Decora Plus is Levitons commercial grade. Go with that or a commercial grade in another brand. I use Hubbel successfully at my work place.
Something Is Breaking These Light Switches
- Thread starter George7941
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Comes from changing the switches live. If you kill the breaker they won't get damaged by inrush.
j/k
My vote, kids. Or someone else just being rough. These switches aren't too proud of the wall? I wonder if people are hitting it by accident as they walk by.
j/k
My vote, kids. Or someone else just being rough. These switches aren't too proud of the wall? I wonder if people are hitting it by accident as they walk by.
No, they do not jut out from the wall. The one photo I posted shows the switch flat on the plaster wall. The next time I am at the house, I will check the wall paint to see if there are signs of stuff like boxes or bags are being dragged against the walls.
These rocker switches began appearing in the late 1980s. From day one, when I was working for an electrical-supplies wholesaler, they felt flimsier and more fragile than the old toggle switches, so I've always viewed them as decorative junk. The main reason they were introduced over 30 years ago was to use the same wall plate as the newer-style ground-fault receptacles and dimmer switches that were available then.
I'd replace those with old-style toggle switches and plates in a heartbeat. The problem with the junk breaking from "heavy" use will stop.
I'd replace those with old-style toggle switches and plates in a heartbeat. The problem with the junk breaking from "heavy" use will stop.
If they were only cracking at the center, that could be feasible but the picture shows damage at the very bottom (or top).
Because that end had play, when it was slammed on or off the base flexed more than it should have.
I have those Decora type switches throughout my house since I installed them back in the mid 90's and never had a problem. Most likely cause is improper installation where someone didn't fold the stiff wires in the box and tightened the switch screws putting pressure on it. Maybe the kids are just using a closed fist and smacking the switch to activate.
I normally see Hubbell devices in hospitals, but said hospitals I frequent are customers of my employer and by default our go to is Hubbell. Leviton makes commercial and medical grade devices that seem pretty decent. Very Hubbell like in terms of quality. Pressure plates as opposed just the screws.
BITOG disclaimer: When I buy switches for myself or family/ friends I do buy commercial grade by default. The dozen receptacles for $15 or whatever Amazon sells them for seem decent for home use. My previous employer used them issue free.
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Agree
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I’ve never busted a light switch so all I can imagine is either a cheap switch or repetitive over use.
Not sure how many agree, but since the use of LED bulbs, they consume so little power that the anal practise of flipping switches as you walk through your house is ridiculous. When night time occurs we turn the lights on and leave them on. An LED bulb may be 7 W compared to 100 W twenty years ago. To each his own. We no longer have any incandescent lights in our home.
Not sure how many agree, but since the use of LED bulbs, they consume so little power that the anal practise of flipping switches as you walk through your house is ridiculous. When night time occurs we turn the lights on and leave them on. An LED bulb may be 7 W compared to 100 W twenty years ago. To each his own. We no longer have any incandescent lights in our home.
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I don't have any commercial-grade switches but many of the outlets I've swapped are commercial-grade. All of the ones along the kitchen countertop as well as various ones around the house that we plug in things like the vacuum (outlets that gets things plugged in, removed, plugged in, and so on). I buy them at Lowes or Home Depot though as the prices on Amazon are out of whack. I'd never buy off-brand devices either, only Leviton, Legrand, or Hubbell.
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I still have three of the first LED's that came out many many years ago, 20 plus at least, and they are still burning. The new ones last months to a year at most because they don't get rid of the heat like the old ones.
I worked at an electrical supply house when those were first commercially available. The prices were outrageous (maybe $10/each !) so they were very poor sellers. The manufacturers did give us samples though and yeap, those lasted 10+ years. Because of that, they were honestly worth the $10 up-front cost, but no one looks at light bulbs that way. These old ones also weighed 4x what ones today weigh.
I have a lot of older BR30s where the heat sink has become detached and rattles around the housing.
I thought I had been installing Leviton Spec Grade but, just checked, it is Legrand Spec Grade.
Are they good and tough?
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