Pendant Receptacle Cord Drops

[AaronSp7]

Hello Im looking for a bit of clarification. I have been back and forth with my employer on the use of 4sq boxes being used for pendant drops and its legallity.

For a visual of the installation im talking about, picture a 4sq box on the ceiling with an S.O. cord coming out to a kellems hanger, then dropping down to a 4sq box with a kellems cord connector at the bottom and a raised double duplex receptacle cover.

It has come to my attention that 4sq boxes are not technically legal for pendant drops because of the support hub rule or more so that the KOs arent rated for that use and the potential for a KO to get pushed in and hit a live terminal on the receptacle when hanging as a pendant. This we both agree on. However he says that if you were to fix (screw/secure) the 4sq to the workbench it serves, then it is no longer staining on the KOs and is legal.

My issue is that i believe securing the 4sq to a workbench or stucture violates 400.12(4) and wouldnt be a legal installation.

My only other solution to keep a legal installation would be to swap out all the 4sq boxes to Woodhead 3000 boxes so that the entire installation is "listed and labelled" for the correct use.

If you have any insight it would be appreciated.

 

[tom baker]

Woodhead makes boxes designed for cord drops. 4S boxes are intended to be fastened to a wall or similar

 

[AaronSp7]

Yes...that was clearly stated in my thread since I listed Woodhead 3000 boxes. Thats not the item in question.

 

[zbang]

Second that on the Woodhead boxes, they're the right device for the job. IMHO they also tell the client that you're using the right device, not just assembling a few parts.

 

[masterinbama]

threaded hubs and tapered threads on your strain relief is required


314.23(H) Pendant Boxes. An enclosure supported by a pendant shall comply with 314.23(H)(1) or (H)(2).

(1) Flexible Cord. A box shall be supported from a multiconductor cord or cable in an approved manner that protects the conductors against strain. A connection to a box equipped with a hub shall be made with a listed cord grip attachment fitting marked for use with a threaded hub.

 

[zbang]

That looks like 2023, both 2020 and 2017 say-

A box shall be supported from a multiconductor cord or cable in an approved manner that protects the conductors against strain, such as a strain-relief connector threaded into a box with a hub.

(threaded hub not required)
Either way, I'd take something that Woodhead sells for the purpose.

Some/many(?) are still on 2020 or 2017.