Wiring Receptacles

Bocolo

Hello,
When wiring a receptacle, you leave about 1/2 inch of insulation inside the box, the wires inside the box should be about 6 to 8 inches, and you must strip approximately 3/4 inch of insulation from the wires. Is this correct? Which leads to my next question. If I need to use a "pigtail", how long should the pigtail be? Thanks for your time and input.

DangerMouse

i dare say 6 to 8 inches, same as the wires, to allow easy packing.

DM

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Bocolo

Yeah, I though about the 6 to 8 inches also but I need to clarify just because that seems kind of excessive. You would then be basically having 12 to 16 inches of each wire in a box. Is the rest of the setup described correct? Thanks for your time and input.

bobelectric

Consult your N.E.C. codebook ,Please .

DangerMouse

gee bob, what if he loaned it to a needy friend?
personally, i stocked up on 22 cubic inch carlon blue boxes so it'd be a bit easier for me to do this place.

DM

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Bocolo

Everything I have read refers to a "pigtail" as a "short" piece of wire where "short" is not measured. I have a 2005 NEC book and can't seem to find requirements for "pigtails" perhaps you can be so kind as to lead me in the right direction so that I may look it up? By the way (my personal feeling not trying to start a war here) I hate answers like "look at the NEC Book", this would not be much of a DIY forum if we always got answers like that. All the same, I truly appreciate your time and input.

Scuba_Dave

Bob's a helpful guy
I've been thru a lot of the code book & I can't recall seeing anything
Doesn't mean it doesn't exist
I keep about 6-8" for the pigtail too
I also use the largest blue box since I did 6" walls on the new construction

darren

I have never seen it the Canadian code regarding the length but i am with everyone else when they say 6" to 8". You will be thanking us later when you have to go back and troubleshoot that plug in the future. It is very frustrating when you go to troubleshoot a plug and can only pull it 1 or 2 inches off the wall.

buletbob

I always use my dikes as a gauge.6-8" would be fine. and make sure you wrap the screws with your terminal connections. It seems every time I go to pull a receptacle out of a wall the at least one wire comes out of the quick connect, which tells me it was a hazard waiting to happen. BOB

Bocolo

Thanks for your help and time guys. It is really appreciated. I will go with the 6 to 8 inches. I know what you mean when not having enough wire to troubleshoot or replace. Thanks again.

unclduey

As long as the original wires are sticking out from the front of the box are 6-8, just pigtail what you feel is easy to fold back into the box. Sounds like you got it!

Scuba_Dave

I actually fold all the wires into the box & only have my pigtail wires sticking out for the rough inspection. Inspector noted that they should be longer, then noticed they were pigtailed & said it was OK since I had already folded the wire in

Bocolo

Thanks again guys. I guess I am right on track now. Thanks.

220/221

I'd say 4". Enough to exit the wirenut downward to the bottom of the box and fold back up to the device. Too much wire is almost as bad as too little.

Bocolo

Thanks 220, makes sense. I take it pigtail lenghts are not discussed on NEC. I am still unable to find it. Thanks again.