wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
Ok, this was an interesting read until the last 2 comments above mine when I busted up laughing! 
Colored Receptacles
- Thread starter Spudland_Dave
- Start date
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
Ok, this was an interesting read until the last 2 comments above mine when I busted up laughing!
Well I was kinda thinking the same things, does it really matter. I try to use good old traditional ivory (and the house is, I want it to look right) but the shop, well who really cares, if the price is right. I have mostly ivory, but some light almond (which is difficult to distinguish from the ivory, and I've got some white (for the lights overhead) and a couple of black ones. They are all in metal boxes with industrial galvanized fronts (not really face plates as the fronts are what the switches and receptacles attach to.
More and more, I take what I can get for the right price, if its an acceptable product.
Charles
True that. For quick work, I use what's cheap. Got some Cooper spec grade recep's for a buck a piece. They're brown and NONE of my other receps are but I could care less. They always have **** plugged into. But, whenever possible, get Fed. Spec. Grade. We've ALL seen the residential/consumer outlets fall apart just because you looked at them funny.
As with yours, I've got Ivory, Almond, and I prefer White but, in basements and garages that aren't finished, it doesn't matter as long as it's done right.
To OP, hope you've gotten the advice you're looking for!
OP
Spudland_Dave
Well-known member
Hmm...If I could find some nice Carbon Fiber Doilies, I could get an extra large one to put my compressor on, a nice rectangular one for the welder, and a few small ones for my bench power tools..
That ship has already sailed...used to have a mix-match of cords, put most of em in my "junk" bin and now use only Genuine Yellow-Jackets for extension cords. Wouldnt bug me if you gave me a blue cord, I'd be thankful and use it...I just wouldnt knowingly buy one. Must be genetic...my bro (and me too eventually) is getting welder leads custom done for his Trailblazer which are color coded..... AND have his name printed on em...
Yes, I got alot of ideas and leads...when I get back to work I'll have time to spec all this out and go further...still a ways before I run out and buy any conduit or anything like that....but got tons of food for thought.
When the funny comments started pouring in, I was scratching my head thinking..."This is GJ....where people practically carpet their garages, have LED & LCD TV's on the walls, beautiful paint work on the walls, and 25k tool boxes to hold the 2 wrenches to change the oil in their Vette's..." And they're poking fun at me because I want a "themed" conduit system?
Lotek
Well-known member
...
When the funny comments started pouring in, I was scratching my head thinking..."This is GJ....where people practically carpet their garages, have LED & LCD TV's on the walls, beautiful paint work on the walls, and 25k tool boxes to hold the 2 wrenches to change the oil in their Vette's..." And they're poking fun at me because I want a "themed" conduit system?
We wonder about those guys too...
But to be honest, I'm doing a "silver" theme on my emt and flex, a copper theme on the water lines, black theme for air lines except for the hoses, which are a red/brass theme, and grey for the floor. The walls are a tossup between basic white and the spatter look I have going behind the lathe.
But seriously, go with what you like...as Richard Feynman said "What do you care what other people think."
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shocksandstrutz
Well-known member
I thought about colored outlets when I was running the EMT in my garage, found box of orange outlets at LOWES...they rang up like 12 a piece.....walked back and opted for the 60 cent a piece outlets...they do the same thing....screw it, but if i could find a good deal on some ornage ones online....id swap them out no problem,
to each his own....i like your idea and you should post pics when its done
to each his own....i like your idea and you should post pics when its done
sands35
Well-known member
It would probably be easier and cheeper to get metal wall plates painted or powder coated rather than the outlets themselves.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Orange with a little green triangle in the corner
are special isolated ground receptacles. An isolated ground circuit provides an insulated, separate ground path from the receptacle directly back to the load center ground buss bar.
is it NEC-legal to install isolated ground receptacles and NOT provide an isolated ground; ie, tie the receptacle ground to the box & run it back to the panel? should i somehow cover / otherwise make invisible the triangle on the face?
i got a screaming deal on IG receptacles and would like to use them, but have no intention of pulling IG conductor for them... don't want it to be a problem in the future since the receps are of course marked with the triangle.
ahm
i got a screaming deal on IG receptacles and would like to use them, but have no intention of pulling IG conductor for them... don't want it to be a problem in the future since the receps are of course marked with the triangle.
ahm
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
I cannot see that it matters much. I would cover over, mark out, somehow obscure the triangle, and possibly take my Brother labeler and placard the receptacles "NOT isolated ground" so someone would know that they are wired normally.
