Wiring Leviton Pro-Grade Recep.

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big john

Senior Member
Location
Portland, ME
This isn't related to code, but this seemed the best forum in which to post:
The folks I rent from purchased a Leviton Pro-Grade 20A receptical for me to use when replacing an old installation. This sucker had quick-connects in the back, not stab-lock, but connectors that would clamp onto on the wire when the screw was tightened.
I've always felt that putting the conductor under the screw itself offered a better mechanical and electrical connection, so I aimed to do that. Maybe it was because I was tired, maybe it was because I was quickly becoming infuriated, but one way or the other, it must've taken me ten minutes to get each #12 conductor under it's respective screw. I was beside myself. I even went and checked the package just to make sure it was actually designed to be side-wired.
My ultimate question: Was I just having a really bad day or is it generally accepted that recepticals with these quick-connects are basically designed to only be wired with the quick-connects, so I'll know what to expect in the future. Anybody work with Pro-Grade a lot who might have opinions on this? Thanks. -John
 

don_resqcapt19

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Illinois
Occupation
retired electrician
Re: Wiring Leviton Pro-Grade Recep.

There have been no reported problems with back wired receptacles where a screw is used to provide the contact pressure. I've never tried to side wire a receptacle of this type and see no reason to.
Don
 

roger

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Fl
Occupation
Retired Electrician
Re: Wiring Leviton Pro-Grade Recep.

90% of the receptacles we use, spec and hopital grade are these type of connections. Think about Sq D, C-H, and others breakers, these are the same connections used at these locations so why would you have a problem at the receptacle? These are probably the best terminations.

Roger
 

jerryb

Senior Member
Re: Wiring Leviton Pro-Grade Recep.

I've actually installed the same device and had very little problem with them. I found it easier to work with because I only need to insert the wire, holding the device & wire in my left hand and using a screw driver with my right. To me this is easier than trying to wrap the conductor, clockwise, around 2/3 of the screw post. And it is much safer that just using using push-in connections. The length of the conductor will effect the degree of difficlity (if too short then it would be very difficult to hold the connections and tighten the screw. I think it is just a matter of getting comfortable with the device. Usually this type of device is more expensive, so I know its not because of cheap construction. How about telling your landlord that you will buy the device and he refund you?
 

gary

Senior Member
Location
California
Occupation
Retired electrical contractor / general contractor
Re: Wiring Leviton Pro-Grade Recep.

I've used the Leviton Pro-Grade receptacles exclusively for several years. They are difficult to side-wire & I've only used that technique when I had to cram a receptacle into a very shallow 1" deep box. The back wire connector is generally quite secure although on a few occasions I have tightened the screws, started to push the wires into the box, felt them slip loose and had to retighten the screws. I now install them with a cordless screwdriver with a straight bit and manually twist the screw down hard. I then wiggle & pull on the wires before pushing them into the box. Have never had a call back or failure. I tried to take one apart once to see how they were constructed and gave up after beating on it with a hammer for a few minutes!
 

charlie b

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Staff member
Location
Lockport, IL
Occupation
Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
Re: Wiring Leviton Pro-Grade Recep.

Originally posted by gary:I ... gave up after beating on it with a hammer for a few minutes!
Come on now, we?re professional technicians here! We wouldn?t use a mere, ordinary, garden variety ?hammer.? What we use is a PCI: ?Percussion Calibration Instrument.?
 
G

Guest

Guest
Re: Wiring Leviton Pro-Grade Recep.

Originally posted by big john:
<snip>it must've taken me ten minutes to get each #12 conductor under it's respective screw. I was beside myself. Anybody work with Pro-Grade a lot who might have opinions on this? Thanks. -John
First question: Were you using solid or stranded wire?

I'm looking at a Pro-Grade receptacle and I went to Leviton which confirms it is listed for side-wire or back-wire. It uses clamps as you stated (it does not rely on "backstabbing").

Due to the close quarters of the casing it would be tricky to side wire with #12 AWG SOLID copper. I would have no problem with stranded if I use my old family secret for side-wiring stranded wire.

I like these Pro-Grade back-wire jobs. I hate backstabbing with a passion, but the side-wire "clamp" in a Pro-Grade is pretty rugged and not prone (in my experience) to heat/cool/load/unload cycle failure.

