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Sound Reinforcement - Forums for Live Sound Professionals - Your Displayed Name Must Be Your Real Full Name To Post In The Live Sound Forums => AC Power and Grounding => Topic started by: Aaron Maurer on May 06, 2016, 03:44:11 PM
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Does anyone have any tricks up their sleeve for the following issue. Running 12/3 SO cord for all my power extensions and a few places I work have fairly worn outlets and the plugs at times almost want to fall out. I have a method of plugging in and trying to pull the weight off the cable as much as possible and gaffing the cable to the floor/wall. Seen some outdoor style plugs that are 90 degrees which would let the SO run straight to the floor. Anyone else have a remedy or dealing with it as well?
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Does anyone have any tricks up their sleeve for the following issue. Running 12/3 SO cord for all my power extensions and a few places I work have fairly worn outlets and the plugs at times almost want to fall out. I have a method of plugging in and trying to pull the weight off the cable as much as possible and gaffing the cable to the floor/wall. Seen some outdoor style plugs that are 90 degrees which would let the SO run straight to the floor. Anyone else have a remedy or dealing with it as well?
Your lcal hardware store should have "appliance" cables with a molded 90 and 12 gauge wire. As to event rating I couldn't say, but they've done the job for me for many years.
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Does anyone have any tricks up their sleeve for the following issue. Running 12/3 SO cord for all my power extensions and a few places I work have fairly worn outlets and the plugs at times almost want to fall out. I have a method of plugging in and trying to pull the weight off the cable as much as possible and gaffing the cable to the floor/wall. Seen some outdoor style plugs that are 90 degrees which would let the SO run straight to the floor. Anyone else have a remedy or dealing with it as well?
125V/15A right-angle plug: http://www.homedepot.com/p/100126294
125V/20A right-angle plug: http://www.homedepot.com/p/100114807
If the receptacles are not holding the plug securely, that's a fire hazard. Loose connections get hot. The venues should replace those receptacles with heavy duty (commercial or industrial "spec grade") versions.
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I have two things I use depending..
If no one cares what they look like, I have two sets of appliance extension cords. One has the ground pin up and the other down. When I advance the gig I note what they have.
The other is nicer looking and might even be overlooked by an inspector though I don't expect inspectors at hotel weddings. I bought some high quality right angle plugs (15a flavor cause I wanted the parallel blades), Pass&Seamor females and a short length of #12 SJ. Enough to get to the floor and hook up the SOOW cables. They are light enough to not tug on the receptical and the heavy SOOW cables are on the floor.
The bonus is that with a screwdriver, you can easily rotate the angle end to deal with outlets at any angle.
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One of these and gaff-tape the sides to the wall.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-6-Outlet-Grounded-In-Wall-Adapter-White-54947/203742151
I have never seen a 20A one though.
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125V/15A right-angle plug: http://www.homedepot.com/p/100126294
125V/20A right-angle plug: http://www.homedepot.com/p/100114807
If the receptacles are not holding the plug securely, that's a fire hazard. Loose connections get hot. The venues should replace those receptacles with heavy duty (commercial or industrial "spec grade") versions.
That is a good point with creating heat. Will let the venues know. I was thinking the same thing Rob is already doing with the small drops from the outlet to the floor. Thanks for the links to the angle plugs.
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That is a good point with creating heat. Will let the venues know. I was thinking the same thing Rob is already doing with the small drops from the outlet to the floor. Thanks for the links to the angle plugs.
Yeah, I like the angle plug drops. Think I'll build a few for our smaller gigs.
But venues really should change out their worn receptacles. They live a tough life and need to be retired. Here's a picture from a recent gig we did. This 50-amp/240-volt outlet wasn't even attached with screws to the box. I passed on using it...
Seriously, how much could it cost to have an electrician replace all the venue receptacles every 5 years? Maybe a few hundred $$$ a year to rotate through 20% of the outlets each year. Then in 5 years you start over again by replacing the oldest receptacles first.
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Yeah, I like the angle plug drops. Think I'll build a few for our smaller gigs.
But venues really should change out their worn receptacles. They live a tough life and need to be retired. Here's a picture from a recent gig we did. This 50-amp/240-volt outlet wasn't even attached with screws to the box. I passed on using it...
Seriously, how much could it cost to have an electrician replace all the venue receptacles every 5 years? Maybe a few hundred $$$ a year to rotate through 20% of the outlets every year.
One of these and an annual PM wouldn't cost much:
http://communities.leviton.com/servlet/JiveServlet/previewBody/2143-102-1-3291/Spec%20RTT99.pdf
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Is SJ cord acceptable for a short drop down the wall? If memory serves I believe it was discussed on here that as long as your not walking on it and it's indoors it is ok do use?
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The Leviton RTT99 Receptacle Tension Tester, seems to have been discontinued soom years ago.
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This one seems to be in stock:
https://www.grainger.com/product/1PJK7?cm_mmc=PPC:BingPLA-_-Test%20Instruments-_-Electrical%20Power%20Testing-_-1PJK7&s_kwcid=AL!2966!10!2538093528!1102900023218&ef_id=VWhwgQAABA@dDuB8:20160509210353:s
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now that you have your short cords to go from the lose outlet to the floor, how about "tinning" the blades of the plug with solder it would add a bit of thickness for a tighter fit.
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now that you have your short cords to go from the lose outlet to the floor, how about "tinning" the blades of the plug with solder it would add a bit of thickness for a tighter fit.
I'm not thinking about using these right-angle short cords in loose outlets. They'll clean up the straight plug sticking out of the wall and the resultant loop of cable trying to pull it out.
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I'm not thinking about using these right-angle short cords in loose outlets. They'll clean up the straight plug sticking out of the wall and the resultant loop of cable trying to pull it out.
I was addressing the OPs complaint "Running 12/3 SO cord for all my power extensions and a few places I work have fairly worn outlets and the plugs at times almost want to fall out.