4 Hidden Tools in an Electrical Outlet

[Meursault74]

Came across this video. Some of the comments for the video are from long time electricians that didn't know about them, so I figured it would be good to share it. I certainly didn't know about them.

I guess in a pinch you could use them. I wonder why they would be there as it likely adds to manufacturing costs. A simple/cheap multifunction wire stripper will have those features. I imagine buggering up the outlet or your hand a little using it as a tool.

 

[larry4406]

Interesting. Learned something new. Thanks

 

[sparky 1971]

I love it. Some Rube Goldberg figured out a way to get around having the proper tools. #1 won't work, there isn't supposed to be more than 1/2" of jacket in the box, good luck getting a receptacle in far enough to do that. #2, I'll give him that. It is a strip gauge, but after the first two times of stripping wire nobody uses it. #3 isn't a stripper, it's notched so that the ears can get cut/broken off to use a raised industrial cover, and I doubt #4 is intended to make loops, it's probably part of manufacturing. Much like the holes in the end of a male plug thread that went on here for a couple of weeks. Then, to top it off, he wrapped the wires the wrong direction on the receptacle.

 

[gatewaysysop]

I love it. Some Rube Goldberg figured out a way to get around having the proper tools. #1 won't work, there isn't supposed to be more than 1/2" of jacket in the box, good luck getting a receptacle in far enough to do that. #2, I'll give him that. It is a strip gauge, but after the first two times of stripping wire nobody uses it. #3 isn't a stripper, it's notched so that the ears can get cut/broken off to use a raised industrial cover, and I doubt #4 is intended to make loops, it's probably part of manufacturing. Much like the holes in the end of a male plug thread that went on here for a couple of weeks. Then, to top it off, he wrapped the wires the wrong direction on the receptacle.

A YouTube "creator" that didn't know what the @#$% they were talking about? Gee, that never happens.

 

[sparky 1971]

I love it. Some Rube Goldberg figured out a way to get around having the proper tools. #1 won't work, there isn't supposed to be more than 1/2" of jacket in the box, good luck getting a receptacle in far enough to do that. #2, I'll give him that. It is a strip gauge, but after the first two times of stripping wire nobody uses it. #3 isn't a stripper, it's notched so that the ears can get cut/broken off to use a raised industrial cover, and I doubt #4 is intended to make loops, it's probably part of manufacturing. Much like the holes in the end of a male plug thread that went on here for a couple of weeks. Then, to top it off, he wrapped the wires the wrong direction on the receptacle.

A YouTube "creator" that didn't know what the @#$% they were talking about? Gee, that never happens.

my bad on #1. The jacket has to extend at least 1/4" past the support on the box, no mention of how much jacket can be there. Still, good luck getting everything crammed in there with 3-4" of jacket left on the wire. I've been behind some do it yourselfers that have done that.

 

[PCustoms]

His eye contact with the camera weirds me out....

 

[Meursault74]

#3 isn't a stripper, it's notched so that the ears can get cut/broken off to use a raised industrial cover, and I doubt #4 is intended to make loops, it's probably part of manufacturing. Much like the holes in the end of a male plug thread that went on here for a couple of weeks. Then, to top it off, he wrapped the wires the wrong direction on the receptacle.

I saw it there and another video where they said one of the slots is for 14Ga and the other is for 12Ga. I wonder why the slots would be different sizes or just a coincidence that it matches both common wires? The other items can be explained. Maybe next time you install one just a quick look and see if they are different just for giggles.

I just checked my junk drawer for spare outlets, the ones I have are not like that one so I can't tell.

I noticed he wrapped he wire the wrong way as well so did others, but he said he corrected it later.

I found the hacks interesting, but I wouldn't use any of them. I have at least 3 wire strippers, a rounded jaw plier for making the loop and several cutters. I'm not an electrician but I DIY electrical repairs and hang out here so..................

 

[65ranchero]

Stripping the outer sheathing like that seems to be a recipe to slice your finger open

 

[Jim greengo]

I'll stick with my wire stippers,does the outlet have an attachment he can use to give himself a normal haircut?

 

[sparky 1971]

I saw it there and another video where they said one of the slots is for 14Ga and the other is for 12Ga. I wonder why the slots would be different sizes or just a coincidence that it matches both common wires? The other items can be explained. Maybe next time you install one just a quick look and see if they are different just for giggles.

I just checked my junk drawer for spare outlets, the ones I have are not like that one so I can't tell.

