"Daisy Chain" receptacles
#1
10-06-11, 07:39 PM
"Daisy Chain" receptacles
As I replaced all the old receptacles in this house, today I did about twenty of them. Most of them do not have ground wires, so I added those.
Many of the metal box as I opened them, were half filled with mud. The wires were literally cemented into the mud. I had to chip the mud out and clean the boxes.
A couple of questions.
(1) I saw in some posts that wiring a receptacle using "backstab" is not recommended. Can someone clarify? Most of my old wires are #12 solid wires, so if I stick them into the holes in the back of the receptacle, and then tightened the screws, is this bad?
Or do I have to make a half moon loop with the wire and fit them under the screw and tighten?
(2) I noticed the receptacles were wired using two methods. The hot and neutral comes into the box, goes into the receptacle, then another hot and neutral come out of the other side of the receptacle, and continue to the next box. The other way is to use wire nuts to connect the wires, one in, one out, and one goes to the receptacle. Which way is better?
Many of the metal box as I opened them, were half filled with mud. The wires were literally cemented into the mud. I had to chip the mud out and clean the boxes.
A couple of questions.
(1) I saw in some posts that wiring a receptacle using "backstab" is not recommended. Can someone clarify? Most of my old wires are #12 solid wires, so if I stick them into the holes in the back of the receptacle, and then tightened the screws, is this bad?
Or do I have to make a half moon loop with the wire and fit them under the screw and tighten?
(2) I noticed the receptacles were wired using two methods. The hot and neutral comes into the box, goes into the receptacle, then another hot and neutral come out of the other side of the receptacle, and continue to the next box. The other way is to use wire nuts to connect the wires, one in, one out, and one goes to the receptacle. Which way is better?
#2
10-06-11, 07:54 PM
If you use screws to tighten the wires, it is not backstab.
It is better to pigtail them. If there is ever a problem with one receptacle, it won't affect others on the circuit.
It is better to pigtail them. If there is ever a problem with one receptacle, it won't affect others on the circuit.
#3
10-06-11, 07:57 PM
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(1) There are two different types of back of receptacle connections. The original version is called "back stab", this is where you push the wire into a hold on the back of the switch/receptacle and a spring holds it in place. This are the type NOT to use. The new and good kind are called "back wired", this allow you to slip the wire under a pressure plate that you then tighten using a screw. The "Back wired" are fine to use, you don't want to use the "back stab" connections.
#6
10-06-11, 09:26 PM
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Originally Posted by MiamiCuse
So inserting the wire into the back and tighten the screws is OK. Is this true for both solid and stranded?
#7
10-07-11, 06:25 AM
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Originally Posted by MiamiCuse
So inserting the wire into the back and tighten the screws is OK. Is this true for both solid and stranded?
Side note, the newer backstab devices are only for use with #14 gauge wire.
