Illegal Electrical Installation

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jcarrier

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I have a situation where there is a conduit going from a wall into a file cabinet and then terminates in a box on the side of the file cabinet. The box contains a receptacle. What article(s) in the NEC prohibit this.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
If the file cabinet is moveable would this install be legal? I am guessing that is what the OP wants to know.

I don't know any code rule that prohibits ruining conduit to something that can be moved.
 
iwire said:
I don't know any code rule that prohibits ruining conduit to something that can be moved.

I didn't either that's why I asked. One would think there ought to be esp.if there isn't any flexiblity.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
I didn't either that's why I asked. One would think there ought to be esp.if there isn't any flexiblity.

How much does something have to weigh before it is not movable?

It's not that I disagree with you it's only that I don't know how such a rule could be worded. It seems to be a common sense type issue.

A fully loaded, fire rated file cabinet is not going to move around, on the other hand a cheesy office max two drawer file cabinet is going to move around.
 
hillbilly1 said:
Looks like the conduit if properly supported would make the cabinet unmoveable.
Apparently it must be so big that they couldn't pipe around it?


are they trying to store something valuable inside of the locking cabinet. If you are worried about the cabinet moving a few toggle bolts can take care of that.

Code wise I don't see an issue here

Rick
 
I am not familiar with the "wiring methods" sorts of rules, as I don't generally get involved in that level of a project's installation details. I am sure that there would be wiring methods rules about connections of conduit to itself and to boxes. But are there, and should there be, rules about securing boxes to walls or to other "stuff"? I did read a rule that prohibited mounting electrical equipment (or was it wiring?) on a tree or other living thing. But why can't you mount a receptacle on a bicycle? Not a smart move, I'll grant, and it might diminish the usefullness of the bicycle, but need the code get into that issue? I am inclined to think that no such rules are needed.
 
wouldn't you think that it is okay unless moving the item would cause physical damage to the wiring methods. That would be the only violation I can think of, and it could only be a violation if it happened, not the fact that it could happen
 
We wire cubicles in a similar manner, and they're portable (so to speak). While I've never had to install a receptacle on a file cabinet, I would if someone asked. I have had to install many receptacles and switches on racking and shelving in the past, and much of that stuff is not bolted down.
 
mdshunk said:
We wire cubicles in a similar manner, and they're portable (so to speak). While I've never had to install a receptacle on a file cabinet, I would if someone asked. I have had to install many receptacles and switches on racking and shelving in the past, and much of that stuff is not bolted down.

I have installed recepts on racks at Sams Clubs where they display televisions, stereo equipment, and computers... as far as I know, the racks just sit on the floor.
 
I reckon the big question is why would you run conduit through a filing cabinet? An AHJ could probally kick for "Not installed in a workman like manner" Guess you got to be there to see what the situation was. Maybe there is a countertop sitting on top of the cabinet, have seen this done before, which would not allow space for a conduit above or behind the cabinet.
 
r_merc said:
Maybe I miss understood. I thought that he wanted the receptacle inside of the cabinet.

The way I took it , the conduit ran thru the cabinet, and the box was mounted on the outside wall of the cabinet, I could be wrong though.
 
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