Good quality electrical outlets?

[the spyder]

I am ~1 week away from wiring my new shop and the current owner replaced all the plugs a few years ago. The problem is he used the cheapest damn outlets possible. After 2 years, cords just fall out. The only outlets that work worth a damn are the Decora levinton ones he put in the office and one wall of the shop. (I have 3 working plugs in a 1100sqft space... going to need to fix that..)

Now I am doing this on a shoe string budget, but I need good plugs. What can you guys recommend for a decent outlet that wont let me down? I am putting in 4 20amp circuits, 2 30 amp 220v, 1 60 amp 220, and 2 208v 3 phase. Plus what ever my 2 lifts need. And I have to rewire the lights! Dang I have alot to do...

 

[Big N8]

Here is a good site. You get what you pay for IMO when it come to receptacles.

Drillspot

Sorry I only link the Bryant stuff but search around to find Hubbell and others

 

[Alcohol]

Hubbell commercial grade,,,,about 4 bucks a piece at Menards..

 

[sberry]

I understand the want for better outlets but am curious to what is going on with the others? I have hundreds of cheap recepts, some with hundreds or maybe even thousands of cycles, I cant recall the last time I replaced a failed one. 95% of them don't get much use, many have low load type stuff plugged in continuous but I don't get the perceived failure rate.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I understand the want for better outlets but am curious to what is going on with the others? I have hundreds of cheap recepts, some with hundreds or maybe even thousands of cycles, I cant recall the last time I replaced a failed one. 95% of them don't get much use, many have low load type stuff plugged in continuous but I don't get the perceived failure rate.

When I moved in my house, I had the same problem the OP has. You plug something in the receptacle, and the cord would fall out under its own weight.

The design of the .59 receptacles is such that after plugging in something about a half dozen times, they no longer have any gripping strength. They are not designed with any spring action, they are designed with an interference fit with the plug that wears away quickly.

The more expensive receptacles have actual spring gripping action, so much that it makes it difficult to plug and unplug a cord, but you get a good connection from them.

Charles

 

[mrb]

you really need to set a per receptacle budget, then select the best quality receptacle you can get for the money. Leviton BR series is decent for the cost, 5362 is much, much better. There is around a $2-$3 difference between these. For the twistlocks, use only Leviton or Hubbell -stay away from the P&S or Bryant junk at the home centers.

 

[Stuart in MN]

The other thing I've noticed about the cheap receptacles is the plastic face tends to chip or break off easily around the slots, from people pulling the plugs out. The more expensive receptacles are made of tougher material.

 

[mrb]

The other thing I've noticed about the cheap receptacles is the plastic face tends to chip or break off easily around the slots, from people pulling the plugs out. The more expensive receptacles are made of tougher material.

and thats one of the main reasons to go with the 5362 series, theyre made of high impact nylon

 

[the spyder]

Wow I wish I had money for the 5362 series. I have a few of those now that I think of it from a commercial surplus store. However that just reminded me, a friend is working at a commercial supply place and I will have him check prices for me. I need 20~ outlets and have about $300 to spend (which is not a lot...). Going to be rewiring much of the building a reusing the conduit/ massive amounts of 12THNN in there.

 

[mrb]

Wow I wish I had money for the 5362 series. I have a few of those now that I think of it from a commercial surplus store. However that just reminded me, a friend is working at a commercial supply place and I will have him check prices for me. I need 20~ outlets and have about $300 to spend (which is not a lot...). Going to be rewiring much of the building a reusing the conduit/ massive amounts of 12THNN in there.

5262 (15 amp) and/or 5362 (20 amp) can be had for $5 each in Leviton

ive got some twistlocks if you need them...

 

[sberry]

What ones are you guys using? Most of the ones I had/have are Leviton 4 $ a box stuff from HD, never had a problem with them.

 

[Norcal]

you really need to set a per receptacle budget, then select the best quality receptacle you can get for the money. Leviton BR series is decent for the cost, 5362 is much, much better. There is around a $2-$3 difference between these. For the twistlocks, use only Leviton or Hubbell -stay away from the P&S or Bryant junk at the home centers.

If it's not a Hubbell® it's not a Twistlock®, If it's a Leaveitalone,or other manufacturer it's just a locking type device.

 

[BioHazard]

When I moved in my house, I had the same problem the OP has. You plug something in the receptacle, and the cord would fall out under its own weight.

Same thing here when I moved into my shop. I've also taken out old (cheap)outlets in my house and prevented at least 1 fire due to the condition of the outlet. (cover plate holding it together)

If it's not "spec grade" or "industrial grade" I won't use it. Not worth cheaping out on. And I am one of the cheapest bastards you will ever meet.

 

[mrb]

If it's not a Hubbell® it's not a Twistlock®, If it's a Leaveitalone,or other manufacturer it's just a locking type device.

and its not romex if its not from southwire, and its not greenfield unless it was...well you get the point..

we use hundreds of leviton locking plugs, connectors, and receptacles and the quality on them has been great.

 

[z28toz06]

okay I dont want to hijack but while we are talking about outlets, where can I get the diamond plate outlet covers for receptacles?

 

[rodm1]

okay I dont want to hijack but while we are talking about outlets, where can I get the diamond plate outlet covers for receptacles?

http://www.summitracing.com/search/?keyword=wallplate&dds=1

 

[Norcal]

okay I dont want to hijack but while we are talking about outlets, where can I get the diamond plate outlet covers for receptacles?

Try here: http://www.jnkproducts.com/diamond-plate-covers.htm

Search for more: http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source...ond+plate+wall+p&gs_rfai=&fp=ca6b5a4f84435186

Let Google be your friend.

 

[z28toz06]

awesome, thanks. I tape my switches and outlets also. I think its cheap insurance from anything happening, especially during construction when you dont have covers on yet.