A Simple Attic LED 18 AWG Lighting Circuit Using Lever Wire Connectors

What is a Lever Wire Connector?

Think of manageable commoning of wires of shared purpose. Purposes will include a neutral return path, common switched power to devices that will operate in parallel and common ground wires. As an alternative to commoning with twist nuts, lever wire connectors permit insertion without disrupting circuits already built. Every connection is individually manageable.

Think of the word port as the entry path of one wire to a lever commoning. A connector will be named for the number of ports side-by-side, by which wires may be commoned. The alternative of commoning by twist connectors can be very inferior  where bared ends now deformed, resist tidy gathering. Wires of different gage and stiffness, out of sight crowded into nuts, may fail electrical contact, even becoming fire hazards.

These are now produced at simply the cost of materials, not more expensive than simple winged wire nuts that distort wire ends and cables, winding them together even with power drills, with blindness of certainty that every wire of a bundle has continuity. 

Here is packaging at ten cents each average cost and including anchor clips that imply approved installation without junction boxes. The packaging is a plastics waste problem.Wish that they were packaged in paper boxes. Binned technician tool boxes are the appropriate ready-use storage. Know that the anchor clips will be of unusual demand perhaps in violation of building codes addressing accessability, strain relief and device grounding. The tiny screws in this kit and similar other variously manufacturer-labeled kits at Amazon just now, are useless with inappropriate loose-engagement Phillips drive and blunt points demanding pre-drilling. See that in cost, it should not matter whether connector bodies are transparent.

Know that aside from Amazon offers, lever wire connectors are prohibitively expensive times about five to fifteen. See for example bulk least-cost packaging of Wago and Ideal at Grainger:

At these prices, users are compelled to use twist connectors. Here is a very popular twist connector sold at Platt, at cost $0.14 each:

This is the competition to be met for the preferred lever wire connectors. Amazon now provides that marketing service, offering lever wire connectors at an average cost of $0.15.

In my little job now shared, I applied a parallel string of LED lights to overhead 2x framing in a residence attic. Here is a diagram of the circuit:

Here are photos at the lever wire connectors:

2-port connectors at L1.

3-port connectors at L2.

4-port connectors at L4.

14/2 Romex supply down to the light switch and power outlet upon the Safety Pole. Behind the 14/2, see 18/2 switched power leading up to L4 which beams down over the attic ladder opening.

The Safety Pole with 4" deep box, lighted switch and outlet upon the lower hand-hold.

My demonstration of better attic lighting happened concurrent with the Spring 2026 Tech Show at my high school, Benson Polytechnic, in Portland, Oregon. I was back as a graduate of the Class of 1962, and was once again dismayed to see amtique CTE Education teaching of lights and power wiring in stud walls. I promised the instructor of this wiring, that I would share my experiment in doing better where beyond light switches, modern LED lighting demands control and connections innovation. We need to stop imagining efficient and useful light as associated with illegal and dangerous bare bulbs in porcelain lampholders. If building codes and the training of electricians stand in the way, we must smartly resist.