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Electrical Outlet Question

J

jhayx7

Platinum Member
Does anyone know where you can purchase electrical outlets that have switches on the outlet itself that turns each outlet on and off?
 
There shouldn't be any problem doing that. Heck, if you can't find an item that does it for you (suppose you live in the middle of nowhere without the ability to order online), then just buy a switch and an outlet and put them in the same box.

Do you mind if I ask why you'd want such a thing? It seems akward to do that.
 
There are still electrical outlets without switches?... it must be safety standards here to have them, I've rarely seen them without, and only in old houses.
 
While visiting New Zealand, all of their electrical outlets have switches on them so you can turn the power to the outlet off on the outlet itself. Look at this picture, see how it has the switches on the outlet? I would like to install these outlets in my new home to help save energy.
 
Originally posted by: Atheus
There are still electrical outlets without switches?... it must be safety standards here to have them, I've rarely seen them without, and only in old houses.
Click to expand...

95% of outlets I see are unswitched, 4% have a switch somewhere else. If you're talking about without a breaker, then yeah, that's odd.
 
Originally posted by: jhayx7
While visiting New Zealand, all of their electrical outlets have switches on them so you can turn the power to the outlet off on the outlet itself. Look at this picture, see how it has the switches on the outlet? I would like to install these outlets in my new home to help save energy.
Click to expand...

Check my first link. It should just take a short piece of wire at the most, and not breaking off a tab at the least.
 
Originally posted by: jhayx7
While visiting New Zealand, all of their electrical outlets have switches on them so you can turn the power to the outlet off on the outlet itself. Look at this picture, see how it has the switches on the outlet? I would like to install these outlets in my new home to help save energy.
Click to expand...
[*]A similar product was linked above.
[*]The switch does NOT have to be on the outlet for new construction (heck even with old construction it is possible, but more damage may be necessary to install them). Just put the switch on the wall in a convenient place.
[*]How could that possibly conserve energy over just unplugging the item? If you have walk over to the outlet and bend over to switch it off, you might as well just unplug the item. Problem solved.
 
Originally posted by: jhayx7
While visiting New Zealand, all of their electrical outlets have switches on them so you can turn the power to the outlet off on the outlet itself. Look at this picture, see how it has the switches on the outlet? I would like to install these outlets in my new home to help save energy.
Click to expand...

It looks like a semi cool idea, but I don't see how it would save any energy. Almost any device you plug into that outlet will have an on off switch on it.
 
Originally posted by: Greenman
It looks like a semi cool idea, but I don't see how it would save any energy. Almost any device you plug into that outlet will have an on off switch on it.
Click to expand...
There are a few devices with or without on/off switches that can be energy saving. CRT TVs for example are always partially on (even with the power told to be off). They use power for (1) keeping information in memory and (2) keeping the TV hot to turn on faster. Switching it off will save power - but will also delete all of the saved information and take forever to turn on. However, like I said above, if you have to walk over to the outlet to switch it off, you might as well just unplug it instead. Thus, even when you could save power, you don't save power over the better alternative.
 
[*]A similar product was linked above.

Similar but not what I am looking for. I am looking for some that have 2 outlets instead of one.

[*]The switch does NOT have to be on the outlet for new construction (heck even with old construction it is possible, but more damage may be necessary to install them). Just put the switch on the wall in a convenient place.

I know that, my condo has been built already, I just want to install these outlets.

[*]How could that possibly conserve energy over just unplugging the item? If you have walk over to the outlet and bend over to switch it off, you might as well just unplug the item. Problem solved.

Switches are much more convenient than unplugging a device.

 
There's not enough space in a standard NEMA single outlet box to allow the room for two switches and two plugs without some really creative design which would yeild rather small switches. Could it be done? Yes. Is it going to be easily available? No. The best alternative? Switched power strip.
 
Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
There's not enough space in a standard NEMA single outlet box to allow the room for two switches and two plugs without some really creative design which would yeild rather small switches. Could it be done? Yes. Is it going to be easily available? No. The best alternative? Switched power strip.
Click to expand...
There are plenty of items that will meet his needs.
[*]Small switches like you mention on a double outlet. I'm positive Menard's had them when I went there buying outlets and switches last week. Too bad Menard's doesn't put items online.
[*]Expand the box to allow a switch or two next to the double outlet.
[*]Expand the box to allow for 4 switches next to quad outlets.
[*]Etc.

I could go on and on. But why bother. You answered the question many posts above - yes you can buy them and at just about any hardware/home improvement store. But the question that was asked isn't the question he wants answered. He wants us to miraculously know exactly what combination he has and wants to replace, with the exact number of outlets, exact number of switches, and in the exact shape of his existing outlets. I can't read minds, so I can't answer any further.

 
Originally posted by: edro
  • Bullets are retarded.
Click to expand...
How many edits are you going to go through there? I've seen at least 4 now. I liked the one where you called yourself retarded. 🙂
 
Originally posted by: dullard
Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
There's not enough space in a standard NEMA single outlet box to allow the room for two switches and two plugs without some really creative design which would yeild rather small switches. Could it be done? Yes. Is it going to be easily available? No. The best alternative? Switched power strip.
Click to expand...
There are plenty of items that will meet his needs.
[*]Small switches like you mention on a double outlet. I'm positive Menard's had them when I went there buying outlets and switches last week. Too bad Menard's doesn't put items online.
[*]Expand the box to allow a switch or two next to the double outlet.
[*]Expand the box to allow for 4 switches next to quad outlets.
[*]Etc.

I could go on and on. But why bother. You answered the question many posts above - yes you can buy them and at just about any hardware/home improvement store. But the question that was asked isn't the question he wants answered. He wants us to miraculously know exactly what combination he has and wants to replace, with the exact number of outlets, exact number of switches, and in the exact shape of his existing outlets. I can't read minds, so I can't answer any further.
Click to expand...

Why the attitude? Jesus....
 
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