Methods for connecting wires to each other. An overview of how to connect electrical wires

Today, there are many ways to connect wires in a junction box.

Here are some factors that determine the choice of connector:

Core material (copper or aluminium).
Working conditions (outdoors, in an apartment, in water, in the ground, in the floor, normal conditions).
Number of conductors (two, three, four, etc.).
The cross section of the veins (the same, different).
Core structure (single-wire or multi-wire).

Based on these factors, the most appropriate and correct method is selected. To begin with, consider the materials with which you can connect electrical wires in a junction box.

Existing methods

The following connection options are considered the most popular and effective:

use of terminal blocks;
installation of spring terminals (wago);
fixation with PPE (plastic caps);
sleeve crimping;
soldering;
twist;
installation of "nuts";
use of bolts.

Consider the essence, advantages and disadvantages of each method!

Installing PPE caps

PPE stands for connecting insulating clamps. Products are ordinary plastic caps with a special spring inside, which holds the wires.

Most often, such caps are used to connect cores in junction boxes.

Benefits of using these products:

low cost of PPE;
the caps are made of non-combustible material, so there will be no twisting at the place;
fast installation;
caps have a wide range of color shades. For example, if the wires do not have, you can mark with the help of PPE (using a white, blue and green cap).

Flaws:

relatively poor quality of insulation and fixation;
it is impossible to combine aluminum with copper.

Crimping with special sleeves

Twisting and insulation

The old "grandfather" method consists in twisting the cores together. The essence of the work is that the conductors are stripped and carefully twisted with pliers, after which the place of twisting is isolated.

Advantages:

ease of electrical work;
no material costs.

Flaws:

poor quality of fastening lived;
connection of aluminum and copper products is unacceptable.

We figured out the existing methods of connecting wires in the box, now we will consider the remaining, important issues of this topic.

What if there are several wires?

When bonding two contacts, problems usually do not arise. But what if you need to combine three, four or more at the same time?

using wago terminal blocks;
sleeve crimping;
soldering;
twisting using sizov;
twisting and winding with electrical tape.

The order of connecting the wires for each of the methods we discussed in detail above. We strongly recommend that you use the first option, because. it is one of the most modern and efficient. At the same time, the cost of the vag is not too high, and the wiring has been serving for more than 30 years.

What to do if the conductors are of different sections?

To connect conductors of different cross-sections in a junction box, it is recommended to use all the same terminal blocks of the car, or a cheaper option - ordinary terminal blocks. In this case, it is necessary to carefully tighten the wires with a screw or fix with a flag, and that's all, the work is over.

Please note that if the wires are made of different materials, then it is necessary to use special pads with paste inside, which will prevent the wires from oxidizing. These pads include wago products.

Also, conductors of different sections can be fixed by soldering.

Combining stranded and solid wires

Connecting single-core and stranded wires separately does not have any features, so you can use any of the methods listed above.

In order to carry out bonding, it is necessary to choose one of two options: car terminals or soldering. It all depends on your preference, the advantages and disadvantages of each method we have provided.

How to work in water and land

During electrical work, a situation often occurs when it is necessary to fasten electrical wiring under water or in the ground. Now we will briefly consider the features of each of the cases!

In water (for example, when installing a submersible pump), it is recommended to use the following technology. To begin with, the ends are soldered, after which the soldering point is carefully insulated with hot-melt adhesive, over which it is put on. If everything is done efficiently and conscientiously, the joint will be tight and safe. Otherwise, power outage may also occur.

To connect an electrical wire in the ground (for example, after it has been mechanically damaged), it is recommended to use the method provided above (hot glue and heat shrink), but it is better to protect yourself and use the following method. Clamp the ends of the cable with a terminal block, install a sealed junction box, and then carefully fill the box with a special silicone sealant. We draw your attention to the fact that the underground track must be additionally placed in a pipe or box in order to ensure reliable!

The most important elements of any electrical network are the connection points of the wires. The reliability and durability of the electrical network depends on the quality and correctness of these works. Unfortunately, such low-quality work cannot be diagnosed, the shortcomings appear when the system is loaded. At the same time, a poor-quality connection begins to warm up and this often leads to a fire, which is far from always possible to localize.

This review describes the main types of wire connection with a photo, their classification and application.

Regulatory documents

There are many ways to connect wires. Their use or prohibition is regulated by the current rules for the installation of electrical installations (PUE), which are approved by the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation. They must not conflict with the current document.

