Back stab or screw wrap

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Generally it goes like this: If you are a residential production (new home) EC, then you backstab. Otherwise, you use the screw terminals. That's a very unscientific observation I've made over the years that's been fairly accurate.
 
Both are perfectly suitable IF performed properly. If the conductor is terminated properly within the connection at the back of the receptacle, it should not and will not come back out without destroying the device.

Give a try.
 
In Tulsa, you can't backstab because you can't stab #12 anymore [right?] and we can't use #14 here. I'm a commercial guy anyway and like the screws.
 
peter d said:
Generally it goes like this: If you are a residential production (new home) EC, then you backstab. Otherwise, you use the screw terminals. That's a very unscientific observation I've made over the years that's been fairly accurate.
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Peter, you nailed it with this post.
 
jerm said:
In Tulsa, you can't backstab because you can't stab #12 anymore [right?] and we can't use #14 here. I'm a commercial guy anyway and like the screws.
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It's a NEMA thing now... backstabs will not accept #12.
 
480sparky said:
backstabs will not accept #12.
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I hadn't tried in many years, just assumed they still wouldn't. That change happened when I was a [very young] kid, helping dad wire houses. That's when we switched to "always" using the screws and it's just second nature to me now. I never even think about those little holes in the back. (but then again, I can't remember the last time I had to install recepts, we give the little stool to the nearest apprentice and let his back take the pain of putting them in for 8 hours...)
 
brother said:
Ive been checking out other electrical forums, just curious as others opinion about 'Back stabbing devices' or wrapping around the screw. Looks like this was controversy. I have to admit i have always screw tightened cause ive seen alot of them that were loose when they were back stabbed.

http://www.electricalknowledge.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3061
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If you guys have time to read the above thread, I think you'll find some pretty entertaining and funny stuff.;)

Happy New Year

John
 
yanici said:
If you guys have time to read the above thread, I think you'll find some pretty entertaining and funny stuff.;)

Happy New Year

John
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I liked this part:

Wrapping wires around screws also causes carpal tunnel syndrome and electricians must concentrate and remember to wrap clockwise, this concentration causes mental fatigue and other side effects such as minor cuts and teeth grinding.
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I would add more but I am mentally fatigued from remembering to wrap clockwise all day today.:D
 
yanici said:
If you guys have time to read the above thread, I think you'll find some pretty entertaining and funny stuff.;)

Happy New Year

John
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that is a classic thread...lots of good information...
 
jerm said:
we give the little stool to the nearest apprentice and let his back take the pain of putting them in for 8 hours...)
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you give them a stool to use?

I remember having to bring one from home and getting the hairy eyeball for it.
And the next day snagging the push broom to clear a path around the room when we were on to the next house still in the rough, good times.
 
back stabing

back stabing

i've been doing what some refer to as parallel connecting receps. we do wire nut joint with the #12 spliced to a short piece of #14 which stabs the recep.this prevents an individual recep.failure from disabling the downstream circuit. thanks jim
 
jmsrwd444 said:
i've been doing what some refer to as parallel connecting receps. we do wire nut joint with the #12 spliced to a short piece of #14 which stabs the recep.this prevents an individual recep.failure from disabling the downstream circuit. thanks jim
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This is a violation if the circuit is protected at 20A
 
jmsrwd444 said:
i've been doing what some refer to as parallel connecting receps. we do wire nut joint with the #12 spliced to a short piece of #14 which stabs the recep.this prevents an individual recep.failure from disabling the downstream circuit. thanks jim
Click to expand...

Even if you use all the screw terminals, the receptacle is still connected in parallel. What you're talking about is frequently called "pigtailing."

Why do you change the wire size from 12 to 14 on a receptacle? That would be a code violation on a 20 amp circuit.
 
back stabing

back stabing

thanks for your reply electricman2. can you offer a code reference to support your position? thanks jim
 
back stabing

back stabing

changing to #14 allows back stabing and less resistance for recep. to enter box. do you have a code reference regarding this being a violation. thanks jim
 
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