Ideas (and maybe even some pics) on flexible wiring schemes

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bjp_ne_elec

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I was thinking about the job I discussed in another post - talking about the abundance of SO cord drops. For some situations, like a piece of moveable equipment, I am comfortable with that. But they were implying they wanted some of these "whips" permanently mounted to some of the solder benches - and I have a problem with that.

Anyone have any thoughts/ideas about how to handle this. One thought I has, was a piece of Unistrut mounted to the bench and long enough to sit about 1' below the ceiling. Then mount receptacles just below ceiling, and then have a short cord at a JB at the top of the Unistrut. Then just have a short cord whip on the box. Whenever you want to move a bench, just unplug, move and plug back in.
 
With the electonics type work bench I can understand the client wanting to have a mounted receptacle somewhere on the work bench that would never be in danger of moving, that way they could standardize their equipement layout without every having to move it on the bench even if they moved the bench around. That being said- Could you wire a set up like that on each of their benches with a box mounted to the desk - then in a convinient place run a cord up with a twistlock end. Put a twist lock receptacle on the ceiling and plug the work bench set up in this way, that way it is not a 'permanent' set up.
 
Bump - come on you guys must have some creative ideas on this. Someone going to offer up some pics? I thought of bus duct, but not sure that the owner would want to go to that expense.

On the SO cord whips coming out of the sealing - am I correct that you couldn't attach the box (w/hub) to a bench? And if not, what's the code section that disallows this? I've been through, and can't find it - but my gut says this isn't kosher.
 
We used to do a lot of work for an electronics assembly plant. They where always moving the work benches and testing equipment based on the jobs they where currently contracted to do.

We would just keep adding twist lock outlets above each new location, in all kinds of configurations, 20 amp 120 to 50 amp 3 phase 480.

Then we made drops from those twist lock outlets down to the benches or machines. When they changed again we would pull the drops down, relocate them or store them for future. Eventually you end up with enough outlets on the ceiling for most moves.

I never attached the drops to the benches or machines, if we had one where it had to be a attached we would secure the work bench to the floor and run a pipe down to the bench.
 
That link is almost identical to the Bulldog lighting duct some plants use for the low-draw cord drops. Quick and fast. I don't think they make the Bulldog lighting duct anymore.
 
mdshunk said:
That link is almost identical to the Bulldog lighting duct some plants use for the low-draw cord drops. Quick and fast. I don't think they make the Bulldog lighting duct anymore.
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Didn't Siemens buy the Bulldog line?
 
peter d said:
Didn't Siemens buy the Bulldog line?
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Maybe. If they continue the lighting duct line, that would be a good cheap way to retool the drops. No electrician needed. Just click them in. They called it something like trolly duct, even though you didnt' have to use trolly type drop fittings (although you could).
 
iwire said:
Not something I would be in a hurry to recommend to a steady account.
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Well, you could make what would have been your next 10 years of profit from moving cord drops around by installing light gauge power duct all over the place in one big job, then you wouldn't have to worry about it. You'd be freed up to do other work for other people then, making even more money.
 
mdshunk said:
Well, you could make what would have been your next 10 years of profit from moving cord drops around by installing light gauge power duct all over the place in one big job, then you wouldn't have to worry about it. You'd be freed up to do other work for other people then, making even more money.
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I doubt that would even be close to true. It could be, but I doubt it. If the customer came to us wanting it installed we would certainly do it, I just don't see me suggesting it.

If it boils down to us being to busy to move the drops over the next ten years it is time to hire more help.:smile:
 
iwire said:
If it boils down to us being to busy to move the drops over the next ten years it is time to hire more help.:smile:
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I'm talking more about time-value of money. Would you rather have $50,000 now or $5,000 a year for the next 10 years? There's no right or wrong answer to that. I'd rather have $50,000 now so that I have freed up that time in the future that I'd have spent doing the 5K jobs every year. I might use that same time to do more big-money jobs, or I might just take a nap.
 
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mdshunk said:
I'm talking more about time-value of money.
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And so am I.

The company I work for has four divisions, construction, special projects, service and data. The idea is to use the part of the company that can do the job most efficiently. It would not make sense to have the construction crews or special project guys bang out bus duct in a few weeks eliminating steady easily scheduled work for the service guys.

At least that is how I see it from where I am. :smile:
 
mdshunk said:
I might just take a nap.
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The owners of the company I work for can do that at will, they put down their Kliens long ago.

They can take that nap after they walk across the street to the airport and get on the company plane.
 
iwire said:
And so am I.

The company I work for has four divisions, construction, special projects, service and data. The idea is to use the part of the company that can do the job most efficiently. It would not make sense to have the construction crews or special project guys bang out bus duct in a few weeks eliminating steady easily scheduled work for the service guys.

At least that is how I see it from where I am. :smile:
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What you describe is one of the drawbacks of departmentalized labor. That division of labor has tremendous efficiencies, for the most part, but also a couple of drawbacks.
 
aline said:
Here's some links to a system that could be used.

http://corepowerinc.com/specsheets/Changing The Way You Think of POWER.pdf

http://www.uecorp.com/
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That looks like it might be the way to go. Do the individual receptacles have their own OCP? The buss is listed as 00A minimum. Also, I see some short whips with plugs but no strain relief. Not sure how you can go without strain relief, unless they assume you're putting it on the whip you're bringing up to plug in to the whip that ties to the buss.
 
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