When Are Pigtails Required?

[DC73]

I'm getting closer to finishing up my rough-in wiring. When are pigtails required in the installation of outlets, switches and fixtures?

I know I'll need pigtails for multiple switch locations, etc but got to wondering when they are required.

For example, are they required when connecting one outlet to one incoming and one outgoing feed?

Are they required when connecting a light fixture at a ceiling box with one incoming and one outgoing feed?

I do have GFCI outlets at the head of each circuit and I know I can't use pigtails there if I want to protect the rest of the circuit.

I used #12 everywhere if it matters.

Thanks,

DC

 

[Gerald O]

As far as I recall, they are only needed in multi-wire branch circuits (MWBC).
I always use them unless the device is the last outlet at the end of the circuit (or in the case of the GFCI protected circuit as you mentioned.)

 

[CNGsaves]

Pigtails are "Required" . . . . . when Ponytails just won't do !! . .

 

[Lx460]

Whenever you can talk her into wearing the catholic school girl uniform, pigtails are mandatory.

 

[taumac]

Pigtails are "Required" . . . . . when Ponytails just won't do !! . .

LOL beat me too it!

 

[p1ll1ng]

Are you truing to do it the good way or the fast and cheep way

 

[Mustang51js]

They aren't required anywhere but are used a lot to make connections better and if you have more wires than screws

 

[toplessHO]

They aren't required anywhere but are used a lot to make connections better and if you have more wires than screws

yes they are!
multi wire branch circuits with shared neutrals require a pigtail at the device
instead of using device as a feed thru.
I make pigtails on everything that has more than one wire at terrmination

 

[tncatadjuster]

http://www.jade1.com/jadecc/courses/UNIVERSAL/NEC05.php?imDif=23

 

[alfredeneuman]

In addition to the MWBC neutral's need to be pigtailed, all Equipment Grounding Conductors must be pigtailed.

 

[toplessHO]

In addition to the MWBC neutral's need to be pigtailed, all Equipment Grounding Conductors must be pigtailed.

not so if you strip out a portion(or use continuous bare) and loop around the ground screw on device and do same at box ground(if metallic box is used)

remember the greenies?

 

[toplessHO]

delete duplicate error

 

[DC73]

Are you truing to do it the good way or the fast and cheep way

I'm trying to do it the smart way while being code compliant. Not opposed to a bit of overkill but I don't necessarily want to create a lot of unnecessary work for myself either.

DC

 

[p1ll1ng]

In residential i dont do it but we also never run mwbc because of afci's when i am doing comercial or industrial wiring i always do

 

[Mustang51js]

In addition to the MWBC neutral's need to be pigtailed, all Equipment Grounding Conductors must be pigtailed.

I always use barrel crimps so wasn't even thinking of that

 

[94EG8]

You can't put more than one wire under a single screw, any time you end up in a situation where there are more wires than screws you need a pigtail. As stated you also need a pigtail for ground wires on everything.

 

[rsieracki]

I know people say pigtails are better for daisy chaining receptacles but if one is using SPEC GRADE BACKCLAMP/WIRE not back-stab outlets that have provisions for 2 wires under each screw from the manufacturer i don't see the harm in wiring them that way.

attached is a photo...

anyone with a MENARDS close by they have them on sale tru tomorrow.. pass ans seymour for $14.99 for a 10 pack... virtually the same price of the bottom of the barrel for a top notch outlet

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

They aren't required anywhere but are used a lot to make connections better and if you have more wires than screws

We aren't allowed to backstab outlets around here,everything gets tails unless its the end of a circuit.

 

[toplessHO]

We aren't allowed to backstab outlets around here,everything gets tails unless its the end of a circuit.

back stabbing and pressure plate connections arent the same thing
that pic is of pressure plate connectors

 

[DC73]

I have one location that has a 3 gang switch box with 3 standard switches (no 3-ways), power in and power out. That's a lot of ground wires. What's the best way to connect the grounds in this box?

Are grounds required to be wire nutted or crimped or can they simply be twisted together tightly? In my current 12 year old house, they are just twisted together but I'm thinking someone said codes had changed.

I purchased all pro grade outlets and switches that have the back-wire clamps.

Thanks for all the help and the good discussion.

DC

 

[alfredeneuman]

not so if you strip out a portion(or use continuous bare) and loop around the ground screw on device and do same at box ground(if metallic box is used)

remember the greenies?

That's a condition where just a single grounding conductor is coming into the box. The same is true for the hot and the neutral.
It doesn't apply in this case where you're talking about more than 1 ground.

....and Mustang, barrel crimps where you leave the tails intact past the crimp is just another method of pigtailing.

 

[CGT80]

I don't know the term for it, but I was taught to leave the wire long and strip it where you would normally cut it, but without cutting the wire. Make a loop and put the loop under a screw, then you have a pigtail without cutting the wire and using wire nuts, so you can connect the next switch or receptacle.

