Outlets and switches these days come with two methods of attaching wires… the screwdown method and the new quickwire/quicklock (where you just slide the bare wire into the hole).
Does anyone have any recommendations as to which is better? Are there any problems with the quick lock? (It’s a heck of a lot easier then using the screw.) If it was perfectly good, why still include the screw?
Secondly, is it okay to use both on one side of an outlet/switch? (Instead of using a wirenut and an extra piece of wire to join 2+ wires together.)
Thanks!
Seth
Replies
I think the method is called backwiring and in generally considered poor practice. You have the possibility of loose connections down the road.
The little hole dealie is not new, and it's not good practice. Better outlets don't have them. The newest style has the screw terminals, and a pressure plate, where you stick the wire in a larger slot and clamp it with a scew. Much easier than the old style wrap-around-the-screw type, but still makes for a good connection. Avoid the little hole connections.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
The kind FastEddie described are excellent. HD carries them. The ones DanH describes are excellent too. I don't like the standard ones that make you wrap the wire around the screw. Too slow and fussy. I've had the push in type pull loose many times. Often when changing out an outlet, I just give a small tug and out comes the wire. Most of the time I can just pull it out. Just every now and then it's holding tight enough that I have to either cut it off or push something into the release slot.
Around here the electricians use the screws (except one, and we know who he is). The consensus is that the wire will come out of the quicklock with vibration - and personally I am of the opinion that the skinny contact the quicklock makes is far inferior to clamping the wire end behind a screw. Resistance, and all that. Generally the sign of a good 'sparky' is that he/she uses the screws.
All the best...
To those who know - this may be obvious. To those who don't - I hope I've helped.
"Outlets and switches these days come with two methods of attaching wires... the screwdown method and the new quickwire/quicklock (where you just slide the bare wire into the hole)."
Does anyone have any recommendations as to which is better? "
The screws, absolutely.
"Secondly, is it okay to use both on one side of an outlet/switch? (Instead of using a wirenut and an extra piece of wire to join 2+ wires together.)"
Code usually says it's OK, I would never do it, just like I'd never use aluminum wiring, though it's OK by code. This is The Fine Home Building Forum last time I checked.
WSJ
My electrical contractor (unlimited license) won't let his employees backstab an outlet.
He claims it ultimately creates a faulty connection.
The outlets you're describing are "back-stab" units. Much better are the slightly more expensive "back-wired" units where you slide the wire in a hole and then tighten the screw to clamp the wire. "Back-wired" connections are probably to be preferred over regular screw-down connections.
happy?
Thanks, everyone!
-Seth