Back stab, no back stab?

[andyvh1959]

Anyone here do any wiring with back stabs into the outlets?

Considering cheap outlets can be bought for well less than $1.00, I wonder if the screw connections and back stabs are "iffy" on those as well. But if the outlets are good quality is back stabbing wires a reasonable choice?

 

[klassenl]

No. And no.

 

[yeldogt]

No back stab


I do like the ones were you can insert the wire under the screw from behind. Always pigtail

 

[sberry]

Todays cheap outlet is very good wired to the screws. Fixed one on a service call a while back, just moved the wires.

 

[Terry D]

Dont back stab. I couldn't tell you how many service calls i have had from loose connections from back stabbing. I would also suggest to pigtail the outlets. You would not be running the whole current of the circuit through the screws on the outlet, just the current of that outlet.

There are also back wired devices, dont confuse these with back stabbed. Back wired uses pressure plates to grip the wire when the screw is tightened. These are more of a commercial grade device

Sent from my SM-G960U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[DeeKay]

Never back stab, how much longer does it really take to wire an outlet the "correct" way.
To me, even expensive outlets are relatively cheap insurance compared to the problems cheap parts can cause.

 

[Shiftless]

Are you sensing a trend here?

The receptacles with plates allowing you to wire with straight pieces of bare wire from the back and then tighten the screws are my favorites.

 

[Mr_fixit]

No back stab, unless you want to troubleshoot some dead receptacles in a couple years.

 

[Steve W.]

There is only one situation where I would use a back-stab device.

That would be to wire up a display to show how NOT to install wiring.

.

 

[JRC3]

 

[JRC3]

Little tip when wiring with regular screws, most manufacturers have a little notch near the screw to aid in wrapping the stripped wire around the screw without using anything else but a screwdriver to tighten the screw.

 

[walrus]

Anyone here do any wiring with back stabs into the outlets?

Considering cheap outlets can be bought for well less than $1.00, I wonder if the screw connections and back stabs are "iffy" on those as well. But if the outlets are good quality is back stabbing wires a reasonable choice?

Yes as long as the back stab is made by tightening clamp on wire.

 

[Citation]

I had a house where one of my outlets overheated due to a daisy chained back stabber. I had a space heater on, call it outlet #2. One day I noticed by chance that outlet #1 was quite warm even though nothing was plugged into it. That was the day I learned why everyone here says no back stabbers. They just don't ensure a good connection that won't over heat under load. When the outlet was replaced I used the screw terminals and after that I changed the rest of the outlets in the house. I don't recall but I doubt I was experienced enough to use pigtails vs connecting the in and out going wires to the outlet.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

no back-stab

Yes as long as the back stab is made by tightening clamp on wire.

thats not a "quick wire" back-stab. thats a "back-wire"

 

[Hack Fabrication]

There are (mostly likely) a few 'back stabbed' outlets in my houses. But I NEVER back stab any outlet I replace. Never, never, never. I'm not a Master (or Journeyman, or Apprentice) electrician, but all I've ever been told (by Master or Journeymen - Apprentices are probably chastised severely...) is never back stab. Ever.

 

[Terry D]

I don't know if anyone else has ever come across this. I've removed old receptacles, and the only option was to back stab them, they had no screws

 

[Norcal]

I don't know if anyone else has ever come across this. I've removed old receptacles, and the only option was to back stab them, they had no screws

Quite common in the sixties and seventies Eagle, and Leviton, both made them, and the tab that retained the wire was a little more robust then on today’s backstab devices.

 

[txvwnut]

Had an issue with an outlet a few years ago. Pulled it out of the wall only to find it had been back stabbed in all open spots and smoked the outlet and a few inches of the wire.

 

[andyvh1959]

Thanks everyone. You all confirmed what I've suspected, regardless of cost or quality of the outlets, the only quality way to wire an outlet is under a tightened screw. What is really telling is the pics of the way a stabbed wire only has partial contact around the circumference of the wire section. Then compare that contact with the wire properly routed around and under a screw head. The contact area under the screw head to the wire has to be at least ten times that of a stabbed wire.

Way way back in 74 I had an electrical class in high school. One of our projects was to wire a "house". We had a stud framed 10x12 "house" we wired from the meter base to the main panel and out to the switches and outlets. I recall our teacher also graded our work on properly stripping the wire, bending the wire to go around under the screw, and then squeeze that wire tail closed before tightening the screw. And the wire tail had to go in the direction of the screw tightening. Teacher was a stickler for the details. Only one way to do it right.

