Electrical – Z-Wave outlet wiring – plugging in multiple black/white wires

electricalwiring

I'm replacing a regular 2 plug outlet with a Leviton Z-Wave Outlet [Instructions].

The old outlet had 2 screws for black, 2 screws for white wires going into it. This new outlet only has 1 screw for black and 1 for white.

Both of these seem like possibly correct wirings to me but I wanted to confirm and see if one was better:

  1. Introduce a 3rd black pigtail wire, join the 3 blacks together with a wire nut, and only plug the 1 pigtail black wire into the outlet. Repeat for white (shown in picture).

  2. Don't introduce a 3rd black wire, but rather insert the 2 black wires into the top/bottom slots of the same screw. Repeat for the 2 white wires on the other side.

It would be much easier to do (2) especially since space in the box is tight, however I was concerned since the instructions say "either hold may be used" (emphasis mine).

So my questions are: a) Are both of these valid options? b) Is one a "better" solution than the other?

outlet
instructions

Best Answer

I can't quite tell from the documentation above whether the receptacle is listed to take 2 wires via clamp. When it says "either side" does it imply "both"? If not, why have 2 slots? If listed, that is a fine solution.

Pigtailing is an elegant way to do that. However a pigtail requires more box fill. Aside from having to fit as a practical matter, it counts as an additional wire for the statutory rules on box fill.

I'm a big fan of stranded wire for its flexibility (i.e. in pigtails), and I'm irked that this receptacle is listed only for solid wire. That would have to be pigtailed to solid wire if you were working THHN in conduit with stranded wire.

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