Charles
Charles
G_P
Well-known member
This may sound dumb but what is the purpose of an isolated ground?
Sent via carrier pigeon.
Sent via carrier pigeon.
tshetter
Well-known member
With the whole color coded/themed garage thing, how about painting some of the exterior weather-proof receptacle covers? Looks a little more industrial when closed, keeps dust/dirt/debris out, you dont really see the color of the actual receptacle when you plug in so you could just use a black face receptacle, and you can find almost any color paint you might need to match your Deer/International/Whatever you need. Maybe even color code your different voltage, 120 Deer/240 IH, or code them to designate the circuit they are on?
I have never use the Yellow-Jacket extension cords, but I do have a few of the Ridgid ones, 25ft with 3 receptacles, and 2 of the 50 footers, and IMO they are they bees knees. They wind up really nice by hand, dont hold a strong memory to them after being stored for a while, and re very flexible. Throw in a about a dozen various orange cords from HD and HF that are only for
lights. Hate those cheap cords.
OT, the FlexZilla air hoses are pretty nice too, I've only been using a 1/2"x50ft one for a few months but its great so far.
I have never use the Yellow-Jacket extension cords, but I do have a few of the Ridgid ones, 25ft with 3 receptacles, and 2 of the 50 footers, and IMO they are they bees knees. They wind up really nice by hand, dont hold a strong memory to them after being stored for a while, and re very flexible. Throw in a about a dozen various orange cords from HD and HF that are only for
lights. Hate those cheap cords.OT, the FlexZilla air hoses are pretty nice too, I've only been using a 1/2"x50ft one for a few months but its great so far.
tshetter
Well-known member
Sorry to follow up so fast, but I wasn't talking about the wet location 'Bubble Covers.'
I meant these guys:
Lots of options IMO with those.
I meant these guys:
Lots of options IMO with those.
thanks Charles - i'll either find matching paint (gray - sorry to disappoint colored receptacle lovers
) to cover the triangle and/or stick PTouch labels on them indicating no IG. Thanks for the thoughts. G_P - isolated ground receptacles are theoretically supposed to reduce 'noise' that could affect sensitive electronics. There are lots of caveats to make them work properly, and even when they do, the effect appears rather limited from my research. Essentially, if you run a recording studio, it might make sense to use them.
the only reason i have them is i got a screaming deal from fruitridge on them. they are high quality - 20a, screw-down backstab - and they ended up being barely more expensive than new-home contractor special junk. given the costs of emt/fittings/thhn, the difference in receptacle price is background noise..
just to connect my thread hijack with the original premise...i am using red GFCI's in my shop to make them easy to spot. i routinely have friends come over to do work and its easier to direct them to the bright red receptacles (contrast against the white of the insulation backing covering the walls/ceiling).
ahm
OP
Spudland_Dave
Well-known member
Thanks...It was a great idea at the time, Money/No Headaches tracking the stuff down won...plain ol white recep's and face plates. Originally the garage was going to be all white or Tan inside, receps would have provided some detail, now we got some color planned for the walls, which makes my white recep's nice. If colored recep's would be more affordable, I still like the idea.
sands35
Well-known member
For sensitive equipment, it prevents cross talk between different plugs. i.e., power feedback from a motor won't impact the power for the isolated ground. Normally wired with a 12/3 wire where the red wire is tagged with green tape to denote ground. As mentioned, if you have mission critical (hospital) equipment or very expensive equipment, it makes some sense. Otherwise it's a waste.
IMHO, don't use those plugs for anything other than an isolated ground. They denote a specific expectation. I can't say if an inspector would pass them or not. Technically, I don't thing they should, but I'm not an inspector. I'll bet most won't care.
I'm going to use different colored wall plates to differentiate circuits. Easy and I don't have to mess with outlet colors.
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for anyone REALLY interested in learning about IG.. http://ecmweb.com/power-quality/hows-and-whys-ig-wiring
ahm
ahm
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
You do know that is NOT allowed by code?!
sands35
Well-known member
Yeah - I've read that (250.119) - though it's in all the DIY instruction books - which is sort of interesting to me. Personally, I've never done a isolated ground outlet and never had one inspected. Frankly, I assumed that taping the red wire back to the NM sheathing would be OK (but this is hypothetical for me). Or would THHN need to be run so it can be clearly identified as essentially a 2nd ground? There is armored wire with an IG in it for commercial applications.
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