Changes To Electrical Outlets

MikePA · Apr 18, 2004

It's been a long while since I had to buy electrical outlets and they've changed. The screws wont 'stay out', IOW, when I unscrew them to get the wire around them, the screw 'falls back in the hole'. This is kind of hard to describe. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

I am used to unscrewing the hold down screw, having it stay out, put a hook at the end of the wire, hook it around the screw, then tighten the screw.

What's with these new outlets?

DocHeb · Apr 18, 2004

? Maybe look for a hole the diameter of your wire (like the old push-in holes (that I think have been outlawed)). Put the wire straight in, and then tighten the screw. I've had some outlets for 30A wiring that had a setup that I think was like you are describing.

MikePA · Apr 18, 2004

I've always preferred putting the wire under the screw since I thought it made for more surface area contact so I've never used the push in holes. Although, with the way these screws are, there really isn't much choice. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

DocHeb · Apr 18, 2004

I think this type was developed to compensate for some installers not wrapping the wire properly around the screw, leading to failed conections. I never liked the old push-in type that just used a thin strip of spring metal to make contact. I've always used the screw terminals, and used a needle-nosed pliers to complete the wrap-around.

Bird · Apr 18, 2004

Mike, I've been looking on the Internet for a picture and can't find one. I was accustomed to doing the same as you and Chris, but I think I'm familiar with the type you're talking about (can't say for sure). When you loosen a screw, and you say it falls back in the hole, doesn't it appear that the hole is in a flat piece of metal? And isn't the other end of the screw into another flat piece of metal that serves as a nut? If so, you insert the stripped end of the wire between those two flat pieces of metal, then tighten the screw to clamp the wire in there. Personally, I like that better than wrapping the wire clockwise around the screw, even with the assistance of the needle nosed pliers.

johnday · Apr 18, 2004

Where did you buy these? It sounds like your talking about the sidewire lugs which gives you a much better connection than using the backwire method. I'm not an electrical inspector but I think Inspector507 is. I recall getting once a case of duplex's like you mention. It seems they were the cheaper ones but my memory likes to lapse too. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Inspector507 · Apr 18, 2004

Mike,
What you have is a good decent receptacle. Back the screw out until you feel resistance and insert the wire in a "hole" just behind the screws. There is a threaded plate in there, and the screw will not back all the way out unless you force it after encountering resistance. Then tighten the screw down. Lots of contact surface.
BTW......"quick wired or back wired" devices haven't been outlawed, you just are limited to #14 wire.

MikePA · Apr 18, 2004

Here's a picture of two of the outlets I am installing, connected up, ready for installation into a box. Hopefully, I've wired them correctly.

Also, is there a problem running a circuit into an outlet then into two sets of fluorescent workshop lights? The first set of lights come on fine, but the second set flicker but never come fully on. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Inspector507 · Apr 18, 2004

Mike,
They're wired correctly. And you have a problem in the set of lights that won't fully come on. Try lamps first, one may be bad. Some of the workshop lights in the box stores are cheap and are more less disposable if it's not the lamps.
It won't hurt to connect the lights and receptacles to the same circuit, but you're going to get more opinions on that than I'm going to read. So good luck........ /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Jeff396 · Apr 18, 2004

Try another home improvement store if that's all they had. I just finished wiring my basement over Christmas. I also got a hold of a few of those plugs where the screw would fall back in when loose. It sure caused a lot of colorful words to come out of my mouth! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif They seemed to be designed for people with three hands as opposed to two. From then on I made sure to open the box to be sure that they had the type of screws that stayed out.

Jeff