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I thought this was going to be an easy swap but my old outlet has 6 wires vs 4 wires on my new one. Can I still use this new outlet?

New outlet and old, wired outlet

Closeup of old, wired outlet
click to embiggen images

isherwood
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getrichordiediying
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4 Answers4

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Sure. Clearest/simplest way is to wirenut the 3 blacks and a short black, the 3 whites and a short white, and connect the free ends of the short wires ("pigtails") to the new device. Use the screws, not the backstabs (says decades of dubious experiences with backstabs...)

That is only the case because this appears to be a straightforwardly wired receptacle with nothing "funky" going on (does not appear to be half-switched, all the blacks are on the hot side, all the whites are on the neutral side, etc.)

Ecnerwal
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11

Your new outlet will work just fine. You'll have to remove the three black wires from the old outlet and wire nut them together with an additional 6" piece of black wire. Remove the three white wires from the old outlet and wire nut, pigtail, them together with an additional 6" piece of white wire. Take the additional black wire and hook it around one of the brass screws and tighten. Take the additional white wire and hook it around one of the silver screws and tighten.

JACK
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9

Use a "spec grade" receptacle ($3, comes in a box instead of loose). They accept 4 wires per side.

Those have a feature, informally called "Screw-and-clamp", in which the wires insert in the back, but you tighten the screws to clamp them. That supports 2 wires under each screw.

This feature is also found on any GFCI receptacle.

Harper - Reinstate Monica
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You want to buy "LEVITON – Back and Slide Wire Outlet" from homedepot. This outlet lets you install 6 wires (3 hot, 3 netural)... no need for pigtail mess, just slide in wires and tight nut

Also, try to avoid backstabbing (inserting wires into spring-loaded holes, which can loosen over time) and cheap outlets. Below outlet is Commercial Grade & Tamper Resistant

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-15-Amp-125-V-Commercial-Grade-Tamper-Resistant-Duplex-Outlet-Receptacle-White-1-Pack-TCBR1-00W-R52-TCBR1-00W/205844894

Dan
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