A customer has asked me to fabricate (8) 100' long 30 amp extension cords for their warehouse: "They need to plug in to a regular 110 wall outlet, with the female end having a L5-30R connector."
Obviously it's a cheater cord and it's wrong. If they intend to plug something with a 30A T/L male plug into a 20A circuit it will likely violate 210.23(A)(1). But is the cord itself a violation? I'm looking for a code section that addresses this but I haven't found it yet. Do any of you have any ideas? Thoughts on liability if I provide the cords?
I don't see a definitive smoking gun here. The load is unknown, but as long as the receptacle is properly protected at 15 or 20 amps and the cord's cable can handle 30 amps (in case someone later "upgrades" the plug to a 30a), there's not much more code-wise to consider, imho.
Unless the customer explains the intended load, you can't determine a violation 210.23(A)(1) would occur. Given the nature of "cord-and-plug-connected utilization equipment not fastened in place", your liability is more limited (a jury can find you guilty of anything) here than if he requested you install cords on the actual equipment. You're essentially fabricating a long adapter cord. The Edison receptacles should be on no more than a 20 ampere ocpd (I recommend you check), and therefore would trip on a 24-30 ampere load. As long as the cord is rated for 30 amps there is no inherent danger. I would price out extra-hard-use cord suitable for wet locations, and figure in voltage drop for the long run. You will likely have a lot of trouble finding a plug that can handle the cable.
Now, having said that, OSHA is the authority that could have an issue with these cordsets. Their regs restrict use of extension cords in commercial and industrial locations. In some cases they frown on non-factory-molded cordsets. As long as you are recognized as a "qualified" person in the eyes of OSHA, they are okay with you making "repairs" to existing extension cords, and in fabricating them where such cords are permitted. You might want to have a chat with the local office to see what they would permit....if you want to take this to that level at all. Remember that a call could trigger a site visit, and you'll lose the work and the customer forever.