Dbl gang vs single gang, WWYD?

[67carl]

I'm in the midst of my master bedroom remodel - down to the studs to install new wiring and insulation. After using power strips because the old single gang outlets weren't enough I decided every spot that will have an double outlet. The ones behind the nightstands have USB charging ports. Would you do the same? If not, why not? Even in newer homes you don't see this very often but it seemed like a no-brainer to me.

 

[Norcal]

It looks crappy, but in some spots just makes sense.

 

[ClappedOutBport]

"I have too many outlets."

-No one.

"These 6 way adapter outlets never fail and are totally safe."

-Also no one

 

[MattT]

I put doubles behind the nightstands. It's definitely worthwhile unless you're a luddite who still uses a wind up alarm clock and a corded landline.

 

[67carl]

The way I see it - most of the outlets are going to be behind nightstands, bed, dresser, etc. and won't be seen. For the 1 or 2 the are visible I don't think they look bad at all. I put doubles in locations that, in the future, me or the next owners can move the bed to a different wall and still have the convenience of the doubles.

 

[The Cobbler]

2x duplex is smart idea. I think My nephew did 3x duplex in his livingroom for tv, stereo etc.

 

[Hal]

I will never install another single gang outlet if I can help it, unless for something that requires a dedicated circuit.

 

[Jim greengo]

I usually try to center atleast 1 single gang on each wall if I can land it within the 12' rule,if not I'll put 2 of them equal distance from each end wall.
If I know where their electronics stuff is going I'll put a 2-3 gang box as needed.
Then I add a single gang box for cable next to it.
If they plan on mounting a TV up on wall I rough in an outlet and cable jack for that also.
It all depends on the project.

 

[Bert_]

I don't like the look of double duplex's. Even in my own home I have not put anything other than 1 gang boxes. NI have no issues with a power strip behind the TV or night stand.

I've had people ask for it and have done it. It can make sense in some locations but not everywhere.

 

[bczygan]

Remember to add circuits, not just outlets........!

I work backwards from the possible watts that could be plugged into an outlet and then to the possible watts that could be on a circuit, and leave some leeway.

Think of things that might be temporarily plugged in like electric heaters, window air conditioners, fans, hair dryers, stereos, TV's, etc. in any and all rooms.

Bill

 

[BFBOB]

My aunt had double duplexes throughout her house 50 years ago. All 3-prong too. It did look a little odd, but sure cut down the cord clutter. I've taken to doing that in my garages - and also putting in a switch + duplex outlet every time I add a light switch.

 

[anythingyoucanimagine]

Would you do the same? If not, why not?

Two things:

First, asking respectfully, have you looked at code? I've done a couple houses recently (homeowner permits). With the exception of our kitchen where I F'd up and cracked a tile and in our living room where we put the Christmas tree, in my experience, current code is more than enough.


Second, I recently had our bedroom down to studs also. (I'm NEC2017) Behind each night stand we have single gang receptacles with two USB-C ports. We also kept the one behind the bed for heated blankets during cold months.

Reality for us: Both have iphone and iwatch. We use long Apple usb-c cords to the receptacles for them. That looks clean/nice. Winter we use center (behind center of bed) receptacles for heated mattress thing. We also have power strips plugged into the receptacles behind night stands.

Her Apple laptop cube thing won't fit (and is pain in the *** to plug in/move). My laptop cord will fit but I often work very early/late (overseas stuff) and when I get up the dogs go crazy so it's nice to have a power strip where I can plug in when I need it or unplug and sneak out while she's still sleeping.


Honestly: USB-C receptacles behind the nightstands were a waste of money. We should have put single receptacles and plugged the night stands into that. I wouldn't waste your time with the 2-gang stuff. 1-gangs behind night stands, a single gang behind the bed and call it a day.

I put doubles behind the nightstands. It's definitely worthwhile unless you're a luddite who still uses a wind up alarm clock and a corded landline.

I guess I'm that luddite... ironically I legit have a landline so I can have a fax machine.

 

[AntonLargiader]

If double gang receps look too commercial to you, maybe changing the look with the Legrand Adorne stuff would be better.

As for single vs. double gang, I think it depends on what you want to do. If you were using power strips because you ran out of receps, then you need more.

We get by with one duplex recep behind the bed; the heated blanket and a bedside lamp are all we ever have there. My wife keeps her phone under her pillow for an alarm, but there are no devices that need plugging in. If the winter we have a humidifier plugged in but that doesn't need to be next to the bed, and my wife uses a small computer desk there in the afternoon so her laptop is plugged in at that time. It's a small bedroom, and we don't watch TV or read in bed so there's nothing else to plug in.

 

[ford33]

I just added double gang boxes in my master bedroom behind each night stand and another near the TV.

I also added a single gang outlet with USB ports located 4 inches above each night stand. This will allow me to plug in my phone and tablet without reaching behind and down to the lower outlet. I saw this in a hotel recently and liked how it was so convenient.

Consider adding a round box for a wall mounted extendable lamp about 48 inches high on the wall above each night stand. This will get the lamp off the night stand and free up some space for a couple remotes, clock and CPAP machine.

 

[bczygan]

I'm going to install outlets higher because the dog likes to chew on cords and plugs.

Bill

 

[BigGarage]

After using power strips because the old single gang outlets weren't enough I decided every spot that will have an double outlet.

