Outdoor safety enhanced
When Melville, New York-based Leviton rolled out its new Decora Weather-Resistant Switch earlier this year, two big ideas were at work.
First, as outdoor living continues to grow in sophistication — think outdoor kitchens, gazebos, ceiling fans and fountains — products with high aesthetic qualities are in increasing demand.
Second, very simply, is the importance of safety in all weather conditions. The new switch, like most of Leviton’s residential portfolio, checks both boxes.
“Our Decora Weather-Resistant Switch adds convenience to outdoor living by providing a safe and easily accessible way to switch lights and motor loads on and off from the exterior of a home,” said William Randall, director of product management at Leviton.
“It is an important expansion to the existing line of Leviton outdoor solutions, which includes weather-resistant receptacles, GFCIs and USB Charger Devices.”
The company’s portfolio of weather resistant products is well suited to the trend of outdoor living, especially for those use-cases that involve big-ticket outdoor living products: pool and spa areas, sheds, cabanas and the kind of outdoor lighting that makes a statement. Of course, any outdoor living environment—at any budget—benefits from safe and convenient products.
Leviton Weather-Resistant Outlets are available in Tamper-Resistant and GFCI models to help insure both personal safety and weather resistance in wet or damp outdoor locations.
Here are three outdoor living highlights from the Leviton product mix (click on each image for more details):
Weather-Resistant GFCI Outlet (GFTW1)
Peace of mind, all the time. The SmartlockPro® Self-Test GFCI — that stands for ground-fault circuit interrupter, a key to outdoor and indoor safety — tests itself even if the homeowner forgets.
Designed to meet the latest UL standard for auto-monitoring (self-test) the complete line of self-test GFCIs periodically conduct an automatic internal test to confirm that it can respond to a ground-fault. With the slimmest profile on the market, the device allows for fast and easy installation, while Leviton’s patented reset lockout mechanism prevents reset of the GFCI if it is not wired or operating correctly. The SmartlockPro Self-Test GFCI is the smart choice in ground-fault circuit interrupter protection.
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Weather-Resistant USB Outlet (W5633)
Here’s the first outdoor addition to Leviton’s line of in-wall USB Chargers. Safe, reliable and designed for outdoor use, (as long as it’s installed in a weatherproof enclosure with approved caulk and gaskets), it’s described as “the future of charging.” The USB Type-C® port provides faster charging and is emerging as the standard port on many phones, tablets and laptops.
It also features a built-in smart chip recognizes the individual device’s charging requirements to optimize the charge. Two high-powered charging ports deliver a combined total of 5.1A charging current and 25+ watts of power.
“The device delivers a convenient way to charge electronics while spending time outdoors, so users never lose sight of, or access to, their smartphones, tablets, laptops or more,” said Randall.
The bottom line is safety and convenience for outdoor living: No more searching for charging adapters, and the outlets remain free for additional power needs.
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Weather- Resistant Decora® Switch (W5601)
It has indoor good looks, with outdoor durability. The new weather-resistant switch features UV stabilized thermoplastic construction and extra corrosion protection to withstand the rigors of exposure to the elements.
Designed for use in wet or damp locations, such as residential and commercial outdoor kitchens and bars, lighting, patios, pool and spa areas, sheds, gazebos, cabanas, ceiling fans and fountains, the Decora Weather-Resistant Switch features a patent-pending design. It’s engineered so that actuation is achieved with magnets to allow the subplate/switch to be impervious to water intrusion.
This all-in-one solution eliminates the need for the addition of an outdoor protective cover.
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Weather-resistant for outdoor living
Key features shared among the Leviton family of devices:
• Code compliant for outdoor residential and commercial areas
• Can be used in wet or damp locations
• UV stabilized thermoplastic construction
Leviton offers a variety of weatherproof solutions for outdoor residential and commercial areas, all while meeting the National Electrical Code® (NEC®)requirements and industry standards.