Electrical – Can push in connectors be used for parallel circuits

circuitelectricallightingwiring

Adding in new construction can lights that come with push in connectors.

Rather than using the old yellow cap twists, the connectors have 4 slots and I wanted to know if I can just run a line from one light to the next using these connectors, or will that act as series?

Best Answer

"old yellow cap twists" - if you hate the things then use something else.

However you should hate the old ones. Old wire-nuts aren't very good, or to be more precise, newer ones are better designed. I throw away all old wire nuts especially Scotchloks.

The other reason to hate wire-nuts is if you have not learned proper technique. If they don't firmly hold together by themselves, you're not tightening them enough, or wrong-size nut for that many wires. I stock yellow and red, that covers just about everything.

Never, ever tape wire nuts. Or to be more precise, never need to tape wire nuts. A proper splice must easily pass a "pull test" (hold nut, yank each wire one at a time).

"Backstab" connections on receptacles and switches are known to be unreliable. Some here will vouch for the stabby splice, but keep in mind those "came free with the lights" which isn't the highest recommendation in the world.