On Mar 17, 11:45�am, "MiamiCuse" wrote:
"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- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Yeah all 12 gauge go with all the same outlets. Although I seriouslyu
doubt your need for 20 amp with the extra bar on plug. what consumer
product uses 20 amp?

its a big job, read up in advance like wiring simplified. are all your
outlets grounded?

you should do ONE outlet at a time, then if wires come and go in box
check every outlet and lamp on that circuit eveywhere in building
assume troubles will come up they always do.

Like wires too short to be polarized properly.

so if something quits working you know where the problem occured

if you have a knowledgable friend better to get some initial help

test EVERY OUTLETS as you finish it for proper polarity and good
grounding