The regulatory framework is adjusted over time, as there is a steady increase in electricity consumption and some types of connections do not provide the reliability required in modern conditions. For example, in accordance with the current rules, twisting without additional fixation, which was widely used earlier, cannot be used, since there are better and no less affordable modern technologies.

In order to determine how best to connect the wires, it is necessary to study all available technologies, determine their advantages and disadvantages. First of all, they are classified according to the need for additional skills to carry out the work. They do not require fastening using terminals, various spring clips, bolts and PPE caps.

Each solution has its own advantages and disadvantages. First of all, they differ in ease and reliability of installation. In general terms, we can say that quickly made contacts using various terminals and clamps can weaken over time and lead to accidents. High-quality contacts made using sleeves, soldering or welding require more time and are not disassembled.

Thus, reliability is directly proportional to the complexity. Before connecting the wires with your own hands, you should read the instructions. It should be noted that in all works, preliminary cleaning of materials from the oxide film is required.

Specifications of the various options

Let's take a closer look at wiring methods that require additional tools. They allow you to get reliable connections designed for high currents.

Soldering

This type of connection of electrical wires is widespread. Most often it is used for copper conductors. To do this, you need a soldering iron, tin and rosin. The tip is wetted with a small amount of molten solder, which is then transferred to the twist when it is heated. Residues of rosin evaporate when heated. Before soldering several cores, it makes sense to tin each of them separately.

Such solutions are very convenient to use for conductors of small diameter, both single-core and with a large number of cores. Work should be done as quickly as possible so as not to melt the plastic insulation. Aluminum can also be joined in this way, but this requires a special flux and solder.

Welding

Welding withstands high currents and has mechanical strength. So you can connect both copper and aluminum. It is very suitable for large diameter veins. They are twisted into one bundle, and using a welding machine, a large current is passed through it, which melts the metal at the end of the twist.

In order to get a neat contact, you must first practice and select the parameters of the welding equipment. This can be done using unnecessary trimmings. It is necessary to melt the metal without damaging the insulation.

Crimping

Crimping is performed using sleeves and a special tool. They are made of copper and aluminum. This operation is quite simple, but requires the selection of sleeves of the right size and a special tool to compress them.

The work is quite simple: the cores are folded into a bundle, inserted into the sleeve and crimped in several places. It can withstand large current. The biggest difficulty lies in the selection of sleeves of the desired diameter: they should not be too large or small.

Twisting

As described above, this method cannot be used without additional fixation. Since it does not allow you to create a reliable contact. Twisting is used in combination with soldering, welding, crimping or the use of PPE. Before fixing, the wires are twisted.

The three methods described provide for their subsequent electrical isolation. To do this, use insulating tape for electrical work or heat shrink tubing. They are made of a polymeric material, which allows, when heated, to reduce their diameter by several times.

Products of various nomenclature are produced. First of all, it is necessary to highlight the need to use light-resistant materials outdoors. For shrinkage, it is best to use an industrial hair dryer or gently heat the polymer tube with a soldering iron.

For reliability, after installing the first tube, mount a second tube of a larger diameter. After shrinkage, the material must securely close the ends of the contact.

The following solutions require no additional tooling and make it easy to make the correct wiring at an entry-level skill level.

Terminal blocks

Previously, they were widely used due to their low cost and reliability. On it you can connect wires of different sections. They can be copper or aluminum, can consist of one or many strands. They are clamped with screws on the terminal block.

The disadvantage is that they are connected only in pairs. For a larger number of connections, special jumpers are required. There are other options for easier connection.

Connecting insulating clips

One of them is the use of PPE caps. This is a plastic cap inside which a metal spring is installed. It is wound onto a bundle, twisting them, plastic serves as electrical insulation. Such contact is very reliable. There is a domestic development of the KZT company, which is put on directly on the twist.

Wago clamps

This type of connection conquered the market with its convenience and ease of use. They connect all kinds of conductors. Clips are issued on various number of connections.

The disadvantage is that there is a spring in the design, which can weaken over time, which can lead to an accident and fire. Therefore, you should purchase only original, branded products.

Bolted fasteners

This type of fastening is classic, it allows you to connect copper with aluminum. Consists of a bolt with a nut and three washers. It can be made independently in the absence of other connectors.

