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Smaller, less ugly outdoor electric outlet?

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Smaller, less ugly outdoor electric outlet? Chris Shearer Cooper 10-13-2007
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Posted by hallerb@aol.com on October 14, 2007, 9:42 am
> Yup, getting all the necessary protection is a "gimme"!
>
> I know that the outlet needs to be properly weatherized, but I'm not
> convinced that the only way to do it is to have a big post with a full-size
> double outlet and a gigantic clear plastic cover (although I fully
> understand the design requirements that went into that kind of design).
>
> How about something like this ... a small (2" diameter) pipe (green,
> probably plastic) and near the top, 3 short (6" long) pieces of the same
> pipe "glued" around the main (support) pipe. Some nice round top to keep
> the weather out. Each of those 3 short pieces of pipe hinges open, and
> inside you see (1) an outlet at the top, facing _down_, and (2) some sort of
> velcro or something so that the cord isn't held in the outlet solely by the
> friction of the electrical connections.
>
> Voila! Small, un-obtrusive, weatherproof. When nothing's plugged into it,
> it looks like some strange green plastic mushroom.
>
> Chris
>
>
>
>
>
> >> I'm looking to run some electricity out into the garden (in a permanent
> >> way), some outlets on a post where I can plug in Christmas lights, etc.
> >> Problem is, the garden is not large, and most of the outdoor outlet boxes
> >> I've seen are rather large and industrial-looking.
>
> >> Has anyone seen any outdoor outlet boxes that are smaller and perhaps
> >> greener (to blend in)?
>
> >> Thanks,
> >> Chris
>
> > Whatever the solution, be sure is GFCI and wired properly. Schedule 80
> > PVC for conduit at minimum. The ugliness is a result of weatherization
> > protection.
> > Dave- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

put it behind a small evergreen bush or plant, to screen it


Posted by Chris Shearer Cooper on October 14, 2007, 10:38 am
That's the problem ... the garden is relatively small, with a few rock paths
for the kids to play around, so there aren't a lot of places to hide these
things.

>> Yup, getting all the necessary protection is a "gimme"!
>>
>> I know that the outlet needs to be properly weatherized, but I'm not
>> convinced that the only way to do it is to have a big post with a
>> full-size
>> double outlet and a gigantic clear plastic cover (although I fully
>> understand the design requirements that went into that kind of design).
>>
>> How about something like this ... a small (2" diameter) pipe (green,
>> probably plastic) and near the top, 3 short (6" long) pieces of the same
>> pipe "glued" around the main (support) pipe. Some nice round top to keep
>> the weather out. Each of those 3 short pieces of pipe hinges open, and
>> inside you see (1) an outlet at the top, facing _down_, and (2) some sort
>> of
>> velcro or something so that the cord isn't held in the outlet solely by
>> the
>> friction of the electrical connections.
>>
>> Voila! Small, un-obtrusive, weatherproof. When nothing's plugged into
>> it,
>> it looks like some strange green plastic mushroom.
>>
>> Chris
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> >> I'm looking to run some electricity out into the garden (in a
>> >> permanent
>> >> way), some outlets on a post where I can plug in Christmas lights,
>> >> etc.
>> >> Problem is, the garden is not large, and most of the outdoor outlet
>> >> boxes
>> >> I've seen are rather large and industrial-looking.
>>
>> >> Has anyone seen any outdoor outlet boxes that are smaller and perhaps
>> >> greener (to blend in)?
>>
>> >> Thanks,
>> >> Chris
>>
>> > Whatever the solution, be sure is GFCI and wired properly. Schedule 80
>> > PVC for conduit at minimum. The ugliness is a result of weatherization
>> > protection.
>> > Dave- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> put it behind a small evergreen bush or plant, to screen it
>



Posted by on October 14, 2007, 3:52 pm
you could look at the industrial outlets some i have used at work are
the WoodHead brand with the matching plug these are small(also to very
large based on voltage and current) and water proof.
of course there yellow but some paint for plastic would camouflaged it
also keeping the outlet low to the ground would help unless code gives a
min hight requirement.
my two cents, Charles

