GKEEMARS65 Pcs Compact Splicing Wire Connectors Assortment Pack Lever Connector Kit, Quick Wiring Connector for AWG 28-12

Q: Are these UL approved

Sorry, no UL yet, CE certification is available.

Q: Seems like you'd be asking to burn your building down with these. Are they up to code anywhere in North America?

I wouldn’t use them on anything other than 12/24v DC

Q: Ok to use in automotive applications? For example: off road light connections? Can they withstand getting wet without shorting out?

No they are designed for in home use and have no type of waterproofing

Q: Do these control the direction of the flow of the electricity? The arrows and terminology of "x in" and "x out" give that impression. I'm a newbie.

No they do not the arrows are basically showing how the electricity will be split. 2 becomes 4, or 6. They are just quick connections. I used these for light pods on my truck. So I only needed to fish two wires through the engine bay to the battery. If you need to control the way electricity flows you would have to use diodes.