Proper wiring of middle run duplex recpt with 3rd cable

[ivwshane]

What's the best way to wire this (either required for code or most efficient but still meets code)?

I have three cables (2 wire nm) going into a box, one "in" and two "outs" (nothing is on a switch).
Can I pig tail everything and just have one wire (1 black, 1 white, 1 ground) go to the receptacle or should I have the "in" wired to the receptacle and have the two "outs" pigtailed and then connected to the receptacle?

[LCHIEN]

too many wires in that box. The proper way to run that is to run one in and only one out wire to each box and daisy chain them.

[Tom Slick]

Is it an existing box or something you are installing?

[ivwshane]

Is it an existing box or something you are installing?

It's a combination of both. The box was existing but I needed another box above it (there was already one to the right of it).

too many wires in that box. The proper way to run that is to run one in and only one out wire to each box and daisy chain them.

Really? I've seen a lot of examples of three cables in a single box (the box I'm using is 20.25cu in).

[LCHIEN]

It's a combination of both. The box was existing but I needed another box above it (there was already one to the right of it).




Really? I've seen a lot of examples of three cables in a single box (the box I'm using is 20.25cu in).

maybe not a code thing, but its a lot easier to find two spots on the outlet to wire to than three, and the wired outlet will be a lot easier to stuff back into the box with two wires attached instead of three, esp. if you are using 12/3 ga solid.

[BigguyZ]

I'd personally say that 3 lines is fine in the box. As long as you have a bod that can accomodate them (some are deeper than others).

I'd pigtail them all and have a wire going out to your outlet.

I'm not an electrician, but I've played one at home and that's how I'd do it.