Contents
In this article, I will teach you to remove the wire from push-in connectors.
I have been on a few contract jobs where someone had bungled removing wires from push-in connector; it’s not pretty. A loose connection can lead to a fire hazard, and a circuit breaker can’t detect it.
In general, to remove a wire from a push-in connector:
- First, cut off the power.
- Separate the cover plate from the wall by removing the screws.
- Loosen the screws and pull out the electrical outlet.
- Insert the flat screwdriver into the releasing slot and pull out the wire.
- Repeat the same process for other connections.
I will go into more detail below.
5 Step Guide to Remove Wire from Push in Connector
Step 1 – Cut Off the Power
First, figure out the breaker that provides the power to the push-in receptacle. Then, turn off the breaker. Or turn off the main power. Either way, never start the process without cutting off the power.
Step 2 – Check and Confirm
Even though we cut off the power to the push-in receptacle, it is always better to check it one more time. So, take a voltage tester a check the push-in receptacle. After confirming the power is off, you can move on to the next step.
Step 3 – Separate the Cover Plate
Next, loosen the two screws that are holding the cover plate. Use a screwdriver for this. Then, pull out the cover plate from the wall.
Keep in mind: Most cover plates might have two screws, and some might have one.
Step 4 – Remove the Electrical Outlet
After successfully removing the cover plate, you can locate the electrical outlet. This outlet is attached to the wall through the electrical box.
So, remove any screws holding the electrical outlet and pull out the outlet from the wall.
Tip: If needed, check the power of the outlet one more time using the tester. (1)
Step 5 – Release the Slot and Separate the Wires
Now, it is time to remove the wires. Unlike regular receptacles, push-in receptacles have a locking mechanism that tightly grips the wires. Releasing the locking mechanism is straightforward, and here’s how you can do that. (2)
First, locate the releasing slot.
Then, take the flat screwdriver and insert it into releasing slot.
While doing this, hold the outlet on your palm and use the same hand to press the flat screwdriver inside the releasing slot. You’ll get a better idea about that from the above image.
Next, pull out the wire using your other hand.
Repeat the same steps for other wires.
If the Wires Will Not Come Out
Unless your push-in receptacle is too old, you won’t have much trouble removing wires from it. However, it could happen. Sometimes, the wire won’t come out easily. If that is the case, cut off the wires from the receptacle and leave the stuck wire pieces in the receptacle. Then, strip wires and connect wires to the new receptacle.
Limitation of Push-in Connector
As I mentioned above, there are limitations to these push-in-style receptacles. Most push-in receptacles are capable of handling 15 amp. For 15 amp, the minimum wire gauge is 14. That means the receptacles won’t be a good fit for 12 gauge wires, given that you use 20 amp. So, depending on the situation, you might have to remove the old wires or replace the receptacle.
Take a look at some of our related articles below.
- How to test an electrical outlet with a multimeter
- What happens if ground wire is not connected
- How to crimp spark plug wires
References
(1) power – https://www.britannica.com/science/power-physics
(2) locking mechanism – https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/
engineering/locking-mechanism
Video References
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