I used stab outlets in my old shop to wire lights. When I ripped out that wiring to sell the house, a bunch of those wires were loose. I vowed never to use them again. Those were 20 years old.
I just discovered that the electrician that wired my house used stab receptacles. Have stab receptacles gotten better? Should I go through the house and replace them?
For the modern outlets, etc., that have the side clamping mechanism, there's no more chance of contact with the side of the box than with traditional "around the screw" setup. In fact, there is slightly less because the screws will project less when they are used to secure the wire clamping mechanism than when there's a piece of wire around them.
That said, it's my own personal standard practice to do a wrap of tape around them no matter how they are wired...
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The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...
Taping the outlets is not a bad thing, except for the added labor. Unless the box has been bent in, the side wired terminals will not touch the box. Even marginally neat work habits will keep that from happening. If somehow the terminals do touch the box, there is no shock hazard. The breaker will just trip.
To say that taping devices is usual, or standard practice is a huge stretch.
Ever used the Pass & Seymore Plugtail system? The receptacles come with a pigtail harness consisting of stranded wire leads that terminate in a plug that connects to the receptacle. the tails are connected to the wires after pulling them in & then at finishing stage, the receptacles are plugged into the tails.
The advantages being easy device replacement without shutting the power off and a circuit can be energized without having all the receptacles installed. Pricey though, but they are spec grade.
Hi Malcolm M,
I agree that all splices can only be in accessible boxes, not in conduit/wireways.
I'm not an electrician but have been using wire nuts for more than forty years.
Please school me in why they are only acceptable for lighting circuits.
Thanks and good health, Weogo
I deal with industrial automation & control systems. If a faulty connection causes a life safety related transmitter to re-boot, it could E-Stop the entire facility, and it can cost millions to get it back online. Same potential with a pump, for example - connection comes loose, pump doesn't start, tank level goes HIHI, facility E-Stop.
I diverge from this thread's context, but we deal with 4160V/3P medium voltage or 480V/3P low voltage for power, and 24VDC instrumentation primarily. Power gets crimp-on bolt lugs (or split-bolts for the small stuff(<15hp)). Instruments and actuators get crimp on ferrules - then everything gets secured w/ 'thread' - either a nut/bolt or terminal block screw.
There are only 2 duplex receptacles on most of 'my' sites, both in a pre-fab containerized MCC building, powered from a lighting panel bucket in the MCC: 1 for the network switch gear; 1 convenience outlet for a programmer. Direct wired; no wire nuts - tho' again, I was proof texting above, and for this specific 120V application I wouldn't put the run on someone. (I would question why they need wire nut on a 15ft wire run!?!)
...we now return control of your SMC monitor to you. We hope you've enjoyed this brief excursion to ... the Industrial Zone.
Last edited by Malcolm McLeod; 03-03-2021 at 2:02 PM. Reason: clarity
I saw those for sale on ebay. Almost bought several until I realized you can not use them without the pigtail. the pigtail costs 5-6$ each. Buy a ten dollar outlet instead and it will outlast the pigtail life cycle.
What I mean is in 20-30 years you will not be able to buy a pigtail that fits. Same idea as a replacement rechargaeable battery tool in 30 years. I no longer have a VHS player but I do have few tapes.
Bil lD