Power outlet in ceiling?

[adamsredlines]

So I just had an idea, seems like it would be handy.
Some power outlets in the ceiling of my garage. I'm tall and can touch the ceiling easily and if I put a few kinda towards the center, it could seemingly give me access to more areas of the garage without having to drag an extension cord out.
Any negatives to this idea? Seems I could tap into existing wiring up there and add a box to the beam and be on my way. Could plug a drop light in right over a car, etc.

 

[aka Larry]

So I just had an idea, seems like it would be handy.
Some power outlets in the ceiling of my garage. I'm tall and can touch the ceiling easily and if I put a few kinda towards the center, it could seemingly give me access to more areas of the garage without having to drag an extension cord out.
Any negatives to this idea? Seems I could tap into existing wiring up there and add a box to the beam and be on my way. Could plug a drop light in right over a car, etc.

The premise (IMO) is like having a self-retracting reel for being able to have a cord wherever you want it. In my attached garage I plugged my retractable reel into the ceiling outlet as was my garage door opener.

 

[sands35]

Yes, that is exactly what I'm doing. I'm going to have a simple drop cord to the middle of a work bench. A lot more convenient than having to step over cords when using a sander or router or something.

They just need to be GFCI-ed as they are 120vac in a new build. In older builds (pre 08 i think?) they may not be GFCIed.

 

[Kevin54]

I have outlets in all the corners of my ceiling, plus I have a couple up high on the wall. Then of course you have the outlets for the garage door openers.

One never knows when they might have an electric clock, or neon lights, traffic lights, or whatever else.

 

[Dustball]

If you're going to be using the overhead outlet with frequent movement- look into using a twist-lock receptacle and making a short extension cord with a twist-lock plug on the ceiling end and a standard plug on the other end. Cords pulling out from the weight of the cord/movement would get tiring after a while.

 

[sberry]

Pendant is better than tripping. My bench is fixed in place and its got a pipe in the floor to it which is the best. I thought I could get by but missed it when I built and one day had it, took a saw and an air chisel and cut a groove, installed a conduit. I had a 1/2 rebar I welded to the bench leg goes to the wall where there is a common welder ground. It works ok but if I was to do that again would use a big ole service wire, 3/0.

My bud has a heavy duty reel in his small garage and it works pretty well.

 

[4xdog]

I'm 6'6", and when my brother and i rewired my garage we put a number of outlets in the ceiling. I keep the float charger for my Triumph TR3 on one.

Although the tripping hazard is eliminated, Dustball's comments about plugs pulling out is well taken. I have a ding on the TR3 to show where something got caught on the line and pulled the wall wart free, hitting the car.

 

[KPSquared]

I have outlets in the ceiling in all 3 work ares of my garage. One for retractable trouble light, one for cord reel.

 

[toolman1967]

I installed a heavy gauge extension cord with a female plug attached to it from my ceiling boxes. I used solid plates drilled for wire connectors intended for service boxes to keep them locked into the boxes tightly.They drop down about a foot and are easily reached and the tool plugs lock in solid. I have 4 of them above my workbenches and am glad I have them.

 

[TOOL MASTER]

I hang all my air tools on the ceiling. 1x1 tubing with fittings ;-)

 

[sberry]

I got all the light fixtures cord and plug.

 

[sberry]

For wall warts and other always connected equipment want outlets behind it or above on the wall with a fixed bench and service outlet for hand held tools in the face of the bench under the top.

Old bench but good electric placement. The bench is grounded via a rod which acts for welding pathway but fed the electric 2 wire gfci. Its grounded,, just not with the single electric circuit to it.

 

[sberry]

I have made changes but wired it up a couple of times and finally put the IG recept in the box coming from the floor. At first I had some in the benches, or had it disconnected from the plug pin,, bad, one could assume the bench itself was connected correctly. (you could remove the bench and plug it in to another circuit and it would be properly grounded if that makes sense)

I have 2 benches with a single 2 wire circuit connecting them,, gfci and the benches are welded together via the leg to a channel in the floor which is welded to the building frame.

Clear as mud????????????

 

[turbowoodworker]

I will have a 20 amp circuit for my 2 ceiling mounted air filters (wood shop).

 

[e-tek]

If you're going to be using the overhead outlet with frequent movement- look into using a twist-lock receptacle and making a short extension cord with a twist-lock plug on the ceiling end and a standard plug on the other end. Cords pulling out from the weight of the cord/movement would get tiring after a while.

That's a GREAT idea. I wish I had thought this out better. As it is I now have extensions hanging from the 2 garage door opener sockets in my ceiling, secured by welding wires.....

 

[Zeke]

You need strain relief:

http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT2?PMPXNO=1941839&PMT4NO=33331486

Or these:

http://www.garvinindustries.com/ele...connectors/cord-grip-strain-relief-connectors

 

[Merlinii]

Have you looked at the Chambrlain Garage Power Station GPS1000 ?

