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Outdoor outlet covers

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James E

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Several of the outdoor outlet covers at my parents’ house have broken. They are all no-name covers for duplex outlets. I’ve attached a picture of one of the broken ones. They have all snapped at the center mounting screw. It seems to be a poor design and would probably have held up better if the box had also been siliconed to the wall, instead of using the foam gasket.

I would like to replace these for him, and I have a couple old covers at my house (built in 1987) that could probably do with replacing.

Do you all have a favorite, good quality outdoor cover that will be harder for my dad to break?
 

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larry4406

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I dislike the plastic "in-use" covers like you have shown although modern codes require them. I like the old school flip covers all made of metal.
 
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JRC3

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Those work pretty good if installed correctly. It's a bit of a pain though. See those two keyholes, those line right up with the receptacle mounting screws...Sandwich the recep between the cover and box. Way more solid that way. And yeah, those gaskets are a joke.
 
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JRC3

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TGOiFaxIWp9tb419Si3u3G_2wkv0vjSnsKtQyu67nZa6DJxgcShz-ytk2IQw9uR67cAD0yYZJJ_JL1AiwscnZ7FfMbRjPKeZWulKUAxFMDyy4fvAdy9lKevT-6ov0qRBsUGAHpDR5R-uVc0f8PgWBA
 
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James E

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Well, damn. I didn’t even think about re-installing these just using the top and bottom screws.

Some of them are more broken though, so any suggestions on a newer, better style would be appreciated.
 
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Steve.S

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Norcal

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I use metal in use covers, not that much more expensive.
 
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coleman10

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I use those, too, for areas close to outdoor living areas because they look better than the regular bubble covers, but on the sides of the house where I don’t care how it looks, I just use a bubble cover from Home Depot. I test the GFI outlets once a year as those don’t last forever. At my last house, they had all gone bad and I had to replace them all.
 
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rlitman

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Norcal said:
I use metal in use covers, not that much more expensive.
Click to expand...

Ditto. However, they too often come with insert plates made of plastic.

As mentioned above, better covers have mounting options that are better than just the center screw. Yes, a decora style GFI uses two plate screws, but that's still not what I mean.

Modern boxes have screw bosses in the corners that allow you to screw the cover on using corner screws. That will give a more uniform compression on the gasket giving better sealing, and will secure a metal in-use cover against pretty much anything short of a car running into it.
 
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sparky 1971

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I 2nd the use of metal covers. That's all I use. They cost a little more, but in my case, if it saves me a call back to warranty a broken plastic cover, it's money well spent.
 

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yeldogt

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My choice depends on where and what ... In general I try and hide them vs placing them smack in the middle of a wall.

I find the better .. and I use that with question marks -- gray plastic ones with the rounded covers are decent. None are as good as a few years ago ....

If new construction you can use the Arlington brand -- they recess into the wall .. still a plastic cover. Sometimes there is no choice.

When I can hide them --- or when more of a utility building and it does not mater as much ... Midwest makes what is basically a disconnect box with a couple of configurations. Singles or doubles ... you can have a switch as well. Lowes sells them and they are also sold under the GE brand
 

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67carl

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Steve.S said:
I prefer Taymac covers. They are flat when nothing is plugged in, expand to the size needed, and hold up well.

gray-taymac-covers-ml500g-c3_145.jpg


https://www.homedepot.com/p/TAYMAC-...file-Extra-Duty-In-Use-Cover-ML500G/205689220
Click to expand...

I'm in the process of installing 3 exterior boxes on our (former) screen porch, using all metal boxes from HD. 2 are In Use and 1 flat. I hadn't seen the one you posted before so I looked it up at HD. Not available at any of the stores around here, so I searched the web. Just curious as I've already got mine in. Holy cow, look at the shipping! Lol.
 

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kj_mustang

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sparky 1971 said:
I 2nd the use of metal covers. That's all I use. They cost a little more, but in my case, if it saves me a call back to warranty a broken plastic cover, it's money well spent.
attachment.php
Click to expand...


I have two of this style on my pole building but I am pretty sure they are hard plastic not metal. Lasted 5 years so far.
 
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grounded-b

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Milwaukee, WI
JRC3 said:
Those work pretty good if installed correctly. It's a bit of a pain though. See those two keyholes, those line right up with the receptacle mounting screws...Sandwich the recep between the cover and box. Way more solid that way. And yeah, those gaskets are a joke.
Click to expand...

