I'm looking for suggestions to connect a SwitchMote to 14-gauge wire. On my first couple switch motes I used the blue screw terminal blocks. This worked but I chose to trim the leads on the terminal block off to keep everything nice and flush (which I think worked against me). Due to the stress of fitting the switch mote into the electrical box I managed to break one off and the other has some stress on it that causes to pull out a little bit and cause shorts (ie the lights get stuck on). Maybe I'm just bad at soldering but I just don't feel like anything I try is a good way to connect 14-gauge wire. Does anyone have any good suggestions. I tried using 18-gauge wires as leads since those fit in holes but they break to easily. I've heard mention of soldering the 14-gauge wire to the board itself but I don't really see how to pull that off and make it strong. Thanks in advance for any input offered.
You could solder stranded wire where you'd solder the terminal, that is how some other smart switches come with, then you use wire nuts to connect them in the box. The stranded wire would last a lot more stress and movement than non-stranded wire.
I have not had any issues with the screw terminal and regular electrical wire, just tighten them up solid and there should never be a short.