Are the plate covers for outlets primarily for decoration or for safety? I vote decoration since it is pretty hard to get a deadly zap in a properly wired modern house. I’m looking for a factual answer here because it is unbelievably difficult for my google-fu to find one.
Safety is a pretty big reason since the screw terminals the wires attach to are on either side of the receptacle, and someone (e.g. a toddler) sticking fingers on both hands into the gaps can receive a hand-to-hand shock which absolutely can be lethal from 120 VAC.
It’s not that hard to get a “deadly zap” in the average home. 120VAC is easily lethal, and the circuit breakers are there to protect the wires, not the person.
I figured they do have some modicum of safety in mind, but you’d really think that its strange the barrier is just a thin (often easily broken) piece of plastic. I have the unbreakable types, really thick (and they look great!). So a mixture of safety and decora?
It doesn’t take much of an insulator to make household wiring safe. Just think of how thin the insulation is between the hot and neutral wires in your typical cable.
Safety is a big one. In the building I put my store in, several of the outlets did not have covers on them. I came to find out that those outlets without covers were ones that were not connected to any power; they were dead. The building inspector did not care, he wouldn’t give me a occupancy permit until I put covers on them.
I remember thinking that one time I ran over the vacuum cord (fixed that with shrink tubing and rubberized electrical tape over it for redundancy). I have an outlet that a plate won’t cover (broken drywall) that I haven’t yet fixed, and its right next to some cotton curtains. Haven’t had a fire or gotten shocked, I just know that it will look much better with a cover plate, that is why I am led to believe it is more decorative that for safety these days given the advent of GFI breakers and such.
Safety. See 2017 NEC 406.5
A nitpicker such as yourself really has the potential of becoming an NEC inspector… Give it a thought.
It’s for safety
Receptacle cover plate minimum specifications are detailed in UL 514D
Cover Plates for Flush-Mounted Wiring Devices. The requirement to actually use a cover plate at all usually stems from local building codes adopting the National Electric Code, where Article 406.5 covers receptacles (and cover plates).
GFCI breakers are not required, and even in homes that have GFCI protection, it’s perfectly allowed to use GFCI outlets instead. (and the GFCI outlets are much cheaper than the breakers). The first outlet in a string, the terminals can give you a lethal shock as they are not protected.
Furthermore, GFCI can fail, and it doesn’t actually protect from shock. It simply cuts the power off, hopefully before the electricity stops your heart or frys you, but it isn’t instant, GFCI devices use relay switches that take time to change state.
Now, 120V is not usually fatal. It can easily be, but most people don’t end up getting shocked under worst case situations. So yeah, you’ve probably been shocked before, and you didn’t die. Doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to tempt fate.
In addition to the above on GFCI breakers, they’re not designed as a primary means of preventing shock - that’s what insulation (and cover plates) are for. They’re a backup means of interrupting a shock or short circuit in case something else (typically insulation) fails. If a GFCI trips, that means something is dangerously wrong (or it’s a false alarm).
Will do! My whole fascination with all things electrical came from a bout of OCD since cured, I’m astounded at the stuff that made me uneasy before, and it makes me curious. I’d probably be either the best or worst NEC inspector (depending on who you ask) because I pay too much attention to little details. I get annoyed at half-assed stuff (at myself currently for not fixing the drywall around said outlet yet) way too easy. Like if the wires aren’t folded back into the receptacle box but rather stuffed in, or if a grounding strap wire is longer than the hot and neutral :mad: I’ll even get pissed if the wire nuts are mismatched colors and definitely if sizes are wrong.
Anyhow, the consensus is definitely for safety, doesn’t hurt to have it look good too I suppose. I just never knew the definitive purpose.
Thanks for all the replies!
It’s thick enough to be an effective electrical insulator. And is thin enough to be cheap to replace if it does get damaged.
If you’re really concerned about breakage, you can get metal covers – but they usually don’t fit into room decor as well
Somehow, my 100% solid copper electrical outlet covers never caught on. I thought they’d be quite the current thing.
When I was a kid the standard outlet cover was white-painted metal.
Well, they’re certainly available from Home Depot – but they’re about twice the price of the plastic ones.
Ah yes, the outlet covers which cover everything except the outlet. How could I forget?
:smack:
Whenever we redo a room my wife will select come fancy cover that ends up costing $5-10 each. But I have to admit, they do make for a nice touch when they complement the rest of the decor
That type of cover is for a rocker switch or a slide dimmer, or anything else that happens to fit that larger style rectangular hole. At work, we have motion sensors in many rooms that fit that type of cover plate.
For those that don’t have experience with this sort of thing, you shouldn’t use that type of cover on a regular outlet. A GFCI outlet will probably require that type of cover, though.
Copper cover plates for regular outlets and for regular light switches are available.
Check your PMs.
If the fitting is properly earthed (grounded) then there is no way that it can become live without tripping the GFCI or whatever.
These covers are for decoration.