Backstabbing Receptacles...to a whole 'nother level

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emahler

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came across this yesterday while at a customers facility...

Little background...
  • this is not a residence, it's a distribution facility
  • These devices are on conveyors, for ancillary equipment to be plugged in.
  • I know who installed them (not us) and definitely not a rag-tag shop
  • There are approximately 30 identical installs on 2 conveyor belts...


img358.jpg


looks like a typical wiring installation for a GFCI/Duplex in a mulberry cover right?
Notice the residential grade duplex...but that's not the problem...


img359.jpg

yep, that #14 stranded wire, really was backstabbed into the duplex...it must have taken longer to get the 30 devices finished this way, then to run to the supply house and buy some 14/2 romex and use the solid...probably cost more in labor as well...but even better, they used solid for the ground

so, debate the issues with backstabbing stranded wiring:D

sorry about the pictures, I only had my cell with me...:shrugs:
 
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If you'e working commercial or industrial and install stranded, I would think having crimps in your truck would be about as obvious as having gas in the tank.

But hey, that's just me! ;)
 
480sparky said:
If you'e working commercial or industrial and install stranded, I would think having crimps in your truck would be about as obvious as having gas in the tank.

But hey, that's just me! ;)
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I don't have to put gas in my new hybrid, correct?
:grin: :grin: :grin:
 
There may/may not be enough load to cause problems but either way this is the kind of work that ensures service work in the future, it's bad craftsmanship!
 
I hate standed wire for this very reason There are very few instances where I think it is worth the hastle. I have pulled thousands of miles of solid in without a problem. Phoenix contact makes the best crimp connector I have ever seen it is a german company and is used on aircraft and in the marshalling cabinets of powerhouses I will assume that they are very expensive. I could not find a link I will look again later. The blue crimp in the middle of the page is the only pic I could find notice it is crimped square http://www.phoenixcontact.com/global/products/21718_21728.htm Nicest neatest crimp I ever saw I love them.
 
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Tin then stab
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As long as you have the soldering iron out, why not just solder it right to the terminal ???:grin: :grin: :grin:
People are people, there have been hacks and cheats ever since humans had possessions.
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Does this go all the way back to the cave man days and the Bud Light commercials ??? Are we part of one of the oldest professions ???
 
emahler said:
that #14 stranded wire, really was backstabbed into the duplex...it must have taken longer to get the 30 devices finished this way, then to run to the supply house and buy some 14/2 romex and use the solid...probably cost more in labor as well...but even better, they used solid for the ground
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On a conveyer stranded wire was probably in the specs. because of vibration. They do make plenty of receptacles for those that don't know how to deal with stranded wire. They have a nice terminal on he side where they can just sick the stranded in and tighen the screw. The last I bought were around $2.50 each.

I don't see why they would want a solid ground because if there is enough vibration it may break off from the terminal.
 
growler said:
On a conveyer stranded wire was probably in the specs. because of vibration. They do make plenty of receptacles for those that don't know how to deal with stranded wire. They have a nice terminal on he side where they can just sick the stranded in and tighen the screw. The last I bought were around $2.50 each.

I don't see why they would want a solid ground because if there is enough vibration it may break off from the terminal.
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heck pull stranded to each box, then tie the GFCI and duplex together with solid...they are connected through the mulberry (they will vibrate at the same rate) and then connect them to the stranded...that's how we do it all the time...that's how we are going to redo all these next week:D
 
emahler said:
heck pull stranded to each box, then tie the GFCI and duplex together with solid...they are connected through the mulberry (they will vibrate at the same rate) and then connect them to the stranded...that's how we do it all the time...that's how we are going to redo all these next week:D
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Eric if you really wanted to get serious I'm not at all sure that the EMT in the picture should have been allowed. Just look how beat up it's getting, at what point is it considered severe physical damage. I'm sure the worst places are not in the pictures.

Those dents in the conduit look like someone has been beaing it with a hammer.

I can hardly wait until Romex is used for industrial work. :grin:
 
quogueelectric said:
...Phoenix contact makes the best crimp connector I have ever seen it is a german company and is used on aircraft and in the marshalling cabinets of powerhouses I will assume that they are very expensive. I could not find a link I will look again later. The blue crimp in the middle of the page is the only pic I could find notice it is crimped square http://www.phoenixcontact.com/global/products/21718_21728.htm Nicest neatest crimp I ever saw I love them.
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I'm assuming that's slightly trapezoidal as opposed to square. I have the ratcheting ferrule crimpers to put those on and a selection of ferrules from #10 down to #26. I don't know if I've ever used one on a standard device, but they do make a neater termination on most terminal blocks and go on my list of qualifications for a quality control wiring job.
 
From the UL GENERAL INFORMATION DIRECTORY (White Book)
RECEPTACLES FOR ATTACHMENT PLUGS AND PLUGS (RTRT)
TERMINALS​

Screwless terminal connectors of the conductor push-in type (also known as ??push-in-terminals??) are restricted to 15 A branch circuits and are for connection with [size=+1]14 AWG solid copper wire only.[/size] They are not intended for use with aluminum or copper-clad aluminum wire, 14 AWG stranded copper wire, or 12 AWG solid or stranded copper wire.

Installations with stranded wire pushed into the back of receptacles are not permitted . . . period. :roll:
 
20 amp

20 amp

charlie said:
From the UL GENERAL INFORMATION DIRECTORY (White Book)
RECEPTACLES FOR ATTACHMENT PLUGS AND PLUGS (RTRT)
TERMINALS​

Screwless terminal connectors of the conductor push-in type (also known as ??push-in-terminals??) are restricted to 15 A branch circuits and are for connection with [size=+1]14 AWG solid copper wire only.[/size] They are not intended for use with aluminum or copper-clad aluminum wire, 14 AWG stranded copper wire, or 12 AWG solid or stranded copper wire.

Installations with stranded wire pushed into the back of receptacles are not permitted . . . period. :roll:
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Why would you install 15 amp circuits in this sitiuation anyway? Just for the "back-stabbing reason!!
 
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