You could take a ground wire that comes into a metal box and loop it around the ground screw for the box, then loop around the first switch, the the second, and then the third, without cutting it. Even if a screw comes loose on a switch, the devices down the line are still connected. I do the same with the hot or neutral wires as well. You just have to strip the middle of the wire enough to go under a screw head. The wire can be looped on the end and may stop at a receptacle or switch, or it could be connected to another wire with a wire nut, to feed another box.

I have used the back wire receptacles that clamp the wire with a screw, and I like them, but the screw can still come loose and cause a device down the line to no longer have a connection. Push in connections are a joke and I will not use them. I also don't recall seeing any that accept 12 ga wire. The ones I have seen are made for 14 gauge. Most of the work I did was on 20 amp circuits, or for receptacles, so my boss and I decided to always use 12 gauge rather than stocking two different types of cable. Most of our work was also commercial and therefore required MC cable or conduit.

When you make pig tails, twist the wires with lineman's pliers and then wire nut them, it prevents bad connections. Lazy people will just hold the wires together and put the wire nut on. When they do that it makes it easier to take that connection apart later, but it is a common failure point in a circuit. A loose wire nut ( or screw connection on a receptacle or switch, for that matter) creates more resistance and sparking and heat. Burned or melted wire nuts can result from this.

Once you do connections with pigtails or looped connections, it isn't that hard or time consuming, but it reduces the chances of failure later on. Inspectors can have different preferences, even in the same city, so local code and the person doing the inspections can dictate which way you terminate wires.

 

[toplessHO]

That's a condition where just a single grounding conductor is coming into the box. The same is true for the hot and the neutral.
It doesn't apply in this case where you're talking about more than 1 ground.

....and Mustang, barrel crimps where you leave the tails intact past the crimp is just another method of pigtailing.

not true
can do this with multiple devices in same box,saving all those pigtails

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

back stabbing and pressure plate connections arent the same thing
that pic is of pressure plate connectors

We aren't allowed to use the recept as part of the joint to make up wires around here,Its been that way since the early 90s around here anyway.

 

[alfredeneuman]

not true
can do this with multiple devices in same box,saving all those pigtails

Yes, Very true in this case!

The original question in the first post from DC73

For example, are they required when connecting one outlet to one incoming and one outgoing feed?

Are they required when connecting a light fixture at a ceiling box with one incoming and one outgoing feed?

 

[DC73]

. . . . Once you do connections with pigtails or looped connections, it isn't that hard or time consuming, but it reduces the chances of failure later on. . . .

Thank you for the help. I've decided that I will go ahead and use pigtails on all outlets where the circuit is continuing on (other than the GFCI outlets of course). For those locations with multiple switches, I picked up some crimp sleeves for the grounds although I do like your method of looping wire from switch to switch.

DC

 

[Captain America]

I used the one wire loop method to tie together the hot and ground in a 4 switch box. It keeps the box more organized and takes less room.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I used the one wire loop method to tie together the hot and ground in a 4 switch box. It keeps the box more organized and takes less room.

Old school ! I don't think they teach the youngsters that any more !!

 

[TheEquineFencer]

Whenever you can talk her into wearing the catholic school girl uniform, pigtails are mandatory.

Yep, beat me to this one...

 

[CGT80]

Old school ! I don't think they teach the youngsters that any more !!

That pic is how I do it and I learned that less than 10 years ago, so mid to late 20's. It is how my electrician buddy taught me to do it.

 

[scissorman]

I used the one wire loop method to tie together the hot and ground in a 4 switch box. It keeps the box more organized and takes less room.

It also pretty much necessitates removing ALL the switches to work on just one.

 

[xyster101]

Those look like the $0.89 switches. In the future splurge and get the $1.50 switches and outlets. They last longer and have nicer screws.
I don't like to daisy chain things. More expensive switches allow two wires on the same screw because they have a screw clamp.

 

[teamextreme]

It also pretty much necessitates removing ALL the switches to work on just one.

How so? If you need to work on one, you just unwrap that loop.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

It also pretty much necessitates removing ALL the switches to work on just one.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

How so? If you need to work on one, you just unwrap that loop.

try pulling the middle switch out without pulling the others out on a set of 3 switches,seperate tails are a lot easier to deal with.

 

[Captain America]

True on removing all switches to work on one, but I can not remember the last time I had to work/remove one switch. It will only take an extra five minutes to remove all the switches. Not a big deal for me.

 

[TheEquineFencer]

Pigtails are "Required" . . . . . when Ponytails just won't do !! . .

No, pigtails are required on PIGS...

PIGS: Projects In Grocery Sacks

 

[teamextreme]

I guess we're somehow not thinking the same thing, because I don't see how all switches need to be removed to work on one. With one solid wire, starting at switch 1, wrapping around the screw, continuing on to switch 2, etc., you can unloop any one switch and work on just that one.

Edit: Nevermind, I just figured out what you guys are talking about, removing the switches from the wall, not removing the wiring from the switches. Yes, you're right, it pretty much requires removing all of them to work on.