receptacle recommendation

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SceneryDriver

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NJ
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Electrical and Automation Designer
I'm looking for a very durable version of a NEMA 5-15 duplex receptacle. This is going into a backstage space where durability is key, and cost is a distant second. Strongly prefer NOT tamper-resistant. Suggestions on a make and model? Short of heading to Home Depot and just buying the most expensive duplex receptacle they sell, I'm open to suggestions.


SceneryDriver
 
Go with any manufacturers Spec or Hospital Grade.
 
I think that several brands use the '5262' number to represent a similar grade of device. I have no information suggesting which brand of '5262' is better.

-Jon
 
I remembered after I posed that I used these on a previous project:


These units from Leviton seem to find the sweet spot between durability and cost.



SceneryDriver
 
The hubbell HBL5262 is what you want. Alot of people will use hospital grade receptacles in this situation, but the issue there is the higher contact retention force can rip the prongs out of phone chargers.

When ordering make sure the HBL prefix is on the hubbell p/n. There's another one with a part number of 5262 without the HBL and it is a lower grade device that looks the same from the front. Make sure the correct one gets ordered, many of the supply houses prefix the part number with HUB or even HBL so you might have a HUB5262 or HBL5262 in their system where the correct number would be HUBHBL5262 or HBLHBL5262. I have had so many arguments where people try to tell me its the same thing and its not.

I attached the datasheet for it.
 

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When ordering make sure the HBL prefix is on the hubbell p/n. There's another one with a part number of 5262 without the HBL and it is a lower grade device that looks the same from the front.

Never had a problem specifying a "5262" industrial spec grade receptacle as long as they were from a recognized manufacturer.
Of course with the Chinese garbage these days it pays to be careful.

Here is the Leviton spec sheet. Looks good to me:


-Hal
 
If the price doesn't bother you, I have been using Hubbell HBL8300I for decades (I work at a hospital). The only complaint I could have is price. It isn't my money so I buy what I know will last.
 
Never had a problem specifying a "5262" industrial spec grade receptacle as long as they were from a recognized manufacturer.
Of course with the Chinese garbage these days it pays to be careful.
not sure on leviton, but on hubbell both the HBL5262 and the 5262 are spec grade, but there is a massive difference in quality between the two.
 
It looks like Bryant is a Hubbell brand, and you can buy Bryant 5262 devices or Hubbell HBL5262 devices.

As I said, my only direct personal experience is with the Leviton 5262 devices, and they seem quite robust.

-Jon
 
I always thought "spec grade" was a step below the best....but I see on the 5262 spec sheet they say "extra heavy duty industrial specification grade" 🤔
When we wanted good but not the best we used "Commercial grade" when we wanted the best it was "Spec grade" and of course "Hospital grade" where required.
 
It looks like Bryant is a Hubbell brand, and you can buy Bryant 5262 devices or Hubbell HBL5262 devices.

As I said, my only direct personal experience is with the Leviton 5262 devices, and they seem quite robust.

-Jon

The ones I am talking about are hubbell parts that have the same hubbell logo on the face.

I attached a photo front and back of an ivory HBL5252 (same as HBL5262 except is 'compact' version not quite as deep, and a red 5362 (5-20R version of 5262. Note that the faces are identical in style, the non HBL version (the red one) has a steel yoke and tubular rivets and the insert for the cover screw is stamped vs the machined insert on the ivory one. There's a noticeable weight difference between the two. In summary there are substantial differences between the HBL prefixed parts and the ones that are just the number.

Edit: also notice the HBL one has a clip for the self grounding and the non-HBL has a piece of wire.
 

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Interesting. Thanks for posting those photos.

As I recall the Leviton 5262 was available with either Brass or Steel yokes. I don't recall other difference.

I think this simply reinforces that '5262' is a meaningless generic number that gets used for lots of vaguely similar but rather different devices.

-Jon
 
30 years ago when I sold wiring devices, the premier spec grade receptacle was the HBL 5262. Of course loving to use slang(?) electicians would come in and ask for a 5262. Eventually other manufacturers starting marketing commercial and residential grade 5262 devices at a much lower cost and quality but with a face that looked like a spec grade. I had at least one large contractor that used these cheap devices because of their installed appearance.
 
30 years ago when I sold wiring devices, the premier spec grade receptacle was the HBL 5262. Of course loving to use slang(?) electicians would come in and ask for a 5262. Eventually other manufacturers starting marketing commercial and residential grade 5262 devices at a much lower cost and quality but with a face that looked like a spec grade. I had at least one large contractor that used these cheap devices because of their installed appearance.
I guess that's why hubbell converted the 5xx2 line to HBL5xxx and came out with a *new* 5xx2 line. Interestingly the cheaper ones are still fed spec grade but not as good. Theyre still good though we use them by the hundreds in portable equipment.
 
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