We don’t use wire nuts in Europe so when I first saw the in use in the USA I was initially sceptical but then impressed. They appear to offer a quick convenient connection that is robust and still maintains appropriate creepage and clearance distances. How come these have never been approved for use in Europe? Am I missing something glaring safety flaw?

For the lazy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twist-on_wire_connector

Why are wire nuts not permitted in Europe?

They are still allowed in Europe? They are still in Norway. I don’t preefer to use them but some do. I use WAGO instead

In The Netherlands wire nuts are permitted. Every electrician learns how to do wire nut connections. But when you know how to make those. They don’t bother anymore and use push wire connectors wago or other brands for hard wires. And wago splicing connectors for flexible wire. This is done because it is so much faster to use these connections and thus cheaper. And there is a risk in wire nut connections that the spring is not adequetly tightend around the wires. in a wire nut connection it is not possible to see straight away, a push wire connector is transparent so you can see instantly if the connections are good. A quick pull on the wire can confirm the connection is solid for push wire connectors or spicing connectors. they also use less space in a junction box. For industrial applications where there are lots of fibrations wire nuts are used. And the wire nuts we have here have a hex shape, and come with a bit for electric drills.

I know that most household stuff uses 220 instead of 110as in the U.S. I have some wire nuts with different ratings, only some of which would ever be used with 208 in my house.

My understanding is that Europe doesn’t use wire nuts is concern over fire risk but it’s a terrible and lazy position. The plastics used just don’t burn. I’ve melted them in an accidental pulsed power experiment but I’ve never cause one to burn.

Probably has to do with 240 volt vs 120 volt in North America.

Edit: Wire nuts could be banned in the EU because early ones were made of ceramic and often cracked exposing the wires and posing a safety risk.

Well it appears from some of the replies that wire nuts are used in some European countries but I have never seen them used in UK or Ireland. Terminal blocks (chocolate block connectors) are very common.

It’s good that you are cautious though, this is something you have to make sure you do right.

Solder fatigues if repeatedly mechanically stressed, and also can melt if a fault causes the wire or terminal to overheat. Therefore it must *NEVER* be the only thing holding the joint together, (i.e. the joint must be adequately mechanically fastened before soldering), and the wiring must be secured, preferably so that no movement of the wire can reach the joint, but at a minimum so that even if the joint fails, the resulting bare wire end cannot become hazardous.

Solder joints are not designed to handle mechanical stress because they become brittle from repeated bending. So any cables that go outside and can be moved around have to be secured somehow, be it a cable gland, clamp, snaked around a cable holding slot etc…

As for soldering of connections in residential wiring I’m not sure what the current status is but it can be a real pain to solder stuff in a location with no electrical power. Given that alternative methods, especially quality and properly installed crimped connections work as well or better than solder there is little point to solder mains wiring.

I’ve also have seen companies go to the extreme when it comes to their grounding network. In stead of soldering the grounding system was brazed to just about every I-beam post I saw in the building. I’m not suggesting brazing as a solution for you at all, just that permanent connections are still used in industry. Personally I wouldn’t take such an approach for anything mains related, if I want high reliability it would be either crimped or bolted connections.

Actually, the US NEC does allow building wire to be soldered as long as the joint is not mechanically or electrically dependent on the solder. See sections 110.14(B) and 250.8(B). So, there is little point in doing it. There is also the risk of an inspector having a “no solder allowed” mindset. However, welding and brazing are allowed, and are used most commonly on grounding conductors.

Different rules apply inside devices. There are listed (UL, ETL, CSA, etc.) devices that have solder joints carrying mains voltages or higher.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/use-of-solder-on-mains-voltage-lines-inside-a-device/

Why soldering mains wires is problematic:
Brittle solder joints:
Solder can make copper wire strands brittle, especially under stress or vibration.
Potential for loose connections:
Soldered joints can become loose over time, especially if exposed to thermal expansion and contraction.
Difficult to inspect:
Soldered joints are often hidden, making it difficult to visually inspect for potential problems like corrosion or loose connections.
Not suitable for all wire types:
Solid wire is more susceptible to breaking when soldered, and stranded wire can be problematic near the solder joint if it’s not properly secured.

It is not recommended to solder the wire ends. It likely ends up in loose connection under the screw which is a problem.

We are a sourcing and procurement company with very many clients within East and Southern Africa. We are sourcing on behalf of one of the buyers for a manufacturer, distributor, or reseller for the following products:

electric wires

Please quote the prices in USD for the above with CIF terms to Mombasa port. Thereafter we shall discuss with our client and then forward to you the details in which you will issue a proforma invoice.

Awaiting your swift response towards establishing a long-term relationship with your prestigious company.

Kind regards,

Morgan Bwogi
Sourcing Manager
Oriship Agency
Plot 35, 7th Street Industrial Area
Kampala, Uganda.
Tel: +256 758388646
Email: morgan@orishipagency.com