WAGO Connectors and Push-Wire Terminals — Junction Boxes, Lighting Connectors, and Lever Connectors for UK Electricians

WAGO connectors have become the standard method for joining electrical conductors in domestic and commercial installations across the UK. Push-wire and lever-action terminals eliminate the need for twist-and-tape joints, offer a tool-free connection on solid and stranded conductors, and meet BS 7671 requirements when correctly specified. This guide explains the main WAGO series used by UK electricians, how to select the right connector for the application, and when to use a WAGO junction box enclosure.

Why WAGO Replaced Chocolate Block

Traditional chocolate-block terminal strips (Choc-bloc) require a screwdriver, can loosen over time through thermal cycling, and must be enclosed separately. WAGO push-wire and lever connectors lock conductors using a spring-clamp mechanism rated for the full lifecycle of the installation — no re-torquing required. They accept both solid and stranded conductors within the same connector (check the datasheet for each series), and each port is individually openable on lever-type units, allowing a single conductor to be released without disturbing the others.

For BS 7671:2018 (18th Edition) Amendment 2 compliance, all permanent joints must be accessible for inspection. WAGO Wagobox enclosures are designed specifically to make that requirement simple: the box provides the accessible enclosure, the connectors provide the joint.

WAGO Series Overview for UK Domestic Wiring

773 Series — Push-Wire Connectors (Maintenance-Free)

The 773 series (also sold as WAGO 221-series equivalents) uses a push-in spring clamp. Insert a rigid solid conductor and the spring locks it permanently. This is the correct connector for maintenance-free joints in ceilings, walls behind plasterboard, and other locations where future access is unlikely but an accessible enclosure (such as a Wagobox) is provided.

• 2-pole (2273-202): Inline connection for single-phase runs — commonly used for extending lighting circuit cables where a switch spur joins the main loop.
• 3-way (773-173): Three conductors in, suitable for 3-way lighting junctions (live/neutral/earth split to a fitting and a switch).
• 5-way (773-105 / 2273-205): Five conductors — the standard for a loop-in ceiling rose replacement, connecting line, neutral, and earth from the circuit plus the switch-wire and fitting.
• 6-way (773-106): Six-port version for more complex junctions such as two lighting circuits sharing a neutral or a circuit with multiple switched legs.

Rated to 2.5mm² (32A) for the 2.5mm series, and 6mm² (41A) for the 6mm series. Not suitable for stranded conductors without a ferrule unless explicitly stated on the product — check the WAGO datasheet before use with flexible cables.

224 Series — Lighting Connector

The WAGO 224-112 is a two-port connector with one push-wire port for the mains supply cable and one lever-operated port for the luminaire flex. This solves a practical problem on ceiling light installations: the supply cable is solid twin-and-earth, while the pendant or LED driver lead is stranded flex. The 224 accepts stranded conductors on the lever side, making it the correct connector for hanging luminaires directly from a loop-in junction or ceiling rose location.

The 224 connector is rated for 2.5mm² / 24A and is compact enough to fit inside a standard 20mm-deep BESA box or the Wagobox enclosure. It is not a substitution for a 773 series in-line joint — it is specifically designed for the supply-to-luminaire interface.

222 Series — Lever-Nut Splicing Connectors

The 222-415 (5-way) lever-nut connector accepts both solid and stranded conductors on every port and allows individual conductors to be released by lifting the orange lever. This makes it the go-to connector for alterations, fault-finding, and any joint that may need to be broken and remade — including connections to dimmer modules, sensor outputs, and heating controls where circuit modifications are frequent.

The 222 series is physically larger than 773-series connectors, so check that your enclosure (Wagobox, BESA box, or adaptable box) has sufficient volume. The lever connectors are rated to 32A at 2.5mm².

