JDBrown
Senior Member
- Location
- California
- Occupation
- Electrical Engineer
Thought that might be the case when you mentioned "wet location & cleaning" in the same post.
Doesn't change the answers much, IMO, but with the "wash-down" feature, I would go for the higher.
The "switch" idea seems like a disaster waiting to happen. If they absolutely needed/wanted one I would suggest some type of protective cover to minimize accidental misuse.
I came across this post earlier, and it reminded me that a while back I was looking for "some type of protective cover" for a standard snap switch. When working with things like refrigerators (which is what the original thread was about), I prefer to specify cord-and-plug models, but clients often take that decision out of my hands. When we have to provide power to a hard-wired refrigerator, we provide a local disconnect (typically just a snap switch). Even though the Electrician usually tries to install the switch up high on the wall or in an out-of-the-way location, I still really dislike this setup -- it's just too easy for somebody to accidentally shut off power to the fridge while trying to turn on/off the lights.
When I've searched for protective switch covers before, the results have been less than satisfying. I don't need a tamper-resistant or locking cover, and the "child-proof" covers I've seen are just ridiculous in their looks and (lack of) functionality. The closest I've been able to find is a weatherproof cover, which would work fine, but seems to be sort of an overkill for this application (plus the Architects/interior designers tell me weatherproof covers just aren't "visually appealing"). All I really need is a little flip-up cover that makes people think twice about opening it to flip the switch (hmm... maybe I shouldn't press the red button), and prevents accidentally flipping the switch by brushing up against the wall.
Anybody have any suggestions, or will I need to stick with the weatherproof cover?