4 ms·

Aren’t the push in things on outlets worse though?

sgtnoodle 5y ago
They are worse for whoever next has to swap out the outlet. Electrically it's probably slightly higher resistance than the alternatives, but it doesn't seem to really matter.
- lotsofpulp 5y ago
  I added additional power outlets in my house to locations above existing outlets, and I had to struggle to get the push in clamp to release the wire at least half the time. I guess the builder used the cheapest outlets, but the screw option is much easier for servicing.
corty 5y ago
Resistance in push-in clamp contacts is a little higher than soldered contacts, and about the same as screwed ones. Consistency for push-in contacts is far far better: Cold and sloppy soldering just doesn't happen, loose screws don't happen. Corrosion resistance is worse both for screwed and push-in contacts, but the push-in ones are self-healing: just wiggle it a little and it is fine again. Solder does also age and corrode, but very slowly. Both solder and screwed contacts are prone to loosen and break under vibration and movement (which shouldn't happen when wiring a house, but relevant e.g. for cars). You can do aerospace-grade soldering, which together with proper wiring design to reduce transferred force and vibration, will be sturdier than anything else, but also far far more difficult and expensive. Soldered contacts are also prone to degrade quickly when heated, e.g. when overtaxing a circuit or the (sloppily done) solder joint, which can happen at less than the circuit rating. Push-in clamps keep the contact pressure even with heat expansion, movement and deforming ageing wires. So there are specifics one has to be aware of, but in most cases, you want push-in clamps. Soldering is the only alternative, but isn't really viable without the proper skills of the worker and inspection of all solder joints.
- michael1999 5y ago
  So my affection for set-screw marrs is misguided? Hard to admit.
  - corty 5y ago
    Set-screw Marr? How the hell are those even legal anywhere, they are unusable without getting electrocuted when connecting them. Screw-on insulator cap? You are giving me the shivers... If you need something with a screw, use https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%BCsterklemme#/media/Datei:Screw_terminal_with_crimped_wire.jpg https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%BCsterklemme#/media/Datei... But almost always, really really, use Wago 221 (preferred) or Wago 2273. You won't want anything else anymore.
    - michael1999 5y ago
      I don’t work on energized circuits. But thanks for the wago suggestion.
treis 5y ago
You are correct and it's weird that so many people are disagreeing. The backstab connectors are more prone to wire breakage than the traditional screw connector. It is a relative thing though. We're talking about more likely to break after 10-15 years of the repetitive stress of plugging in stuff.

They are worse for whoever next has to swap out the outlet. Electrically it's probably slightly higher resistance than the alternatives, but it doesn't seem to really matter.

lotsofpulp 5y ago
I added additional power outlets in my house to locations above existing outlets, and I had to struggle to get the push in clamp to release the wire at least half the time. I guess the builder used the cheapest outlets, but the screw option is much easier for servicing.

corty 5y ago

Resistance in push-in clamp contacts is a little higher than soldered contacts, and about the same as screwed ones. Consistency for push-in contacts is far far better: Cold and sloppy soldering just doesn't happen, loose screws don't happen. Corrosion resistance is worse both for screwed and push-in contacts, but the push-in ones are self-healing: just wiggle it a little and it is fine again. Solder does also age and corrode, but very slowly. Both solder and screwed contacts are prone to loosen and break under vibration and movement (which shouldn't happen when wiring a house, but relevant e.g. for cars). You can do aerospace-grade soldering, which together with proper wiring design to reduce transferred force and vibration, will be sturdier than anything else, but also far far more difficult and expensive. Soldered contacts are also prone to degrade quickly when heated, e.g. when overtaxing a circuit or the (sloppily done) solder joint, which can happen at less than the circuit rating. Push-in clamps keep the contact pressure even with heat expansion, movement and deforming ageing wires. So there are specifics one has to be aware of, but in most cases, you want push-in clamps. Soldering is the only alternative, but isn't really viable without the proper skills of the worker and inspection of all solder joints.

michael1999 5y ago
So my affection for set-screw marrs is misguided? Hard to admit.
- corty 5y ago
  Set-screw Marr? How the hell are those even legal anywhere, they are unusable without getting electrocuted when connecting them. Screw-on insulator cap? You are giving me the shivers... If you need something with a screw, use https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%BCsterklemme#/media/Datei:Screw_terminal_with_crimped_wire.jpg https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%BCsterklemme#/media/Datei... But almost always, really really, use Wago 221 (preferred) or Wago 2273. You won't want anything else anymore.
  - michael1999 5y ago
    I don’t work on energized circuits. But thanks for the wago suggestion.

treis 5y ago

You are correct and it's weird that so many people are disagreeing. The backstab connectors are more prone to wire breakage than the traditional screw connector. It is a relative thing though. We're talking about more likely to break after 10-15 years of the repetitive stress of plugging in stuff.