Chamberlain® Garage Power Station. Air, power and lighting, all within reach. An auto-retractable utility cord combines air and power in one cord, so you can pump up, power up, and light up anything from one tool. The unit is ceiling mounted, to keep your work space free of clutter.

• Instantly pump up anything with the multi-purpose inflator
• Expand your workspace with 25 ft. auto-retractable utility cord
• LED task lighting within reach, provides 100,000 hours of working life
• Adds 100 watts of lighting to your workspace
• Available exclusively at The Home Depot

 

[sands35]

If you're going to be using the overhead outlet with frequent movement- look into using a twist-lock receptacle and making a short extension cord with a twist-lock plug on the ceiling end and a standard plug on the other end. Cords pulling out from the weight of the cord/movement would get tiring after a while.

That's a GREAT idea. I wish I had thought this out better. As it is I now have extensions hanging from the 2 garage door opener sockets in my ceiling, secured by welding wires.....

That's a bad idea. Pull hard enough and you will fail an electrical connection - and find out why God invented the circuit breaker.

You need some sort of strain relief on the cord. Like the ones that Zeke posted. The simple version is something like this:

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/HUBBELL-WIRING-DEVICEKELLEMS-Support-Grip-5JMH1?Pid=search

(there have to be less expensive ones around.... at that price, I might as well just buy a decent cord real.... )

What I did in my last house was simply zip tie a 6' cord to the garage door motor mount brackets and hang it down to eye level over my bench. Worked fine. Might do the same thing again and keep it simple.

 

[Jagmandave]

I use a 6 receptacle extension cord, plugged into the existing wall receptacle that was already under the bench and mounted it to the front edge of the bench, that way if I'm using a saw and a drill or other low load electrical things I don't have to keep plugging and unplugging. It's just under the lip of the bench so it's not in the way and since it's only me in the garage, I'm only using one tool at a time anyway so I don't have to worry about overloading it.

I also have a trouble light on a retractable reel plugged into the garage door opener recpt, it's in the perfect place that way for a low amp battery charger or just to use as a light.

I think the idea of ceiling drops is good, but only if they'll retract. There's nothing more frustrating that batting cords out of the way as you're trying to walk around the shop, so if you're going to do it, think carefully about the placement.

 

[Zeke]

I use a 6 receptacle extension cord, plugged into the existing wall receptacle that was already under the bench and mounted it to the front edge of the bench, that way if I'm using a saw and a drill or other low load electrical things I don't have to keep plugging and unplugging. It's just under the lip of the bench so it's not in the way and since it's only me in the garage, I'm only using one tool at a time anyway so I don't have to worry about overloading it.

I also have a trouble light on a retractable reel plugged into the garage door opener recpt, it's in the perfect place that way for a low amp battery charger or just to use as a light.

I think the idea of ceiling drops is good, but only if they'll retract. There's nothing more frustrating that batting cords out of the way as you're trying to walk around the shop, so if you're going to do it, think carefully about the placement.

Or, if you're 6'1", put them in at 6'2". 6'4" if you wear a cowboy hat.

 

[sands35]

Or hang it over the center of your workbench. Hard to hit your head on it there.

 

[jacric2005]

I have outlets in the ceiling in all 3 work ares of my garage. One for retractable trouble light, one for cord reel.

I want to have my float charger for the lawn mower plugged into the ceiling outlet. I can't reach that without a ladder. Is it OK to leave it plugged into the ceiling and not clamped onto the battery when you are using the vehicle?

 

[isb cornbinder]

Retractable cord reels. I have a few of then in service. I get most of them for a few bucks when the cords are frayed. I buy a good quality extension cord, cut and install the new cord. Works for me.

 

[dave*99]

Have you looked at the Chambrlain Garage Power Station GPS1000 ?

Chamberlain® Garage Power Station. Air, power and lighting, all within reach. An auto-retractable utility cord combines air and power in one cord, so you can pump up, power up, and light up anything from one tool. The unit is ceiling mounted, to keep your work space free of clutter.

• Instantly pump up anything with the multi-purpose inflator
• Expand your workspace with 25 ft. auto-retractable utility cord
• LED task lighting within reach, provides 100,000 hours of working life
• Adds 100 watts of lighting to your workspace
• Available exclusively at The Home Depot

The link does not work. Out of curiosity, I tried to find this product to see what it looks like. Seems it is discontinued. Most info I found on it points back to 2014. YMMV

 

[mray312]

I added drop outlets to my garage shop a few years ago. I followed a PW "shop tips" article attached. The one change from the article that I made was to use a Kellums strain relief grip at the ceiling electrical box.

 

[nadogail]

My bandsaw is powered from a receptacle mounted on a ceiling joist in the garage, there is an appropriate strain relief to keep the cord from accidentally disconnecting.

 

[kroc0005]

My bandsaw is powered from a receptacle mounted on a ceiling joist in the garage, there is an appropriate strain relief to keep the cord from accidentally disconnecting.

This is cool stuff, didn't know stain relief cord protection existed!

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

 

[tarmy]

Got a bunch of them...