Quad box instead of single duplex outlet
billh
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
We’re having our house added on to. I’ll be expanding the plumbing and electric to the new areas. What I’d like to do on the electrical outlets is install a 2-gang box with two duplex outlets instead of a 1-gang box and single duplex outlet.
It seems like, with a duplex outlet, I oftentimes end up plugging in an outlet strip to allow
powering more than two devices in one area of the room anyway.
Aside from (obviously) not plugging four space heaters into the same box, are there any other concerns?
We’re out in the county, so code inspections are not an issue, but I want to keep the installation safe.
Replies
There is no maximum number of receptacles that you can have.
What you want to do is commonly done in bathrooms, kitchen counter tops, home offices, workshops, and areas for audio/visual equipment.
You can also install WireMold (or similar brand) strip receptacles. They are available in a number of different lenghts and receptacle spacing.
William the Geezer, the sequel to Billy the Kid - Shoe
I just did that with our master bedroom. While I had it stripped down to the studs, I alternated quads and duplexs every 4 feet, I also raised them to 18" instead of 12" - much easier to reach. Now, evern with dreassers, beds, nightstands, and hampers pressed tight against the walls you still have easy access to an outlet for clocks, baby monitors, fans, humidifiers, etc.
Tu stultus es
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Look, just send me to my drawer. This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.
A very wise thing to do, at least in areas where it's likely that an assemblage of electronic devices will occur.
Code does not specify the number of outlets to a circuit. We like to keep it around ten. Less chance for circuit overload. I'm seeing more and more quads in commercial work. Go for it.
If the addition is a bedroom, you need arcfault protection and smoke detectors.
Edited 1/23/2009 7:53 pm ET by arcflash
Quad wiring
A detail question?
Is it OK to use two wires in the clamp-type (backwired) duplex receptacles rather than wire-nuttings to two pigtails and feeding them to the receptacles? I have two feed-outs from one box, thus two sets of loads.
Dan H Please email me
No, you really want to pigtail the connection, and have your outlets fed from the pigtail. I suppose paired outlets could be fed one to another from a single wire off the pigtail. You don't want your links in the wireing to be made through the outlets... these are wear items! A pigtail is stable.
I did a few quads in our own house. I thought it would be a good idea behind the TV. I ended up using a $50 surge outlet bar though because I spent lots on the tv.
Have a good day
Cliffy
Ditto. Although I now have a $20 Sam's Suppressor instead of the $80 one Best Buy sold me. And the Sam's had better specs.
And to top it off the quad is still visable and unused, just more safety plugs to protect the granddaughters.
Still think they are a great idea in the right locations. Last commercial job we did we (actually our elec-sub) put in a bunch of them. Cheap to do and very worthwhile in my opinion, kind of value added.
For those who have fought for it Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.
Edited 1/23/2009 8:51 pm ET by rasconc
Love the quote at the bottom of your post..........
Thanks, stole it from a small biker helmet sticker in my BIL's Bike shop.For those who have fought for it Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.