[Elecraft] 120V vs 240V

[R. Kevin Stover]

On Wed, 16 Feb 2011 13:34:53 -0600
"Don Cunningham" <donc at martineer.net> wrote:

> I guess I'm getting old.  Sorry about the blank message!!  Don, I
> found something interesting in doing some "remodeling" and replacing
> receptacles. The old ones were ivory, and with the new white trim, I
> had to please the XYL, hi.  Anyway, since my wiring days in the
> sixties, I have avoided the "backstab" type receptacle myself,
> knowing that spring HAD to wear out over the years.  I found some
> receptacles at Lowe's, made by Cooper Industries that had the
> "backstab" feature.  I was going to wrap the wire under the screws as
> I always have BUT these new back entry plugs now use the screw on the
> side to run a clamping mechanism against the wire, making a really
> good connection!!  If one looks at the new plugs, you may be
> pleasantly surprised to find this new feature (maybe old by now, but
> my first experience with it).  I did a "test room" with that method,
> but will do the rest of the place the old fashioned way, hi.

Don and all.

Our house, a 1972 vintage four level split, was full of back-stab
receptacles. We had one fail in an upstairs bedroom so after the
electrician left I went down to the hardware barn and purchased a box
or two of of the receptacle that Don Cunningham references.

I just finished changing out the last two this last weekend.

I did a little test. I wrapped a length of 14/2 Romex around my bench
vise in the garage and clamped it down tight. Connected the other
stripped ends to one of the new receptacles using the "back-stab+screw"
connection and started pulling.

As expected the wire stayed put and more importantly didn't let go when
there was slack on the cable after the pulling exercise.

This house has all new receptacles now. Now all I have to worry about
is the 39 year old wiring and the "creative" wiring the builder did
when he put this thing up.

Lets just say the kitchen has all new Romex in it after a kitchen
remodel exposed the fact that the builder ran all of the Romex for the
kitchen through the ceiling soffits (considered living space by our
code) rather than the walls.

-- 
R. Kevin Stover
AC0H