 

[walrus]

thats not a "quick wire" back-stab. thats a "back-wire"

OK , they work fine and are easier than wrapping a wire around a screw.

 

[theamcguy]

Explain me this then if every electrician worth his salt says "Never Back Stab" then why did the companies that make outlets waste money paying an engineer to design the system and continue to waste money producing an outlet with a feature everyone says not to use?

 

[allinon72]

Explain me this then if every electrician worth his salt says "Never Back Stab" then why did the companies that make outlets waste money paying an engineer to design the system and continue to waste money producing an outlet with a feature everyone says not to use?

Companies tend to go overboard trying to make products homeowner friendly. While I don’t prefer the backstab connections, this is one of those topics that starts to become an echo chamber after everyone piles on about how your house will burn down by nightfall because of them. My whole house, built in 2018, is backstabbed by a reputable electrical company. Every one I’ve come across I’ve changed over just as a preference, but I’m not going to light my hair on fire changing every one.

As with any internet topic that seems to have a strong consensus, it’s important to use some personal discernment.

 

[TractorJeff]

Just to clarify.
I understand the Spring Tension Back Stab is bad.
You guys are saying the Back Stabbed Screw Tightened is also bad?
OR
Is it a preference to ALWAYS loop wire under a Screw?

 

[Dagny]

Poke it in your done bad poke it in and tighten the screw good.

If you think a wire nut connection is better than a wire wrapped around a screw then pig tail.

 

[Bigblockyeti]

Explain me this then if every electrician worth his salt says "Never Back Stab" then why did the companies that make outlets waste money paying an engineer to design the system and continue to waste money producing an outlet with a feature everyone says not to use?

Production builders keep wiring houses with the lowest bidder who wants to get the job done as fast as possible. Back stabbing is faster and work hardening of the sprung contacts in a typical home takes years before failure begins. My house was built in '04 as was my neighbor's house. The light switch in their master bath failed a few months ago, the same switch in our house started having issues three days later. Builders don't care if an electrician is "worth their salt" they care about a license and a low price.

 

[Norcal]

Explain me this then if every electrician worth his salt says "Never Back Stab" then why did the companies that make outlets waste money paying an engineer to design the system and continue to waste money producing an outlet with a feature everyone says not to use?

Tract homes are low bidder specials, your getting a cheap job, backstabbing is part that. A old timer electrical contractor told me that when wiring with aluminum branch circuits was being done, a $20 difference was all it took to use aluminum over copper, but 20 bucks went a lot farther back then too. Tract/subdivision homes are cheaply built, most people do not care what is behind the walls until there is a problem, so quality is defined by the finish materials like tile, countertops, cabinetry, & such.

 

[Showkey]

Just to clarify.
I understand the Spring Tension Back Stab is bad.
You guys are saying the Back Stabbed Screw Tightened is also bad?
OR
Is it a preference to ALWAYS loop wire under a Screw?

Clarify on this topic

Back stab witha screw

How times have you seen:
Loop with the loop in the wrong direction
Loop with a loose screw

 

[JRC3]

While we're on the subject...These type tools are awesome for wiring outlets. Also great for checking switched circuits. Won't fit GFCI outlets though.

 

[Terry D]

Explain me this then if every electrician worth his salt says "Never Back Stab" then why did the companies that make outlets waste money paying an engineer to design the system and continue to waste money producing an outlet with a feature everyone says not to use?

Even though everyone on here is against back stabbing. That's not the case everywhere. There isn't a lot of money in wiring new homes, unless of course it is a custom home, tract homes not so much. Its a young mans game. Speed is everything. It takes less time to back stab. I know of new home contractors that make there electrician back stab. Its not that every back stabbed device is going to fail, but there is a better chance that it never will by using the screws. I'm glad that I don't have to listen to anyone telling me that I have to back stab. But its the ones that do, that keep me in business doing service calls on ones that have failed

 

[DeeKay]

Just to clarify.
I understand the Spring Tension Back Stab is bad.
You guys are saying the Back Stabbed Screw Tightened is also bad?
OR
Is it a preference to ALWAYS loop wire under a Screw?

I don't see anything wrong with the back wire screw ones, that's the best way anyway if you're wiring anything stranded.

 

[Terry D]

I don't see anything wrong with the back wire screw ones, that's the best way anyway if you're wiring anything stranded.

They is nothing wrong with back wired, like you said, it is the best way for stranded wire.

Some people here are confusing back wired for back stabbed.