Selecting the Right Connector

WAGO Junction Boxes — Wagobox

Connectors alone are not an enclosed joint — BS 7671 Regulation 526.3 requires that every connection is accessible for inspection and maintenance unless it is a maintenance-free joint made to the manufacturer's instructions within a suitable enclosure at point of manufacture. For site-made joints, the practical route is to use a WAGO Wagobox.

The Wagobox Light (95×39×29mm) holds up to six 221/773-series connectors and is designed for surface mounting in ceiling voids, stud walls, and above suspended ceilings. It has pre-formed cable entry knockouts, an IP20 rating, and a snap-fit lid. It is not an adaptable box and is not rated for outdoor or damp locations — for those applications, use an IP65 adaptable enclosure.

When using a Wagobox, observe the fill rules on the label — do not force in more conductors than the box is rated to contain, as thermal de-rating applies when cable bundles exceed rated fill.

Common Installation Mistakes

• Using 773 push-wire on stranded flex: The spring clamp is not designed for stranded conductors without a suitable end ferrule. The conductor will pull free under vibration or load cycling. Use 222-series or 224-series for any flexible cable.
• Mixing series in the same box for the same circuit: While not prohibited, mixing 221, 222, and 773 connectors increases the risk of selecting the wrong rated connector for a given cable size. Keep a clear convention per job.
• No earth continuity at the connector: WAGO connectors do not provide an earthing path between cables unless you route the CPCs (circuit protective conductors) through a dedicated earth connector at the same junction. Every junction point must maintain CPC continuity.
• Concealing without an accessible enclosure: A WAGO connector pushed above a ceiling tile and left loose is not compliant. Always use a Wagobox or appropriate enclosure so the joint can be accessed without damaging the fabric of the building.
• Exceeding current rating: WAGO 773/221-series 2.5mm connectors are rated 32A. Do not use them on circuits protected above 32A or on conductors larger than 2.5mm² — use the 6mm series (773-173) rated 41A instead.

WAGO Connectors in Lighting Circuits

Loop-in ceiling rose wiring is being phased out in favour of junction box or DALI/smart-switch methods, but the underlying connection requirement remains. On a standard two-plate or three-plate lighting circuit, WAGO connectors replace chocolate block in the ceiling void as follows:

1. All conductors stripped to 11mm (WAGO specification for 773-series).
2. Live conductors (line and switch-return) into a 3-way or 5-way 773 connector.
3. Neutral conductors into a separate neutral block.
4. CPCs into a separate earth block.
5. Pendant flex attached via 224-series lighting connectors (one per live/neutral pair).
6. All connectors placed inside a Wagobox with cable entries sealed by knockouts.

For LED downlights with integral drivers connected via plug-and-socket, refer to the manufacturer's wiring diagram — many LED driver outputs use proprietary connectors that must not be substituted with WAGO units.

WAGO in Metal Back Boxes and Consumer Unit Tails

WAGO 221/773 connectors are also used in metal back boxes for spur connections to sockets and switches where a junction is required in the box rather than at the consumer unit. Their compact form factor allows more than one connector to fit in a standard 47mm-deep double back box. Do not use connectors in a 25mm-deep back box unless you have confirmed sufficient cable volume — overfilling back boxes increases conductor fatigue and can cause insulation damage.

WAGO connectors are not appropriate for consumer unit terminations — all MCB, RCD, and busbar connections in a consumer unit must be made via the manufacturer's terminals as part of the type-tested assembly.

Outdoor and Damp-Location Joints

For SWA armoured cable joints outdoors or in wet locations, use an IP65 or IP67-rated adaptable enclosure rather than the Wagobox Light (IP20). The connector selection (WAGO 773 or 222-series) remains the same, but the enclosure must be appropriate for the environment. Cable glands should be fitted to armoured cable entries to maintain the IP rating of the enclosure.

Shop WAGO Connectors at APM Electricals

Browse our full range: Connectors | Cable Management

APM Electricals
24 Western Avenue, Acton, London W3 7TZ
Phone: 020 8702 8080
Web: www.apmi.uk
Same-day collection available for West London trades.