Hanging outlet - how best to accomplish

[klieber]

I have a ~50' x 30' shop that has ~24' ceilings. The ceilings are way up there. I'd like to hang an electrical outlet almost directly in the middle of the shop. I have power up there on the ceiling already (where the garage door opener is), but I have no idea what the best way to hang the actual outlet. Or if it's even feasible.

I'm concerned about the structural aspects of it -- anything hanging that low is going to have little to no lateral support. I could just dangle an extension cord, I suppose, but that seems ghetto and potentially unsafe. I'm curious if there are better options.

Thoughts?

 

[unsinkable]

Get an outlet box cover with a knockout in it.
You're gonna want to use SJO cord of the proper gauge, and use strain relief fitting over the cord at the box. The strain relief is a steel mesh sleeve that uou feed over the cord and attach to the box fitting, its kind of like "chinese finger" toy, the more you pull on it, the tighter it gets.
Electrical supply house will set you up. Just tell them:
Gauge and length of SJ cord
Strain relief and connectors
Size of junction box cover

 

[Eriehunter]

^^ this, or a cord reel that you put the stop on so it can't retract all the way.

Or you could run conduit straight down from the ceiling and use a unistrut post and attach your outlet box to that, and use the top of the post to to support the conduit.

Cord drop is the easiest, they also make the chinese finger trap supports with an eyelet so the cord/ connector isn't hanging from the box.

 

[soob]

I dunno, hanging an extension cord sounds like a pretty good idea to me. I have an extension cord (in a reel) hanging from my ceiling and it works great.

 

[Andybull]

You can install a 3/4" rigid metal conduit and attach it to the floor. I opted to bring down a 12/3 electric cord right to my lathe, it was on a 12' ceiling.

 

[boiler7904]

I'd install a cord reel and adjust the stop so you can reach it when needed.

 

[ishiboo]

I like unsinkable's plan.

Pics of the shop? 24' ceilings make it sound like it's an amazing space

 

[danfromsyr]

I vote the cord reel
just put one in my shop last week, I only have 12ft ceilings though.

 

[Wirepuller]

SJO with strain relief. Single gang bell box with threaded 1/2" KOs and you're good. Easy to move out of the way if need be and plenty safe. I put around a hundred of these in a large machine shop a few years ago. Worked out perfect.