Conclusion

The choice of how best to connect the wires depends on their type, budget and time. If you follow the rules of the PUE, then you can make safe and reliable contacts that will last for many years. It should be remembered that in any case, these works must be carried out as carefully and prudently as possible, without haste.

Photo of the wire connection process

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 knowing how to connect wires reliably and correctly. It will seem to an ignorant person - well, what nonsense, twisted it somehow and it's ready. But no! So we'll talk about the correct connection of wires for different cases of installing 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 when installing internal networks of buildings, and even now it is not abandoned.

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.

Ring terminals, only large sizes (1.25 - 3А.О, 1.25 - 3YS.U, etc.), are used to connect wires 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 many wires must be connected at once. For example, you can easily connect aluminum and copper wires.

They come in different types and sizes, made of 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 of non-combustible polyamide material.
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 hand-operated PMU pliers, and for a quality connection, use GA, GM, GAM, GML sleeves.

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 are different models of 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!

Cut the cable at an angle so that the end is tapered rather than blunt. Leave the wire closest to the cut point about 7-8 cm longer than the other two wires. Straighten the stiff wire and make a small loop at the end.

Pass the wire through the loop and wrap it around the stiff wire. Start winding tape around the cable, over the connection. Wrap the tape tightly in a spiral until you slide it over the wires. Each successive winding overlaps the previous one, making it less likely that the edge of the tape will catch on something when you pull it over obstacles. The copper wire is not as stiff, so it will most likely come loose from the connection in the style shown, so this method should not be used with it.

Connection of two flexible wires

If you are using copper wire as a fishing tool, use a Western Union connection. Start with two L's, then wrap each wire around the other without looping them around. The recording step is the same for both methods.

How to connect wires correctly: 4 main ways

Methods for connecting wires are regulated by the Electrical Installation Rules. According to their latest revision, the following options can be used for connection:

soldering;
welding;
crimping;
compress.

Nevertheless, many electricians still use one of the most common connection methods - twisting. According to the current rules, it is not a complete process, it must be followed by soldering, welding or clamping. Further soldering method is not given.

How to choose a wire connection method

The choice of the optimal option depends not only on the personal preferences of the master, but also on a number of other factors. For example, when combining aluminum and copper, it is important to consider the possible oxidation process. Also, not all methods are suitable for a large number of wires in the connection. It also influences the load in the circuit, the cross section and number of cores, etc.

Connection of wires by welding

Compared to soldering, welding is an even more reliable connection method, but it is rarely used as a household method, as it requires a welding machine, personal protective equipment and welding skills.

The welding technique is approximately the same as in the case of soldering, but before the procedure, it is necessary to take the free ends of the two strands, straighten them and press them parallel to each other so that the melt ball is better formed.

The welding area must cool down naturally before the insulation is applied. Lowering the wire into cold water leads to the appearance of microcracks.

The disadvantages of the method include:

high cost of equipment;
the need for relevant skills;
time costs.

Connection pressure testing

Crimping ensures high-quality installation and reliable insulation. For this method, special tubular sleeves are used, which are selected in size depending on the cross section of the wire. Connecting wires in this way requires a crimping tool: pliers or a crimping press.

After cutting the wire, that is, removing the insulation and stripping the ends, quartz-vaseline paste is applied to the cores, the connector is put on and crimped. Wires can be inserted both from opposite and from one side. When using a high-quality and professional tool, you can crimp the wire at a time. After that, the usual isolation of the junction is performed.

Among the disadvantages of the method can be noted:

the impossibility of using the connector repeatedly, as it is deformed during crimping;
connecting copper and aluminum wire in this way is possible only when using a special sleeve, which is difficult to find on sale;
takes quite a lot of time.

Connecting wires with a clamp

Wire compression can be done in various ways, some of which are more preferable, others less so.

Connecting insulating clamps resemble crimping sleeves, with the difference that inside they have a steel wire coiled into a spiral, which protects the wires from oxidation and presses them tightly together. The connections are technologically advanced, in addition, you can use clips of different colors if the wires are not color-coded in order to mark zero, phase and ground.

The use of clamps is limited by the number of connected wires: they are suitable for two wires with a cross section of 4 mm2 or four with a cross section of 1.5 mm2. Over time, the spring weakens, due to which the resistance increases and voltage losses occur in the network. It is impossible to combine wires from different materials with this connection method.

