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Building Construction - Building Construction Industry Discussions.
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Posted by willshak on October 14, 2007, 10:37 am
on 10/14/2007 9:38 AM Chris Shearer Cooper said the following:
> 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
>
Sounds good. Be sure to make plans and diagrams for a patent.
>
>
>>
>>> 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
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
>
--
Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
To email, remove the double zeroes after @
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Posted by Chris Shearer Cooper on October 14, 2007, 11:06 am
Yeah, I thought about a patent, but (1) I've never gotten a patent before,
(2) I don't know the electrical code, and (3) I don't know how to get a
patent.
I'd be happy if somebody else would just make one for me (grin) but it might
also be an interesting introduction to the world of patents.
Suggestions on how to get started on something like that?
Thanks,
Chris
p.s. Yes, this is getting more off-topic as time goes on ...
> on 10/14/2007 9:38 AM Chris Shearer Cooper said the following:
>> 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
>>
>
> Sounds good. Be sure to make plans and diagrams for a patent.
>
>>
>>
>>>
>>>> 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
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> --
>
> Bill
> In Hamptonburgh, NY
> To email, remove the double zeroes after @
|
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Posted by willshak on October 14, 2007, 11:27 am
on 10/14/2007 11:06 AM Chris Shearer Cooper said the following:
> Yeah, I thought about a patent, but (1) I've never gotten a patent before,
> (2) I don't know the electrical code, and (3) I don't know how to get a
> patent.
>
> I'd be happy if somebody else would just make one for me (grin) but it might
> also be an interesting introduction to the world of patents.
>
> Suggestions on how to get started on something like that?
>
> Thanks,
> Chris
>
> p.s. Yes, this is getting more off-topic as time goes on ...
>
Whatever you do, be sure to have a secure cover for the outlet, even if
hung upside down under a protective overhang. It's not only rain that
can get into the outlet, but insects and their nests. Wasps will like
that overhang, too.
>
>> on 10/14/2007 9:38 AM Chris Shearer Cooper said the following:
>>
>>> 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
>>>
>>>
>> Sounds good. Be sure to make plans and diagrams for a patent.
>>
>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> 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
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>>>
>> --
>>
>> Bill
>> In Hamptonburgh, NY
>> To email, remove the double zeroes after @
>>
>
>
>
--
Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
To email, remove the double zeroes after @
|
|
Posted by Chris Shearer Cooper on October 14, 2007, 4:44 pm
Excellent point!
> on 10/14/2007 11:06 AM Chris Shearer Cooper said the following:
>> Yeah, I thought about a patent, but (1) I've never gotten a patent
>> before, (2) I don't know the electrical code, and (3) I don't know how to
>> get a patent.
>>
>> I'd be happy if somebody else would just make one for me (grin) but it
>> might also be an interesting introduction to the world of patents.
>>
>> Suggestions on how to get started on something like that?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Chris
>>
>> p.s. Yes, this is getting more off-topic as time goes on ...
>>
>
> Whatever you do, be sure to have a secure cover for the outlet, even if
> hung upside down under a protective overhang. It's not only rain that can
> get into the outlet, but insects and their nests. Wasps will like that
> overhang, too.
>
>>
>>> on 10/14/2007 9:38 AM Chris Shearer Cooper said the following:
>>>
>>>> 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
>>>>
>>>>
>>> Sounds good. Be sure to make plans and diagrams for a patent.
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> 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
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> Bill
>>> In Hamptonburgh, NY
>>> To email, remove the double zeroes after @
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> --
>
> Bill
> In Hamptonburgh, NY
> To email, remove the double zeroes after @
|
|
Posted by Dave on October 15, 2007, 12:21 am
> Yup, getting all the necessary protection is a "gimme"!
>
No its not, I know nothing about you.
> 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).
>
Who said "clear plastic cover" is mandatory? There may be something out
there, but I'm not the typical suburbanite interested primarily in
appearances... Et al our British predecessors as well.
> 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.
>
Hopefully, schedule 80 PVC piping. "cord" is usually in reference to
temporary cabling for temporary use. IE: extension cord. Scary. The
pointed down outlets better be well above the soil line. IE: splash from
heavy rain. The boxes better be power ventialated if pointed down. IE:
condensation bleeding from the top down.
> Voila! Small, un-obtrusive, weatherproof. When nothing's plugged into
> it, it looks like some strange green plastic mushroom.
I hate mushrooms except eating them.
>
> 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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Page 3 of 4 < 1 2 3 > last >>
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