Correct



"MiamiCuse" wrote in message
news

"MiamiCuse" wrote in message
...
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



Thanks for all the replies it was very helpful. I think may be I will
attempt to do it myself. Part of the reasons I agreed to change them all
is that some are toggles, some are old buttons, some are ivory, some black
and some whites, some rounded outlets and some rectangulars. Even the
phone outlets there are some with two screws on and some with a "rotating
cover"...some of the switches I have to flip up and down twice or three
times to get the light to come on etc...

The electrician did say my circuits (I have two main panels in the garage)
are all 20 amp circuits and he opened select outlets and switch boxes and
my wirings are all 12 gauge.

So the consensus is I only need 15amps but may be I am better of getting
spec grade or pro grade ones except for those rarely used behind the couch
plugs, correct?

Again thanks for all the comments.

MC