In one of the rooms I run there are a number of extension cords that
stay coiled by the outlets. Every couple months somebody "borrows"
one. Does anyone make a clasp of sorts that would fix the plug to the
outlet and help to deter people from helping themselves?

apa wrote:
In one of the rooms I run there are a number of extension cords that
stay coiled by the outlets. Every couple months somebody "borrows"
one. Does anyone make a clasp of sorts that would fix the plug to the
outlet and help to deter people from helping themselves?

No, but you can replace them with 20 amp ones. People won't borrow
them once they see they won't fit a 15 amp outlet.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

apa wrote:

In one of the rooms I run there are a number of extension cords that
stay coiled by the outlets. Every couple months somebody "borrows"
one. Does anyone make a clasp of sorts that would fix the plug to the
outlet and help to deter people from helping themselves?

Yes, but I'm not sure who. It's basically a zigzag shaped piece of
steel about a quarter inch wide that screws to the center screw of the
outlet and hangs over the plug. For this to work, the plug has to be
one of those 90 degree models.

I used to use these in studios where the main power was taken from a
wall outlet that was exposed to kicking the plug out by accident. I
think I got them at the local hardware store, but it's been a decade or
so...

//Walt

apa wrote:
In one of the rooms I run there are a number of extension cords that
stay coiled by the outlets. Every couple months somebody "borrows"
one. Does anyone make a clasp of sorts that would fix the plug to the
outlet and help to deter people from helping themselves?

This came up here a few months ago. Walt described it correctly, but
nobody (including me, and I know I've seen one) could locate a source.
It would be easy to make.

They're more to prevent accidental unplugging (like if someone trips
over the cable) than to prevent borrowing. I think Scott has the right
idea there, but of course putting 240V receptacles on your 120V outlets
is both inconvenient and may be against electrical code rules. Better
to just buy a few spares, and leave the worst ones out.

On 1 Feb 2006 12:19:56 -0800, "Mike Rivers"
wrote:


apa wrote:
In one of the rooms I run there are a number of extension cords that
stay coiled by the outlets. Every couple months somebody "borrows"
one. Does anyone make a clasp of sorts that would fix the plug to the
outlet and help to deter people from helping themselves?

This came up here a few months ago. Walt described it correctly, but
nobody (including me, and I know I've seen one) could locate a source.
It would be easy to make.

They're more to prevent accidental unplugging (like if someone trips
over the cable) than to prevent borrowing. I think Scott has the right
idea there, but of course putting 240V receptacles on your 120V outlets
is both inconvenient and may be against electrical code rules. Better
to just buy a few spares, and leave the worst ones out.
He was suggesting a 20A plug (looks like a T) and only
works in NEMA 5-20 outlets (which also accept 5-15 PLUGS).
These usually only appear in Commercal locations.
My reading of the NEC suggests that *IF* there is only one outlet on a
20A branch, *IT* must be rated for the full 20A (a 15A outlet is only
rated 20A on the pass through)

apa wrote:

In one of the rooms I run there are a number of extension cords that
stay coiled by the outlets. Every couple months somebody "borrows"
one. Does anyone make a clasp of sorts that would fix the plug to the
outlet and help to deter people from helping themselves?

Wire a small electrolytic capacitor from live to neutral inside the
fittings on one of the leads and mark it in such a way that you will not
use it by mistake.

[Don't try this at home, children]

--
~ Adrian Tuddenham ~
(Remove the ".invalid"s and add ".co.uk" to reply)
www.poppyrecords.co.uk

In one of the rooms I run there are a number of extension cords that
stay coiled by the outlets. Every couple months somebody "borrows"
one. Does anyone make a clasp of sorts that would fix the plug to the
outlet and help to deter people from helping themselves?

I'd sink an anchor or a toggle bolt into the wall, & cable-tie the
extension cord to that.

Scott Fraser

"apa" wrote in message
oups.com...
In one of the rooms I run there are a number of extension cords that
stay coiled by the outlets. Every couple months somebody "borrows"
one. Does anyone make a clasp of sorts that would fix the plug to the
outlet and help to deter people from helping themselves?


