Have to hang Quads from ceiling in Commercial Building

[bjp_ne_elec]

I have a commercial facility that wants Quads dropped from the ceiling - actually it's a dropped acoustical ceiling, so I'll have to be anchoring to either a steel ceiling joist or the wall in some cases. They build electronic equipment and tend to move things around on wheels. Most of the things they need to plug in are roll around racks with cards mounted on them. They generally only require a 120 V outlet - and they want the quad to have two circuits - one per duplex.

Does anyone have any photos of what you've worked out for a solution? I was thinking some type of spring thingy that would be used to just support the SO card from above - and just take the shock off if someone snagged the drop.

[masterinbama]

I used to do a lot of work for a local electronics manufacturer. We would just drop 12-3 cord with kellum grips on each end supporting a FS box for GP outlets and twist-loks for dedicated circuits. We would hang them 7' AFF so people would not bump their heads on them. A new room with no equipment in it reminded me of that movie Coma

[aline]

Take a look at the product in the link below.

http://www.uecorp.com/busway/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx

[blueheels2]

I used some of the Starline busway in a lab at Sprint about a year ago. They had a bunch of server racks that they were constantly moving around. They were nice looking and easy to install.

[Power Tech]

Check out Woodhead. They make the best for cord drops.

Terry Power Tech

[electricalperson]

http://www.woodhead.com/products/electrical/cordcablereels/cablereels/danielwoodhead/ heres a link from woodhead, the company the previous poster mentioned. they might have something you can use. at a previous company the boss had us install RMC in the dropped celing and sleeved the cord through that. it was for receptacles and pendant start stop stations. im pretty sure you cant use cord in the celing

[raider1]

I have a commercial facility that wants Quads dropped from the ceiling - actually it's a dropped acoustical ceiling, so I'll have to be anchoring to either a steel ceiling joist or the wall in some cases.

Make sure you don't run the flexible cord above or through the suspended ceiling. (See 400.8(2) & (5))

I also agree, use the Woodhead boxes, they are specifically designed for cord drops and hold up very well.

Chris

[bjp_ne_elec]

Make sure you don't run the flexible cord above or through the suspended ceiling. (See 400.8(2) & (5))

I also agree, use the Woodhead boxes, they are specifically designed for cord drops and hold up very well.

Chris
Chris - funny you should mention that - the present drops installed all have the SO cord going up in to the ceiling. I'll have to come up with some method of installing a box just below the ceiling. All the drops are about a foot off the wall - so I'd like to be at least consistent with that. Have to explain to the Plant Manager that I can use the same method of install. I'll have to explain that to him, as he seems to want to keep every thing consistent.

[benaround]

All the drops are about a foot off the wall -.

It would seem to me that 'cord drops' that are only one foot off the wall are being used

as a substitute for the fixed wiring. I guess 400.7(A)(1) allows this type of installation.

[bjp_ne_elec]

Chris - funny you should mention that - the present drops installed all have the SO cord going up in to the ceiling. I'll have to come up with some method of installing a box just below the ceiling. All the drops are about a foot off the wall - so I'd like to be at least consistent with that. Have to explain to the Plant Manager that I can use the same method of install. I'll have to explain that to him, as he seems to want to keep every thing consistent.

I should have said that I can't use the same method - as the present method on the older installs is to bring the SO cord up in to the ceiling to a JB.

[iwire]

Keep in mind what the others have said about the box at the bottom of the pendent.

Using a box with KOs is definitely a violation, a standard 'bell box' has threaded hubs but is still not designed / listed to be supported from the threaded hubs. If you don't use the Woodhead pendent boxes I suggest a malleable steel FS box with threaded hubs.

[bjp_ne_elec]

One issue - I couldn't find the Woodhead boxes - I just found the Reel and the Kellum grips. My dilemma is how to mount the box cleanly below the ceiling. All the other existing installs have a 4" square JB above the ceiling with SO cord coming out - with Kellum grip attached to the block wall. If I understand the code correctly, I can no longer allow the SO cord to drop from above the ceiling to below. It's a standard grid ceiling, but I don't want to support a box from it.

Any solutions with pics would be great!

Thanks

[barclayd]

Using a box with KOs is definitely a violation,

Is that somewhere in 314?
I've seen 4 sq's and Bell boxes both used for cord drops. I don't remember ever seeing an FS/FD box, though - those would really HURT if you get them swinging.

thanks
db

[electricalperson]

Is that somewhere in 314?
I've seen 4 sq's and Bell boxes both used for cord drops. I don't remember ever seeing an FS/FD box, though - those would really HURT if you get them swinging.

thanks
db

all the 4 inch squares i see used as pendant drops are dangling by the cord because the lock nut fallen off. thats why its a violation. constant twisting and bending will make that locknut loosen and come off and then you have exposed conductors that will probably short out. those conductors are supporting the box by the terminal screws on the device

[Wireless36]

I like to use these boxes on cord drops.

http://ericson.thomasnet.com/Category/non-metalic-portable-outlet-boxes

[bjp_ne_elec]

I like the ideas on the receptacle end, but was looking more for some ideas on how to cleanly get something mounted where I could transition the SO cord out of. Actually, the SO cord going in to the sealing is "neat" as you only need a small hole in the acoustical tile - but now the code doesn't allow that. One solution is a box on the wall just below the ceiling, but I got to figure, one of you guys has something more "clever" than that.

Thanks

[iwire]

I would support a 4" octagon box in the ceiling with a Caddy 512 bar

http://www.foxelectricsupply.com/Content/Media/Images/Product/512HD.jpg

Put a 4" round WP cover on that box

http://www.homedepot.ca/wcsstore/HomeDepotCanada/images/catalog/17042.S213WHE_4.jpg

Screw a cable grip into that.

http://www.plumbersurplus.com/images/prod/5/Hubbell-07401023-rw-85598-150868.jpg

[bjp_ne_elec]

Iwire - beautiful solution.

