I wanted to get everyones thoughts on how to extend the power cable to an outlet if an outlet is no where close to where the customer wanted the device. I'm talking about ceiling hung CCTV monitors, cameras, audio equipment, tvs, anything you wanna share...

Personally I've seen a 12" b/w monitor power cable extended 20 feet with 16/4 speaker cable in the crawl space above a false ceiling. I thought this was kinda odd and not sure about the safety of it so I wanted to see what everyones thoughts are...

Technically it is against code to snake any kind of extension cord in a wall or ceiling. Using speaker wire to get high voltage from point A to point B is just plain stupid, lazy, and not safe. A 15 Amp circuit should have nothing less than 14AWG romex, and a 20 Amp circuit should have no less than 12AWG. You can wire romex from an existing box and snake it to where you want. That is legal as long as it is done properly. In otherwords, the wire has to be secure, and the ends must be in approved boxes. Do it right the first time and avoid the aggrevation. If you do it any other way you put yourself in a bad spot. Since you said "Customer" in your post I assume you have, or work for, a business? If so I would definitley follow code and have a licensed electrician sign off on your work, or you could be looking a a lawsuit if something goes wrong.

No that wasn't my company. I was recently above a false ceiling and saw this while running some cat5 for phone. not sure what company it was that originally did the work. We have an electrician that runs a power source to where we need it. I was just wondering if most people do the same or if they do that type of job.


This message was edited by ericstac on 10/26/02 16:16.17.

No, I knew what you meant. I just was saying not to do that yourself, because it could get you in trouble. I didn't think you were stupid, just whoever did that.

Oh okay..
I am going back to that company next week to finish some trim work and was thinking about unplugging that rig and using a 20' power cord from Belkin that is UL rated just so they are safe. Believe it or not I have a few of these cables laying around and it won't be much to change out and it will help keep them my customers now instead of "the other" company.

I guess with so many "custom installers" out there, especially in Houston, there is bound to be a few that cut corners or just flat out don't know what to do.

eric

Unless you want to be the fall guy for every potential problem...let the Electrical Contractor deal with this. It MUST be donme to code, or it will bite you in the butt (when you least expect it).

I guess you're right. I wouldn't think there would be much of an issue with a power cable though. Its not like it is inside a wall. It just runs along the backside of a column facing the window and down to a plug on the wall.

The issue here is that the cord is in a crawl space. Cords are labeled "for temporary use," and although that is rarely enforced, an extension cord in an area that nobody ever goes into can hardly be considered temporary. As such, if you change the truly dangerous speaker wire to an extension cord, you are indeed taking responsibility for improving the situation, but you are not taking it to the level of meeting code. You're not improving it enough to be involved. This will be just fine unless a finger ever needs to be pointed. THEN it will be pointed at you.

Get an electrician. Better yet, unplug the present cord, ask the client's forgiveness, and tell them that while there may never be any problems with the wire that is there now, once you have gone up there and seen it, you could be blamed for any problem in that area, so you unfortunately have to disconnect what is clearly unsafe and tell them that an electrician should be called to make it right.

That's a good idea.. I just didn't want to leave with that situation like that. So I'll unplug the power and tell them it needs to be done correctly..
Surely they will appreciate that.

"Correctly" in this case means having a receptacle hard-wired to a nearby receptacle circuit with a wiring method similar to what is in the area now, whether it be NM (Non-Metallic (Romex)), AC or MC (Armor- or Metal-clad), EMT (Electrical Metallic Tubing (thinwall conduit)), etc.

In addition, the new receptacle should be mounted in such a way that the face of the receptacle is in the living space, and not within the above-ceiling area. The box should be mounted independently of the ceiling, unless approved mounting hardware is used.

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com

To protect yourself you may want to note your discovery and document it on your work order with a recommendation that the customer seek out a licensed electrician to correct the situation. You will be protecting your customer as well by motivating him to take care of a safety hazard.

Larry, I had a question you just reminded me of. We often run romex for small jobs that our electricians would rather not be bothered with and then they come check and sign off on the work. What I was wondering is whether or not it is within code to mount a single gang junction in a cieling for something like an in cieling mounted drop down screen. I've heard it is, and I've heard it isn't allowed. Do you know?

SPEAKER WIRE ---MAINS!!! oh i'll just pin that cable up with a cable clip oh i have accidently pined through the cable oh i'm dead . In the uk we have a different set of rules but speaker cable is for speakers as bell wire is for door bells( but is often used for speakers (just as stupid but not as deadly!))

I was thinking, If something goes wrong I can write a column in the Horror Stories thread about it... :)

McN, as long as the cord begins and ends in the same area, i.e., above or below the ceiling, it should be no problem, because the easy removal of the ceiling panels makes the plug-and-receptacle "readily accessible", which is an important NEC term that means you can get to it.

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com