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How to build a hybrid extension cord/outlet strip.
DANGER: This project involves household outlet voltage. DO NOT ATTEMPT IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH 120V HOUSEHOLD WIRING.
When the project is completed you have an adaptable extension cord. I used 5 outlet boxes, you can use as many or as few as you want, just change the length of the cord and parts count accordingly.
DANGER: This project involves household outlet voltage. DO NOT ATTEMPT IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH 120V HOUSEHOLD WIRING.
When the project is completed you have an adaptable extension cord. I used 5 outlet boxes, you can use as many or as few as you want, just change the length of the cord and parts count accordingly.
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Signing UpStep 1Required Tools
To build this cord you will need:
A set of wire cutters
A wire crimper
A wire stripper or knife (or both)
A small and large flat blade screw driver
Pliers (needle nose or regular) (not pictured)
To test this cord you will need:
A Digital Multi Meter (not pictured)
An Outlet Tester (not pictured)
A set of wire cutters
A wire crimper
A wire stripper or knife (or both)
A small and large flat blade screw driver
Pliers (needle nose or regular) (not pictured)
To test this cord you will need:
A Digital Multi Meter (not pictured)
An Outlet Tester (not pictured)
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And the *wiring in the wall* between the outlet and the breaker would *also* not be rated for the enormous pull of a cord like this. This thing will start a fire for someone, somewhere.
General use extension cords are 16 gauge stranded wire, which will support even less. More likely a tripped circuit breaker before a fire, but fire is always a possibilty, especially with the on/off switch.
hole(s) on the plug become grounded.
A few points:
I found plenty of used outlets (mostly painted over) at the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore. They were 25 cents each.
The outlets could be free if you were changing out previously panted over outlets.
(I really hate it when people paint over outlets. Remove the cover, and mask with blue tape, people!)
By code, you need to also attach the ground to the boxes, then connect all the grounds together with a wire nut.
You can skip grounding the box if you instead use "special outlets" for this purpose, or switch to plastic handy-boxes. If you go plastic, please use plastic covers too.
If you have scrap armored cable or scrap conduit, you could use that between the boxes. At one point when the economy was good, you could find this in dumpsters all the time. Later, as copper went up, they took out the scrap copper wire, later than that they also kept the alumum sheathing to recycle. you can still find plenty of steel boxes, steel wall studs and sometimes outlets and switches too.
Something like this mounted to the underside of a desk would be great. I have something like this under the shelf in my garage.
Junior electrical engineer's your 10 outlets per circuit rule is falsely based on NEC 220.14(I) this is only for calculating the total load of a building (any type) and has nothing to do with how many outlets can put on a circuit,that has every thing to do with the building wiring and the circuit over-current device.
And the GFCI every thing attitude. If you check the NEC 210.8 only in places where the user or equipment may come in contact with WATER, Bathrooms, Kitchens, Rooftops or Outdoors is GFCI protection required. so for all DJ types NEC 640.10(A&B) if your audio equipment is with in 5' of water you need GFCI protection, IT geeks, the last thing u want is a GFCI(power loss = Information loss), but you need to be Properly GROUNDED NEC 645.15
and never let a fool play with your tool