Oren wrote:
On Thu, 30 Jan 2014 13:55:14 -0800 (PST),
wrote:

If so, put the wires on the screws.

but that could cause it to shorten?

Back stabbed connections are not reliable in my experience. For
example, my wife always used the same wall receptacle to plug the iron
in. One day I plugged something in and witnessed a bright spark. The
outlet was back stabbed - push in connection. My understanding is the
connections are not reliable. Poor connection verses the screw down
way.

....snip...

It might be worthwhile to point out that to the uninitiated, such as the
OP, there may be some confusion when it comes to the term "back stabbed"
device (switch, receptacle, etc.)

The older, and correctly named, back stabbed devices were the type where
the wire was stripped and then pushed into a hole in the back of the
device. The wire slid past a sharp, flat piece of metal which then wedged
itself against the wire, making the connection. These were notorious for
failing as the "spring" went out of the metal and the connection loosened.

Do an Google image search for back stab receptacle and you'll see lots of
images of failed, burnt receptacles.

Now, fast forward to modern times...

These days you can purchase quality devices that might be confused with a
back stab device in that the wires still get pushed into a hole in the back
of the device, but then the screw is tightened and the wire is pinched
between 2 metal plates.

For example, the uninitiated might think this is a back stab receptacle if
they pulled it out of the wall and saw the wires going into the hole in the
back of the device. This is _not_ a back stab device.

http://inspectapedia.com/electric/Re...0054_DJFcs.jpg

I'm just to make that there is no confusion between the 2 types of
receptacles.