Beware the back-stab receptacles!

[Backlash]

I had a receptacle in one of my houses (late 70's)that a cord plugged into would fall right out. House is empty right now. I took the recptacle out, and it had been backwired with the push-in stab method. The area of connection was fried and crumbling. I shut off the power to the house and started going all over it pulling receptacles and switches. I found 2 more situations like this before I quit for the night. Needless to say, ALL the units in the house will be replaced, getting side terminal screw clamp connections, after trimming back of wires. All wire nut connections will also be checked. I checked and tightened all the connections in the main panel when I bought the house, before power was turned on. I have always been wary of the push-in connections, and now I know why. My opinion is that they are a fire waiting to happen. I also think the heat of the poor connection is what annealed the grippers in the receptacle, causing it to loose it's ability to hold the plug. I'm posting this to make others aware of the potential of this type situation to affect your lives, or the lives of others. Be sure your electrical connections are good ones.

RJ

[Stormin Mormon]

The other problem that happens. When outlets are wired in a chain, one outlet feeds the next one down the line. Sometimes a back stabbed wire will come loose, and then all the outlets down the line stop working. I've seen this twice.

I think "back stabbed" is the correct term, in meaning. Double meaning, yes, Brutus?

[RBM]

[Backlash]

RBM, just curious, what are your concerns as an electrician with the clamping type connection? I used the term mainly to distinguish that I was going to use something other than a back stab. I was debating with myself on whether to use a wrap around the screw, or to use the clamping type connection, where the wire is inserted into the rear of the device and the screw tightened to secure it.

RJ

[RBM]

[maradcliff]

In all my years of doing wiring, I have never had the wires "turn" on the screws when pushing the outlet into the box. If they do, they were not tightened enough, or the wires were not wrapped all the way around the screw. I have had the wire break a few times, but that just happens sometimes and is ususlly caused by a little nick in the wire from stripping it, or wire that has been bent several times. I NEVER use the back stab holes. They simply are not safe, and in my opinion, should not be legal.

[RBM]

[Backlash]

Good experience input RBM, I thank you for the reply.

RJ

[Tekkie®]

posted for all of us... I don't top post - see either inline or at bottom.

So I guess you don't like Square D equipment then? Breakers are screw clamped.

[RBM]