive part; wire section; number of conductors; type of insulation; terms of Use. Most often, the selection of the type of connection is carried out at the place of work.

This technological operation is common to all methods of connecting conductors. Before combining the wires into a common electrical unit, it is necessary to strip them of the insulation layer.

The easiest way to do this work is with a fitter's knife, but in this case there is a possibility of damage to the conductive core. To avoid this, you need:

Lay the wire on the table surface.
Press it with the index finger of the left hand.
Holding the knife in your right hand, cut the insulation. In this case, it is necessary to direct the blade at an angle to the cut so as not to damage the core. Otherwise, the conductor may break.
With your left hand finger, twist the conductor one turn to cut the insulation.
Remove the cut piece of the insulating sheath.

Experienced electricians have a multifunctional tool in their arsenal - a stripper, which is designed for cutting cables and stripping insulation. This device does not damage the core when removing insulation from a conductor of any section, as it has a special calibrated recess for the desired wire diameter.

The length of the insulation stripping is selected in accordance with the method of connecting the conductors.

The simplest and most well-known method of connecting electrical wires is their twisting (twisting). Experienced electricians often call it the grandfather method.

Previously, this type of connection was used everywhere, but with an increase in the load in the electrical network modern apartment twisting is prohibited. However, this connection method must be studied first of all, since it is the main step in soldering and welding wires.

The main advantage of twisting is the absence of any material costs, since you only need pliers and a stripping knife. And of course, the advantage of twisting is the simplicity of its execution. Any person holding pliers in their hands can do this job without any problems.

Over time, the twist weakens, which is its main disadvantage. This process is connected with the fact that in any veins there is a residual elastic deformation. Therefore, at the place of twisting, the contact resistance increases, which leads to a weakening of the contact and heating of the conductor. It is good if this defect is discovered in time and the docking point can be redone, but fire may occur.

But if for some reason you do not have the opportunity to apply more reliable ways, then you definitely need to familiarize yourself with how to properly connect the wires to each other by twisting. To do this, you must first strip the wires from insulation by 70-80 mm. Then, holding both conductors in the place where the insulation ends, grab the ends of the cores with pliers and rotate them clockwise. chief the condition for reliable twisting is the simultaneous rotation of the conductors, and not alternately winding them on top of each other.

If the diameter of the wires is small, then the twisting can be done completely by hand. With your left hand, you need to hold the conductors along the cut of the insulation, and with your right hand, rotate the bend (10-15 mm) of the cores clockwise. For tighter contact at the end of the rotation, you can use pliers.

The next step is to isolate the junction of the wires. For this, insulating tape is used. To ensure reliability and protect contact from moisture, you need to wind the tape in several layers, while stepping on the wire insulation by 2-3 cm. A very good option for conducting insulation is the use of thermal pipes, the main thing is not to forget to put it on one of the cores.

Professional electricians advise not to stop at the stage of twisting the wires, but to strengthen the docking point by soldering or welding.

How to connect wires by soldering

The type of connection in which electric wires joining together with molten solder is called soldering. This method is best applicable to wires with copper conductors, but the use of special fluxes allows you to get a high-quality joint and other metals.

The advantages of using soldering:

in terms of reliability, this type of joining of wires is second only to welding;
allows you to connect both single-core and multi-core wires, as well as cores with different sections;
maintenance of the contact point for the entire period of operation is not required;
low cost of work (flux and solder are inexpensive).

The disadvantage of soldering is considered to be a rather high labor intensity. The surfaces to be soldered must be pre-cleaned from oxides and tinned before twisting the wires.

An electrician must have a certain qualification and be able to use a soldering iron, because in the process of work it is necessary to strictly observe temperature regime. A weakly heated or overheated contact point loses its reliability and strength.

The soldering process looks like this:

The insulation is removed from the conductors by 40-50 mm.
Areas of bare veins are cleaned well with sandpaper.
Wires are being tinned. To do this, a heated soldering iron is dipped into rosin and held several times with a sting over the cleaned surfaces.
The wires are twisted.
Soldered on the tip of the soldering iron, we warm up the twist. In this case, molten tin should fill all the gaps between the turns.
After cooling, the solder is wiped with alcohol and insulated.

To create the most reliable connection of conductors after twisting, they are additionally fixed by welding. The technology for making such a contact is very similar to soldering, only here a welding machine is used instead of a soldering iron.

In terms of quality and reliability, the welding method fully meets all regulatory requirements for creating electrical contact.

When creating a connection by welding, the conductors are twisted, and their tip is welded. The resulting ball of metal provides a very reliable joint of wires. At the same time, reliability is due not only to the creation of high electrical characteristics, but also mechanical ones.

The main disadvantage of this type of wire connection is the presence of a welding machine and devices for such work. In addition, it is required to strictly observe the rules of working at height and fire safety.

The sequence of welding wires:

We release the conductors from insulation by 60-70 mm.
We clean the veins mechanically (sandpaper).
We make twisting of wires, and its length should be at least 50 mm.
We fix the welding ground contact on top of the twist.
We lightly touch the twist from below with the electrode. Wire welding is very fast.
After the contact ball has cooled down, we insulate it.

As a result of such actions, an almost solid conductor is obtained, and the contact assembly will have the lowest contact resistance.

For such a connection of conductors, special copper or aluminum sleeves are required, which are selected in accordance with the size of the bundle diameter. The material of the sleeves is desirable to use the same as that of the conductor.

Wires are stripped to the length of the sleeve, twisted and placed in a tube. Then, with the help of special pliers, the connection is pressed and isolated.

There are sleeves-tubes for lengthening the conductors, that is, for their longitudinal fastening. Wires are inserted into such sleeves from different sides of the tube, then crimped separately.

bolt method

Such a connection is used in electrical circuits with increased voltage. Its use is suitable for switching almost any core.

a washer is put on the bolt;
first conductor;
next puck;
second conductor;
puck again;
screw.

Then the assembled knot is tightened by hand, and then pressed with a key or pliers.

Modern industry has mastered the production of special wire connectors, which have greatly facilitated work and accelerated switching work:

Caps with built-in compression spring. Stripped wires are inserted into such a cap and rotated clockwise. With this action, the wires are reliably squeezed inside.
Terminal blocks, which have tubular brass sleeves inside. Bare conductors are inserted into these sleeves and clamped with screws.
Self-clamping terminals automatically fix the stripped wire with a special plate.
Lever terminals are considered reusable devices. Fixation of the conductor is provided by raising and lowering the lever.

Remember that the connection of wires must always be made on de-energized electrical networks. Without knowledge of electrical engineering, better holding work involving hazardous voltage, entrust to specialists.