[Note: This cybercom was spell checked prior to submission with ieSpell -- the FREE spell checker for forum text box entries when posting or replying }
 

big john

Senior Member
Location
Portland, ME
Re: Wiring Leviton Pro-Grade Recep.

Awwt,
It was solid 12, I'm not a big fan of standed for anything smaller than #8. It's easier to work with, but it doesn't hold it's shape like I'd like, and sorta frays out under screws.
With a little encouragement from the replys on this site, I tried backwiring with the next one I installed and it seemed to work just fine. So, I'm sold on backwiring these things. I'm a stubborn SOB, though, I think I'm gonna keep trying to side-wire everything else even if the back wire connections are provided.
If it's stab-lock and I can't side wire it, I guess I just won't be installing the damn thing. :D
Many thanks to those who gave advice.
-John
 

monkey

Senior Member
Location
Arizona
Re: Wiring Leviton Pro-Grade Recep.

is generally quite secure although on a few occasions I have tightened the screws, started to push the wires into the box, felt them slip loose
Gary,
I have had that happen on a few occasions. I found it best to turn the recep so the side you are wiring faces up and the screws fall all the way in before you insert the wire, since the screw draws the plate toward itself to clamp the wire in.
Brian
 
A

a.wayne3@verizon.net

Guest
Re: Wiring Leviton Pro-Grade Recep.

Just a thought Gary , but if you are using a shallow 1" box aren`t you overfilling the box ????
Most of these i have seen have a cap.of 6.75 cu in.
 
G

Guest

Guest
Re: Wiring Leviton Pro-Grade Recep.

Originally posted by big john:
<snip>I'm not a big fan of stranded for anything smaller than #8. It's easier to work with, but it doesn't hold it's shape like I'd like, and sorta frays out under screws. <snip>-John
If you strip #12 or #14 stranded without stripping off the insulation you can wrap the screw without the ends fraying. Then you cut the insulation back close to the device, but leaving a short "ring" of insulated to keep the wires from splaying/fraying. The first time I saw it I thought it was a mistake, but I now see the beauty in it. Do you employ this nifty trick when side-wiring devices with #14, #12, or #10 stranded?

Maybe somebody has a picture to post?

../Wayne
 

jerryb

Senior Member
Re: Wiring Leviton Pro-Grade Recep.

As an Engineering firm we do not allow stranded wire to be terminated around a device screw because of the possibililty of frayed wires coming out from under the binding screw. In the past I have contacted several wiring device manufacturers and I have been told that a side-wired device is not "Listed" for use with stranded wire. This may have changed over the past few years, but I still believe solid wire on a wiring device is the best installation.

15 years ago I was involved in a law suit case when a single strand of copper (from an SO cord) came out from its binding screw, touched the metal casing of the cord cap device and killed a construction worker that just happened to be standing in the middle of a muddy construction site. Not much could be said for that accident.
 

don_resqcapt19

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Illinois
Occupation
retired electrician
Re: Wiring Leviton Pro-Grade Recep.

Jerry,
While I don't like the use of standed wire in the side terminals. The UL listing permits it. The quote below is from the UL guide for receptacles (RTRT).
Terminals of the wire-binding screw, setscrew, or screw-actuated back wired clamping types are suitable for use with both solid and stranded building wires.
Don
 
G

Guest

Guest
Re: Wiring Leviton Pro-Grade Recep.

Originally posted by jerryb:
As an Engineering firm we do not allow stranded wire to be terminated around a device screw because of the possibility of frayed wires coming out from under the binding screw. <snip>
Dear Jerry,
Next time you are in the Bay Area I will give you a lesson on how to safely terminate stranded wire in a side-wire screw. There are no loose or frayed or stray wires with the system I use when confronted with stranded wire. It's much easier to tuck the wires into the box when the pigtails are all stranded. I used to feel as you do but the trick was passed on to me by another sparky and I am now confident about side-wiring with stranded.
../Wayne
 

iwire

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
Re: Wiring Leviton Pro-Grade Recep.

Originally posted by awwt:
Next time you are in the Bay Area I will give you a lesson on how to safely terminate stranded wire in a side-wire screw. There are no loose or frayed or stray wires with the system I use
:D
 

iwire

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
Re: Wiring Leviton Pro-Grade Recep.

Here is one way to deal with this problem.

0.132
 
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