Resi grade devices

[peter d]

I have had bad luck with Leviton residential grade devices lately, especially 3 ways going bad, GFCI's twisting and flexing when the screws are tightened, and switches with a "mushy" feeling.

I know I'm going to get a lot of comments from the "Use only Commercial Grade devices" Brigade but I'm not interested in those.

I'm really looking for the best overall brand of residential grade devices. I happen to think the quality of Cooper/Eagle is better than Leviton. I don't have much experience with P&S but it seems better too.

[luke warmwater]

Peter,

I buy P&S devices by the cases.

I prefer their lexan wall plates too.

The only problem I've encountered with them is on the 4-way switches, one helper was using his cordless drill at full drill and the torque was breaking the backs off.

I think that would happen with any brand.

I refuse to buy the Eagle or Leviton brands.

[George Stolz]

Originally posted by peter d:
I happen to think the quality of Cooper/Eagle is better than Leviton.Mmm...friend. :D

Coop is the bomb biggie yo! :D

[izak]

yall must really like those cheap *** 78 cent switches that go bad in a couple years or else CRUMBLE when you take them back out of the box ONE TIME a couple years later..

IMHO, 1.50-3.00 for a switch is a better idea if it will last longer and not make the customer unhappy down the line

[jimwalker]

In the world of biding you will end up the high bid if you use commercial grade devices.I had no idea that the 50 cent switch is now 78 cents :D
Do recall back about 6 years ago of a problem with bad eagle switches.You could loose a lot of money on warranty replacements so pick a brand that you have the fewest problems with.Very few customers will put up with hearing that click from commercial grade switches.

[charlie]

When I was contracting (back in the dark ages), I had my guys install intermediate grade receptacles or switches where I thought they would get the most use and competitive grade everywhere else. The SA circuits, the disposal, garage, bathroom, and kitchen switches, laundry circuit, and family room receptacles were all intermediate grade. Everything else was cheap and worked great. :D

[wayne123]

Go with P&S. They are good with resi devices. Look at their new PLUGTAIL recept. I am getting ready to do a job with these, cust. request. I'll let you know how they r.

[petersonra]

I gather you guys do not approve of the 25 cent specials at the Borg?

[bigjohn67]

I solved this problem with a contractor friend.

I went and observed his crew trimming out a house.
Seems when they terminated the device using their cordless drills with a philip tip installed.

Since he banned using drills to terminate wires on devices he has had no problems with having faulty devices.

Do you think his may be your situation?

[charlie]

Bob, that is the first time I have seen the Big Orange store abbreviated that way . . . cool . . . UH . . . sorry, sweet is the word used today. Anyway, are you a trekker? :D

Live long and prosper,
Charlie
http://www.fanforum.com/images/FF-StarTrek/main.gif

[jimwalker]

I am guilty of breaking a few devices by forgetting to take cordless off of drill position and using clutch.Proper use of a cordless will save time on a trim.I suggest the smaller 9 or 12 volt cheap models,they are lighter and easier to use for this purpose.

[petersonra]

Originally posted by charlie:
Bob, that is the first time I have seen the Big Orange store abbreviated that way . . . cool . . . UH . . . sorry, sweet is the word used today. Anyway, are you a trekker? :D

Live long and prosper,
Charlie
I see it refered to that way on other forums. I do enjoy ST. I sort of prefer the original though. The later ones got way too PC for my taste, but often were still enjoyable, despite the preaching. The original ST managed to do the preaching without being preachy. A pretty good trick.

The latest incarnation, Enterprise, had the bad fortune of being so PC it nearly killed itself off the first season. Eventually it started meandering between extreme PCism and being much less so, and more enjoyable. The meandering around made the series difficult to follow. Now it has been cancelled. Maybe the SciFi channel will pick it up.

I really hate it when the writers can't come up with a good episode and so resort to Q or time travel, or some of the other less believable and uninteresting things they have done.

[George Stolz]

Originally posted by charlie:
. . . cool . . . UH . . . sorry, sweet is the word used today.Uh, now it's "wicked" or "sick." :D

TNG guy myself. :D

[al hildenbrand]

TNG?

[George Stolz]

The Next Generation. :D

[electricmanscott]

I use P&S devices and I really dig them. (I like to use the hip lingo like George) I don't really like the backwire on the GFCI. Seems to strip out way to easy. Also after you initially tighten the terminals and twist the GFCI around to push into the box they loosen up. Something to keep and eye on. The P&S rep was at my supplier the other day and I dummped a dozen stripped out jiffeys on the table. "Bad batch of screws" was his response.

[peter d]

How do Star Treck and residential grade device go together again? :eek:

Yeah Scott, They have good P&S stock up sales at CLS. I will try to start using P&S based on some of the comments I'm getting here.

[mro]

When was the last time anyone has heard Captain Kirk say "Spock,,, I ,,, Think,,, Were,,, Lost ,,, Again,,,"
No, no, no, Kirk chose to stay away from the Federation and chase after the adventures of BOLDY GOING WHERE NO MAN HAS GONE BEFORE (not to mention the alien women lifeforms)

Captain Janeway on the other hand has developed a reputation of getting lost, and probably killing off her crew of old age by the time she reaches Earth.

Rock on Captain Kirk!!!!! :D

[luke warmwater]

I like the original series Star Trek.

