Power cord

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Guz2017

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Hey guys,
I have a question on replacing a factory cord. My costumer wants to get a longer cord for a incubator to reach an existing outlet.
Installing a outlet nearby is not an option..
I have look in the NFPA 2014 for any information on regards of cord replacement but no luck.
Will this change be code violation or is there anything as per UL listing violation?

Thanks for the help
 
Dennis Alwon said:
Replacing a cord with a longer one would be a UL violation other than that I am not sure
Click to expand...
So, when I replaced the 6 foot ungrounded power cord on my 1968 Fender Super Reverb with a grounded 10 footer and took out the "ground switch", I voided its UL listing? Maybe I did, but microphones don't shock me any more. :D
 
Remfg PTAC units have the factory cords replaced and still have a UL listing, and I know that the cords I've replaced with new factory cords thru CPSC recall are fine as well, probably better than the original factory cord since they dont catch fire.

Replacing a factory cord with a field-made cord or aftermarket assembled cord is probably more an OSHA concern than anything else. Then again, leaving a damaged cord on a unit isnt an option and neither is throwing away a $700 compound mitre saw because it has a damaged plug. Some of these tools, it's not possible to get another factory cord, let alone a longer one.

Can you surface mount another receptacle closer to the equipment from the current receptacle box?
 
change the cord and just tell 'em to wear a better costume ;) :lol:

how much further are you talking about?
if the longer distance demands a bigger cord, like 14ga to 12ga, and you replace with a UL listed cord, and you can terminate the new cord easily, then what exactly is the issue?
 
Replacing the 6' factory cord with a longer cord would make the appliance not conform to the UL Standard.

Replacing the 6' factory cord with a replacement cord that meets the UL Standard and follows the Manufactures instructions would be OK.

Chris
 
JFletcher said:
Remfg PTAC units have the factory cords replaced and still have a UL listing, and I know that the cords I've replaced with new factory cords thru CPSC recall are fine as well, probably better than the original factory cord since they dont catch fire.

Replacing a factory cord with a field-made cord or aftermarket assembled cord is probably more an OSHA concern than anything else. Then again, leaving a damaged cord on a unit isnt an option and neither is throwing away a $700 compound mitre saw because it has a damaged plug. Some of these tools, it's not possible to get another factory cord, let alone a longer one.

Can you surface mount another receptacle closer to the equipment from the current receptacle box?
Click to expand...

I can't install anything in the area at all.
Thanks for the help
 
FionaZuppa said:
change the cord and just tell 'em to wear a better costume ;) :lol:

how much further are you talking about?
if the longer distance demands a bigger cord, like 14ga to 12ga, and you replace with a UL listed cord, and you can terminate the new cord easily, then what exactly is the issue?
Click to expand...

The original cord is about 10f and I need to add about 10f extra. This will be a field-made power cord.
 
Guz2017 said:
Dennis,
Thanks for the advice. Do you where I can find information on this UL violation.
Click to expand...

Products are listed to specific Standards.

For an incubator the basic Standard used to evaluate this product is UL 499 Standard for Electric Heating Appliances.

Within that Standard there is a section that addresses power connection and will limit the length of the power cord. Replacing a power cord with one that does not meet the requirements of the Standard now makes it so that UL no longer can state that the product meets the standard and therefore Listed. It is ultimately up to the AHJ to Approve an appliance that has been modified in the field.

PRODUCTSPEC is a great resource for finding information about UL Listed Products.

Chris
 
The need to worry about maintaining the UL listing of any portable equipment is negligible, that's only going to matter to your insurance company. In other words if this modification starts a fire, and the insurance investigator pinpoints this unit as the source, then finds that it was modified from its UL listed configuration AND your policy has a rider saying that all electrically operated equipment will bear a UL listing (quite common by the way), you are giving them the ability to deny paying out for ANY losses associated with that fire. So take that for what it's worth and inform the owner of the potential risk of asking you to modify it.

If you do proceed, make sure the added 10ft doesn't cause an additional voltage drop. It may not seem like that's enough, but you are now taking over responsibility for it and you never know if the OEM was right on the margins or not. They often are. If it were me, I would go up one size just in general principals.
 
Jraef said:
The need to worry about maintaining the UL listing of any portable equipment is negligible, that's only going to matter to your insurance company. In other words if this modification starts a fire, and the insurance investigator pinpoints this unit as the source, then finds that it was modified from its UL listed configuration AND your policy has a rider saying that all electrically operated equipment will bear a UL listing (quite common by the way), you are giving them the ability to deny paying out for ANY losses associated with that fire. So take that for what it's worth and inform the owner of the potential risk of asking you to modify it.

If you do proceed, make sure the added 10ft doesn't cause an additional voltage drop. It may not seem like that's enough, but you are now taking over responsibility for it and you never know if the OEM was right on the margins or not. They often are. If it were me, I would go up one size just in general principals.
Click to expand...

Thank you Sir for the information, greatly appreciated!
 
raider1 said:
Products are listed to specific Standards.

For an incubator the basic Standard used to evaluate this product is UL 499 Standard for Electric Heating Appliances.

Within that Standard there is a section that addresses power connection and will limit the length of the power cord. Replacing a power cord with one that does not meet the requirements of the Standard now makes it so that UL no longer can state that the product meets the standard and therefore Listed. It is ultimately up to the AHJ to Approve an appliance that has been modified in the field.

PRODUCTSPEC is a great resource for finding information about UL Listed Products.

Chris
Click to expand...

Great information Chris.
Thank you for the help
 
Jraef said:
If you do proceed, make sure the added 10ft doesn't cause an additional voltage drop. It may not seem like that's enough, but you are now taking over responsibility for it and you never know if the OEM was right on the margins or not. They often are. If it were me, I would go up one size just in general principals.
Click to expand...
if its 14ga then goto 12ga
if its 12ga, re-using 12ga seems ok
depends on the amps the thing uses, etc.

and you are right, OEM may be off. my own HVAC unit (new house build) had a hefty 120v ckt brought to the unit (receptacle), then a 10ft 14ga cap cord connected hvac unit to the receptacle !! absurd, it was causing some issues. i had to redo things. i suspect the cord did not come with the hvac gear, the installers likely used the cheapy method, etc. even inside the unit things were not right. its rare to see this, but it happens. my hvac stuff is not UL listed, has some canadian stamp.
 
Guz2017 said:
Hey guys,
I have a question on replacing a factory cord. My costumer wants to get a longer cord for a incubator to reach an existing outlet.
Installing a outlet nearby is not an option..
I have look in the NFPA 2014 for any information on regards of cord replacement but no luck.
Will this change be code violation or is there anything as per UL listing violation?

Thanks for the help
Click to expand...
Do you know the power rating of the incubator and what AWG cord is fitted?
 
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