# Kitchen electrical question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 23, 2013, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-electrical-question/677015 "2013-12-23T14:36:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2013, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-electrical-question/677015/21 "2013-12-25T14:58:16Z")
When we say “15A outlet”, are we talking about those 49 cent jobs at WalMart … I’ve have a few of those catch fire. Anymore I look for the ones that cost, like 5 or 7 dollars. Just a safety tip here. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-electrical-question/677015/22 "2013-12-25T15:10:13Z")
it is well worth looking for brand name individually boxed contractor receptacles. or get name brand name 10-in-box sold for new building or remodeling use. they will last longer and pay for themselves by that fact alone. not starting your house on fire is an added benefit. if you don’t use them everywhere because of cost then at least put them in appliances that are often on using large amounts of electricity like a refrigerator, freezer, dehumidifier, air conditioner, entertainment devices. also using where you plug in and out frequently like kitchen or workshop. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2013, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-electrical-question/677015/23 "2013-12-25T15:21:30Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > it is well worth looking for brand name individually boxed contractor receptacles. or get name brand name 10-in-box sold for new building or remodeling use. > > they will last longer and pay for themselves by that fact alone. not starting your house on fire is an added benefit. > > if you don’t use them everywhere because of cost then at least put them in appliances that are often on using large amounts of electricity like a refrigerator, freezer, dehumidifier, air conditioner, entertainment devices. also using where you plug in and out frequently like kitchen or workshop. Agreed. If you go to a place like Lowes, you’ll find both. Take one of the higher priced ones out of its box and compare it to one from the bin with 50 cheap ones thrown in. Even if the cheap ones don’t short out or have arcing problems, the spring tension that holds your plug securely in will fail more quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2013, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-electrical-question/677015/24 "2013-12-25T15:28:55Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Agreed. If you go to a place like Lowes, you’ll find both. Take one of the higher priced ones out of its box and compare it to one from the bin with 50 cheap ones thrown in. Even if the cheap ones don’t short out or have arcing problems, the spring tension that holds your plug securely in will fail more quickly. I cannot +1 this enough. Worth every penny every time IME. **Capt** ---
**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-electrical-question/677015/25 "2013-12-27T18:40:13Z")
Question- if I run a 20 amp circuits for a countertop microwave and/or coffeemaker that’s separate from the two small appliance circuits, am I allowed to count them as part of the countertop 3 foot rule? Rather than feed the last quad off the main circuits since the basement is still unfinished I was thinking about running a 12-3 romex back to the load panel and having a 20 amp circuit for each. ---
**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-electrical-question/677015/26 "2013-12-27T18:46:18Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Agreed. If you go to a place like Lowes, you’ll find both. Take one of the higher priced ones out of its box and compare it to one from the bin with 50 cheap ones thrown in. Even if the cheap ones don’t short out or have arcing problems, the spring tension that holds your plug securely in will fail more quickly. I’m using Leviton stuff from Home Depot, if that’s good enough. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-electrical-question/677015/27 "2013-12-29T10:57:17Z")
> [@Mdcastle](#): > > Question- if I run a 20 amp circuits for a countertop microwave and/or coffeemaker that’s separate from the two small appliance circuits, am I allowed to count them as part of the countertop 3 foot rule? Yes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-electrical-question/677015.md?page=1)