Conference room table power

[m32825]

I'm setting up a conference room and have a question about power. We've got a floor box with one duplex receptacle in it and we would like to plug in three power strips. Two of the strips will provide power to either end of the table for laptops and phone charging. The other one will power the conference phone and similar low power devices. Is there any acceptable way to do this without adding a receptacle? Thanks!

-- Carl

 

[Git]

The only thing I can think of is something like this - we have a couple and they work well for what we need. (hopefully, someone will have a better idea)

It plugs into the duplex outlet and the two sidebars can rotate up to 90 degrees

 

[johnnyradiant]

Does Kramer Electronics have anything that suits. I go to them for distribution amps and scalers and see they have some stuff, not sure how big the selection is as that hasn't been my focus. Also if you go to legrandav.com They own Chief, Da Lite, Middle Atlantic and ... I've seen some board room electrical stuff their too. Last night I saw on the Chief side of the site they had a surge protected receptacle for drop ceilings to go by a projector mount.

 

[Terry D]

Find out what brand the floor box is. Example - Wiremold. Does it have data in it too? If not, you might be able to get a new cover for it that has 2 duplex receptacles. I used to install a lot of the Wiremold Rachet Pro 881 floor boxes, They were set up for power and data, with the covers we used. They make covers for that series with 2 duplex receptacles also, you just would not be able to have any data. Since the second duplex is where the data would go. This is just one example

 

[dogdog]

they have these things in conference rooms .... don't remember the exact brand. Just google for "table plug"

https://www.vqvgroup.com/Conference-Table-Power-Module-p/act-factory-install.htm

 

[m32825]

Thanks for the suggestions. The wall tap outlet multiplier looks like a good backup plan if nothing else works out.

I will get the brand of the floor box tomorrow. Picture attached for now.

I like the Belkin "power centers", they would give us what we need for laptops and mobile device charging. They look like the functional equivalent of a power strip to me, but the product info shows one being plugged into a power strip. Is plugging a "power center" into a power strip different from plugging a power strip into a power strip?

-- Carl

 

[Terry D]

Thanks for the suggestions. The wall tap outlet multiplier looks like a good backup plan if nothing else works out.

I will get the brand of the floor box tomorrow. Picture attached for now.

I like the Belkin "power centers", they would give us what we need for laptops and mobile device charging. They look like the functional equivalent of a power strip to me, but the product info shows one being plugged into a power strip. Is plugging a "power center" into a power strip different from plugging a power strip into a power strip?

-- Carl

Looks like one half is for data, replacing that side with a receptacle wont work.

 

[Norcal]

What about mounting Plugmold® with receptacles every 6" under the table & plugging it into the floor box?

 

[mike93lx]

Cablelera Power Cord Extension and Splitter, NEMA 5-15P to NEMA 5-15R x 2, 16 AWG, 13A, 125V (ZWACPQAG-14) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FRODUR4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[m32825]

Looks like one half is for data, replacing that side with a receptacle wont work.

Yeah, that's why I am trying to get what I want with the one duplex receptacle.

 

[m32825]

What about mounting Plugmold® with receptacles every 6" under the table & plugging it into the floor box?

I like the form factor. I need to cover two 5' tables on either side of the center and I'd like to hide all the phone-related wall warts on a power strip zip tied under the table. Seems like I still run out of outlets.

 

[m32825]

Cablelera Power Cord Extension and Splitter, NEMA 5-15P to NEMA 5-15R x 2, 16 AWG, 13A, 125V (ZWACPQAG-14) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FRODUR4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

That's actually what I was originally thinking but I don't think those are OSHA approved for permanent use, are they?

 

[mike93lx]

That's actually what I was originally thinking but I don't think those are OSHA approved for permanent use, are they?

I have no idea. If osha approval is needed, you should have your EHS team determine what to use.

