Remote installation of a receptacle from an apc uninterr

[curtiszimmerman]

Our IT deptartment wants us to connect to an apc unit which breaks a 30 amp circuit into several 15 amp recptacles with battery backup. They want us to connect to a short piece of portable cord with a male cord cap and connect to a 4" sq box. From there we would run typical conduit and thhn wire to another equipment room and set a receptacle to power telephone switching equipment or wide area ntwork edquipmen. The equipment has minimal current requirements and the separate 15 amp circuits are fused at the apc equipment. The equipment rooms are locked and accessed by maintenance personnel.

 

[charlie b]

Re: Remote installation of a receptacle from an apc uninterr

I'm not completely sure I understand what you are describing. But it sounds like you will have a short section of flexible cord that is permanently connected within a 4x4 box that in turn is permanently connected (via conduit) to equipment in another room. That would be using a flexible cord, for however short a distance, as a substitute for permanent wiring. 400.8(1) does not allow that.

 

[bdarnell]

Re: Remote installation of a receptacle from an apc uninterr

I'm not sure I agree, Charlie. 400.8(1) Prohibits the use of flexible cords and cables as a "substitute" for fixed wiring. If the only way to connect to this UPS is by cord and plug, are we really "substituting" anything ?

Whether right or wrong, I have seen this done.

 

[pierre]

Re: Remote installation of a receptacle from an apc uninterr

I do not see why the only way to connect to the UPS would be by cord??? Why not use a Chapter 3 flexible method? 400.8(1) is pretty clear, and if using a cord for this type of installation is "convenient", it is not the only way.


"Whether right or wrong, I have seen this done."

I have seen plenty of installations that were not installed properly in the past, that does not give us license to install it the same way now.

 

[bdarnell]

Re: Remote installation of a receptacle from an apc uninterr

Originally posted by pierre:
I have seen plenty of installations that were not installed properly in the past, that does not give us license to install it the same way now.

Point taken, Pierre. I didn't mean to imply otherwise.

There are a large majority of UPS systems that do not have a "hardwired" output. They sometimes have a locking receptacle, sometimes just duplexes. If we attempt to modify the hardware of the UPS, we are into warranty issues with the manufacturer.

Maybe the correct answer to the OP is Charlie's. 400.8(1).

 

[infinity]

Re: Remote installation of a receptacle from an apc uninterr

There are a large majority of UPS systems that do not have a "hardwired" output. They sometimes have a locking receptacle, sometimes just duplexes. If we attempt to modify the hardware of the UPS, we are into warranty issues with the manufacturer

I agree. We've seen a few of these units lately that have an integral twist lock receptacle at the UPS. From there is a factory wired rack of receptacles fed with a flexible cord and a twist lock plug. Here's an example from APC:

 

[LarryFine]

Re: Remote installation of a receptacle from an apc uninterr

It sounds like you need a wall-plate-mounted power inlet. It just so happens that I recently put together a few for an audio/video system.

This one for residential job:

These for a commercial job:

[ January 27, 2006, 06:20 PM: Message edited by: LarryFine ]

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Re: Remote installation of a receptacle from an apc uninterr

Pierre,
How do you put a male cord cap on a flexible Chapter 3 wiring method?
Don

 

[pierre]

Re: Remote installation of a receptacle from an apc uninterr

Thats easy Don, I learned how to do that here.

Take NM, UF or even AC cable and skin back the sheathing. That exposes the conductors- which you just terminate under the screws of the cord cap. If you are using AC, cut the ground prong off of the attachment plug.

I was not suggesting installing a cord cap on the Chapter 3 wiring method, my suggestion was to use a flexible wiring method of Chapter 3.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Re: Remote installation of a receptacle from an apc uninterr

Pierre,
I think the issue here is that the UPS is not suitable for "hard wiring". Also the attachment plug is not suitable for connection to a Chapter 3 cable wiring method. From the UL guide:

Attachment Plug ? A male contact device for the temporary connection of a flexible cord or cable to a receptacle, cord connector, or other female outlet device.

Don

 

[pierre]

Re: Remote installation of a receptacle from an apc uninterr

Don
I am catching the "drift' that the wiring methods are limited and a cord may be the way to install this based on the manufacturering of this equipment. I have only seen a few of these installs in the last year.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Re: Remote installation of a receptacle from an apc uninterr

Pierre,
The problem is that they are buying the cheaper UPS and not the one that is designed for the purpose. A smart UPS manufacturer would design, list and sell an "adapter enclosure" for this purpose.
Don

[ January 28, 2006, 11:28 AM: Message edited by: don_resqcapt19 ]