Wire Connectors: Putting the Best to the Test

Wire Connectors: Putting
the Best to the Test

Electrician Luis Sanchez tests IDEAL^®
wire connectors versus competitors.

Wire connectors are one of the smallest - yet most essential - products in any electrician’s toolbelt. And because they are used so often, choosing the right wire connector can even improve your job efficiency. Factors like the connector’s grip and torque, the ease of installation, and the wire range a connector supports can all impact your job experience while installing branch circuits.

But how do IDEAL Electrical^™ wire connectors stack up when it comes to quick and easy installation? We asked an electrician to test IDEAL wire connectors against other brands, determining once and for all which wire connectors are the electrician’s choice for quality and efficiency.

Twister^® ProFLEX^™ PLUS

The twist-on wire connector remains one of the most popular and trusted choices for wire connectors. Electrician Luis Sanchez compared the innovative IDEAL Electrical Twister^® ProFLEX^™ Mini wire connector against another brand to determine which connector is the most comfortable, easiest to apply, and supports the widest wire range.

In-Sure^® Lever Wire Connectors

The easy lever actions of lever wire connectors make them an excellent choice when it comes to efficiency. Plus, with no need to twist, lever connectors reduce wear and tear on your hands. Electrician Luis Sanchez tested IDEAL lever connectors and another competitor's lever connectors to determine which has the best lever security, ease of application, and shortest installation time.

The Early History of IDEAL Electrical Wire Connectors

In fact, the IDEAL^® commitment to excellence stems from a long history in the wire connector industry.
IDEAL was the first company in the U.S. to receive a wire connector patent in 1929. In the century since,
IDEAL Electrical has continued to lead the field when it comes to innovation and quality.

The first wire connector was humble – just a cone-shaped, ceramic device with a straight-sided spring. However, the invention marked a welcome departure from the time-consuming ‘solder and tape’ wire connection method prevalent among electricians in the early 20^th century. Using that method, early electricians would twist their conductors together, dip them in a pot of molten solder, and then wrap them with electrical tape. The crude method was dangerous and imprecise. The boiling hot solder could accidentally spill, injuring the electrician in the process.

That all changed with the invention of the ‘thread-on’ wire connector. J. Walter Becker, the founder of IDEAL Industries, Inc., received the rights from the Dutch company Electrostroom to sell their wire connectors in the U.S. in 1924. Electrostroom’s “Jasper’s Wire Joint Caps” device had two simple parts: a cylindrical interior sleeve and a thimble-shaped hard rubber cap. By using the device to bundle wires together, electricians no longer needed to solder. J. Walter Becker and his team quickly made improvements to the original wire connector’s design and construction, such as replacing the ceramic shell with more flexible and durable plastic. J. Walter Becker officially received the first U.S. wire connector patent in 1929, and the IDEAL Wire-Nut^® was born.

Vintage poste for Ideal wire connectors featuring a man with his arm extended holding a wire connector

Figure 1 An early 20^th century example of IDEAL wire connector marketing that highlights the new "solderless" solution.

The Wire-Nut^® soon became the core of the IDEAL Electrical business, and IDEAL engineers continued to research, design, and innovate in the field. During the 1960s, IDEAL Electrical developed the Wing-Nut^®, a wire connector with specially designed contoured wings that flare out for extra torque and grip.

Wire Connector Innovations During the 21^st Century

By the early 2000s, a different wire connector innovation was on the horizon: the push-in. Lighting companies began to favor the push-ins, and IDEAL was quick to respond with its own model. The IDEAL In-Sure^® push-in wire connector requires low insertion force, leading to quick and easy connections.

However, the IDEAL team was not done innovating and improving its iconic wire connector design. In 2004, IDEAL Electrical expanded its wire connector collection with the ergonomic Twister Pro^® line. The swept-wing design and SureGrip^™ overmold of the Twister Pro wire connectors offer electricians a cushioned grip and maximum torque. The wire connectors also fit the widest range of conductors in the industry, from two #18 AWG wires to four #10 AWG wires.

Throughout the following years, IDEAL Electrical continued to expand its Twister Pro lineup. The design of the Twister^® ProFLEX^™ wire connector, launched in 2019, includes a flexible skirt that provides improved protection, while the space-saving design of the 2021 Twister^® ProFLEX^™ Mini helps it fit into the tightest electrical spaces while still accommodating up to four #12 solid AWG wires. Additionally, the compact In-Sure^® Lever Wire Connector was launched in 2022, and provides the perfect solution for joining solid and stranded wires with ease.

Chart that displays the timeline of Ideal Electrical wire connector products from 1924 until 2024

The Latest Comfortable Connectors from IDEAL Electrical

IDEAL Electrical continues to actively expand its wire connector collection. In late 2024, IDEAL will launch three new connectors that provide electricians with more wire range options than ever.

10 AWG In-Sure^® Lever Connectors: These connectors allow electricians to insert a solid wire without having to flip the lever, saving wear and tear on the user’s hands. Available in 2-, 3-, and 5- port options, the 10 AWG In-Sure lever connectors feature a clear design that ensures electricians are confident in their connection.
Twister^® ProFLEX^™PLUS: This connector is rated up to 600V, fits #22 to #8 AWG wires, and offers the widest wire range of any tan/yellow connector on the market. Like the existing Twister^® ProFLEX^™ Mini, this compact connector is also perfect for tight boxes.
Twister^® ProFLEX^™ MAX: This connector is rated up to 1000V, fits #14 to #6 AWG wires, and supports 345 UL-approved wire combinations — triple the number of its closest market competition.

Taking Wire Connectors into the Future

Today, IDEAL Electrical is proud to offer the widest range of multi-colored connectors on the market. While the collection of wire connectors has expanded over the years, the same guiding principle that led J. Walter Becker in the 1920s guides the IDEAL team today: service is a part of any IDEAL product. IDEAL Electrical wire connectors remain many electricians’ top choice for high-quality and long-lasting wire connectors.