Drop Cord Rules

[Max1955]

I'm a maintenance tech with 25 years experience, but am still relatively new to the NEC and OSHA rules. We have a lot of PVC 4X4 boxes with double duplex receptacles, hanging from the beams in our facility. I've always heard that we weren't allowed to run more than 6 feet from the junction box before we hang the drop. And that receptacles aren't allowed to be more than 6 feet off the ground. I'm having trouble finding official code references to these rules. Can someone point me in the right direction?

 

[hbiss]

I've always heard that we weren't allowed to run more than 6 feet from the junction box before we hang the drop. And that receptacles aren't allowed to be more than 6 feet off the ground. I'm having trouble finding official code references to these rules.

That's because there aren't any although running flexible cord from the box along the beams could constitute using the cord as building wire which is prohibited. Nothing is said about distance. I would think that as long as it comes out of the box and over to a Kellems grip attached to a beam then drops down it should be OK. As long as it isn't affixed to the beams along the way.

I can't see why the receptacle can't be more than 6 feet off the ground. Suppose you have a machine that's 10 feet high?

-Hal

 

[Max1955]

Thanks. Typically we run our drops from a Raco 4X4 with strain relief, terminating at either a 3-phase twist-lock connector, or a PVC 4X4 with a threaded strain relief, holding 2 duplex receptacles for ancillary equipment. I was also led to believe that drops cannot be secured in any way to equipment, stock racks, etc. We have numerous places where they are attached to equipment with ty-wraps or even screws to hold them in place. Is there a code against this?

 

[zbang]

We have numerous places where they are attached to equipment with ty-wraps or even screws to hold them in place. Is there a code against this?

That's dancing around becoming "fixed wiring" and you're not allowed to use flex cord there. I might buy using a tywrap to keep the box from swinging around, but I think screws kinda cross the line.

FWIW, I much favor the Woodhead 3000-series boxes wherever pendant duplex outlets are needed; they're made for the purpose and will last a lot longer than PVC boxes,

 

[retirede]

That's dancing around becoming "fixed wiring" and you're not allowed to use flex cord there. I might buy using a tywrap to keep the box from swinging around, but I think screws kinda cross the line.

FWIW, I much favor the Woodhead 3000-series boxes wherever pendant duplex outlets are needed; they're made for the purpose and will last a lot longer than PVC boxes,

Since he said attached to equipment, not the building, that could also be argued as being “not fixed wiring.”
Could depend on what the equipment is. Not exactly black & white.

 

[zbang]

Concur- there are many shades of gray here, however I still suggest that if somebody goes to the effort to screw the box onto the "portable" equipment, it isn't exactly portable anymore . Whether anyone is concerned is a different discussion.

 

[retirede]

Concur- there are many shades of gray here, however I still suggest that if somebody goes to the effort to screw the box onto the "portable" equipment, it isn't exactly portable anymore . Whether anyone is concerned is a different discussion.

If the equipment is portable, how can something attached to it not be?!

 

[Max1955]

That's dancing around becoming "fixed wiring" and you're not allowed to use flex cord there. I might buy using a tywrap to keep the box from swinging around, but I think screws kinda cross the line.

FWIW, I much favor the Woodhead 3000-series boxes wherever pendant duplex outlets are needed; they're made for the purpose and will last a lot longer than PVC boxes,

Thanks. I agree. And we also have quite a few of the Woodhead boxes as well.