Mounting an extension cord

[Askme42]

Running from lights along ceiling and down the wall.

 

[jkwilson]

You don't. Extension cords are not intended for permanent use.

 

[Jay Sco]

You don't. Extension cords are not intended for permanent use.

And if it's a business I'm pretty sure it's an OSHA violation unless it's temporary lighting.

 

[T-Mac]

never tried to "mount " an extension cord-might be a shocking experience!

 

[Jay Sco]

never tried to "mount " an extension cord-might be a shocking experience!

But you have tried running across the ceiling and down the wall, Spidey?

 

[rlitman]

You don't. Extension cords are not intended for permanent use.

That's not entirely true. Many extension cords are marked SO or SJ. They're not intended to be hidden inside walls, or to be hardwired to a panel though.

 

[bczygan]

If you jumble them together, they hold each other up.

 

[rlitman]

If you jumble them together, they hold each other up.

Clearly, someone did not know what they were doing there.
If you're going to have a mess like that, you need to at least make sure all the wires are the same color.

 

[kazlx]

Working for a fire dept...number 1 cause of fires...improper use of extension cords....

 

[wyo george]

Duct tape..


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jgorm]

So there is a problem with this?

 

[Ilikeike]

So there is a problem with this?

I guess thats better than running it across the road.

 

[Bondo]

I guess thats better than running it across the road.

Ayuh,.... A couple of the Best extension cords I ever owned, started out as a 100'er on a job site,...
10ga. brand new bright yellow, with the glowin' ends,..

The Paver fell in a pothole, 'n cut it clean in two, they threw it in the dumpster, 'n I took it home,...

Put a decent plug on one, 'n a 4 gang steel box on the other,...

 

[Modern Jess]

If you jumble them together, they hold each other up.

Does that make them load-bearing extension cords?

 

[premierplayer]

velcro, hospital grade if available

 

[great white tj]

Well I guess I am going to get a tongue lashing on this Thread....so let it Rip..... In these two pict. you can see some hanging lights. These are 300 watt fixtures with 200 watt bulbs in them, I have made up some ext. cords in 10'..12' ect just to plug in as needed and then I unplug them when done. This has worked for years, I have 3 sets of 8' fluorescent lights that just don't get it done at times.

 

[Askme42]

And if it's a business I'm pretty sure it's an OSHA violation unless it's temporary lighting.

It's a house we are renting. Can't do anything permanent. That's the problem. I'd like some way to make it look semi nice.

 

[Modern Jess]

It's a house we are renting. Can't do anything permanent. That's the problem. I'd like some way to make it look semi nice.

HD (and lots of others) sells a series of surface-mount wiring products -- conduit, boxes, etc -- that are made for situations like yours. Easy to put up and take down, relatively little damage to the walls (though still might have to patch some screw holes).

 

[smttysmth02gt]

Please think carefully on this. We had a housefire 01/2013 that was caused by an extension cable that was being used "permanently". The fire investigator said NEVER use an extension cable like this. They are meant to be used temporarily. I learned my lesson...please don't repeat my mistake.

 

[kbs2244]

They make insulated staples just for this need.
Numerous sizes.

 

[BeachBoy]

They make insulated staples just for this need.
Numerous sizes.

Yeah and they are round instead of flat so they don't pinch the cables.

 

[jkwilson]

They make insulated staples just for this need.
Numerous sizes.

The NEC specifically prohibits attaching flexible cords to structures or using them in place of permanent wiring.

The staples are for low voltage wiring like coax or phone lines, not for power cords.

This is not one of those things that is just a technical violation. Using an extension cord in such a manner is a very dangerous thing to do.

 

[sberry]

Don't staple then, just hang it. But,,, I found one the other day with a pinch injury from a deal I got rigged together. Its really easy to do. If you do use a cord calculate the load.

 

[Orionrising]

So there is a problem with this?

meh, that end doesn't bother me it aint gonna set the concrete and steel on fire, the other end probably would.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

They make insulated staples just for this need.
Numerous sizes.

Just NOT for that need...


Tommy

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Yeah and they are round instead of flat so they don't pinch the cables.

Nope. Those are for low voltage round cables like coax, not load carrying cables.

Tommy

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Sorry. I posted before I finished reading the entire thread...

Oh, well, you can't say how bad of an idea it is too many times...

Tommy

 

[600SL]

So there is a problem with this?

I guess its all up to code since there is a ground rod near by.

 

[SuburbanRuss]

OK So not to hijack the OP's thread, but i think i have a legitimate question....

I I have an extension cord reel plugged in at the outlet in the ceiling sharing it with my door opener, is it ok to leave that plugged in all the time as long as nothing is plugged into the reel?

Fires are my biggest fear.

 

[mires]

OK So not to hijack the OP's thread, but i think i have a legitimate question....

I I have an extension cord reel plugged in at the outlet in the ceiling sharing it with my door opener, is it ok to leave that plugged in all the time as long as nothing is plugged into the reel?

Fires are my biggest fear.

I have the exact same situation and would like to know as well. I had no idea extension cords were such a dangerous and touchy subject lol.

 

[Rod N]

I have the exact same situation and would like to know as well. I had no idea extension cords were such a dangerous and touchy subject lol.

If that was the case nothing should ever be left plugged in?

 

[toplessHO]

If that was the case nothing should ever be left plugged in?

cords attached to appliances are normally 6 ft or less

 

[Askme42]

I can easily unplug the extension cord when not using the light. Was just looking for a way to pretty it up a bit.

 

[shampoop]

Remove the recepticle, mount an extension box, and run some EMT along the wall to the lights. Any kind of supports you use for the extension cord on the wall will do the same amount of damage as the supports you use for the EMT.

something like this.
https://www.platt.com/platt-electri...ions/Hubbell-Raco/187/product.aspx?zpid=52108

 

[shampoop]

also, as far as extension cords being dangerous, aside from the possibility of overloading a small gauge extension cord for a large load like a space heater, and physical damage, they're no different from the wires in your wall.

 

[nafterclifen]

Some like this will work fine.

http://www.showmecables.com/product...-PQkpkxxpeSoE8_eV7DL6s6zgOrAq9hyv4RoCRUzw_wcB

 

[over40pirate]

Please think carefully on this. We had a housefire 01/2013 that was caused by an extension cable that was being used "permanently". The fire investigator said NEVER use an extension cable like this. They are meant to be used temporarily. I learned my lesson...please don't repeat my mistake.

"Permanently" "Temporarily" So, if I permanently use an extension cord to power a shop light, there is more chance of a fire, than if I just used it temporarily. for a few days?

 

[sberry]

The reason they don't want permanent temp is that it never goes away and soon junk gets piled on etc. I am guilty, have some shop lights feed with lamp cords, they are strung or taped out of the way and been working for 20 yrs.