2 gang box - 2 duplex receptacles

I'm wiring in 2 new duplex receptacles to a new 15 amp circuit. The 12/2 wire has been ran but not connected to the box. I've watched videos on wiring and see that some people use pigtails and wire tie the hots and neutrals separately and then run them to first receptacle and 2nd receptacle. Is doing this type of pig tail any different then running the hot straight to the first screw as well as the neutral straight to its terminal. And then run a short piece of 12/2 and connect black on 2nd screw to screw on 2nd receptacle terminal and same thing for neutral. What's the difference between the wire tie pigtails and just direct wiring without wire tie pigtails?

Read my next post for bare copper ground connection question.

 

Welcome to the forums!

By wire tie I suspect you mean wire nut.

There is no difference in performance, it is just a different way of doing it. All are correct and will work fine.

 

Yes wire nut. Wire nuts seem like more unnecessary work. The box is plastic unlike the rest of the boxes in the house being metal. How do I wire the ground for this new circuit? Do I run the ground from the breaker to the first receptacles green screw and then another from the first receptacle to the 2nd receptacles green screw? Is there an easier way to do it so I only have 1 ground attached to each receptacle screw and not 2 grounds attached to receptacle 1?

 

You may only have one wire under one screw. Do not double up wires under screws as that makes a very poor connection and could lead to a fire.

What I like to do is to loop the wire around one screw and tighten, leaving enough free wire so the receptacle can be removed later per code. (about 3-6" from the face of the box) Then take the end of the same wire and bend a hook on it. Hook to the other ground screw on the other receptacle and tighten the screw.

 

Ok that makes sense. So just keep ground long enough to wrap around 1 screw and then around the 2nd screw as well?

 

Correct. Sometimes it is easier to start at the end of the wire, do the hook, and connect it to the screw. Then just loop the wire in the middle of the wire around the other receptacles ground screw. But either way works.

 

Why would you install a 20 amp rated circuit and then only protect it at 15 amps? Makes no sense to me.

 

Because 15 amp is all this circuit needs and I'm running 12/2 in case of future additions to circuit then just the breaker would need upgraded and not all new wiring.

 

The price differance between 15 am and 20 amp breakers is zero. Just buy/install a 20 amp and be done with it.

 

Going to return the 15 amp breaker now. Does make more sense to go with 20 amp at the start.

 

Is this a multiwire branch circuit?

 

It's 2 receptacles wired together in a 2 gang box. I plan on running to another receptacle in the same room at some point also.

 

Just one incoming cable feeding two devices on the same circuit in a two gang box.

 

That's correct. And then the same circuit extended to feed another receptacle or two later down the road.

 

Pigtails are the way to go. Another wire can be added later when needed.

 

I pigtail the hot and neutral and then attach to first receptacle from pigtail and another black and white wire from pigtail to 2nd receptacle? Is that the correct way to do pigtails?

 

Yes, two sets of pigtails, one for each receptacle is a good way to do it. After making the pigtails I'd fold the cable(s) into the back center of the box to get them out of the way.

Note: I'd also pigtail the grounds.I find that easier to work with then a continuous ground wire but that is personal preference.

 

Ok then to go to next receptacle on another wall I just add a black and white to the pigtail I'd make for this receptacle and run the wire to the next 2 gang box?

 

Yes, but you would use a cable not wire to the next box.

 

Correct 12/2 cable not just bare black and white wires.