Backstab receptacles use a spring-metal gripper behind holes in the back of the receptacle to secure the hot and neutral wires when installing a receptacle. You just stab the stripped wire end into the hole and the connection is done. Because they eliminate the work of bending wire ends into a “U” with long-nose pliers and tightening them down under side screws, they were popular during the 1970s and 1980s. 

    But backstab receptacles developed a bad reputation with many electricians due to loosening of the spring tension over time, with a resulting short, as in the photo above of the melted back of a failed receptacle. Some electricians will now only use side screw connections and, because of the failures, Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) revised their standard for stab-in receptacles in 1996 to allow them to be used only with #14 copper wires, eliminating their approval for use with larger #12 copper wire. UL found that too much pressure was being exerted on the spring-metal gripper when the #12 wires, which are thicker and stiffer, were pushed into the outlet box.

    Backstab receptacles should not be confused with a variant called “backwire” receptacles that require tightening a screw to secure the wire in the hole.

    Also see our blog post What are "self-contained" electrical receptacle outlets and switches?

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  To learn more about electrical wiring, devices, and receptacles, see these other blog posts:

 • What is the difference between what trips a GFCI (ground fault) receptacle and a circuit breaker?

• What is the code requirement for GFCI protection for receptacles near a wet bar sink? 

• What is the requirement for a service receptacle outlet for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HACR) equipment? 

• Why is an opening in the wall around the side of an electrical receptacle outlet a safety defect?  

• When was GFCI-protection for kitchen dishwasher receptacle outlet first required? 

• What is allowable voltage range at a wall receptacle outlet in a house?

• When should I replace electric receptacle outlets? 

• Does an electric receptacle outlet in a storage shed require GFCI protection? 

• When was the three-slot (grounding) outlet/receptacle first required? 

• Why does painting an electric receptacle (outlet) make it unsafe?

• Why are electrical outlets and plugs polarized? 

• How many electrical receptacles (outlets) are required in a hallway?  

• What problems does having too many electric receptacle outlets on a single circuit cause? 

• Is a house required to have outdoor electric receptacle outlets?

• How I can tell if a receptacle outlet is tamper resistant?

• How far apart should kitchen counter receptacles be spaced?  

• How far above a kitchen countertop do electrical outlets have to be?

• What is reversed polarity at an outlet/receptacle? Why is it dangerous? 

• How high above the floor do electric outlets/receptacles in a garage have to be?

• How far apart should electric receptacles be spaced in a bathroom? 

• Is an ungrounded electric receptacle outlet dangerous?

• How far apart should the electrical receptacles be placed?

• What are the most common problems/defects found with electric receptacle outlets during a home inspection?

   Visit our ELECTRICAL page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.