As a female, I know a lot about the
Real Housewives, gel
manicures, and how to route every errand trip so I "just happen" to
pass a Starbucks. I also know how many calories are in the
grande Mocha Cookie Crumble - and that it's worth it (hands down!). What I do not know a lot
about is switchplates. You know - those plastic thingies that surround the light switches and outlets in your home? You really don't even notice them until you update your decor with fresh new paint and have to 1) remove them
and 2) discover they stand out
way more when the wall is not painted white.
I shouldn't say I
don't know a lot about wall plates - the truth is I
didn't know a lot about them. But now I do, and it turns out they're
not as complex as I thought! I've decided to decode them below, so if you don't know
the difference between a "rocker" and a "toggle" you're in the right
place.
Basic Switches: Toggle vs. Rocker
• Learn the Difference
The most common switches are "
toggle switches" and "
rocker switches"
(sometimes called "Decora Rocker switches") and it's super easy to tell the
difference.
Toggle switches are small protruding switches that you flip up and
down while
Rockers are larger, flatter rectangular switches that you rock
up or down. Toggle switch plates have a small
rectangular opening and Rocker cover plates have a
much larger rectangular opening, as pictured here:
• NOTE: How many switches are controlling a light?
If you're updating your switches as well as your switch plates, you'll need to think about how many other switches control the same light (or ceiling fan) as the switch you're replacing. If a particular switch is the
only
switch for a certain light, you'll need a
standard switch (known as a
"singe-pole" switch). But if you have 2 separate switches (perhaps at opposite ends
of a hallway) that control the same light, you'll need a
3-way switch. In other cases, you may have 3 separate switches
controlling a single light, and you'll need a
4-way switch.
Outlets: Standard, Decora, and Safety Features
When you say "outlet" you may picture 2 plugs, but you also need to think about the overall shape of the device & whether it has those "reset" buttons in the center. The main things to consider when buying outlets: overall shape, capacity (15 amp vs
20 amp), GFI/GFCI (for outlets near water sources such as a kitchen or bathroom sink)
and tamper resistant (for child safety - I, for one, stuck a key into the outlet when I was about 4 years old and it didn't feel so good!).
• Don't mistake the shape of your outlet.
Before ordering a replacement outlet cover plate, pay attention to whether your plate has 2
separate oval openings or a single rectangular decora style opening. Note that the decora plate
is the same as the standard switchplate for a decora rocker switch
(shown above).
• Amperage: Easily identify how many amps your outlet allows:
The term "amps" refers to the volume of current. Your outlet will be 15A or
20A. Look at your outlet to tell the difference - a 15A outlet has 2
straight slots and a 20A outlet has 1 straight and 1 "T" shaped slot, as shown here:
• SAFETY FEATURES: Is the outlet required by law to be GFCI?
If
you're replacing the actual device, note whether the outlet is currently a GFCI
receptacle ("Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter" - also sometimes called GFI for "Ground
Fault Interrupter") or whether it needs to be one. GFCI/GFI
plugs prevent electrocution by cutting power to the outlet
when a variation in electrical current is detected. Your kitchen,
bathroom, hot tub, swimming pool areas, wet bar - anywhere near water
- should have GFCI receptacles, which is an electrical code requirement. They can prevent death if an electrical appliance,
such as a hair dryer, gets accidentally dropped in water. You can easily identify GFCI receptacles - they always have 2 buttons between
the plugs (labeled "reset" and "test").
Another
important safety feature for children is tamper
resistance. When the outlet is not in use and nothing is plugged in, a tamper resistant outlet has little shutters that close off the openings (see image below). This prevents curious little
children from getting a shock if they try to stick something into the
outlet. The safety shutters only
open when a plug is inserted causing both springs to be compressed at the
same time.
Sizes: Important Terms to Understand
• "Gang"
Switch plate width is know as "gang." A single-gang wall plate houses 1
switch or outlet, a wider double-gang plate houses 2 switches or
outlets, a triple or 3-gang plate is wider and houses 3 devices and so
on.
• Regular, Narrow, Oversized, Jumbo - know the difference
Switch plate width and height varies depending on whether it's a standard plate,
narrow, mid-size or
oversized/extra large plate. Make note of any plates that don't match standard switch plate dimensions. Visit
Switch Plate Sizes & Dimensions at Kyle Switch Plates for more info on sizing.
Combination Switch Plates
If you need a cover plate with more than 1 type of device, it's called a "
combination plate."
An example of a combo wall plate is a 3-gang plate with 2 toggle openings and 1
duplex outlet opening. Something to keep in mind is that switchplates can be
rotated 180 degrees. If you see a cover plate that's "almost" what you need
but the devices are in the "opposite" order, you can simply flip that plate over to fit your situation so keep that in mind when browsing combination plates.
Your #1 Switch Plate Source
Now that you're familiar with some important switch plate terminology and you know what specifically to look for when replacing your switch plates, you can easily find what you're looking for at
www.kyleswitchplates.com.
Kyle Switch Plates is an online store that specializes in
regular and specialty switch plates and
electrical devices in regular and unusual colors and finishes.
