20 amp recpts in your garage

[Ironhorse]

What I have found that works best are 20amp NYLON recpts. They have a lot more give and take when it comes to pluging in and out items. The cheaper ones will break or crack. Both Hubble and Levinton make them. Lowes does not carry them but Home Depot does...or you local electrial contractor supply store....

 

[PECVD2]

Now go price a real 20amp/120v plug...hang on to your hat!

 

[Ironhorse]

Now go price a real 20amp/120v plug...hang on to your hat!

Ebay lots of 10!! Cheap....

 

[PECVD2]

Ebay lots of 10!! Cheap....

Yeah I purchased some NEMA 5-20's off amazon but what they charge at HD and other local shops is outragous, locally $12 to $18 each.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Are you in the US? Unless there are some local restrictions, the NEC allows 15 amp receptacles on 20 amp circuits, as long as there are more than two of them (and a duplex receptacle counts as two.) If you in fact have devices with 20 amp plugs on them I guess you need them, but the vast majority of appliances use regular 15 amp plugs.

I agree that the nylon receptacles are a lot more durable, but you probably could have saved some money buying the 15 amp ones.

 

[Ironhorse]

Are you in the US? Unless there are some local restrictions, the NEC allows 15 amp receptacles on 20 amp circuits, as long as there are more than two of them (and a duplex receptacle counts as two.) If you in fact have devices with 20 amp plugs on them I guess you need them, but the vast majority of appliances use regular 15 amp plugs.

I agree that the nylon receptacles are a lot more durable, but you probably could have saved some money buying the 15 amp ones.

Yea...but they are about 1 or 2 dollars more...and if your like me and plan not to change it in the next 15 years or so...I figure for the little extra money...why not. Your correct even at my shop I have 1 20 unit that needs a 20 plug...the rest are all 15 amp plugs ( or cord caps ) but again nice to have it installed just incase you need it....kinda like an unused elevator shaft at the house great place to hide the bodys and maybe install elevator in 10 or so years...lol

 

[sberry]

There is nothing wrong with a better receptical but I have 100's of common 49 cent home depot ones in service, cant even remember when I replaced one from wear, some like those on my benches are really hi cycle use. Got to be in the thousands.

 

[Gary S]

There is nothing wrong with a better receptical but I have 100's of common 49 cent home depot ones in service, cant even remember when I replaced one from wear, some like those on my benches are really hi cycle use. Got to be in the thousands.

LIkewise for me. I buy the "bulk" package from Menards. They go on sale for $3 for a 10 pack. So, eventually, I will have to replace some of these 30 cent receptacles, but it hasn't happened in the last 15 years.
Yes, the high dollar ones might last a little longer, but I doubt it will ever be enough to pay for the expensive ones.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I've had a couple of the cheap receptacles break. If someone jerks a plug out it can chip or crack the plastic around the socket (yes, I know people aren't supposed to do that but it happens.)

 

[Hawk]

The 20 amp receptacles I used in my shop are Levitons which may be misspelled. The main reason I bought 50 of them was Restore had them at 1.00 each. Thats also why my switches are also 20 amp.

 

[dirttracker18]

I ran 12/3 wire so that I have 20 amps available throughout my shop with every other receptacle on a different circuit.

I have yet to pop a breaker using anything. I can weld whe someone uses a heavy grinder

 

[mobiledynamics]

Self posting but I have Hubbel 20AMP /120 in the classifieds for $3 each.

 

[fflintstone]

What you want are loosely called “commercial” outlets, they are nylon and have a full back strap. I found these online somewhere for less than $2 each. Hubbell ones are made in china. So I bought the levitron (sp?)

 

[fflintstone]

Ok now that we are all on the same page and using commercial outlets in our shop, time for the next question.

Do you mount them ground up for safety?

By fflintstone at 2012-09-18


Or do you mount them normally so you can use these?

By fflintstone at 2012-09-18

or this?

.

 

[Falcon67]

I've always used the cheap 10 packs and haven't had any problems. I would have likely bought the better nylon units if I'd have seen them on the shelf. I ran 12-2 and wrapped the wire on the screws, no back stabbing. I also made sure the wire was folded reasonably so the outlets fit flat in the boxes so they don't move around much if at all. I mounted everything right side up except for one GFCI. That GFCI that's been like that for almost a year and I just now noticed. Actually, when wiring a dual outlet with a GFCI on one side and a plug on the other, it's may be easier to wire the GFCI upside down because the load contacts are on the "top".

I fail to see how mounting the ground pin up makes things any safer. Don't leave the plug half out of the socket.

