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duplex receptacle two different colors?

anythingyoucanimagine

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Feb 6, 2019
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New England
I have a duplex receptacle in 1-gang new work. Tabs are broken off. One receptacle will be on/hot all the time, other will be switched. (switch over bench for extra lighting in back of garage)

Do they make duplex receptacles that are two different colors? I Googled and didn't find anything but maybe I didn't use the right search terms.

Or do I just bump up to a 2-gang box and use two single receptacles? (rookie mistake, already hammered in the 1-gang box)

Thanks.
 
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mikegt4

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sw ohio
There was a conventional thought (not code) at one time of the switched part at the upper (or was it lower) position. My former mid century house had a lot of switched/hot receptacles, I found them pretty handy for rooms with table lamps.
 
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anythingyoucanimagine

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Thanks. Yeah --the whole line on top, load on bottom, grounds up, (I don't know about a half-switched duplex receptacle)... Just trying to make it painfully obvious that half is switched and the other half is not. Maybe a trip to the supply house is in order...
 
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alfredeneuman

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Orient the receptacle 180 degrees from the rest of them.
If the rest are with the ground down, the switched one will have the ground pin will be up, and vice-versa.
 

alfredeneuman

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The receptacle in the link that slow provided as well as being non-decora is also non-tamperproof. It doesn't meet the current Code requirements
 
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anythingyoucanimagine

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The receptacle in the link that slow provided as well as being non-decora is also non-tamperproof. It doesn't meet the current Code requirements

I did notice that. In this instance the receptacle is up at 103" so I believe TR is not required.

That said, it is my understanding that 406.12 states TR is required pretty much everywhere now... Everywhere below 5-1/2 feet except for twist lock and a few various exceptions.

Does that also mean out in the garage I'm going to have to use TR receptacles (pretty much everywhere) as well? In my garage at home I kind of cheated and did several L21-20. What are my options with split phase 120/240V?
 
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anythingyoucanimagine

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Messages
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Location
New England
If it is at 103", why do you need to mark it anyway?
(Unless you have other ones at 103" it should be obvious)

Don't "need" to mark it... (this is a want, not a need). I put a duplex receptacle up high at the door end of the garage. I split it (broke the tabs) because above the garage door I put a (switched) cheap/garbage $10 Walmart 4-foot bar light that's plug-and-cord. I wanted it switched because when the door is up...

I wanted to keep the other half of that receptacle live/hot all the time in case I'm ever working at night with the garage door up/open. If I want/need more light I can hang a droplight and plug it in up high so I don't trip over cords, etc.


I want it labeled because I know half of that duplex is switched --but I can absolutely see my wife/kids (or someone else) not putting 2+2 together someday. I was going to break it out into two single receptacles in a 2-gang box but now I think I'll just put a white cover on it and wait for the label maker to come from Amazon.
 
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