Print PDF
Favorite
Email
Sorry: this isn't a magical device to achieve superhuman abilities. Unless you count 'availability of 22 outlets and 2 light sockets' as a superhero trait:)
Important note: please ignore me when i say "you can experiment with plugging in multiple sources of current." read sneigke's comment below to understand why this is a dangerous/stupid idea!
Here's a video of this easy-but-fun project:
This and pretty much everything else I build are for sale as kits and finished projects at my site, dirtnail.com.
Why build this? Good question. For me, it was basically because I wanted to finish a cool-looking project and get an obscene number of available outlets in a day:)
Important note: please ignore me when i say "you can experiment with plugging in multiple sources of current." read sneigke's comment below to understand why this is a dangerous/stupid idea!
Here's a video of this easy-but-fun project:
This and pretty much everything else I build are for sale as kits and finished projects at my site, dirtnail.com.
Why build this? Good question. For me, it was basically because I wanted to finish a cool-looking project and get an obscene number of available outlets in a day:)
Remove these ads by
Signing UpStep 1Gather Your Materials, Tools
Here's the materials I used:
-A toolbox to ruin (or cardboard if you're ok w/ that:)
-Desired number of AC outlets
-Desired number of lightbulb sockets
-An AC on/off switch
-Some decent-gauge cable, to wire your outlets, etc. to each other
-Thicker gauge AC cord, to connect box of power to the wall. I used one from a broken surge protector.
And the tools:
-Piece of cardboard, or other suitable stencil material
-Pen/pencil/other writing instrument to use with your stencil on the side of the toolbox
-Utility blade, or something else to cut through the side of your toolbox
-Wire stripper
-Philips head screwdriver
-A toolbox to ruin (or cardboard if you're ok w/ that:)
-Desired number of AC outlets
-Desired number of lightbulb sockets
-An AC on/off switch
-Some decent-gauge cable, to wire your outlets, etc. to each other
-Thicker gauge AC cord, to connect box of power to the wall. I used one from a broken surge protector.
And the tools:
-Piece of cardboard, or other suitable stencil material
-Pen/pencil/other writing instrument to use with your stencil on the side of the toolbox
-Utility blade, or something else to cut through the side of your toolbox
-Wire stripper
-Philips head screwdriver
| « Previous Step | Download PDFView All Steps | Next Step » |
The box itself should have some kind of over current protection. Relying on what is installed at your apartment or house is really taking your life into your own hands. Even some of your larger Microwave ovens are only rated to 1200 watts. (As to feedback on the cord you are using)
Of course, this is just me, but that plastic toolbox isn't UL listed, I would feel much safer with a metal box for grounding purposes, combined with over current protection and some sort of GFCI, you could make this a much safer project.
----ummm my house is on fire
Longer answer:
The issue isn't number of outlets, but what those outlets are carrying: you don't want to pump too much current through your wires, or they get hot and bad things happen. Assuming your electrical system has properly-sized breakers, this shouldn't happen: you'd just flip a fuse before things get flammable. Keyword is assuming:)
After entry to the box and making the debatable assumption that I know what I'm talking about, the limiting factors should be:
-thickness of wires in microwave AC cord running into box: should be rated to total amperage used on box. Microwaves use lotsa lotsa current and the wires are physically thicker than the ones used between outlets, so I'm not too worried about this as my failure point
-amount of current the wires i used to interconnect the outlets can carry. according to this, I should be good on the 12-gauge wire used up to 20 amps
-switching capacity of main switch: should be rated to total amperage used on box. This was printed on the switch itself as 15 amps.
-capacity of outlets. ditto at 15 amps.
Also, for more detail than you'd ever like on grounding, check out this, courtesy of make #14 article on solar system design.
Oh wait, it's in series? Never mind, that's just one outlet with a crapload of plugs. If you ever attempt to use all 22 plugs you'll end up with a drill clocking out at half an rpm. On the other hand, if you had wired it in parallel you'd end up with a pile of ash.
That said, you could incorporate one of these..
http://www.kitsrus.com/pdf/k74v2.pdf
to be able to control the outlets via your PC.