 

[Norcal]

There is no correct way to mount a receptacle, anyone who says up or down is the correct way is WRONG.

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

There is no correct way to mount a receptacle, anyone who says up or down is the correct way is WRONG.

When I lived in NYC in the early 2000's I was riding the subway one day in Manhattan. They guy next me had an electrician's text book. Started taking to him. He was studying to be an electrician and take the NYS or NYC electrician's test. I asked about which side up for outlets. He said, "book and code says ground".

I've installed my ground down so far.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I used nylon faced 15 amp receptacles for my house. I seem to recall that they were a couple of dollars cheaper than the 20 amp ones, and if you look close, the 15 amp has the innards of a 20 amp installed in it, just the different face plate on the front. Nylon Levitons have a flat face with no indentation around the slots. In the shop I used the exact same receptacle, sans the nylon face, on one side of the shop, the other side, I used a very similar quality Cooper (Eagle) brand receptacles.

Installing receptacles ground pin up, or ground pin down, is largely personal preference and if you have receptacles to be used for fridges with the 90 degree plug, or computer cables or power supply cables that not only lay flat to the wall, but exit the receptacle at a 45 degree angle from vertical, you might want to install them so your cords lay or hang properly.

NEC DOES NOT address the up or down installation of receptacles. In my log house, mine are mounted sideways. Previous owners had installed them willy nilly, whichever way the wind was blowing that day (owner constructed house, whole 'nuther story) so I replaced the cheap 49 cent receptacles that the lamp plugs kept falling out of, with the Leviton Nylon faced, back wired receptacles, and put them all with the ground pin on the left, which just happened to put the neutral on top, but that doesn't really matter, they are all the same now, so I know which way to hold the two prong "polarized" plugs when I plug them in.

Charles

 

[Stuart in MN]

He said, "book and code says ground".

I think he got that question wrong on the test.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

The brick plugs of the things I need plugged in have the ground down. So that's how I put my outlets.

 

[fflintstone]

I fail to see how mounting the ground pin up makes things any safer. Don't leave the plug half out of the socket.

You, me and everyone else with half a brain will always push the plug all the way in.

but I bet we all know “someone” who will yank on a cord 3 or 4 times to make sure they have all the cord available to them despite having 10 feet of slack at their feet. Then that 1/8” x 1 ½” x 8’ strip of steel that is propped up against the wall, gets knocked over by the dog who was startled by all the cord yanking…….

 

[Steevo]

I used all 20A gray nylon commercial grade captive-screw receptacles in my shop build, and I installed them all right-side-up.

 

[Outlawmws]

Yeah, I'm going to put the ground pin UP so this type of plug always has to UP the wall instead of down to the ground where a little thing called gravity wants it to be...

You, me and everyone else with half a brain will always push the plug all the way in.

but I bet we all know “someone” who will yank on a cord 3 or 4 times to make sure they have all the cord available to them despite having 10 feet of slack at their feet. Then that 1/8” x 1 ½” x 8’ strip of steel that is propped up against the wall, gets knocked over by the dog who was startled by all the cord yanking…….

As for this "possibility" (Particularly since the bar you speak of is hardly likely to hit the plugs dead level...), What do you think the purpose of a CB and/or a GFIC is for? In the one in ten million to one (or more) odds of that happening,you get a "pop" and the power is off. I'm probably more likely to win the lottery than have that happen. (Maybe I'd better go buy some tickets! )

 

[Ironhorse]

or this?

.[/QUOTE]

If it is a 20 amp do that mean there winking? lol I am now hiding this too many sharpie's around and to much time..lol

 

[TireTracks]

or this?

.

If it is a 20 amp do that mean there winking? lol I am now hiding this too many sharpie's around and to much time..lol[/QUOTE]

It would be funny to draw that on an outlet hidden somewhere and see how long it takes to get noticed.

 

[gatchel]

Ok now that we are all on the same page and using commercial outlets in our shop, time for the next question.

Do you mount them ground up for safety?

Here we go again....

 

[rodm1]

Installing receptacles ground pin up, or ground pin down, is largely personal preference and if you have receptacles to be used for fridges with the 90 degree plug, or computer cables or power supply cables that not only lay flat to the wall, but exit the receptacle at a 45 degree angle from vertical, you might want to install them so your cords lay or hang properly.

Charles

I agree, This is the only reason it would matter and the way I've decided is the proper way for me.

 

[djjsr]

You could mount them horizontally. Then you would have to decide if the ground goes to the left or right.

Or if you just can't decide, there are outlets that swivel.