Wago 221 Series Lever Connector Assortment Box (85 Piece)

In-Depth Look

The Wago 221 series has fundamentally changed how UK electricians make connections. What was once a niche product has become the industry default, with most electrical wholesalers now selling more Wago connectors than traditional screw strip.

Lever Mechanism

The lever mechanism is the reason for the 221’s success. Lift the lever, push the stripped conductor into the contact, and close the lever. The connection is made in seconds, with no screwdriver, no over-tightening, and no risk of the loose-strand breakage that plagues screw terminals. To disconnect, simply lift the lever and pull.

Transparent Housing

The transparent body is a genuine safety feature, not a design gimmick. It allows visual confirmation that the conductor is fully inserted and making proper contact, something that is impossible with opaque screw terminal strips. For inspection purposes, this is a significant advantage.

Verdict

The Wago 221 assortment box is the connector purchase that every electrician makes sooner or later. The 85-piece box provides a practical mix of 2, 3 and 5-way connectors in a reusable compartmentalised case, and the per-connector cost is lower than buying individual packs. Once you switch to Wago 221s, you do not go back to screw strip.

How It Compares

The Wago 221 lever connector replaced the traditional screw terminal strip on most jobs because it is faster, tidier and easier to check. A screw strip needs a screwdriver, careful tightening and a tidy hand to avoid stray strands. The 221 needs only a lifted lever and a stripped conductor pushed in. The transparent housing lets you see that the copper has gone in fully, which is almost impossible to judge on an opaque strip. The 221 is also reusable, so a joint can be opened, changed and closed again without cutting back the cable.

Wago’s own push-in range, such as the 2273 series, is a different product. Push-in connectors are quick for solid and stranded conductors, but they have no lever, so they are harder to release once made. Fine-stranded cable is a particular consideration, so check the datasheet for the exact connector you plan to use. The 221 levers accept solid, stranded and fine-stranded conductors from 0.14 to 4mm², which gives it more flexibility on mixed jobs.

Other manufacturers, including Hager and Ideal, sell lever-style connectors of their own. They work on the same principle, and a good installer will choose connectors by their ratings, certification and suitability for the cable in use rather than by habit. The 221 is rated at 450V and 32A, and each connector in this assortment is a 2, 3 or 5-way type (221-412, 221-413 and 221-415).

Quantity is the main thing to think about. An 85-piece assortment suits a working electrician who will use a mix of sizes, but an occasional user may never get through it.

Whatever connector you choose, joints must be made in a suitable, accessible place. The product notes that an enclosure is needed in concealed locations.

Common Questions

Can I use them in a ceiling rose or behind a light fitting? Lever connectors are often used in ceiling voids and in lighting installations, but the joint should sit in a suitable enclosure with enough space to be made and inspected. Ceiling roses have their own terminals and are not designed to be packed with extra connectors. For lighting joints, a junction box or an enclosure such as a Wagobox is the tidy answer.

Can they take fine-stranded or solid cable? Yes. The 221 series accepts solid, stranded and fine-stranded conductors from 0.14 to 4mm². That covers the common 1.5mm² and 2.5mm² cables used in domestic lighting and socket circuits. It does not cover larger cables, such as 6mm² cooker or shower cable, which need a different connector.

Are they allowed on lighting and ring circuits? The 32A and 450V rating covers domestic circuits, including lighting and ring final circuits. The wiring regulations, BS 7671, expect every joint to be accessible for inspection, testing and maintenance, with limited exceptions such as certain connections marked and installed as maintenance free. Wago positions its Wagobox enclosures for that purpose, but a bare lever connector should not be buried in plaster or under floors. Check the current edition of the regulations and Wago’s guidance, or ask your electrician.

Are they reusable or single use? They are reusable. You can lift the lever, remove the conductor and make the joint again. That makes them useful for testing, fault finding and temporary connections. It is still good practice to cut back and re-strip a conductor that looks damaged or kinked before reusing a connector.