[iwire]

I have done it like that but I can not take credit for it.

I usually Tek Screw the 512 bars to the grid and run a ceiling tie wire from the building to the hook on the 512 bar.

[barclayd]

all the 4 inch squares i see used as pendant drops are dangling by the cord because the lock nut fallen off. thats why its a violation. constant twisting and bending will make that locknut loosen and come off and then you have exposed conductors that will probably short out. those conductors are supporting the box by the terminal screws on the device

But is it a violation of 314 something? We've used female Kellems grips with chase nipples and they've never come loose.
thanks
db

[iwire]

But is it a violation of 314 something? We've used female Kellems grips with chase nipples and they've never come loose.
thanks

Sorry I meant to get back to you the first time you asked.

Check out 314.23(H)(1), it requires a cord supported pendant box to have a threaded hub for the strain relief.

[bjp_ne_elec]

I would support a 4" octagon box in the ceiling with a Caddy 512 bar

http://www.foxelectricsupply.com/Content/Media/Images/Product/512HD.jpg



Iwire - what's that clip for, that comes with the Caddy bar? Is that where you add support from jack chain? I just got some dropped off on Tuesday.

Also, how do you anchor those octagon boxes to the Caddy Bar?

Thanks

[JohnJ0906]

I would support a 4" octagon box in the ceiling with a Caddy 512 bar

http://www.foxelectricsupply.com/Content/Media/Images/Product/512HD.jpg


Iwire - what's that clip for, that comes with the Caddy bar? Is that where you add support from jack chain? I just got some dropped off on Tuesday.

Also, how do you anchor those octagon boxes to the Caddy Bar?

Thanks


That clip holds the box to the bar, as well as providing means to support the box/bar with tie wire or jack chain.

[Greg Swartz]

I still like the SO cord, Kellem's grip, with a FS box. Use this solution all the time...
Never had any inspection issues. In fact, OSHA likes them better than a 4s / 1900 box... because the 4s has a KO... FS is TOUGH! And yes, they do hurt when they hit! :grin:

[iwire]

I still like the SO cord, Kellem's grip, with a FS box. Use this solution all the time...
Never had any inspection issues. In fact, OSHA likes them better than a 4s / 1900 box... because the 4s has a KO... FS is TOUGH! And yes, they do hurt when they hit! :grin:

A 4s is a direct NEC violation.

[Pierre C Belarge]

I have been seeing a lot more ceiling supported pendant type receptacles lately. It is not often that they are properly installed. The retail stores are the ones where I see it quite often...with many different types of installations. It is amazing how many different ways I see them installed.
1900/4s boxes with the KOs, and NM connectors for the cord are the most common installations I see.

[Greg Swartz]

A 4s is a direct NEC violation.

Exactly... I guess I should have worded that better.

That's why OSHA had a field day with one of our contracts...
We installed 1 drop: 12/3 SO, with 2 Kellums grips and a FS box...
They had 14 other drops... all 4s with a standard cord grip... 14 violations later...
Then the company had the audacity to ask me why it was so expensive...

[rt66electric]

I agree with the caddy 512 HD Bar set-up.. I have Also put a square of 1/2 Plywood/waferboard that fits snuggly above the ceiling tile inside of the t-grid. Sandwich the board between the tile and the caddy bar, cut out a hole with a jigsaw for whatever j-box you use. Cut the wafer board 23-7/8 by 47-7/8. This also works really well for computer power poles.

[bjp_ne_elec]

I used to do a lot of work for a local electronics manufacturer. We would just drop 12-3 cord with kellum grips on each end supporting a FS box for GP outlets and twist-loks for dedicated circuits. We would hang them 7' AFF so people would not bump their heads on them. A new room with no equipment in it reminded me of that movie Coma

Are you using 3/4" fitting on the Kellum Grip? The cord I have requires a 3/4", and I'm having trouble finding the round white malleable covers with 3/4" hub.

[bjp_ne_elec]

I see the problem - supply house gave me 12/3 SEOOW cable - which has a bigger OD.

Where can you get the OD for common cord type wire? The Kellum grips are listed for a particular range. What I have is a "BOX 40" - and the SEOOW won't fit in to the 1/2" Kellum grip. If I move to the larger Kellum, then I can't seem to get a FS-type white round cover with a 3/4" KO.

Thanks


Dave

[ZZZ]

SEOOW is made by Coleman cable for one. 12-3 is .635" OD.
Here are your cord diameters: http://www.colemancable.com/CatalogProducts.asp?nProductsID=239
Here is a 1/2" Kellems grip:
http://www.hubbellcatalog.com/wiring/section-t-datasheet.asp?PN=074011247&FAM=KWM&P=4574,4566,3817,2913

I am thinking of using a pvc FS box with threaded hubs next time, any reason not to?

[iwire]

I am thinking of using a pvc FS box with threaded hubs next time, any reason not to?

I would be surprised if a plastic box even with threaded hubs is listed to be supported from the hub.

[ZZZ]

I would be surprised if a plastic box even with threaded hubs is listed to be supported from the hub.
That's a good point, I am thinking you're right, even a lot of Woodhead boxes aren't designated as pendant boxes.. I forgot the OP was talking 2-gang, but some of those Woodhead pendant boxes would work. As far as the cord support and "spring thingy" so the grid isn't used as support, I think you could use a steel cable through the tile and support the cord below the tile with one of these:

http://www.hubbellcatalog.com/wiring/catalogpages/page_T38.pdf