designed such that when installed the outer contour of the first electrical conductor 12 and of the second electrical conductor 13 is developed the connecting element 11 of the first embodiment is of multipart design and has a first main part 11 a and a second main part 11 b when the connecting element 11 of the first embodiment has been installed the first main part 11 a and the second main part 11 b form an approximately circular outer contour in cross section the connecting element 11 of the first embodiment has a first spreading element 14 and a second spreading element 15 on the second main part 11 b the first main part 11 a has a third spreading element 16 and a fourth spreading element 17 the spreading elements 14 15 16 and 17 are essentially in the form of a section of a hollow cylinder and are each arranged on the end faces of the connecting element 11 of the first embodiment to be precise such that they protrude into the tube opening in the first electrical conductor 12 or the second electrical conductor 13 introduced into the second main part 11 b are threaded holes in which threaded bolts 18 a b c are guided the threaded bolts 18 a b c are the operating elements by means of which the spreading elements 14 15 16 and 17 can be braced into the cutouts tube openings in the electrical conductors 12 13 the threaded bolts 18 a b c are supported on the first main part 11 a of the connecting element 11 owing to a rotary movement of the threaded bolts 18 a b c the second main part 11.