Electrical - attachment plug on UF cable ?
Don S.
into an existing outside receptacle. The original plan was to run UF cable
from the lights to a surface mounted exterior box that contained a photo
sensor to turn the lights on/off.
Connecting into the existing outdoor receptacle would involve substantial
effort, so he was thinking of coming out of the new external box with a SO or
SJO cable and plugging into the existing receptacle (which would include an
in-use cover).
Looking into the NEC, Article 400.7 does not permit the use of flexible cords
in this application. As well, SO and SJO are only rated for damp locations.
An alternative would be to use UF cable in place of the flexible cord. It
seems like this would not be permitted, but I can't find anything in the NEC
that mentions this. I didn't see anything in Article 406 (attachment plugs)
or Article 334 (UF cable) covering this.
Thanx.....don
Rod Farlee
"Substantial effort"? Is this outlet mounted on conduit that's
extending out of a poured concrete patio or something?
If not, dig it up, pull another UF cable up that conduit.
It'll only take an hour to do it right.
It is a pain to pull two 12/2 UF cables up one 3/4" conduit.
But if it's short, you can do it, a few inches at a time.
You'll have to pull out the existing line first, then pull (with
snake or cord) and push both lines up the conduit at the
same time.
Would be easier to add a second 3/4" conduit for the new
line, which may require a larger box, too. That also does
not qualify as a "substantial" effort or cost.
Dell Phinus
Table 400.4 lists the acceptable types of flexible cord. UF is not
one of them. Also, I'll bet if you checked the Ul listings, no plugs
are listed for use with 12 AWG solid...
The NEC also lists the specific cases where flexible cord can be wired
into a junction box (from the handbook):
400.7(B)
Exception: As permitted in 368.8.
Flexible cords are permitted to be hard-wired into a junction box if
the cord is used for the following:
(1) Luminaires and fixtures mentioned in 400.7(A)
(2) Supplies to pendant pushbutton stations for cranes
(3) Portable lamp (droplight) connections
you can't do it... not per the code anyway...