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I think I might have just discovered the future of outlets in the US and Canadian markets: screw terminals being replaced with levers.
Today I’ll be reviewing a lever-terminal outlet from the Leviton Decora Edge series. I bought these online a few weeks ago to try them out.
What you’ll notice right away about these receptacles is that they do not have screw terminals. Instead, they have little levers on the sides. To wire up the receptacle, you just open the lever, insert your stripped 14- or 12-gauge wire, and then close the lever. The result is a secure connection with no exposed terminals.
The lever mechanism on these lever-terminal outlets is similar to the levers on a Wago lever nut. If you’ve watched our videos on YouTube or have read any of the articles in the Electrical section here on the website, you’ll know that I’m a big fan of WAGO lever nuts. In my opinion, lever nuts are far better than traditional wire nuts because they speed up electrical work and give you a more secure connection. The same principle applies to the outlet I’m reviewing here today.
Leviton Decora Edge Outlets: Are They Any Good?
These new lever-terminal outlets seem pretty nifty but of course, the real question is “Are they any good?”
To figure that out, I’m going to do a simple install. After we see how these cool features affect installation, I’ll break out my Dremel tool to cut the component open so that we can have a look at the internals. Then we’ll be able to draw some conclusions about the quality.
Finally, I’ll go over the price point and what other options for lever-terminal components are currently on the market.
Rather watch than read? Check out this 10-minute video.
DISCLAIMER: This video and description contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission.
Leviton Lever-Terminal Outlet: Where to Get Them
The lever-terminal receptacle I’m reviewing in this article is the Decora Edge 15-Amp outlet by Leviton. I ordered them from Home Depot.
If you’re interested in the tools I used when I replaced the old outlet with the Decora Edge, here are links:
Installing the Lever-Terminal Outlet
I’m going to replace an existing outlet with this Leviton Decora Edge lever-terminal receptacle to see how these new features play out.
Of course, the first thing I want to do is switch off the power at the breaker box and then verify with an outlet tester that no current is flowing through the circuit.
After removing the mounting screws from the cover plate and yoke of the existing outlet, I see that I have two sets of Romex in this box (two black hot wires, two white neutral wires, and one bare ground wire).
I’ll snip off all these wires with my side-cutters and then strip them using the strip gauge on the receptacle as a guide.
Now that I’ve stripped the wires to reveal 9/16 of an inch of copper, I’m ready to wire up the outlet. This is where the Decora Edge really shines.
I’ll start with the ground. After opening the lever, I’ll push the bare ground wire in and close the lever. That’s all there is to it!
Moving on to the hot side, I’m going to bring both sets of hot wires in. I’m not going to pigtail them.
TIP: If the stripped end of your wire is not good and straight, it’s a good idea to straighten it out before inserting it into the lever terminal so that it seats easily for a secure connection.
Finally, I’ll connect the neutral wires in the same way; pushing the stripped conductor into the chamber and closing the lever.
It’s always a good idea to do a pull test after inserting the wires and clamping down the levers.
That’s how easy it is to install these Leviton Decora Edge lever-terminal receptacles.
Now let’s check the fit for the wall plate. This Leviton Decora Edge outlet has tabs at the top and bottom of the housing so that you can grab drywall even when the opening is slightly over-cut. The opening for my box is not over-cut, so I’ll need to break off the top and bottom tabs to have my wall plate sit flush on the wall.
When I remount the screws and wall plate, I want to make sure that the outlet is level and that the slots of the exterior screws are oriented either horizontally or vertically for a professional finish.
The last step is to test that we have power with an outlet tester.
Assessment of the Lever-Terminal Outlet Installation
Truth be told, that was arguably the easiest outlet I’ve ever installed! And I felt good about the connections. When you close the levers, it gives you a nice, tight hold.
What’s cool about these lever terminals is that they give you the speed and convenience of backstabbing (also commonly called speed wiring) but with a far superior connection. Check out our article to learn more about the dangers of speed wiring.
Comparing Residential and Commercial Outlets to the Leviton Lever-Terminal
I’ve cut open three outlets so that we can compare the internals and get a perspective on the quality of the components:
- A standard, residential-grade receptacle by Leviton. Super-cheap and not tamper-resistant.
- The Decora Edge lever-terminal outlet.
- A commercial-grade (or “spec-grade”) outlet by Leviton (my preference when doing electrical work on my home or rental properties)
In our evaluation of this lever-terminal outlet, we’re going to look at two major things: the contact area of the incoming wires inside the receptacle and the mechanism that holds the prongs of a plug.
Inside the Outlet: Amount of Contact Area
With the residential-grade outlet, 14-gauge wire is inserted into the back side and held in place by a plate (This is what we referred to as “backstabbing” or “speed wiring” a couple of paragraphs back). The contact area you get with this kind of connection is not optimal. This is also a one-and-done feature. If you use the release mechanism and deflect the plate, you should not use it again.
The mechanism for keeping the wire in place inside the lever-terminal outlet is more of a spring mechanism that won’t diminish if you open and re-close the lever.
It’s a pretty interesting design that results in better contact of the incoming hot and neutral wires with the internal plates, which is always a safer scenario.
Inside the Outlet: The Components that Hold the Plug
In the residential-grade outlet, the component that receives and holds the plug is a little U-shaped piece of metal.
In the Leviton Decora Edge (lever-terminal) receptacle, it’s essentially the same thing, maybe redesigned a bit.
This U-design is not my favorite as it can weaken over time, resulting in cords that don’t stay plugged in.
The commercial-grade outlet, on the other hand, has a different mechanism for holding the plug.
Here there are two separate pieces of metal coming together to hold the prongs coming in. This feature is much more robust and will stand up to heavy use.
Bonus Feature of the Leviton Decora Edge Outlet
A handy feature of the Leviton Decora Edge is these plastic bases with notched-out tabs that fit together. This makes aligning various components in a multi-gang box super easy.
Price Comparison of the Lever-Terminal Outlet
When it comes to pricing, the Decora Edge outlet costs about $3.50. If you buy a 10-pack the per unit cost can drop to $2.50. That’s a premium of about one dollar for the Decora Edge compared to Leviton’s Decora Series residential-grade, tamper-resistant, 15-amp outlet.
Summary
Overall, I’d say the quality of this Leviton Decora Edge lever-terminal outlet is closer to residential-grade in terms of the internals but the wire-holding mechanism in it is definitely superior.
Lever-Terminal Switches
Leviton also makes lever-terminal switches, both a 3-way and a single-pole. As of the writing of this post, these switches by Leviton were the only lever-terminal options out there. Check the comments under the YouTube video for updated info from viewers.
Other Outlet-Related Videos and Articles
- 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Outlets (video)
- Dangers of Speed Wiring | Why Back Wiring an Outlet is Best (article)
- How to Wire a GFCI Outlet (article)
- Why Use a Pigtail When Wiring an Outlet (article)
- 21 Facts and Features of a Standard Outlet (article)
To Leave Comments and Questions
Whether you have a question or something to contribute, please feel free to leave a comment under the YouTube video. I check the comments daily and am happy to help out.
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Thanks for stopping by! Take care.
