Back stab receptacles

Rick 0920 said:
See #60. The NEC actually mentions that a pigtail is required for the grounded conductor of a MWBC. Not in those exact words, but I think it says you can't depend on a device for continuity of the grounded conductor. Without a good twist of the grounded conductor and you have an open neutral, you now have a 240v series circuit. That will result in potentially smoking some expensive electronics.
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I don’t see where it is prohibited to use a Wago to splice pigtails.
 
Still don't like the backstab even when it allowed. Can't use in the kitchen of bath, only can use with #14 and 15Amp, so why even use a poor practice, just wrap on screw and tighten. Seen a lot when pull the outlet out of box and wire just falls out of the back or it's so crammed that the wire kinks over and bares the conductor or breaks off. Pretty sure the box may have been undersized for the number of conductors after someone "Just added another outlet" for the HO that says "Can't you just?". Seen with the back stab and the side screws all populated with wire.

kwired said:
So far I only found image of the larger blue version, but all the ones of this product line were same way, about impossible to remove.

View attachment 2575653
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Was that intentionally designed that way? Seen them and they almost never unscrew.
 
retirede said:
I don’t see where it is prohibited to use a Wago to splice pigtails.
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You're exactly right. It is not prohibited. But do you think that a push-in connection is a better and safer installation than having 4 conductors twisted with Kleins and a wirenut? Especially on a MWBC where having a loose connection could cause serious damage.
 
Rick 0920 said:
You're exactly right. It is not prohibited. But do you think that a push-in connection is a better and safer installation than having 4 conductors twisted with Kleins and a wirenut? Especially on a MWBC where having a loose connection could cause serious damage.
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Just as safe if installed properly. (Key word.)

I've seen twisted connections that failed.
 
Rick 0920 said:
You're exactly right. It is not prohibited. But do you think that a push-in connection is a better and safer installation than having 4 conductors twisted with Kleins and a wirenut? Especially on a MWBC where having a loose connection could cause serious damage.
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WAGO 221 are not push in, they are pressure connect. Twist, when done correctly are a closer to permanent connection than WAGO But when you get to 4, 5 or 6 up to 10 wire splice can't beat a pressure connect "bus style" like WAGO. Or when you have mixed wire types solid to stranded. Have seen push-in connectors by Ideal and others but don't like the contact points, when you remove the contact is just a very thin line of the spring clamping of the connector. Seen twist fail more often on the larger number of wire, and it looks messy.
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UL listing is for 20A @ 600V
 
Fred B said:
WAGO 221 are not push in, they are pressure connect. Twist, when done correctly are a closer to permanent connection than WAGO But when you get to 4, 5 or 6 up to 10 wire splice can't beat a pressure connect "bus style" like WAGO. Or when you have mixed wire types solid to stranded. Have seen push-in connectors by Ideal and others but don't like the contact points, when you remove the contact is just a very thin line of the spring clamping of the connector. Seen twist fail more often on the larger number of wire, and it looks messy.
View attachment 2575669
UL listing is for 20A @ 600V
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I haven't seen those. Only the push in type. Is this going to be considered an allowance when calculating box fill under the 2023 Code?
 
Rick 0920 said:
I haven't seen those. Only the push in type.
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Misunderstandings is part of the problem of identifying specific products by their general manufacturer's name. Wago makes many different products, some with totally different connection methods. Buchanan makes more than just their red wingless style.

When I worked at an electrical wholesaler, 20 years ago, we stocked red wirenuts from 3M, Ideal, Buchanan, and Gardner-Bender. Most electrical contractors had their preferred brand, but their laborers knew what they looked like but often didn't know who actually made them. It took a while for me to learn that some people really meant Ideal, when they asked for Buchanans.
 
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ptonsparky said:
The Wago Lever Locks above are what I prefer. I see there are others similar but have no experience with them.
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There have been some knock offs that are unlisted out there so got to be careful just like all other products out there. if its too cheap be careful, like someone bought some AFCI breakers for $20 off TEMU, regular price would have been near $90.
 
Open Neutral said:
Rack-mounted APC's UPS's have duplex receptacles on the back. While working on them, I found they were backstab-only, and they had spliced in short pigtails of solid wire to go to them. Some beancounter must have been proud of saving the $0.68 cents but what did adding the pigtails cost??
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More likely it was a DFM (Design For Manufacturing) choice than an attempted cost-saving measure.
 
Fred B said:
WAGO 221 are not push in, they are pressure connect. Twist, when done correctly are a closer to permanent connection than WAGO But when you get to 4, 5 or 6 up to 10 wire splice can't beat a pressure connect "bus style" like WAGO. Or when you have mixed wire types solid to stranded. Have seen push-in connectors by Ideal and others but don't like the contact points, when you remove the contact is just a very thin line of the spring clamping of the connector. Seen twist fail more often on the larger number of wire, and it looks messy.
View attachment 2575669
UL listing is for 20A @ 600V
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I’ve used those before, the one disadvantage, if you don’t tape them, sometimes when you push them back in the box, one of the levers catches on something, and open back up releasing the wire.
 
Rick 0920 said:
You're exactly right. It is not prohibited. But do you think that a push-in connection is a better and safer installation than having 4 conductors twisted with Kleins and a wirenut? Especially on a MWBC where having a loose connection could cause serious damage.
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If either were installed in my home, I’d sleep just fine.
 
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