I have an old electrical outlet that I am attempting to replace.

There are 3 black and 3 white wires, plus the grounding wire, and I'm not sure the best way to deal with this.

Can I tie them together with wing nuts and pigtail?

Any other suggestions?

I should have mentioned that.

There were only 2 holes, and 1 black and 1 white were unattached.

Needless to say, I didn't think it should stay like that.

Anyways, it is solved now.

DISREGARD THE FOLLOWING POST AS I PREPARED IT BEFORE THE OP POSTED HIS SECOND RESPONSE. HAD I SEEN IT, I WOULD HAVE RESPONDED DIFFERENTLY AS I NOTED IN MY POST BELOW ON MONDAY MORNING. SORRY!!!

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Can I tie them together with wing nuts and pigtail?

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Yes, that would be my recommendation.

However, another option, provided you have enough service length of wire, would be to twist the wires together with one of the 3 white and one of the 3 black wires extending beyond the twist as a pigtail that attaches to the appropriate switch connectors. Use electrical tape to cover wrap the twisted sections and pigtail.

Should be good to go either way, just be sure to trip the breaker before doing he work.

[This message has been edited by Gary79Ag (edited 11/5/2012 11:08a).]

Sounds like someone may have jumped power off the receptacle to power another outlet or light and then disconnected for some reason. Standard practice is to pigtail multiple wires at an outlet in case an outlet fail you will still have outlets working downstream. If it was disconnected when you took it apart I would not reconnect it without tracking to where it terminates

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Can I tie them together with wing nuts and pigtail?

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Yes, that would be my recommendation.

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Without knowing what they are, that's nuts. Suppose they were pulled to de-energize something. Always, always, always ring out unknown wires before your attempt to energize.


[This message has been edited by underoosag (edited 11/4/2012 10:52p).]

Totally agree with everyone's responses after my post above.

I posted that response before the OP posted that several of the wires were not connected together when he opened the outlet. Had I read his post prior to my post, I would definitely have informed the OP to rewire in same manner as it was when he opened it.

Sorry, I'll leave my post above so this is not confusing but will include a disclaimer in it.