wiring up stuff using screws with 'clamps'?

[strnjss]

ok, not really sure how to explain this. You know how on most switches, plugs and fixtures you basically just wrap the wires around the terminal screws and tighten them down right?

Well, the last time I went to buy an outlet to install, I bought the 'premium' instead of standard, just for some better quality.

Well, instead of just having a screw, it had a u-shaped 'clamp' or plate. The idea is to basically sandwich the wires in between so that instead of the wire just being held on by the screw, it would be sandwiched in-between those two plate things.

The problem is, I find it almost impossible to actually curve the wire around with that plate there. I end up just removing it, and doing it the traditional way.

Is there some trick to curving the wire through such a narrow area? Or is the idea to not have to turn the wire around the screw at all now, and just 'squish' it in there between the plates?

If that's the case, it doesn't seem like it would be secure at all to just put it in between straight like that.

I attached a really crappy drawing to help you all to understand what I'm talking about. I seem to be seeing them everywhere these days. I actually had to remove them from a fixture I just put in in order to get the wires wrapped around the screw properly.

I appreciate any help!

 

[mrb]

the wire just goes straight under the plate. dont ever back the screw all the way out of a wiring device, the threads are staked so the screw wont come out and if you force it out you damage the hole.

 

[strnjss]

the wire just goes straight under the plate. dont ever back the screw all the way out of a wiring device, the threads are staked so the screw wont come out and if you force it out you damage the hole.

Thanks, that's good to know. It never crossed my mind that I may be messing up the hole.

In the case of that fixture, I don't think any damage was done to the threads or hole as it is still really hard to take back out, but I won't do it anymore.

Do you consider that plate thing secure?

I mean I can imagine if over time, a traditional "looped around the screw" loosened up a bit for some reason, the wire would still have a really hard time getting loose, and shorting out or something. The loop prevents it from going anywhere.

But if the wire is just put under that plate, and the screw loosens for some reason, the wire could easily get loose.

I'm sure it's not a common occurrence for those screws to come loose, but I've had house fuses loosen over time in severely hot summers with all the temperature change

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I've seen some switches and receptacles with the clamp plate on the outside (Pass & Seymour I think) but I'm not fond of that setup. The ones I've seen, the clamp plate is rather thin.

The ones I prefer are the ones with holes in the back of the receptacle and the clamp plate on the inside. The Leviton has a very thick, stiff plate with the corners turned up to form a V notch to capture the wire. The Eagle/Cooper uses a plate inside with serrations that also works well, but I think Eagle may have gone to the external clamp plate also.

Charles

 

[mrb]

i hate pass & seymour and cooper / eagle. junk.

I like the hubbell receptacles like these I had for sale here http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=90925&highlight=hubbell

 

[Aceman]

Often times, you can take the wire and curl it around the screw ABOVE the plate. Then tighten it down.

 

[strnjss]

thanks everyone.

@aceman, yes, with the premium Levition outlets I got, the screw plate things were loose, and seemed designed to 'get out of the way" for the traditional install, and that's exactly what I did. However when I got this pull-string light fixture (also Levition), the clamps were basically attached to the head of the screw. I had to remove the screws and bend the plate part off. I guess that's what I get for buying the a $3 fixture!

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I don't believe any impairment was finished to the gist or aperture as it is still actually hard to take back out, but I won't manage it anymore

HUH???????

Spam?????

Reported as such.

Charles

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Backside of a Leviton Pro Grade receptacle showing the clamp plates inside the holes having the V notches formed in them to capture and clamp the wire.

Charles

 

[green.bubbly]

I have been fighting with these Pass & Seymour plugs we use at work. I was getting them at HD. They have this cam lock that is supposed to secure the wire pushed into the hole. These devices are absolutely horrible. I have tried 12 and 14 gauge solid and stranded wire and no matter what I use, the wires just pull out.

I even had a HD manager try one and it did the same thing. I asked him if there was a complaint form or suggestion for to make HD aware of this. He told me he did not know of any form and told me to call the corporate office. He did not seem to give damn about it so I did not either. I just spend the money else where.