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outdoor outlet cover that fits GFCI plug?

benny27

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I have a 110v plug that has a GFCI and it does not fit in the in use weatherproof covers I have.
If some one knows of one that will work?
 

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Shiftless

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That’s gonna be a tough one. Are you only occasionally plugging in a tool and can’t get that plug into the receptacle? Or are you expecting to leave something plugged in for long periods of time.

I had a pressure washer with that exact plug. My problem was that when I plugged it into a GFCI protected circuit in the garage, the breaker on the plug would trip and wouldn’t reset.
Although its a code violation, I just replaced it with a regular three prong plug knowing that I will always plug the pressure washer into a GFCI protected receptacle. It works fine now and I feel just as protected GFCI wise. I’ll never sell it or loan it out.

If somebody steals it from me and electrocutes himself, will his family sue me?


.
 
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benny27

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That’s gonna be a tough one. Are you only occasionally plugging in a tool and can’t get that plug into the receptacle? Or are you expecting to leave something plugged in for long periods of time.

Yes it will be plugged in for a long time it is for a hot tub. I will be putting in a new outlet just for the hot tub.
 

Marctrees

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I think you will have to get what Jim shows and modify it by cutting out the bottom and maybe somekinda attached skirt.

If you get the one as in photo w the extra deep cover the depth should be enough for your use.

If you do the above, I would use the TOP hinge option.

Marc
 
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benny27

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Have you thought of hardwiring it instead, obviously putting it on a GFCI breaker...
I might look into that if I can not find a good cover. It would be nice to have a out door plug in that area so I am still leaning that way now.
Did you try one of these big ones?
That one looks bigger than what I have seen in my local stores. Were did you find that?

edit I just found that on zoro.com I needed to get some stuff from them so I will add that to the cart. thanks
 
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u2slow

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Although its a code violation, I just replaced it with a regular three prong plug knowing that I will always plug the pressure washer into a GFCI protected receptacle. It works fine now and I feel just as protected GFCI wise. I’ll never sell it or loan it out.

If somebody steals it from me and electrocutes himself, will his family sue me?

.

Didn't know NEC covered the modification of consumer goods. :headscrat

My little pressure washer has no built-in GFCI plug. Who's to say yours didn't either, and you simply replaced a buggered cord end? :) Some of this liability-chain stuff is ridiculous... I mean, isn't the PoCo ultimately responsible for delivering the fatal jolt? :lol_hitti
 

sparky 1971

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That looks like the cord end on my kids pool. I just used an extension cord and wrapping a bag over the end. Pool GFCI plugged into a cord and the cord plugged into a GFCI receptacle.
 

Shiftless

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u2slow:
You’re right.
Sorry, I should have said that you’d violate the U.L. listing on your hot tub. I’m not a sparky, but I would guess that it would NOT violate the NEC.


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sparky 1971

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I found that the problem isn't the depth of the in use cover. It's the height of the cord cap/gfci. Even when trying to plug into the top receptacle, the bottom of the cord cap hits the bottom of the cover way before its plugged in. The old style flip cover would be phenomenal for these.
 
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alfredeneuman

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Didn't know NEC covered the modification of consumer goods.
They do. It has to be listed for that particular modification.

110.3 (B) Installation and Use. Listed or labeled equipment shall be installed and used in accordance with any instructions included in the listing or labeling.
 

sparky 1971

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I missed the part that this was for a hot tub. I thought it was a pressure washer for some reason. Since you are going to be installing a new receptacle for said tub, why not use something like this: GE U010010GRP instead of turning an in use cover into a p.o.s by cutting the bottom off it. A unit like that should work perfectly after you flip the receptacle over.
 
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sparky 1971

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I figured that base ring cutting was obvious, and was just concerned about the lexan lid being DEEP enough ideally FULLY closing in use.

Marc

A regular in use cover would probably be deep enough. The extra deep would be for something like a sump pump with the plug in float switch. Cutting the bottom would probably eliminate the latch. During a storm, the wind could blow the lid open. It would no longer be a weatherproof box then.

That is a really good idea though. Jerry-rigging up something when there are products out there that would do the job as is. (See post #17)
 
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Dustball

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How about using one of the larger in-use covers along with an adapter like this one to bring the GFCI plug further out to clear the bottom lip of the box?

black-ac-works-plug-adapters-xh515520-64_1000.jpg
 

Terry D

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Is it not fitting because of depth or length. They make extra deep in use covers. But if it is just to long, then it is going to be hard or impossible to find something. You could cut that off and install a regular plug. And just plug it in a GFCI receptacle. I usually see those things on window ACs, i never knew they came on something that would be outside. If this is on a pool, it needs to be a twist lock anyway and cord no longer that 3 ft.

Sent from my SM-G960U using The Garage Journal mobile app
 

wyliesdiesels

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Is it not fitting because of depth or length. They make extra deep in use covers. But if it is just to long, then it is going to be hard or impossible to find something. You could cut that off and install a regular plug. And just plug it in a GFCI receptacle. I usually see those things on window ACs, i never knew they came on something that would be outside. If this is on a pool, it needs to be a twist lock anyway and cord no longer that 3 ft.

Sent from my SM-G960U using The Garage Journal mobile app

The cord ends on window AC units are different. They are LCDIs NOT GFCIs. They detect leakage current through the mesh shielding in the cord.
 
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