WAGO GELBOX protects connectors from moisture

Contents:

• What is WAGO Gelbox?
• Where can WAGO gelboxes be used?
• How to use WAGO Gelbox?
• Why use WAGO Gelbox?
• Cellpack – quality gel without silicone and without marking requirement.
• Is WAGO Gelbox safe?
• Short circuit risk – where does moisture come from?
• Which WAGO terminals can be used with WAGO Gelboxes?
• Selecting the right gelbox for your needs.

A compact box, pre-filled with silicone-free gel, provides IPX8 moisture protection for WAGO connectors of series 221 and 2273. The gelbox is ready for immediate use in a wide range of low and extra-low voltage applications.
Condensation, heavy rain, water splashes – when moisture
meets electricity, a short circuit can quickly occur. A tried and tested method – insulation. But reliable moisture protection can be provided even more simply – with the WAGO Gelbox
gelbox. It is immediately ready for use and has universal application in the low and extra-low safe voltage range.
 

What is WAGO Gelbox?

WAGO Gelbox is a small compact housing filled with silicone-free gel. The gelbox is available in six sizes and provides IPX8 moisture protection for mounting terminals of series 221 and series 2273. This type of protection means that connectors are completely protected from moisture and can even be permanently submerged in water. A distinctive feature of WAGO Gelbox is that it protects electrical installations exactly where it matters – at connection points without the need for permanent sealing of junction boxes. Unlike silicone-based gel, the silicone-free gel in WAGO Gelbox supports virtually unlimited applications. Thanks to its compact design, WAGO Gelbox can be easily placed in junction boxes.
Advantages:

• Simple, fast and safe operation.
• Immediately ready for use, with the possibility of modifying connections.
• Does not contain silicone.
• No mandatory safety marking required.
• Unlimited storage life.
• The entire system of gelboxes and WAGO connectors is certified according to VDE standards and IPX8.

Where can WAGO gelboxes be used?

WAGO gelboxes have a very wide range of applications – both in low-voltage and very low-
voltage protective circuits. However, the way they are used in different voltage ranges differs somewhat. In low-voltage systems (e.g., 230 V), gel covers must be used in additional mounting boxes.
This is related to the need to provide a second level of cable insulation for protection against electric shock. The WAGO Gelbox gelbox provides moisture protection only at the level of individual wire cores. In SELV (Safety Extra Low Voltage) applications, WAGO connectors with Gelbox shielding do not require an additional box.

Application examples:

• Bathroom equipment (DIN VDE 0100701).
• Washing installations/irrigation systems.
• Agriculture and horticulture (DIN VDE0100-0705).
• Swimming pools (DIN VDE 0100-702).
• Parking lot lighting.
• Charging stations and lighting systems in ports.

How to use WAGO Gelbox?

Using the WAGO gelbox is very simple: open the lid, insert the terminals, close the lid.
More precisely – place the wire connectors in the open gelbox and close it by gently pressing on the lid. This way, the gel will completely fill the connection (Fig.1).
The gelbox housing has small dimensions. Therefore, it will easily fit into any mounting box. Thanks to different housing options, several connectors can be placed in one gel housing – this saves space in the junction box. If the circuit needs to be extended, the lid can be opened again and new wiring can be safely performed – this is a significant advantage over classic electronics potting. Previously used wires can be reused in a new installation. However, new terminals and gelboxes cannot be dispensed with – only in this way can WAGO guarantee a high degree of protection.

Why use WAGO Gelbox?

The WAGO Gelbox protective box offers completely new possibilities for protecting electrical connections from moisture. This is explained by the fact that the box can be easily placed in any mounting box regardless of whether it is installed on the wall or under the ceiling. First, you don't waste time mixing components of the sealing compound. Second, you don't need to wait for the mixed compound to harden or dry. This saves time. In addition, the gel does not require special marking, since the chemical substances in it have already reacted and are inactive. The WAGO Gelbox box is simply ready for use. Pre-filled with gel, it immediately seals the connection. This means that electrical installations can be put into operation immediately after installation, i.e., simply, quickly and safely.
 

Cellpack – quality gel without silicone and without marking requirement.

Regarding the gel, WAGO relies on the proven quality of the Cellpack brand. This well-known manufacturer of potting compounds participated as a partner in the development of the WAGO gelbox. The Cellpack gel used surpasses gels used in
traditional sealing in many respects.
First of all, it does not contain silicone. This means it can be used in all industries, even where paints, varnishes and other easily reactive products are used, for example, in the automotive industry. In addition, the silicone-free gel is already chemically inactive. Therefore, it does not require any safety marking and has an unlimited shelf life. This cannot be said about all ingredients used in the production of insulating potting compounds. In addition, the silicone-free gel allows re-access to connected wires – in other words, there is the possibility of its reuse.
In installation boxes, WAGO Gelboxes are used together with terminals. Only such a combination provides double cable insulation for protection against electric shock.

Is WAGO Gelbox safe?

To ensure comprehensive safety, WAGO Gelbox developers considered the housing, terminals and gel as a single
whole. WAGO Gelbox meets the same strict requirements of the EN 60998 standard as WAGO terminals. The high degree of product safety is confirmed by an independent institution in the VDE test report
 

Short circuit risk – where does moisture come from?

How can moisture appear in a mounting box? Condensation can form due to sharp temperature fluctuations. This often happens in spring and autumn. Then warm air inside the box contacts its cold wall and quickly cools. The result – water condenses on the inner walls. Unfortunately, this physical effect is further enhanced by electrical energy losses.
As a result, the air heats up, which increases the temperature difference inside and outside the mounting box.
Such a temperature difference also leads to a pressure difference. As a result, fresh air from outside enters the mounting box, and with it, moisture. As a result, quite a lot of water penetrates inside.
Don't forget about heavy rain or accidentally directed strong water flow – this can also lead to box moisture. Moisture in mounting boxes can lead to erosion of insulating materials, as a result of which leakage currents can cause a short circuit in the electrical installation. Most often, this is only detected when the installation's protective devices are triggered, for example, when fuses blow.
Shown is WAGO Gelbox as a universal solution for both low-voltage range (e.g., 230 V) and so-called SELV (Safety Extra Low Voltage) applications. Example – outdoor lighting

Which WAGO terminals can be used with WAGO Gelboxes?

Which Gelbox protective housing is suitable for WAGO connectors? WAGO Gelbox protective gelboxes are tested and approved for use with the following WAGO terminals: series 2273, series 221 for all types of conductors and through (line) terminals of series 221 with lever for conductors up to 4 mm² cross-section.

Selecting the right gelbox for your needs.

Which gelbox is suitable for my WAGO connector? You will quickly find the answer using the Gelbox product search tool. Simply select the type of terminals used, and the product search system will redirect you to the appropriate WAGO Gelbox.