How do you remove a wire from a push-in fitting when there is no release opening?
Note: “What could cause two of my receptacles to stop working?” is my post.
Note: My home is a 1980 manufactured home. It had junk plumbing (I have replaced the plumbing) and it has a junk electrical system.
I wanted to practice on an old receptacle by replacing the receptacle with an up-to-date receptacle that has screw terminals. When I looked at the old receptacle I saw that it had push-in fittings, but no release openings to remove the wires (two white, two black) from the push-in fittings.
So, how do I remove the wires?
I see four ways:
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Cut the wires. I would cut the wires as close to the push-in fitting as possible.
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By using brute force pull the wires from the fitting. Is this even possible?
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Use a Dermal rotary tool to cut-up the receptacle being careful to not harm the wires. I see no reason to save the junk receptacle.
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Some other method.
Any help you can give me with this problem would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Best Answer
Unless the wires are way too short, just cut them off - it's not worth wasting your time for 1/2" of wire. You can use wirenuts and add a pigtail if you need more wire. If the wires are way too short, and the circuit is dead, put on safety glasses and use a hammer or locking pliers or a bolt cutter to smash the crap receptacle and release your wires quickly. Life is way too short to fuss with a rotary tool cutting them open.