Premium GFI outlets?

[Edge]

Was looking for a new GFI outlet for the bathroom. Went to the local big box hardware store. Saw a GFI brand selling for about $7. Saw another brand, costing about $12 that said it was a "premium" GFI. Obviously nobody is going to risk their life for a difference of $5. So what does "premium" mean: Do they give you less false trippings? Do they trip faster? Are the internal components in so way more heavyduty? Bottomline - do "premium" GFIs keep you safer?

[Joe]

Could be. The low cost may be foreign made, the premium, USA. The latter may have a better circuit board, more robust connections, better quality control and a design that exceeds the minimum performance specifications. If you are not a contractor struggling with your bottom line, consider paying a bit more and you will likely have a longer service life product. A bathroom environment is meaner for electronics than most other locations in the house, so skimping there seems penny wise and pound foolish.

Joe

[DanG]

No idea what your "premium" product meant.

Pick up one of the +/-$1 receptacles. Plastic, no metal on the back, very light weight

Pick up one of the +/- $15 receptacles. Nylon, full metal back, heavy screw plates.

The industry buzz words are things like residential, commercial, industrial, spec grade, hospital grade.

The cost changes, the quality changes. They are probably all UL approved, they will all work, the better grades last longer and survive plug in and outs better.

[krw]

Was the ink in "premium" model gold? ;-)

The electronics inside will most likely be identical The difference won't be in "false trips" or non-trips). Other than marketeering, the "premium" model may be built a little better ("spec grade" or whatever). Look at them closely side by side. If you don't see a difference, there isn't one.

[Edge]

te:

It may be true that "premium" GFIs are slightly better built. But as previously noted both standard and premium types are UL tested. Maybe the bulk of the extra cost is a placebo effect. You pay more therefore you "feel" better protected. The marketing guys probably think who isn't going trade a little more money versus getting fried.

[krw]

Maybe. There *is* a difference in regular outlets. A $.29 outlet is not the same as a $5 outlet. The same difference could be in GFCIs as well. ...or not. Again, some of these differences are pretty easy to see if compared side-by-side.