Back to P&S:

You can go on to their website and click on the 'Knowledge Center' link.
From there click on 'Electech' and sign up.

Within a few days, they'll send you an e-mail to access the on-line training program.

I think there are around 32 classes. each takes 10-15 minutes to read and take a short exam.

You get 3 credits for each completed course which is redeemable in their on-line store.

If one of our guys takes the courses, we match dollar for credit as an incentive.

[charlie]

To registar for the course that Todd has indicated, click here (http://www.passandseymour.com/electech/index.cfm). :D

[George Stolz]

I feel silly. I thought I was smart for not calling him "Luke." Now I find out his name isn't "Ty," it's Todd.

Jeez. :D

[luke warmwater]

I usualy sign things TY. TY, Todd, Luke, whatever.

The Luke thing was a joke played on me by my buddy back when the Forum changed to this format.
He also had it Ben Dover.

For a few days, you could change your member name, then they took that feature out.

[iwire]

Originally posted by luke warmwater:
The Luke thing was a joke played on me by my buddy back when the Forum changed to this format.
He also had it Ben Dover.

For a few days, you could change your member name, then they took that feature out. I guess you are glad that feature was not pulled while you where Ben Dover. :D

[luke warmwater]

yup. :D

[George Stolz]

Better than Wood Jablowmie. Al Coholic. ... :D

[jeff43222]

Originally posted by peter d:
I have had bad luck with Leviton residential grade devices lately, especially 3 ways going bad, GFCI's twisting and flexing when the screws are tightened, and switches with a "mushy" feeling.I avoid Leviton products. I don't like how they are designed, and I've had too many of them fall apart in my hands.

I'm a big fan of P&S products. They are designed and built well. Also, the Evil Orange Empire doesn't sell them, so I get the added benefit of getting to buy them elsewhere. I like to let my clients know I only use high-quality devices, and they seem to like my philosophy. If I run across someone who insists on pinching every last penny and wants Leviton installed instead, I'll wish them luck in finding another contractor. I won't install something for a client that I wouldn't install in my own house.

[peter d]

Originally posted by bigjohn67:
Since he banned using drills to terminate wires on devices he has had no problems with having faulty devices.

Do you think his may be your situation? No, most of the time I tighten the device screws by hand. However, I do use a screw gun on occasion and have had no problems with that method.

[peter d]

This is how I have solved the problem: I am going to stop buying Leviton, with the exception of a select few items. I'm switching over to Cooper and P&S.

[paul32]

Originally posted by luke warmwater:
Peter,

I buy P&S devices by the cases.

I prefer their lexan wall plates too.
I like P&S devices also. They seem to have 2 types of nonmetallic wall plates, TPxxx and SPxxx for the part numbers. Which of these is the lexan plates you prefer? I couldn't find either one called lexan on their web site. What specifically do you like about the wall plates?

[peter d]

Originally posted by paul32:
I like P&S devices also. They seem to have 2 types of nonmetallic wall plates, TPxxx and SPxxx for the part numbers. Which of these is the lexan plates you prefer? I couldn't find either one called lexan on their web site. What specifically do you like about the wall plates? I think the TP (Trademaster) series is nylon/lexan(?). I have used them a few times and they are very nice. They don't break and they are slightly oversized which is also a very good feature.

The SP series is the standard grade bakelite (brittle) plastic.

Given a choice I will use the nylon plates.

[luke warmwater]

We use the Trademaster (TP) series.

Lexan is a thermoplastic polycarbonate resin.

The TP series are virtually indestructable, their colors match the devices perfectly, and they are slightly larer than standard wall plates.

The single toggle and duplex plates come with the screws installed

[paul32]

The P&S site says the TP series is nylon like Peter said, but whatever the material you both like them. I'm not sure I care about the oversized part. If the drywallers do a good job (and meet the code requirement :) ) they wouldn't be needed. I like the unbreakable part, as I have broken a standard wall plate. But because they are flexible, they aren't flat when installed (indented) if the screws are tight. I think that looks a little funny, but maybe most homeowners don't notice.

[peter d]

Originally posted by paul32:
I think that looks a little funny, but maybe most homeowners don't notice. Bingo!!

[electricmanscott]

they aren't flat when installed (indented) if the screws are tight.No need to dog down the screws that much.
Edit to my view of P&S. They stink. Reasons why? GFCI terminals strip out way to easy, especially with #12. Also, their "Quick click" boxes don't hold a device tight.

[ March 24, 2005, 02:44 PM: Message edited by: electricmanscott ]

[electricmanscott]

Just emailed P&S with my complaints. Think I'll hear from them?

[luke warmwater]

Scott I agree with you about the quick click boxes and don't normally use them.

I remembered your post about the GFCI screws, so, I went to one of our finals the other day and personally installed all of the GFCI receptacles in that house. There were 7.

I know that's just 7, but none had the screw stripping-out problem you mention. I stopped by a job today and installed 2 more and they didn't strip out either. So that's 9 in the last 2 days.

Maybe there was a 'bad batch of screws'

[peter d]

Originally posted by electricmanscott:
[Also, their "Quick click" boxes don't hold a device tight. Well, they are good if you like coming back to a job and seeing devices hanging out of the boxes.
(Yes, this actually happened. :mad: )

I agree, they are garbage.