 

[Terry D]

I like the table top receptacle idea, don't know if the one you showed can have the cord drop through the table underneath it , so its out of sight. Maybe a combination of those and the plug mold idea underneath would work. I personally just wouldn't have plugs just underneath, might be a hassle to plug in a laptop, etc. Plus its a hazzard

 

[mike93lx]

I like the table top receptacle idea, don't know if the one you showed can have the cord drop through the table underneath it , so its out of sight. Maybe a combination of those and the plug mold idea underneath would work. I personally just wouldn't have plugs just underneath, might be a hassle to plug in a laptop, etc. Plus its a hazzard

Plugs really need to be in the top. I've been in too many conference rooms with laptop cords running all of over the place. Ugly and a trip hazard.

 

[dogdog]

holly snits ... didn't know these things are big $$$$.

http://www.vqvgroup.com/Conference-Table-Power-Module-p/act-oam-30.htm

 

[mike93lx]

that thing is insane.

IMO, if that many plugs are needed, there should be multiple devices.

USB is unnecessary. people don't plugs phones in during meetings, only if they are in a room for a whole day, and even then, they will either plug into their laptop or will have a wall charger.

1 plug for every 2-3 seats is plenty in my experience.

 

[Norcal]

holly snits ... didn't know these things are big $$$$.

http://www.vqvgroup.com/Conference-Table-Power-Module-p/act-oam-30.htm

Mounting Plugmold® on the bottom of a table is much more economical then the product shown in the link above, but Plugmold® lacks the cool factor of the above product.

 

[mike93lx]

some way cheaper options here:
https://www.cableorganizer.com/p/ellora-recessed-power-data-desk-outlet/

These look exactly like what was in every conference room at the last company I worked at. quality was solid and they are pretty modular.

 

[alfredeneuman]

I hooked up a sweet one.
It came prewired with pop-up receptacles with usb outlets at every chair location, a wifi hub on the end, and a pop-up wifi projector for presentations.
When not in use, it looked like a regular walnut conference table.
All that I had to do was run a piece of sealtite from the (removed) floor receptacle centered in the middle of the table up to a box mounted under the table. I was finished in half an hour

 

[dogdog]

Mounting Plugmold® on the bottom of a table is much more economical then the product shown in the link above, but Plugmold® lacks the cool factor of the above product.

well it's a conference room, hopefully that would be a for business and not Cosplay or game geeks ... Plugmolds might be effective, not sure any one would bend over and down to the bottom of the table just to plug in their power... well... except the ones that have knee pads on.....

Also some of the conference tables are pretty large... almost as big as peewee's playhouse that you can camp and nap inside if it wasn't for the dust balls...there is also that EHS / OSHA thing mentioned.

 

[Terry D]

Plugs really need to be in the top. I've been in too many conference rooms with laptop cords running all of over the place. Ugly and a trip hazard.

Agreed

 

[m32825]

I have no idea. If osha approval is needed, you should have your EHS team determine what to use.

You're absolutely right, and that's where I started. I found that they are good at telling you what you can't do, but not very good at suggesting acceptable alternatives. You guys have given me a number of good ideas to consider. Thanks!

 

[JPinSTL]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078NPWV41/?tag=atomicindus08-20 - Table Grommet $40
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N2US3BO/?tag=atomicindus08-20 - HDMI Keystone Cable

This is a round grommet, 2 AC, 2 USB for charging, and an RJ45. I swapped out the RJ45 keystone jack with an HDMI and used that to feed to the video in the room. It was easy somewhat to take apart, and all the ports are just a passthrough. Upgraded all of our conf room tables.

Most laptop power adapters are 90W or smaller. In theory 20 laptops from a 15A circuit. So as long as your floor box is a dedicated circuit you should be fine.

 

[Lassen Forge]

We ran into this in our EOC... we ran main leads from the floor boxes (one on each end of the table, 2 outlets each) to splitters under the table, then fed power strips off the splitters to each work station.

SInce all we ran were laptop chargers, phones, etc. nothing ever came close to one of the circuit limits. And as long as the splitters weren't "protected", the power strips were fine. (You double power strips their "breakers" might malfunction).

 

[alfredeneuman]

Of note is the fact that general use receptacles in all occupancies other than dwellings need to be calculated at 180va per yoke regardless of the load.

This would limit them (at 120 volt) to 10 on a 15A, and 13 on a 20A circuit. (If you use duplex receptacles you could double the number of places to plug in)