Wiring device product attributes

Wiring devices such as receptacles, switches, plugs and connectors are high-volume items where small differences decide whether a product can be installed. A 15 A and a 20 A receptacle differ by one blade slot. Tamper-resistant and weather-resistant versions look almost identical to standard ones, and color, grade and pack quantity multiply one base design into dozens of SKUs that suppliers often describe with the same title.

The NEMA configuration code carries much of the meaning, but it is written with and without hyphens, prefixes and suffixes, and sometimes left out in favor of a picture. Grade names such as residential, commercial and specification grade are not defined consistently across manufacturers. Country of origin can differ between production runs of the same catalog number, which matters for projects with domestic-content requirements.

This template records configuration, ratings, construction, markings and evidence as separate governed fields. A counter rep can then match a replacement device by its code and markings, and a buyer can filter to what the location requires, with each value checked against the manufacturer's current datasheet and the marking on the device itself.

The wiring devices attribute template

18 candidate fields in 5 groups, ordered the way a record gets built: identify the item, capture its specifications, then record fit and the evidence behind any claim. 8 are marked Core: without them the item cannot be identified or filtered. Example values show the expected format only; they do not describe a real SKU.

Identity

Which exact item, variant and pack this record describes.

Check before use: Preserve leading zeros and punctuation, validate against the manufacturer record, and check the GTIN check digit and packaging level before linking.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Manufacturer Part Number manufacturer_part_number	Identifier	Core	DR20-TRWR-W
GTIN / UPC gtin_upc	Identifier	Core	081234520205

Technical specifications

Measured or rated values that must travel with their unit and test conditions.

Check before use: Store the number and unit separately. Convert only when the source unit and test conditions are known.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Amperage amperage	Number · A	Core	20
Voltage Rating voltage_rating	Controlled list · V	Core	125

Selection attributes

The type, material and option choices buyers filter and compare on.

Check before use: Map supplier wording to a governed vocabulary only after checking the source text and which variant it applies to.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Device Type device_type	Controlled list	Core	Duplex Receptacle
NEMA Configuration nema_configuration	Controlled list	Core	5-20R
Pole / Wire Configuration pole_wire_configuration	Controlled list	Core	2-Pole 3-Wire Grounding
Color color	Controlled list	Core	White
Device Grade device_grade	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Specification grade
Termination Type termination_type	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Back and Side Wired
Self-Grounding Strap self_grounding_strap	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Yes
Tamper-Resistant (TR) tamper_resistant_tr	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	Yes
Weather-Resistant (WR) weather_resistant_wr	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	Yes

Fit & compatibility

What the item mounts to, mates with, replaces or works alongside.

Check before use: Keep model and series qualifiers. A similar-looking part is not a verified fit until a source says so.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Terminal Wire Range terminal_wire_range	Text · AWG	Buyer decision	#14–#10 AWG copper
Mounting Strap Material mounting_strap_material	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Galvanized steel
Device Depth device_depth	Number · in	Buyer decision	1.2

Evidence & compliance

Listings, standards, classifications and origin claims that need a document behind them.

Check before use: Link the manufacturer document or label with its edition or date. Never copy a certification from a neighboring SKU.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Safety Certification / File Number safety_certification_file_number	Text	Channel / evidence	cULus listed (UL 498; CSA C22.2 No. 42)
Country of Origin country_of_origin	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	Mexico

Normalize supplier values

The same value arrives in many spellings. Map each raw string to one governed value, and keep the raw text beside it so a reviewer can see what the supplier actually wrote.

Often missing from supplier files

These fields are commonly absent from price lists and basic feeds, even though the information usually exists in a datasheet, label or installation manual. Treat an empty value as a request for evidence, not as permission to fill it from a similar model.

• Controlled Receptacle Marking
• Device Depth
• Buy American Act / TAA Status
• USB Port Type and Output Power
• Mating Device Reference

Questions the record must answer

Buyers and counter-sales reps choosing wiring devices ask questions like these. Each one needs a specific field, sourced for the exact variant.

• Is this receptacle both tamper-resistant and weather-resistant for an outdoor patio?
• Will a 20 A plug fit this receptacle, or is it 15 A only?
• Can I back-wire this with 12 AWG, or is it side-wire only?
• Is this device made in the USA for our domestic-content project?

From supplier file to record

1. Resolve identity first. Link the supplier SKU, manufacturer part number and packaging identifiers without merging distinct variants or pack sizes.
2. Extract with the source attached. Pull values from rows, tables and datasheets, keeping the raw text, unit and page or row reference.
3. Map to your classification. Assign the ETIM, ECLASS, UNSPSC or internal class your company licenses, and keep the supplier's original terms.
4. Review, sync and watch. Hold conflicts and safety-related values for a category expert, write approved values to ERP or PIM, and recheck when the supplier sends a new file.

For the full method, see how to build a category attribute template and the category catalog gap audit.

FAQ