I noticed he wrapped he wire the wrong way as well so did others, but he said he corrected it later.

I found the hacks interesting, but I wouldn't use any of them. I have at least 3 wire strippers, a rounded jaw plier for making the loop and several cutters. I'm not an electrician but I DIY electrical repairs and hang out here so..................

Here's a side by side of a Pass and Seymour 3232-I (left) and a CRB5262-I. Neither one of them have the notch he used to strip. The tops aren't sharp enough to do much of anything except send a guy to the ER for stitches when he tries the trick shown in the video. Teh 3232 does have the hole next to the ground the guy used to make a loop, but it looks to me like more of a pita than it's worth. The 3232 also has the strip gauge, but the 5262 does not. I also watched the video again, he specifies an Eaton receptacle. I have to admit to never using one of those, but I really have my doubts that Eaton intentionally manufactured three of the four tools he mentions into it.


EDIT: The 5262 does have a strip gauge, since it's a back wire, it's on the side. I didn't see it until I put my glasses on, and then it was barely.

 

[Meursault74]

Here's a side by side of a Pass and Seymour 3232-I (left) and a CRB5262-I. Neither one of them have the notch he used to strip. The tops aren't sharp enough to do much of anything except send a guy to the ER for stitches when he tries the trick shown in the video. Teh 3232 does have the hole next to the ground the guy used to make a loop, but it looks to me like more of a pita than it's worth. The 3232 also has the strip gauge, but the 5262 does not. I also watched the video again, he specifies an Eaton receptacle. I have to admit to never using one of those, but I really have my doubts that Eaton intentionally manufactured three of the four tools he mentions into it.


EDIT: The 5262 does have a strip gauge, since it's a back wire, it's on the side. I didn't see it until I put my glasses on, and then it was barely.

my outlets look like the ones you posted.

Sparky put on your glasses. I just enlarged the picture from Amazon........... it is actually stamped with strip 14 wire and strip 12 wire, it's not just a hack apparently.

oh and those are some expensive outlets.

edit : Only Amazon Price is expensive. At Lowe's its normal and includes stripper in description

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Eaton-White-15-Amp-Duplex-Outlet-Residential-Outlet/1098367

 

[Bogie1632]

I knew 3 of the 4 mentioned but have only ever needed to use the guage on the reverse if I was back stabbing. Never knew about the top tang being used to strip back the sheathing. My like I'd slip and open a bit of my fingers.

Like many others, I'll stick with my strippers as a slightly faster, better option.

V/R
Bogie

 

[nbpt100]

At least he put the ground wire on the right way. Should have been a 2 minute video.

 

[sparky 1971]

I'll be damned. They actually do have a "stripping notch" although it looks to me like a good way to get stiches in the hand that's holding the wire. I wonder how often that actually gets used? I know one person that never will, and that's not just because I have strippers, dykes, and linemans that can do it better. I bleed often enough from doing something stupid without thinking. I'm not about to start doing something stupid on purpose just to see if I can. And...I hate Lowes. If I never go there again it will be too soon. The supply houses around here, along with Menards carry P&S.
I wonder if that notch makes the ears a little bit weaker. I've been on service calls where the box was set back a little from the face of the wall and the ears were bent from the device being run back too far. I didn't pay any attention to what they looked like. I just tossed the recep and put a new one in with some shims.

 

[nadogail]

This Old Dog will continue to do things with Wire Strippers and knives; let the young kids follow the "new" ways.

 

[captaindiode]

There is a patent (assigned to Cooper Wiring Devices) from 1993:

US5389011A - Electrical receptacle or switch with built-in wire stripper and looper - Google Patents

A wire stripper and/or a wire looper are integrally formed in a mounting strap or body of an electrical device, such as a duplex receptacle or wall switch, in order to simplify a wiring installation without requiring an installer to use separate tools.

patents.google.com

 

[PoorUB]

Should have been titled four useless tools on an outlet!
I was a bit surprised a the stripper slots, I have seen the strip gauge on outlets, the hole to hook the wire was kind of unimpressive as was the sharp points to strip the jacket.

The strippers and jacket cutter looked like and emergency visit waiting to happen. And who doesn't have a stripper pliers, and a utility knife?

To strip the jacket I generally just grab the ground wire and pull and in most cases it will tear through the jacket, then you just need to trim off the scrap.

The YouTube video was another waste of four minutes of my life. Oh hell, most of the YouTube videos I watch are a waste of time!

 

[rburke65]

Learn how to install the wire in the proper direction around the screw.