For a really secure mount, also use the 4 corner holes. They line up with the tapped holes in a weatherproof "Bell" box
 
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californiamilleghia

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are there any outside covers you can lock ?

I wanted to put them on the backside of a regular plug that is next to the front door .
there is no plug outside right now ,

I do not want to give the bad guys 110v to power a sawsall to cut off locks etc .

Thanks for your help
 
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rlitman

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californiamilleghia said:
are there any outside covers you can lock ?

I wanted to put them on the backside of a regular plug that is next to the front door .
there is no plug outside right now ,

I do not want to give the bad guys 110v to power a sawsall to cut off locks etc .

Thanks for your help
Click to expand...

Those bad guys are using battery tools. You really think they're bringing an extension cord? Anyway, an exterior outlet is required by code on all residences.
 
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Norcal

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yeldogt said:
My choice depends on where and what ... In general I try and hide them vs placing them smack in the middle of a wall.

I find the better .. and I use that with question marks -- gray plastic ones with the rounded covers are decent. None are as good as a few years ago ....

If new construction you can use the Arlington brand -- they recess into the wall .. still a plastic cover. Sometimes there is no choice.

When I can hide them --- or when more of a utility building and it does not mater as much ... Midwest makes what is basically a disconnect box with a couple of configurations. Singles or doubles ... you can have a switch as well. Lowes sells them and they are also sold under the GE brand
Click to expand...

GE had owned Midwest for years, old Midwest products used Westinghouse breakers, MW went with the rest of the GE electrical gear when that division was sold to ABB.

https://www.midwestelectric.com/about-us
 
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yeldogt

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Norcal said:
GE had owned Midwest for years, old Midwest products used Westinghouse breakers, MW went with the rest of the GE electrical gear when that division was sold to ABB.

https://www.midwestelectric.com/about-us
Click to expand...

Did not know it was part of GE .... Used GE panels back in the 80's in some early projects before switching to SD. So they were Midwest? Have always liked the GE/Midwest AC disconnect over the SD. The new one had the outlet for code. The outdoor outlet is in the same box as the one I linked -- different internal cover plate.

It's a great box if placed where the size is not an issue. I use them all the time ... they are built like tanks and great where an outlet is used all the time. Have one on the side of my outdoor kitchen that gets used in the summer a lot. The plastic ones are fine for occasional use ... they break if used all the time. Another nice thing is the price .... for $30+ ...it comes with the GF outlet.
 
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CJ7VFR

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67carl said:
I'm in the process of installing 3 exterior boxes on our (former) screen porch, using all metal boxes from HD. 2 are In Use and 1 flat. I hadn't seen the one you posted before so I looked it up at HD. Not available at any of the stores around here, so I searched the web. Just curious as I've already got mine in. Holy cow, look at the shipping! Lol.
Click to expand...

If you select Store Pickup, then the shipping should be free to your local store. They will notify you when your package arrives, and then all you have to do is go get it.

This is a good option for people whose Home Depot stores don't carry a lot of things, and if the shipping to your house is cost prohibative.

Also, just so you know, if you purchase more than $45 worth of items from Home Depot, then the shipping to your house is free. Under $45 and you have to pay for the shipping unless the item is one of their Special Buys of the Day. Then the shipping is also free no matter what the item costs.

Jim
 
Y

yeldogt

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Messages
18,184
reader2580 said:
Put a switch on your outside outlets if you are that worried about it. Like others said, a criminal will just use battery powered tools if they think they need power tools to commit a crime.
Click to expand...

I actually had a neighbor plug into mine ..... I live on the last house w/ big lot. The other street parallel to mine curves a bit and the backs of a bunch of bungalows intersects my property before a park. My fence wall has outlets for summer lighting on top.

He moved in after the summer and we remarked he liked his back yard ablaze with light -- they were always out there with some fire going in his pit .... thank god he is far away and the wind goes the other direction.

Anyway -- come spring .... I see he is attached to my power! So I say to him ... what's up? He looks at me like every body has free power in the back yard. I told him if he needed it for some special reason --whatever that would be ..... fine. But -- I think lighting up his backyard is not my job. I tried to be nice about it -----------because! -- I instantly got this idea that he really did not think it was a big issue.

I also had to tell him that the fence was mine and that he could not attach all his stuff to it ..... He piled firewood against it with tarps attached ... he was also using one part of it as a dart board ... with spot lights powered by me .
 
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