Electricity in concrete floor need advice

[Crabman]

Hello to all,

My shop was set up by the former owner who was a big wood worker, he built two skiffs, 16' and 18' in the shop, my next door neighbor said they were beautiful.

He put power in conduit in the floor to support big table saws, etc.

A picture is (hopefully) attached. There are 6 of these, three on each side of the shop. There is both 110 and 220 in the conduit.

I am more of a car guy and these are an impediment to parking, not to mention a tripping hazard. I have yellow Dollar General bags on them to try to mitigate the latter.

I would like to retain the power sources, but go flush to the floor. I have looked on the internet and it looks like there are flush mount boxes and receptacles and covers that would work.

I have no experience with a job like this. I have a good friend who is an electrician who will help me with the wiring so it is done safely.

I am looking for advice on how best to create the holes in the concrete where the flush mount junction boxes will go, and on any particular box/receptacle/cover products that people have used with success. I would like them to be sturdy enough for a car to roll over them (won't do it on purpose but could easily happen).

Thanks to all, Bruce

 

[mike93lx]

You can drill holes with a rotary hammer then break out the remaining concrete, or cut with a gas cutoff saw.

Probably need to cut out a decent size chunk (maybe 1' square) then set the box and repour around it.

 

[Norcal]

Floor boxes would be my answer, which would require cutting the concrete, cheap but not a good option IMO, remove the conductors, and cut the conduit flush with the concrete, leaving the abandoned conduits.

 

[iowa4x4dieselman]

I haven't done much research on floor outlets in concrete, but ensure they are water tight if installing flush to the floor. wouldn't want water run off or something to cause a short or fire.

 

[readhead]

I'm not sure flush floor box's would be a good choice with dirt and possible water or whatever else might be laying around.

 

[SGKent]

turn the power off, pull the breakers, cut flush with floor and pull the conductors out. Use drop power sources or an extension cord for your purposes. A floor receptacle in a garage with salty water from snow dripping off a car is not going to work well. They will have to be raised enough so water doesn't get into them. That or find a way to build a workbench over them. My 2 cents worth.

 

[Norcal]

I have floor boxes in my shop and with a modest amount of care it is not a problem, now if someone is dumber then a box of rocks then there will be a problem. The covers should not be flip type, screw in plugs when not in use keep debris out are the only choice in my opinion , and I do blow them out occasionally and in 25 years they have not given any trouble even when the shop floor was cleared and hosed out.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

overhead drops would be easier

 

[rburke65]

If mine....and I am...was....an electrician, I’d eliminate all the floor “stuff”. Pull the feeds, cut conduits, fill empty conduit.

 

[brownbagg]

it be a lot easiler to go overhead with hangers if you need middle of room

 

[Stuart in MN]

I wouldn't go with flush mount, but I live in a place where a lot of water gets on the floor from rain and snow. If you're in a desert area it may be okay.

 

[sberry]

You have a real use for these or do they simply seem like a good idea?

 

[rlitman]

I haven't done much research on floor outlets in concrete, but ensure they are water tight if installing flush to the floor. wouldn't want water run off or something to cause a short or fire.

Floor boxes that have water resistant (supposedly good for mopping) seals do exist. However, an in-use water resistant floor box does not exist so far as I can tell.

If the stanchions are in the wrong place for you, I'd suggest pulling the wires and cutting the conduit flush.