Chris Shearer Cooper wrote:
> That's the problem ... the garden is relatively small, with a few rock paths
> for the kids to play around, so there aren't a lot of places to hide these
> things.
>
>>> Yup, getting all the necessary protection is a "gimme"!
>>>
>>> I know that the outlet needs to be properly weatherized, but I'm not
>>> convinced that the only way to do it is to have a big post with a
>>> full-size
>>> double outlet and a gigantic clear plastic cover (although I fully
>>> understand the design requirements that went into that kind of design).
>>>
>>> How about something like this ... a small (2" diameter) pipe (green,
>>> probably plastic) and near the top, 3 short (6" long) pieces of the same
>>> pipe "glued" around the main (support) pipe. Some nice round top to keep
>>> the weather out. Each of those 3 short pieces of pipe hinges open, and
>>> inside you see (1) an outlet at the top, facing _down_, and (2) some sort
>>> of
>>> velcro or something so that the cord isn't held in the outlet solely by
>>> the
>>> friction of the electrical connections.
>>>
>>> Voila! Small, un-obtrusive, weatherproof. When nothing's plugged into
>>> it,
>>> it looks like some strange green plastic mushroom.
>>>
>>> Chris
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>> I'm looking to run some electricity out into the garden (in a
>>>>> permanent
>>>>> way), some outlets on a post where I can plug in Christmas lights,
>>>>> etc.
>>>>> Problem is, the garden is not large, and most of the outdoor outlet
>>>>> boxes
>>>>> I've seen are rather large and industrial-looking.
>>>>> Has anyone seen any outdoor outlet boxes that are smaller and perhaps
>>>>> greener (to blend in)?
>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>> Chris
>>>> Whatever the solution, be sure is GFCI and wired properly. Schedule 80
>>>> PVC for conduit at minimum. The ugliness is a result of weatherization
>>>> protection.
>>>> Dave- Hide quoted text -
>>> - Show quoted text -
>> put it behind a small evergreen bush or plant, to screen it
>>
>
>

Posted by Charlie on October 18, 2007, 7:53 pm

> That's the problem ... the garden is relatively small, with a few rock
> paths for the kids to play around, so there aren't a lot of places to hide
> these things.


http://www.amazon.com/Dekorra-Model-105RB-Replicated-Riverbed/dp/B0007QMBKY



Posted by RBM on October 14, 2007, 10:28 am
If there was enough demand for such an item, someone would make it




> Yup, getting all the necessary protection is a "gimme"!
>
> I know that the outlet needs to be properly weatherized, but I'm not
> convinced that the only way to do it is to have a big post with a
> full-size double outlet and a gigantic clear plastic cover (although I
> fully understand the design requirements that went into that kind of
> design).
>
> How about something like this ... a small (2" diameter) pipe (green,
> probably plastic) and near the top, 3 short (6" long) pieces of the same
> pipe "glued" around the main (support) pipe. Some nice round top to keep
> the weather out. Each of those 3 short pieces of pipe hinges open, and
> inside you see (1) an outlet at the top, facing _down_, and (2) some sort
> of velcro or something so that the cord isn't held in the outlet solely by
> the friction of the electrical connections.
>
> Voila! Small, un-obtrusive, weatherproof. When nothing's plugged into
> it, it looks like some strange green plastic mushroom.
>
> Chris
>
>>> I'm looking to run some electricity out into the garden (in a permanent
>>> way), some outlets on a post where I can plug in Christmas lights, etc.
>>> Problem is, the garden is not large, and most of the outdoor outlet
>>> boxes I've seen are rather large and industrial-looking.
>>>
>>> Has anyone seen any outdoor outlet boxes that are smaller and perhaps
>>> greener (to blend in)?
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Chris
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Whatever the solution, be sure is GFCI and wired properly. Schedule 80
>> PVC for conduit at minimum. The ugliness is a result of weatherization
>> protection.
>> Dave
>>
>
>



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