I will never install a single outlet again. Doubles all the way and sometimes 4 or 6 (on multiple circuits).

Dennis

 

[rburke65]

Looks crappy? Who cares? Install triple double gangs. Night light, reading light, clock, usb feed, recharging your phone, .......6 may not be enough.

 

[MikeF2316]

My neighbour did this when he added on to his house a few years back. I thought of how I use outlets and predicted that he'd still need a power bar for most of the places. And that's the problem, where you plug stuff in, often 4 is not enough. Any desktop computer installation has 2 monitors, the CPU unit and speakers - there's all 4 without a desk lamp

In the outlet beside my recliner, I have plugged in:

recliner (reclines electrically, it was my dad's)
iPhone cube
Reading lamp
Laptop charger
landline cordless phone charger
small fan

In any construction my dad did, he put in a duplex outlet every 4 feet. His reasoning was some would be covered, and as your needs changed, different ones would be covered, and there'd always be one accessible for portable temporary devices.

 

[CJ7VFR]

...and also putting in a switch + duplex outlet every time I add a light switch.

This is exactly what I have done in both my basement and garage whenever I put in a light switch, especially the ones near doorways.

It seems that for some reason when you want to plug in a vacuum the best place was always right in a doorway, but there was never a receptacle there. So I started doing the light switch/dual receptacle installation.

My wife asked me why are you doing that when there are receptacles all around on the walls? Well, she stopped asking me after I saw she was constantly using the new receptacles that I put in with the light switches! In the basement especially, at those spots, the vacuum is able to reach everywhere in each room on both sides of the doorway without having to unplug and plug back in the vacuum.

There is time and place for form and function over what is perceived as visually pleasing. With more and more technology there seems to be a higher demand for things to be plugged in and charged up. And with that comes a need for more receptacles close to where you normally charge your devices or have more than two things that require power.

Jim

 

[slow]

One thing I would do now, is put a switched outlet on both sides of the bed, We have lamps on both night stands, but only 1 switched outlet, so mine is on all the time and the wifes is switched.

 

[Zeke]

I'm going to install outlets higher because the dog likes to chew on cords and plugs.

Bill

He'll only do that once.

Looks crappy? Who cares? Install triple double gangs. Night light, reading light, clock, usb feed, recharging your phone, .......6 may not be enough.

That's right, who cares? The post below addresses form and function but I think he's confused. Function don't care about form.

This is exactly what I have done in both my basement and garage whenever I put in a light switch, especially the ones near doorways.

It seems that for some reason when you want to plug in a vacuum the best place was always right in a doorway, but there was never a receptacle there. So I started doing the light switch/dual receptacle installation.

My wife asked me why are you doing that when there are receptacles all around on the walls? Well, she stopped asking me after I saw she was constantly using the new receptacles that I put in with the light switches! In the basement especially, at those spots, the vacuum is able to reach everywhere in each room on both sides of the doorway without having to unplug and plug back in the vacuum.

There is time and place for form and function over what is perceived as visually pleasing. With more and more technology there seems to be a higher demand for things to be plugged in and charged up. And with that comes a need for more receptacles close to where you normally charge your devices or have more than two things that require power.

Jim

And I agree with this. Recp's at 48" for the vacuum saves a lot of stooping. At my and my wife's age, plugging in a vac in a recp under a table, etc., is just not fun. Let the table lamps use those.

 

[Git]

I don't like the look of double duplex's. Even in my own home I have not put anything other than 1 gang boxes. NI have no issues with a power strip behind the TV or night stand.

^ +1

I have used these in a couple of places, but never felt the need for a double gang box inside of a house. These have the advantage of rotating 90 degrees so the cords are parallel to the wall versus sticking straight out

 

[rburke65]

I also installed 4ways with 2 of the switches along side the double duplex outlets on either side of the bed. Nothing worse than tu4ning out the light then tripping on something or running into something on the way to the bed. Ya climb into bed then tu4n off the light.

 

[CJ7VFR]

..The post below addresses form and function but I think he's confused. Function don't care about form...

No confusion on my part. I am old too, and I hate bending over to plug stuff in. If there is a way to avoid that, I am all for it!!

Form, is having a receptacle at 48 inches above the ground instead of down near the floor where they usually are. And function, is having a receptacle that is located in a position that allows the vacuum to only be plugged in once to clean more than one room, and affords a person with a bad back the ability of not having to stoop over to plug something in.

Both form and function are met when you can have a receptacle in the same two gang box as a switch. So in essence, function cares sometimes! At least that is what my wife tells me when I make that "old man groaning sound" when I straighten up!

Jim

 

[rburke65]

Just because it’s not ‘usually’ done, is no reason the outlet or switch can’t be located where you want it.....within the code.

 

[nadogail]

Just as you can never have too much money, you can never have too many receptacles.

They might look funny but they said the same thing about some other things we have grown to appreciate.

 

[ard]

I put doubles behind the nightstands. It's definitely worthwhile unless you're a luddite who still uses a wind up alarm clock and a corded landline.

+1. Also otrher spots that might need it. But not just outlets along a wall.

Also, no USB outlets. Anyplace that will have devices will need more than one or two. I'll drop a dock, then an anker 4 or 6 usb adapter inside or behind. Getting on my knees to snake USB cables to the wall behind a nightstand is a PITA. JMO