Are Despard electrical boxes like this one grounded? Or was 1970 a time still prior to ground connections and only used the hot and neutral wires? Because I see that some new Despard electrical use ground connections for their newer style plugs where the older ones didn't.
I was relieved to see that you did wrap a few layers of electrical tape around those exposed screw terminals on your 3-gang Despard switches. It definitely is better, and safer, than the old quick-connect series of switches you initially had.
As a side note, I noticed that you didn't have any stair railing on the flight of stairs going down to your basement. You may wish to consider installing some, for safety's sake.
You know.. there's a "Decora" style three-pole switch made these days.. might be another option when you eventually can't source what you have now.. :D
I've seen these style of switches in older how to books as late as the 70s but never in person The closest that I have seen are the switches that fit in a sideways box behind an outlet style cover plate. I can't see much advantage in using that style of switch, except maybe for replacement purposes in an older house like yours, they cost $4-$6 each from the sources I found verses $1 and under for ordinary toggle ones, a very interesting design though.
As an electrician here in Canada I have to say I have never seen those Despard switches.At least the guy who did the original wiring left plenty of wire to work with as that is my biggest complaint being the wires cut to short.One thing though which is good practice is to always have the line wired to the top terminals and the load on the bottom as that is how all disconnect switches are done in industry.
Do you still have all your tv's that wear in your basement? Please tell me you do:) i love the videos you make of your Vintage tv's. Please Make some more Videos they are so cool:)
@YTviewer2012 Hi there, I still have the TV's, they're in another part of the basement (I have a pretty big basement!) so you can expect to see more TV videos soon! Thanks!
I have a 1960s electrical wiring book which shows these switches, along with the matching 2-prong outlets, and I believe you could get a neon pilot lamp to fit this form factor, too. But I didn't know they had a special name, or that they were still being made!
They're actually made in Mexico. Not that this is great, but much better than China. With American goods "Made In Mexico" it's usually produced by American tools and machines that were once in an American plant while the design remains unchanged. The product at least is still good in this case. But it seems like when an American product becomes made in China, something happens with the design being cheapend, loss of quality control and the end result is an inferior product.
@drh4683 Thanks for letting me know, and you are correct about things made in Mexico and the quality still being good. It just kills me how everything is made in China, (or elsewhere). We make nothing any longer, and that, is what's wrong with the country. By the way, your videos are really good. I enjoy them... and I don't hand out compliments easily. (Just ask my friends). LOL Thanks again.
@drh4683 The problem with what is now capitalist China is that something happened during their industrial boom that caused them to concern more with quantity rather than quality.
It's nice how you keep this house as original as possible. That installation job is AAA+ as well! Great instructional video & thanks for posting it! I always learn something from watching your videos.
Thank You for that very interesting video on Despard switches, my apartment has in the bathroom a box with 2 switches and an outlet for an electric shaver one switch for the light and the other switch for the exhaust fan. The switch for the light went bad, I could have fixed it, but my landlord installed a new light switch, I don't think he knows that they still make replacement switches, Thank you again for that detailed video on how to replace them:)
i like how your home is soo retro its like the past i see in pictures :D
itsmewallis 1 week ago
Are Despard electrical boxes like this one grounded? Or was 1970 a time still prior to ground connections and only used the hot and neutral wires? Because I see that some new Despard electrical use ground connections for their newer style plugs where the older ones didn't.
mattsprinter 3 weeks ago
You should make a video of the original wall switches you replaced and take the broken one apart and see what has failed inside.
Comptekhs 1 month ago
I was relieved to see that you did wrap a few layers of electrical tape around those exposed screw terminals on your 3-gang Despard switches. It definitely is better, and safer, than the old quick-connect series of switches you initially had.
As a side note, I noticed that you didn't have any stair railing on the flight of stairs going down to your basement. You may wish to consider installing some, for safety's sake.
HardKnocks60 1 month ago
I know this is way off topic, but can you make a video of your NuTone intercom system, I saw an extension speaker.
