Brett Smyth, Managing Director of IDEAL Industries EMEA and APAC, discusses the benefits of innovative lever and push-in wire connectors for faster, easier and safer wire terminations.
It’s fair to say that tradespeople are working hard in the UK. According to research, the average tradesperson works between 41 and 50 hours per week, with a fifth working more than 50 hours per week. This is compared to the UK average of 36.4 hours worked by full-time professionals per week.
What’s more, the ongoing cost of living crisis is leaving tradespeople with no choice but to work longer hours and take on extra shifts in an effort to increase their level of income.
With electricians run off their feet, every little helps when it comes to completing jobs in a timely manner without compromising on quality. This is exactly where lever and push-in wire connectors come in handy, as even small-time gains on a single task like wire terminations can add up to substantial time savings over the length of an installation.
Simply strip, push and connect
Suitable for joining solid, stranded or flexible conductors, lever and push-in connectors deliver faster, easier and safer wire terminations, and offer a more cost-effective alternative to terminal blocks. They allow electricians to secure cables in place in mere seconds using a simple strip, push, connect action – with no screwdriver or crimping required.
Lever wire connectors are re-useable and allow the use of multiple wires of different sizes and types within the same lever connector. Depending on the application and type of cable, popular brands offer various connectors that are able to accommodate wire from 0.14 mm² to 6 mm².
Some push-in connectors are also available up to 6 mm2, but the wire range will differ between solid and stranded, so make sure the connector covers the appropriate range for the intended application.
Practical design features
Lever and push-in wire connectors offer several practical features and functionalities to guarantee consistent wire termination such as a clear window at the bottom of the connector to allow easy inspection, as well as a check port for testing, enabling full safety and consistency verification at the point of installation.
Other features to look out for include a wire strip guide that enables installers to check the stripping length required for the connector in question, so the correct length of insulation can been removed. If working with flexible wires, most levers require lifting before insertion, whereas for solid and rigid stranded, both lever and push-in connector types can simply be pushed in.
Most brands ensure that their connectors are designed for applications up to 32 A with a compact design allowing easier fitting in junction boxes and enclosures where space is often limited.
This is particularly true of applications such as lighting and access control installations, which often call for multiple conductors to fit into a tight space. Some push-in connectors go a step further, with a rating of up to 41 A available to cover applications that draw larger amounts of current, such as cookers and showers.
The right connector for every termination
Whilst lever connectors are normally available in two-, three- and five-wire models, push-in connectors tend to come in two- to eight-wire versions, meaning electricians can safely choose the right connector – or combination of connectors – for each termination.
In addition to lever and push-in styles, revolutionary in-line wire connectors are also available, which provide a faster alternative to traditional butt splices. Utilising push-in technology, such connectors, which support a wide range of stranded and solid wires, they provide a crimp-free, solderless butt splice at twice the speed, with one connector able to cover the same range as three traditional butt splices.
Regardless of the connector style contractors choose to use, it’s vital that they’re CE marked, UKCA and UL listed and fully compliant with the 18th Edition regulations.
Save time without cutting corners As the UK’s cost of living crisis continues to impact the construction and trades industry, the workforce will remain stretched, so it’s a no-brainer to select user-friendly products that speed up installations and make electricians’ lives easier.
Designed to make wire terminations faster and simpler, lever and push-in wire connectors prevent errors and ensure consistency, allowing wire terminations to be carried out more quickly and with less risk of snagging – perfect for when time is of the essence.
Browse IDEAL’s full range of wire connectors here
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