Using a short bolt, three washers, a nut and electrical tape, you can quickly and cost-effectively connect wires of any material, but the junction is very cumbersome, so this option cannot be used in a junction box.

Screw terminals are convenient for connecting lamps, sockets and switches. They allow you to connect copper and aluminum wires without additional insulation. The disadvantages include the need to maintain connections: the screws need to be tightened periodically.

Using modern terminal blocks is the easiest, fastest and most convenient way to connect wires of any type. Due to their small size, they are easily placed in a junction box, there are different options for blocks for wires with different sections. They provide high quality connections and high installation speed. Of the minuses, one can note the possibility of poor quality pads, which may cause network disturbances. Working with them requires care and attention to avoid damaging the wires.

When choosing any of the listed options, you must ensure the safety and reliability of the electrical network. It is very important that all wire connections, regardless of the method of their joint, be provided with convenient access for inspection and maintenance during operation.

Wire connection methods

Hello dear readers! This article will describe the different ways of wires, their pros and cons. The most important thing when wiring is to comply with safety rules and PUE (Electrical Installation Rules). 1. Twist. The most common wire connection. Fast and cheap. It is required to remove the insulation and twist the wires into a bundle with pliers. The twist is of high quality, if its length is at least 5 cm, the cores fit snugly together and are not damaged. But this kind of connection in this form contradicts the rules, different from the ones below. But we are all human and we all break something.

2. Welding. This is a combined version of the same twist, but boiled at the end. This type of twisting is suitable for the norms, and can be used for electrical installation. Welding can be done using a low voltage transformer, or a low current inverter. In this case, a graphite rod acts as an electrode.

3. Screw terminals type ZVI 20. A short twist is made, after which a clamp is put on it. The clamp has two screws that compress the cores together and press them to the body. But as with any screw connection, the fixation may loosen over time and the screws will need to be tightened. Such a connection is best used in unloaded circuits with free access to junction boxes.

First, let's define what a junction box is? It is a hollow polymer fixture, round, rectangular and square, with a cover and special cable entries. Used to connect conductors to each other.

Today, a variety of conductor connections are made. This diversity depends on various factors:

wire section;
core material (CU, AL);
number of conductors;
working conditions (temperature regime, climate).

Knowing all these factors, connections are selected in such a way as to comply with certain requirements for electrical and fire safety. In addition, you need to consider in what places such boxes with wired connections will be used:

dry rooms;
wet rooms;
especially raw.

To determine which connection method to choose under certain conditions, you need to refer to the PUE (Electrical Installation Rules). According to paragraph 2.1.21, from PUE-7 of the main document for electrical installation, all end connections of wires and cables must be carried out through:

sleeve crimping;
clamps (using a bolt, screw);
welding;
adhesions.

Connection of wires by crimping sleeves

Connecting wires using a sleeve with subsequent crimping is the most reliable method and has good electrical contact.

How to connect wires:

electrical wires of a certain length are stripped of insulation;

take a sleeve of the appropriate length and diameter;

lead bare wires into the sleeve;
crimp (press) the sleeve in two, three places with a special power tool (press - tongs);

apply an insulating material (heat shrink tube) to the sleeve.

If heat shrink tubing is not available, electrical tape can be used.

You must note that the sleeves are selected so that the diameter of the stranded wires corresponds to the internal diameter of the sleeve. It is not worth using a sleeve that is not the right size.

How to connect wires with clamps - walnut or bolt type

The most common way to connect wires is a Nut clamp. This clip got its name because of the external similarity to a walnut. They are produced in different sizes for connecting both thin and thick wires.

The interior of the "Nut" consists of two main and one intermediate metal plates. There are 4 screws on the edges of the plates. The plates themselves are placed in an insulated case made of carbolite, consisting of two parts.

The design feature of the "Nutlet" is that it is possible to connect aluminum and copper wires into one circuit, by means of an intermediate plate.

Bolted connections are also used to connect wires. For a certain section of wires, the size of the bolt is selected. For example, for a wire cross section of 1.5 - 4 mm², a bolt with a diameter of 6 mm is suitable, for a cross section of 6 - 10 mm², a bolt diameter of 8 mm, 16 - 35 mm² a diameter of 10 mm.

To connect aluminum to copper with a bolt, a washer is also used - a gasket.

After carefully compressing the wires with a nut, this connection is insulated.

Advantages:

low cost;
good insulation for "Nut"
you can connect aluminum wires with copper wires.