SpeakerFreak95 1 month ago
You know.. there's a "Decora" style three-pole switch made these days.. might be another option when you eventually can't source what you have now.. :D
Sansui350A 1 month ago in playlist More videos from drh4683
I've seen these style of switches in older how to books as late as the 70s but never in person The closest that I have seen are the switches that fit in a sideways box behind an outlet style cover plate. I can't see much advantage in using that style of switch, except maybe for replacement purposes in an older house like yours, they cost $4-$6 each from the sources I found verses $1 and under for ordinary toggle ones, a very interesting design though.
OlegKostoglatov 1 month ago
These switches were used in my 1960 Nutone bathroom heater,vent,light combo. I replaced them about 10 years ago. Nice video.
galaxies352 1 month ago
As an electrician here in Canada I have to say I have never seen those Despard switches.At least the guy who did the original wiring left plenty of wire to work with as that is my biggest complaint being the wires cut to short.One thing though which is good practice is to always have the line wired to the top terminals and the load on the bottom as that is how all disconnect switches are done in industry.
Mr1966canuck 1 month ago
Do you still have all your tv's that wear in your basement? Please tell me you do:) i love the videos you make of your Vintage tv's. Please Make some more Videos they are so cool:)
YTviewer2012 1 month ago
@YTviewer2012 Hi there, I still have the TV's, they're in another part of the basement (I have a pretty big basement!) so you can expect to see more TV videos soon! Thanks!
drh4683 1 month ago
@drh4683 Great! I have really enjoyed and learned a lot from restoration videos. You do really great work.
tjbewick 1 month ago
Thanks for my new education about Despard. I recall the pilot light/switch combo from my parents home of the 50's. Not a triple, but similar.
maplewoodsp 1 month ago
I still have an original Bakelite switch from the 1940s in my laundry. God knows how it has lasted this long. Still works like new.
Love your videos. Cheers
aussietv2 1 month ago
I have a 1960s electrical wiring book which shows these switches, along with the matching 2-prong outlets, and I believe you could get a neon pilot lamp to fit this form factor, too. But I didn't know they had a special name, or that they were still being made!
vwestlife 1 month ago
I've gotta know... are the replacement switches made in China ??
thelazycomic 1 month ago
@thelazycomic
They're actually made in Mexico. Not that this is great, but much better than China. With American goods "Made In Mexico" it's usually produced by American tools and machines that were once in an American plant while the design remains unchanged. The product at least is still good in this case. But it seems like when an American product becomes made in China, something happens with the design being cheapend, loss of quality control and the end result is an inferior product.
drh4683 1 month ago
@drh4683 There are some quality chinese products.
Gazpacho8 1 month ago
@drh4683 Thanks for letting me know, and you are correct about things made in Mexico and the quality still being good. It just kills me how everything is made in China, (or elsewhere). We make nothing any longer, and that, is what's wrong with the country. By the way, your videos are really good. I enjoy them... and I don't hand out compliments easily. (Just ask my friends). LOL Thanks again.
thelazycomic 1 month ago
@drh4683 The problem with what is now capitalist China is that something happened during their industrial boom that caused them to concern more with quantity rather than quality.
MIKON8ERISBACK 1 month ago
nice video. love you house its so cool.
torythefanman 1 month ago
It's nice how you keep this house as original as possible. That installation job is AAA+ as well! Great instructional video & thanks for posting it! I always learn something from watching your videos.
TwinMillMC 1 month ago
Nice switch an interesting, but I have to ask what happened to all the TV's that were in your basement?
tjbewick 1 month ago
not like the uk wiering
mick2345vid 1 month ago
Thank You for that very interesting video on Despard switches, my apartment has in the bathroom a box with 2 switches and an outlet for an electric shaver one switch for the light and the other switch for the exhaust fan. The switch for the light went bad, I could have fixed it, but my landlord installed a new light switch, I don't think he knows that they still make replacement switches, Thank you again for that detailed video on how to replace them:)
ronco525 1 month ago
Good tips.
TheTarrMan 1 month ago