kaid59•2mo ago

Swapped a Wago for a wire nut on a ceiling fan and regretted it instantly

I was wiring up a Hunter fan in a 90 degree attic last Tuesday and grabbed a wire nut out of habit instead of sticking with the Wagos I normally use. By the time I got the fan hung and tested it, the neutral had slipped loose and I had to pull the whole thing back down in that heat. Has anyone else had a connection fail because they switched methods in a hurry?

3 comments

3 Comments

bettyfox1mo ago

Dang, that attic heat just makes everything worse too! I had a similar mess trying to wire up some can lights in a tight crawlspace and swore off wire nuts after that. @pat_coleman yeah it's wild how a wire nut can feel tight but just let go when you really need it. What saved me was pre-twisting the copper wires together with pliers before screwing the nut on. That extra twist keeps it locked way better than just shoving them in and hoping. Have you tried that trick or did you just go straight to Wagos and never look back?

pat_coleman2mo ago

Oh man, "instantly regretted it" is putting it lightly. I did the same thing last summer swapping out a light fixture in my basement. Grabbed a wire nut out of habit on a hot neutral and a hot black, figured it would be fine. Got it all buttoned up, flipped the switch, and the light flickered once before dying. Pulled it back down and the neutral had just slipped right out of the wire nut, no tension at all. Idk why I even keep those things in my bag honestly. Wagos just hold so much better, especially when you're working in tight spots where you can't really get a good twist on a nut.

seanlee2mo ago

Honestly, that's a rough one. My buddy had almost the same thing happen to him a couple years ago in his garage. He used a wire nut on a ceiling fan install and thought he had it good, but the whole thing came crashing down a week later because a wire slipped out. Ngl, I watched him switch to Wagos after that and he hasn't looked back since. They just feel more secure, especially if your hands are a little shaky or you're in a cramped spot.