Receptacles above dropped ceiling

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Charlie Mowrer

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Are receptacles for cord and plugs permitted above a suspended accessible acoustical ceiling?
An engineer has directed us to place them there, I recall seeing something in a trade magazine where they are not permitted.
 
The receptacle is allowed but you can't plug a flexible cord into it, see 400.8

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Roger
 
Charlie Mowrer said:
Are receptacles for cord and plugs permitted above a suspended accessible acoustical ceiling?
An engineer has directed us to place them there, I recall seeing something in a trade magazine where they are not permitted.
Click to expand...





I got caught on that one time. The AC's had condensation pumps. The inspector wanted us to remove the cord and hard wire the pumps.
 
I agree with Roger. I get this all the time in the mall, the excuse is usually "that's the way it comes", my answer is usually, "show me where it has to be above the ceiling."
 
Hi
would this also apply to an attic? could you have an outlet in the attic and hang a shop light from the rafters and plug it into the outlet?

Charlie
 
Will the inspector let you cut off the cord cap and Romex connector the cord into a junction box ?
 
neutral said:
Hi
would this also apply to an attic? could you have an outlet in the attic and hang a shop light from the rafters and plug it into the outlet?

Charlie
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400.8(5) applies to drop ceilings and not attics
 
brother said:
So what if that 'replacing that cord on the equipment' voids the warranty and UL listing?? LOL
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That comes up all the time too, so I tell them to check with the manufacturer and see. All the manufacturers say, "yeah that's fine, this comes up all the time."
 
scwirenut said:
is it ok for that outlet-box not to be supported?
Click to expand...

it's fastened to the wall :D
the hanger wire doesn;'t seem to be supporting the conduit.
that would be my answer if I drew it.:smile:
 
its common around here to install receptacles above celings for burglar alarm panels. they sometimes like to install the buglar alarm panel above the drop celing and plug in the equipment up there
 
electricalperson said:
its common around here to install receptacles above celings for burglar alarm panels. they sometimes like to install the buglar alarm panel above the drop celing and plug in the equipment up there
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I've never seen a cord-connected burglar alarm panel, so what's the issue? :confused:
 
Flexible Cords

Flexible Cords

The receptacle is not the problem they are allowed as disscussed in earlier posts. The violation would be from 400.8 the flexible cord is not allowed above the ceiling.

I can not understand why they do not allow the flexible cords above suspened ceilings?


Joe
 
joebell said:
I can not understand why they do not allow the flexible cords above suspened ceilings?


Joe
Click to expand...


Because the cords will dry rot and crack. its that simple Probably end up energizing the ceiling grid as well. Boy that would be a fun one.
 
joebell said:
I can not understand why they do not allow the flexible cords above suspended ceilings?


Joe
Click to expand...

They dry out, and crack. Being out of sight, they are "out of mind"

Check these picture out. I took these of a cord I removed from a ceiling. It's about 10 years old or so.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p66/JohnJ0906/HPIM0454.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p66/JohnJ0906/HPIM0455.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p66/JohnJ0906/HPIM0456.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p66/JohnJ0906/HPIM0458.jpg
 
JohnJ0906 said:
They dry out, and crack. Being out of sight, they are "out of mind"

Check these picture out. I took these of a cord I removed from a ceiling. It's about 10 years old or so.
Click to expand...




Deja Vu, huh John? I think we just had this discussion.
 
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