MiamiCuse wrote:
I had an electrican inspect an old house I bought and he said the
wirings and everything are fine and great. But many of the outlets
and switches are getting flaky and sometimes the switches don't work.
We decided to replace all outlets and switches. He told me to be on
the safe side I should get 20 amps switches and outlets.

I went to Home Depot and found the normal 15 amp switches are $0.89 a
piece, the 20 amp switches are $5.89 a piece. Big difference. I
counted that I need about 70 outlets and 45 switches so this adds up.
Plus 3 way 20 amp switches are even more expensive!

I called him and he said if I have outlets I might plug in a saw or
vaccum cleaner than I should get 20 amps if it's a desk lamp 15 amp
is enough. So what is the basis for determining this if I have these
switches:
For activating garage door openers.
For plugging in a central vac system.
For high hat lights (10 of them with one switch)
For high hat lights (a single one)
For outdoor dusk light
For a series of 5 florescent tube lights
For ceiling fan that has a light attachment
For a hallway a set of two high hat light

Can I use some 15 amps and some 20 amps, would really like to avoid
the expensive one if not really necessary.

Thanks,

MC

Note: the price difference is not 15 vs 20, the price difference there
is far less. but rather you are not looking at the same grade switch and
outlet. Chances are the reason you now have flaky switches and outlets is
the originals are cheap contractor grade like the $0.89 ones you are seeing.
I would never bother buying one of those. Considering the difference I
would go for the better quality. Follow code about the 15 vs 20 issue.

You don't need to replace them all at the same time. I would not. I
would tend to replace any that I had problems with and then any critical
ones and then as time and money moved me the rest of them.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit