Timeline for When wiring outlets should I use pigtails or both sets of outlet screws?

6 events

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Jul 10, 2012 at 1:49	comment	added	Michael		@bcworkz Some types of failures will cause an outage for all downstream devices, others will not. It depends on the type of failure, but as Philip Ngai has pointed out, the screw terminal, backing plate, etc. is seeing more current, so it will increase the possibility of something going wrong. Stabbing the receptacles in the back is even worse, and it is very likely that you'll have a failure at some point down the road.
Jul 10, 2012 at 1:05	comment	added	Philip Ngai		The binding screws could be one of the more likely failures as they carry the full current of the circuit and will heat/cool and expand and contract with use. A pigtail has a wire nut carrying the full circuit current and has "teeth" that bite into the copper which is probably more gas tight and resistant to heating. The PSI of a wire nut is much higher than a binding screw so the wire will deform and make an oxide free connection.
Jul 10, 2012 at 0:45	comment	added	bcworkz		Unless the failure is in the binding screws, the backing plate, or the break off tab, how does an outlet failure effect downstream receptacles? Current will pass thru this path regardless of what happens inside the recep.
Jul 9, 2012 at 23:25	comment	added	DA01		good point re: one fails, they all fail.
Jul 9, 2012 at 23:13	history	edited	Michael	CC BY-SA 3.0	added 150 characters in body
Jul 9, 2012 at 22:54	history	answered	Michael	CC BY-SA 3.0