Planning a Garage - Question About "Hanging" Receptacles

[LifeLongWNYer]

I am planning a ( so far ) unbuilt garage and was thinking about "hanging" receptacles.

I am going to put a work bench off of the wall, as an "island" so I can work on all sides of it and not have parts of the bench that I can reach. Years ago, I worked for a large, unnamed, photographic equipment manufacturing company in Rochester, and in many of the area where the larger pieces of equipment were assembled, there were rubber "boxes" hanging, pendant-style from the ceiling. The boxes had various receptacles mounted in them, some had a 110 duplex on each side of the box, some has a 220 duplex on one side and a "push to reset" circuit breaker on the other.... There probably were others, but that is what I remember, at the moment.

So, if I were to want to hang a couple of boxes over the bench, what NEC rules would come into play? For the purposes of this question, consider me a "rank amateur" on the NEC. I know most of the "homeowner-level" basics, and once I read a requirement in a thread here, I understand it, but I do NOT know much of the finer details.

Along a similar line, what about a hanging light fixture? Maybe not to give great general illumination, but say brighter spot work lighting, say over a gun vice, or something like that.



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[sberry]

Its done all the time and in some cases it works well. I don't care for it in the way of a fab bench. My ideal is for it to come from the floor. Not as big a deal for hobby work, can simply reach behind with a cord from the wall too. I reach back and overhead for an air hose but I use a grinder so much I like it plugged in and on a shelf below the bench top. A plug on most sides.

 

[grounded-b]

It's called a "Woodhead 3000" box.

Drop it from some SOW cord with a strain relief at the ceiling

 

[kd3pc]

I use a tether to keep them out of the way when not being used. Really simple and gets electric where I want and off the floor where it is in the way.

Mine are SOW or SJ and strain relief on both ends...

btw, if you leave them hanging, make sure it is too short to hit your head or so low that you see it easily. The box will smart when You hit it.

 

[n20junkie]

I find it easier to put an outlet in ceiing and use drop down reels. My shop has 6 of them.

 

[Aceman]

I find it easier to put an outlet in ceiing and use drop down reels. My shop has 6 of them.

I would agree, then you reel it up and out of the way when needed.

 

[LifeLongWNYer]

I agree about hitting my head on them. My plan was to have them over the bench. At work, where they were used, they looked like a forest, but were almost always over an "assembly pod" which is to say people didn't walk where the drops were. In some cases, the pods were moved, and the cord drops which were in the way, were raised with a bungee cord attached to the box. When one was needed, the assemblers had a stick with a hook and pulled one down. when were were finished with it, they released it and up it went. A lot like a retractable cord reel, but less expensive.

This company was really "****" on safety, so that arrangement wouldn't have lasted a day, if it wasn't "okay".


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[sberry]

I have that similar hanger for my air hose over bench. I have a 20 ft boom that swings and by the time it gets there,. down and back is just perfect for a 50 ft hose. I got it zip tied to the top cord on the way out and the return is hung below the bottom on hooks over head high, grab the hose and take it off as many hooks as needed. No moving parts.
You can reach up and hook on to a pendant too but I really found the cord in the way for a walk around bench. Even with that I had a couple recepts or power strip on the underside which is where I really like for corded tools not stationary.
Even on wall bench, a recept anywhere is better than none and top back wall is great for bench grinder and chargers but for drills and grinders, saws I like it left of the vise about 2 ft and under the top. On island one each side minimum and its easy to unplug the tool and go around it and even a small modest cord reel for getting away from it.
You can see a cord reel and ground extension on the corner of the bench in last pic. Simple plug in reel with 16 on it.