In the UK you can replace 13A outlet sockets with a "fused spur". This
effectively has a (fused) fixed cable coming out of the wall which you can
terminate onto an extension. It's commonly used for storage heaters.




Gareth.

like this:

http://rswww.com/cgi-bin/bv/rswww/su...o?cacheID=ukie

Adrian Tuddenham wrote:
apa wrote:

In one of the rooms I run there are a number of extension cords that
stay coiled by the outlets. Every couple months somebody "borrows"
one. Does anyone make a clasp of sorts that would fix the plug to the
outlet and help to deter people from helping themselves?

Wire a small electrolytic capacitor from live to neutral inside the
fittings on one of the leads and mark it in such a way that you will not
use it by mistake.

[Don't try this at home, children]


Or just shove a wad of steel wool in there... and have a fire
extinguisher handy.

Karl Winkler
http://www.lectrosonics.com
http://www.karlwinkler.com
http://www.giovanniquartet.com

apa wrote:
In one of the rooms I run there are a number of extension cords that
stay coiled by the outlets. Every couple months somebody "borrows"
one. Does anyone make a clasp of sorts that would fix the plug to the
outlet and help to deter people from helping themselves?


For an add on device, get one of those outdoor outlet hood covers
that has a loop for a fifty cent padlock. Plug in the cord, close the
cover and padlock it. Alternatively, replace the wall plug with a box
and just wire the cord direct to the wires in the wall. Cord comes out
through an appropriate strain relief fitting. (Have this done by a
locally licensed and qualified electrician.)

--Dale

Gareth Magennis wrote:
"apa" wrote in message
In one of the rooms I run there are a number of extension cords that
stay coiled by the outlets. Every couple months somebody "borrows"
one. Does anyone make a clasp of sorts that would fix the plug to the
outlet and help to deter people from helping themselves?

In the UK you can replace 13A outlet sockets with a "fused spur". This
effectively has a (fused) fixed cable coming out of the wall which you can
terminate onto an extension. It's commonly used for storage heaters.

This USED to be code in the US. But I cannot find any reference to it
in the 1993 NEC (which is the most recent one in my house right now;
the new one is in the office). I think it's still legal to have a
permanently-attached appliance but I'm not sure about an outlet box.

It _would_ be legal if it was extended on flexible conduit or BX cable,
though.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

On 2 Feb 2006 17:11:15 -0500, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:

Gareth Magennis wrote:
"apa" wrote in message
In one of the rooms I run there are a number of extension cords that
stay coiled by the outlets. Every couple months somebody "borrows"
one. Does anyone make a clasp of sorts that would fix the plug to the
outlet and help to deter people from helping themselves?

In the UK you can replace 13A outlet sockets with a "fused spur". This
effectively has a (fused) fixed cable coming out of the wall which you can
terminate onto an extension. It's commonly used for storage heaters.

This USED to be code in the US. But I cannot find any reference to it
in the 1993 NEC (which is the most recent one in my house right now;
the new one is in the office). I think it's still legal to have a
permanently-attached appliance but I'm not sure about an outlet box.

It _would_ be legal if it was extended on flexible conduit or BX cable,
though.
--scott
Pendant Drop was legal in 2000 if ptoperly strain reliefed (Kellum
grips work).

Steve Urbach wrote:
On 2 Feb 2006 17:11:15 -0500, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:
Gareth Magennis wrote:
"apa" wrote in message
In one of the rooms I run there are a number of extension cords that
stay coiled by the outlets. Every couple months somebody "borrows"
one. Does anyone make a clasp of sorts that would fix the plug to the
outlet and help to deter people from helping themselves?

In the UK you can replace 13A outlet sockets with a "fused spur". This
effectively has a (fused) fixed cable coming out of the wall which you can
terminate onto an extension. It's commonly used for storage heaters.

This USED to be code in the US. But I cannot find any reference to it
in the 1993 NEC (which is the most recent one in my house right now;
the new one is in the office). I think it's still legal to have a
permanently-attached appliance but I'm not sure about an outlet box.

It _would_ be legal if it was extended on flexible conduit or BX cable,
though.

Pendant Drop was legal in 2000 if ptoperly strain reliefed (Kellum
grips work).

AHA! I got it! It's covered under 210-50! Thanks!
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."