quick connect

[unceldafe]

Heya I was hoping I could get an answer in reguards to whether it is legal to put wires directly into the quick connects on receptacles and switches. Thanks for you time if you could email me back at

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[ October 12, 2004, 01:21 PM: Message edited by: charlie b ]

 

[charlie b]

Re: quick connect

If it were not legal, then the manufacturers would not be permitted to include that feature. Perhaps a better question would be, "Is it a good idea?" I am inclined to think not, as I am not confident in the connection.

 

[tom baker]

Re: quick connect

Take a look at 110.3(B)
Also I agree with Charlie, but its is allowed but now only for 14 AWG. Quick wire used to be 12 and 14, many electricains questioned this, it was always OK, then UL changed the listing to allow 14 AWG only. I am sure some of our other posters will chime in on this issue...

 

[charlie]

Re: quick connect

Under test conditions, the #12 and #14 were both just fine. However, the test conditions were on a bench and not jammed into an undersized box. The #12 was too stiff and did not maintain good contact with the back stab devices and the arcing destroyed the receptacles. #14 is small enough to be flexible and the back stabs really do work.

With all that said, I still do not trust them to be used and still prevent call backs. The only back stab device I would use were the ones with movable plates where a side screw would draw the plate up to the conductor.

 

[noxx]

Re: quick connect

I think the best answer is to crack open a Quickwire recep and have a good long stare at the point of connection you're running that wire into. If you're satisfied that the little copper trinket with a slot in it is a connection you would use in other field wiring, by all means, it's legal, do it if you like.

For me, I look at that thing then imagine someone plugging a heavy vac or a space heater into it, and use the side screws.

 

[jimwalker]

Re: quick connect

Ever go to change out an old receptacle that was back stabbed and have them just pull right out ?And with afci now in the game i dont think i would risk it even on 14 wire

 

[bphgravity]

Re: quick connect

I remeber reading awhile back a post on this subject that Bennie made. He stated that he had documentation that showed the pressure connectors in the back of the devices have less failures during test conditions than the screw connectors on the sides of the devices. I think he also stated that most failures were due to improper installations and not the connectors themselves. I don't think he ever posted the source of that information?

The bottom line is that you will never be able to convince a production focused contractor that pays by the piece to have installers use the screws instead of the "stab-backs". I myself have had many calls from this issue, but I have also had a siginifcant number of problems that resulted from the side screws as well.

 

[unceldafe]

Re: quick connect

Well thanks all for the great imput, it answered my question. I wasn't the one who wanted to use them cause I've been on many calls where That was the problem and countless times where I pulled a receptacle out of the box and a wire would pop off. It was in reguards to me buying a new home and when I seen they did that I wasnt happy to say the least. I recalled my boss about 15 years ago when we went over the new changes and that was one of them. I am really surprised to see people still use them. Well thanks again. p.s I'm not in the resisdential elecrtic any more.

 

[jimwalker]

Re: quick connect

They did the min. required,there and probably every where else.Since you seem to know how why not just redo them for the satisfaction of knowing there right

 

[midget]

Re: quick connect

I've heard nothing but bad stuff about quick connects. Why do they even have them? Just to make it easy for home owners to do stuff or what?

 

[charlie]

Re: quick connect

#14 is small enough to be flexible and the back stabs really do work. However, read my previous comment.

 

[problemsolver600]

Re: quick connect

Just yesterday I dropped an existing hard wired smoke detector to see if it was "interconnected", with the client present, and the back stabbed 14 guage wires pulled right out of the fixture. I not only installed the 4 new detectors required in the bedrooms, I replaced the two existing ones per the clients request.

 

[hank1]

Re: quick connect

Has anyone ever checked out %voltage drop on looping wire vs. back stabbing? My local ahj's are starting to check for voltage drop. I typically loop the the receptacles when they're on one circuit. When backstabbing you have to pigtail anyway, more work, right? Something about cutting wire unless you have to bugs me.

Hank

N. Il

 

[electricman2]

Re: quick connect

When backstabbing you have to pigtail anyway

?? I have never seen a back-stabbed device pigtailed. That's why bad connection in one receptacle kills everthing downstream.

 

[bphgravity]

Re: quick connect

This product just may solve the problems with the "stab-backs" and the side screws:

 

[msjmark]

Re: quick connect

Brian,
That looks like a nice receptacle. I guess you couldn't post the brand, ay, what's it called? Is it available at retail yet? I want to try it.

 

[hurk27]

Re: quick connect

pass and seymour

Any time you see a image you can right click on it and click on properties to see the address of where it is from.

 

[physis]

Re: quick connect

I don't really see the need for the connector. Why not just have three wires coming out of the back?

It's amazing to me how important it is to shave off a little time. I know there are gobbs of receptacles being installed every day and it all adds up and everthing else. But I don't think this as fast as possible mentality is good for the moral of the people doing the installing, the quality of the work being done or the level of respect I like to think our industry deserves.

 

[petersonra]

Re: quick connect

I have always wondered why someone does not have a receptacle that has pigtails already installed. It would seem to be something that might well sell.

 

[electricman2]

Re: quick connect

Originally posted by physis:
I don't really see the need for the connector. Why not just have three wires coming out of the back?

The connector is to put drywall mud into.
Or maybe they come with some sort of temporary cover.