Pig tailing receptacles

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I used to backstab until Arc Faults became a requirement. Use to have problems with receptacles causing nuisance tripping. I always pigtail now. The breakers mybe better now but I'll keep doing it that way.

Just threw out the box for a 28" pizza. If I'd have known we were going to be sharing pizza pictures, I'd have taken one of it.
 
Can

Can

Can anyone explain to this ignorant Brit what you guys mean by pigtail?
 
Besoeker3 said:
Can anyone explain to this ignorant Brit what you guys mean by pigtail?
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Instead of landing the incoming and outgoing conductors on the receptacle's screw terminal pairs, the incoming and outgoing conductors are directly joined, with short conductors (the pigtails) connecting the receptacle terminals to those joints.

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LarryFine said:
Instead of landing the incoming and outgoing conductors on the receptacle's screw terminal pairs, the incoming and outgoing conductors are directly joined, with short conductors (the pigtails) connecting the receptacle terminals to those joints.

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Thank you, Sir Larry.
 
Thought I would mention this as well 300.13(B) requires the neutral to be pigtailed. So you might as well pigtail the hot as well. For one of you who has all the old code books, when did this rule come in to effect?
 
Strathead said:
Thought I would mention this as well 300.13(B) requires the neutral to be pigtailed. So you might as well pigtail the hot as well. For one of you who has all the old code books, when did this rule come in to effect?
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Just not something I've come across here. It's an extra connection and another point of potential failure surely? The screw terminals on our receptacles are can accept more than one conductor so if you need to loop to another like on a ring main, it isn't a problem.
 
Strathead said:
Thought I would mention this as well 300.13(B) requires the neutral to be pigtailed. So you might as well pigtail the hot as well. For one of you who has all the old code books, when did this rule come in to effect?
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That only applies to multiwire branch circuits.
 
Strathead said:
Wow, I wasn't even aware of it until recently. I can't even say how many receptacles wired in and out I have seen.
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Sadly, there's a LOT of violations out there caused simply by electricians who can't be bothered to actually open a code book and read it.
 
nizak said:
Looking for some feedback on pig tailing conducters before attaching to receptacles.

I'm not talking about MWBC installs.

This is just residential wiring with 14/2 and 12/2 NM cable.

My current way is attaching to receptacle side screws, not back stabbing.

Is it a better quality install by tailing and not feeding thru the device?

I have never knowingly had any issues from the way I do it, but have had inspectors tell me on occasion they would prefer to see the wires tailed.

Thanks
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Pigtailing does a few things,

it keeps the load on the conductors as opposed through every receptacle up circuit.

Second should the outlet burn up only that outlet fails it does not affect other outlets down circuit.

And it allows for a burned up outlet to be pulled and replaced while energized and not interferre with other loads on the circuit.

And any other stuff that pertains to devices wired series vs. parallel
 
I've always used the feed through for receptacles. I figure if they put two screws on it they meant for them to be used:happyyes:
 
cloudibew said:
Pigtailing does a few things,

it keeps the load on the conductors as opposed through every receptacle up circuit.

Second should the outlet burn up only that outlet fails it does not affect other outlets down circuit.

And it allows for a burned up outlet to be pulled and replaced while energized and not interferre with other loads on the circuit.

And any other stuff that pertains to devices wired series vs. parallel
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Yeeeeeeaaaah, I'm not finding that to be a real selling point. On very rare occasions you may need to MacGyver a repair, but really, how far away can the breaker be?
 
480sparky said:
I've seen back-stabs fail.

I've seen feed-through screw terminals fail.

I've seen pigtailed screw terminals fail.

I've seen wirenutted splices fail.

I've seen solder-and-tape splices fail.

I've seen crimped splices fail.

I've seen set-screw wire nuts fail.

I've seen split-bolts fail.

I've seen Polaris connectors fail.
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I do believe you have come close to seeing it all. :)
 
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