Re: Proper connections for multiple receptacles

[stardog]

This is really a "wiring 101" type question, but I've always been curious about this. When wiring together on the same circuit multiple standard (non-GFCI) receptacles, does it matter the order in which the hot and neutral wires are connected to each receptacle. Obviously, hot goes to the brass screws and the neutral to the silver screws, but is there a particular or preferred order to attaching the wires to each receptacle.

Question 1: When connecting the first receptacle to the second receptacle, does it matter whether the hot gets attached to the top or bottom brass screw on the second receptacle?

Question 2: In the same vein, does the neutral wire coming into the second receptacle have to always be paired with it's hot wire? For example, if the hot is connected to the top brass screw on the second receptacle, then does the neutral wire coming in have to be connected to the top silver screw as well?

Or does the connection order not matter at all, as long as all "hots" get connected to any brass screw, top or bottom, and the neutrals get connented to any silver screw, top or bottom?

At the end of the run, does it matter whether the top or bottom screws are used on the last receptacle, as long as hot and neutral are in sync (either both connected at the top, or both connected at the bottom)?

Just something really basic that I've never seen clearly addressed anywhere. Tks for the learning experience .

 

[Cacher_Chick]

We don't use the 2nd set of screws, we pigtail each receptacle back to the hot and neutral wires. This allows one to replace the receptacle in the future without effecting the other wires in the box.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[hj]

Both screws, on either side, are connected together by their brass mounting plate so "order" is immaterial.

 

[Jadnashua]

It's neater if you don't use the receptacle as a terminal strip for the two connections. But, as said, it makes no difference which screw is used unless you break the tab between the two to provide separate inputs (like maybe one half switched and the other constant on, or two totally different circuits to accommodate higher loads).

 

[stardog]

It's neater if you don't use the receptacle as a terminal strip for the two connections. But, as said, it makes no difference which screw is used unless you break the tab between the two to provide separate inputs (like maybe one half switched and the other constant on, or two totally different circuits to accommodate higher loads).

Thanks for everyone's input. I figured this would be the case as long as the brass tab between the screws was not removed, but wasn't absolutely sure.