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Posted by Eigenvector on August 10, 2006, 12:33 am
> Eigenvector wrote:
>> I'm replacing some of the switches in my house because they are
>> beginning to spark. So I'm trying to figure out what switches to
>> get. Talking to my buddy who just renovated his place, and who also
>> happens to be the Martha Stewart of the male world is telling me to
>> get these Leviton Decra switches because they're the best. That's
>> fine, I enjoy his sense of style and he has demonstrated a good
>> understanding of quality over looks (I just think he spends WAYYY too
>> much on home improvement). I guess my question is - is it worth it? Not
>> the Decra switches, but Leviton over someone else - I see Cooper
>> all over the place for instance. Is there a benefit to going with a
>> premium quality switch over the ones in the "that pile over there"
>> bin?
>
> All switches will spark, some you will not see some you will.
>
> The fancy looking and expensive switches like Decra are expensive
> because of the way they look not function.
>
> Most light switches and outlets in homes are super cheap contractor
> grade stock. The meet minimum standards.
>
> I tend to buy commercial grade switches and outlets. I may pay twice
> as much as the contractor grade and they will generally look exactly the
> same, but they are much sturdier.
>
> I would not bother replacing all the switches and outlets. I might
> replace those that are handling higher than average loads or receive more
> use than others.
>
> Hint, don't use the back stab connections, which I don't believe you
> will find on commercial grade equipment anyway.
>
> --
> Joseph Meehan
>
> Dia duit
Well my buddy came by and we replaced the old switches with some new Decora
or something like that from Leviton. They were nice switches, had to slice
and dice the existing wiring as it was about 100 feet too long to stuff back
in there but we managed.
The hallway switches were the worst, the builder had 5 lines routed through
the double box - it was hell getting it all stuffed back in there. But at
least we got rid of all those cheap ass plugs and also confirmed that my
Romex wiring does NOT have a ground wire in it. Looks like I'll have to
re-wire the whole house. Uhhhgg.
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