Flaws:

loosening of the threaded connection in the "Nutlet";
a lot of insulation for bolting;
Connection dimensions are suitable for large junction boxes.

One of the best ways to connect wires in a box is by welding. How is it all done?

To begin with, insulation is removed from the ends of the wires. Then the wires are twisted together. The ends are ready for welding.

Welding of wires is carried out with a special welding machine with a voltage of 12 - 36 V. The welding current is regulated depending on the cross section and the number of wires, from 70 to 120 A and the power of the device is enough 500 - 600 W. Work can also be carried out with an inverter welding machine.

For welding, I use special graphite electrodes for aluminum and graphite-copper electrodes for copper. Work is carried out in special glasses to protect the eyes from an electric arc.

One cable of the welding machine with a clamp or pliers is attached to the twist, and the second to the electrode holder (holder). The electrode is brought to the tip of the twist and when it is touched, contact occurs and an arc appears, with the help of which copper or aluminum wires are melted so that a drop appears. This is enough to make the most reliable contact.

The only drawback of such a connection is that when disconnecting the wires, if necessary, you will have to bite out the tip of the twist (the place of welding).

Soldering wires with solder

An equally wonderful option for connecting wires and ensuring good contact is using ordinary soldering. To use this method, you will need a little soldering skill with an electric soldering iron.

It is best to take a soldering iron with a power of 80 W or 100 W - this is what you need. With such a soldering iron, you can quickly warm up the place (twisting) where you will apply molten solder.

For soldering, solder grades POS-30, POS-40 are best suited. For such a solder, you will need rosin or flux of the SKF brand (alcohol-rosin flux), which is applied to the place of soldering before heating.

In addition to the material listed above, specialists use the so-called solder tube for soldering, inside which there is rosin. Such a tube is sold in almost every electrical store.

And so, for soldering wires, you will need inexpensive material and an electric soldering iron. Such a solder connection is a more affordable and simple way.

Connecting wires with terminals

One way or another, and the connection of wires with the help of twists will eventually sink into summer. And their place will be taken by those materials and devices that will meet the requirements of modernity and a more professional approach.

Today, more and more often began to use terminals for connecting wires. One of the nice features of the terminals is the quick connection of wires of different metals, which avoids direct contact between metals.

Existing requirements for terminals:

information about the allowable voltage;
information about the cross section of the core;
increased thermal stability;
reliable fixation of the wire core;
corrosion resistance.

Terminals are: knife, spring and screw.

Mainly used for grounding or grounding. They are convenient in that you do not need a power tool, you can quickly connect and disconnect the contact, and this saves time.

Gained great popularity. These terminals include products from WAGO. Using WAGO terminals you will get: simple and quick installation, reliable connection of conductors.

(terminal blocks) are housing cells, each of which contains a metal tube with screws.

Installation work with this type of terminal is not difficult, you just need a screwdriver to tighten or unscrew the screw that presses the bare core of the wire inside the tube.

What to do if there is such a need to connect the wires on the street, under the open sky?

Street connections are made different: with the help of a “nut”, a bolted connection, twisting. For some time, such connections do not show themselves badly in operation, but then the wire cores are oxidized, the bolted connection is loosened, and rust occurs. The problem starts.

It must be understood that such a connection will be negatively affected by precipitation, summer heat, and frost. To minimize such an impact and make a good connection, you first need to prepare a set of materials:

junction box IP65;
sleeves for crimping;
conductive paste;
heat-shrink adhesive tube.

Lead the cable or wire into the junction box. Put sleeves on bare wires using conductive paste and crimp.

If you have one aluminum wire and the other copper, then use copper-aluminum sleeves.

By exposing the tubes to high temperature, we plant the sleeves. To apply heat to the tubes, a gas burner, blowtorch or professional electric hair dryer is used.

After the thermotubes have cooled down, carefully put the finished connections into the box and close the box tightly with a lid.

Such a connection will provide you with high reliability for many, many years.

Conclusion

In this article, you looked at all types of correct wire connections that do not exist today. Choose the type of connection that suits your application.

Perhaps you will not be able to perform some types of installation work due to lack of skills, tools, or doubts about the correctness of your actions. Then resort to attracting a specialist who, by virtue of his experience, will do everything right.

Do not forget that the correct installation of electrical wiring is the key to your electrical and fire safety.