 

[Mattcernigs23]

I didn’t take the time to read other replies but from personal experience stabs are horrible. They can loosen over time and I’ve personally had to find outlets in my own house looking for a lose connection causing some serious electrical issues. The ******* that made those connections must have not know any better or was just plain lazy. Twist the wire clockwise and snug with a driver done. That’s how i did all the double gang outlets in my garage. There’s about a 1000 of them. Once you get some muscle memory it easy peasy.


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[James-W]

I may be wrong on this, but I don't think the more expensive outlets even have a "back stab" feature. I think they have the "push in and tighten the screw" feature and the more expensive ones have internal contacts that are a little more heavy duty as well. With heavier duty internal contacts as time goes by you are not as likely to get outlets where the plug falls out when you insert it into the outlet.

 

[nadogail]

Back Stabbers are not only Cheaper to buy, the are faster to connect making them cheaper to install. Usually they can be counted on to last until the new home warranty expires.

Fast and Cheap does not equal Good.

 

[Dustball]

As others have said,

Spring loaded back stab are no good, screw clamped rear entry is good.

 

[sberry]

So are screws, they are very dependable especially by a good installer.
when I was 20 I thought my electric was more special than others and I wondered why everyone didnt go out of the way to find some super receptacle,,, After a while I lose interest and patience and start using the 4$ a box and cant recall ever replacing a replacement. I cant even recall ever replacing a common modern recept, have replaced several old 60's stuff but new economy never. I might have found one recent lost tension but it wasnt overload, might have been physicakl damage but its so rare I dont worry about it and,,,
The low cost is a thing of beauty, no temptation to use or leave something old when new is so economical. Takes all the cost debate right out of it.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

No back stabs! Back-wiring (plates, not stab) with the higher quality receptacles is fine.

I just got a call from my friend this afternoon about receptacles in his living not working. Last time I was there he had two issues that I fixed, both caused by backstabbed receptacles. I bet I can guess what the problem is this time before I even get there.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Explain me this then if every electrician worth his salt says "Never Back Stab" then why did the companies that make outlets waste money paying an engineer to design the system and continue to waste money producing an outlet with a feature everyone says not to use?

Because theres still suckers out there that buy them for cheap *** tract homes, that dont care if its a bad product.

Just to clarify.
I understand the Spring Tension Back Stab is bad.
You guys are saying the Back Stabbed Screw Tightened is also bad?
OR
Is it a preference to ALWAYS loop wire under a Screw?

no such animal as a back-stabbed screw.

the spec grade (heavy duty grade at home depot for $5ea) do NOT have any kind of back stab connection. they have whats called "back-wire" with holes that the wires go into and a plate behind the screw that clamps the wire down.

I loop wires on cheap receptacles that have the "quick-wire" terminals.

While we're on the subject...These type tools are awesome for wiring outlets. Also great for checking switched circuits. Won't fit GFCI outlets though.

part number?

I may be wrong on this, but I don't think the more expensive outlets even have a "back stab" feature. I think they have the "push in and tighten the screw" feature and the more expensive ones have internal contacts that are a little more heavy duty as well. With heavier duty internal contacts as time goes by you are not as likely to get outlets where the plug falls out when you insert it into the outlet.

the spec grade receptacles have "side-wire" terminals- a plate behind the screw on the side.

the "heavy duty" receptacles have "back-wire" terminals with holes on the back where the wire is inserted and a plate behind the screw clamps the wire down after tightening the screw.

 

[bwringer]

After chasing down a few failures from failed backstabbed outlets, I devoted a brisk Saturday morning to replacing every single outlet and switch in my house.

The number of them showing heat damage was appalling. Honestly it's a wonder the horizon isn't orange every night from house fires caused by back stabbed outlets. It's really hard to overstate just how ****** these things are. I honestly cannot fathom how they're still legal.

Hack electricians LOOOOOOVE love love their stabbys because they're cheap, fast, and easy.

And honestly, after doing it for just one morning in one house, I was feeling a little sore in my twistin' wrist. Installing outlets and switches is hard on the hands, and I kinda get the urge to find shortcuts. But this one just isn't safe at all.

 

[JRC3]

part number?

HF item. For such a basic tool I don't care where it comes from as long as it's satisfactory then throw in inexpensive. I've used the piss out of mine. I can't seem to find it on their website, must've discontinued it. http://hfreviews.com/item.php?id=3795

Now I have to find one on Amazon as a backup. Might also grab a few as stocking stuffers if they are under $10. A quick look I can't find it or a similar one called the PlugGrip. ...Will look more later.