Re: Electrical Switch Question

Eric Scantlebury wrote:
Hello all,

I have a question about a single pole single throw switch. On a "normal" Leviton 15 amp switch there are "secondary" attachments for power on the back via a "push in port" (for lack of a better term). So the line side has both screw terminals and this additional port (I presume to do what I want to do - bring one power line feed into a box to power 3 separately switched circuits). The problem is that the push in port only accepts 14 gauge wire and I have 12 gauge wire as this is a 20 amp circuit. Ok so I buy a 20 amp switch - no "secondary" power attachment. Why is this? Is this standard or are their 20 amp switches that mimic their 15 amp cousins so that I can run non switched power between multiple 20 amp switches in a box?

TIA



What you are calling a "push in port" is often called a "back stab" connection.

Compared to a screw terminal connection, a "back stab" has a relatively high
failure rate. Folks who do a lot of electrical work generally tend to dislike the
"back stab" connections.

The old style "back stab" connections have the holes or the wire, and a small "tab"
that can be pushed by a small flat blade screw driver to release the "back stab"
connection. These are a really bad idea ifyou are cursed with aluminum
wire.

There is a newer style of back connection that seems to be a bit more reliable.
These have a "port" if you will, and a screw and plate. You unloosen the screw
as far as it will go, the plate sort of falls away from the port inside the body.
Put the properly stripped wire (there should be a strip guide on the deice, you strip
enough insulation so that the bare wire bottoms out in the hole, but no bare
wire shows at the back of the device) into the "port" and srew the screw down
tight which drives the plate ino clamping tight to the wire inside the "port".

The "port" as you call it is really not an auxillary power feed. You use the port
or the screw, not both.

Standard 20 amp single pole switches tend to easily fit only one 12 ga wire around
the terminal screw. With a lot of pracice and the right tools you can sometimes get
a 12 and a 14 around one screw, but its bad practice.

You usually don't find "ports" on 20 amp devices because ports tend to be
less reliable and the NEC doesn't, AFIK, allow old style "back stab" on 20 ap devices.

The new style

The better method is to "pigtail" the connection, which involves wire nuts.
12 ga is a bear to work in a standard depth box. Deep boxes leave more room.
Power in on 1 cable, wire nut 3 or 4 12 ga feeders to the power black, feed each switch
one feeder. Connect the black wires of each separate branch to a separate switch
output. All the white wires from the power feed and the branch cables get wired
together. All the grounds get wired together.


I'm not sure what you are trying to do, but I think you need a detailed wiring book,
and maybe some professional electrician type help. This is ot complicated but 12 ga
is a bear to work with.




.

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