Inventions

[Qaanaaq-Qaalaaq]

A previous owner installed only one electrical outlet into my detached garage and it’s mounted to a roof rafter and faces downward to the garage floor. In order to plug in an electrical appliance, I have to climb a step ladder to get to it because it’s too high for me to reach. I’m 6’00”.

A non-flexible six foot long electrical extension rod would do the trick. Modeled like a flexible electrical extension cord, an electrical extension rod would plug right into the rafter outlet by reaching straight up. This would allow appliances to plug into the extension rod without having to use a step ladder. I’ve checked lots of hardware and home improvement stores for this item. Nobody knows of such a thing. It doesn’t exist. I guess necessity really is the mother of invention.

[wtg]

@Qaanaaq-Qaalaaq We have a similar situation in our basement with electrical outlets that are mounted to the underside of the joists in the ceiling. My problem is that the weight of a cord plugged into the outlet wants to pull the plug out.

I'm not sure how an extension rod wouldn't have the same problem. Unless I'm not understanding what you are describing....

[RealPlayer]

I’d think the plug was mounted up there to power an electric garage door opener. We have that too. Maybe an electrician could figure out some fix (short of rewiring.)

You could construct a floor to ceiling post, if it wouldn’t be in your way, and mount the cord to that.

[wtg]

Code in Cook County still requires conduit. Our plan is to have an electrician run it from the ceiling box, over to and down the wall, and put in a wall-mounted outlet.

We've added it to the list of things we want our guy to do next time he's here.

[Rontuner]

Aren't there ceiling mount extension cord reels? Leave it dangling low enough to reach and pull down as needed... The reel supports the weight so there's no pull on the socket.

[Steve Miller]

@Rontuner

That’s what I use.

[Qaanaaq-Qaalaaq]

Funny that nobody who works in any of the stores that I visited suggested an extension cord reel. Maybe they don’t know about them either, just like me, until now. It looks like it might do the trick. The real experts are right here on this forum, not working in stores. Learn something new, every day, that’s WTF forum. Thank you everyone.

wtg:

You said “Code in Cook County still requires conduit.”. Check to see whether you live in incorporated Arlington Heights or unincorporated Arlington Heights. Incorporated AH has its own building dept. and home rule electrical codes. If you live in an unincorporated area of AH or any uninc. area of the county, then Cook County codes apply.

[wtg]

@Qaanaaq-Qaalaaq I'm in the Village proper (incorporated) and conduit is code. No licensed electrician would not use conduit, whether a permit is pulled or not.

[CHAS]

Plug locks are available. Have seen designs that seemed stronger than this one-https://www.amazon.com/Lock-Socket-Adjustable-Outlet-Innovative/dp/B0D65LYPDM/ref=sr_1_4?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.M0ADrmzyLLSduxei4-sThLz5ABymWF01YCC6v2Mmdt7sVFI8fJywwcU9xTxQXNVYmiq8pbQz4A6K_HEFf2Z96SkpMDdcy1NZXQ9Y7cLfvhOCCDOy_y4xDHa7rV4aGt-uDH8GNjVyB51Ayj3g8lNwsXru7aF9FmKhvMM9g7JIXDHk5a1giFhok0voUIgKHkzJCVT8tWgx5Zo-Dr9gfsP7oXk9stHHbkoutEwRa6tU0oE.nngl67uNASG8XUotjE9Ad6chaRbwBLvjvSzuJeBkOWc&dib_tag=se&keywords=plug%2Block&qid=1733446546&sr=8-4&th=1

[wtg]

@CHAS Thanks for that link! I've never seen one of those. That plug lock design could help me with the basement problem. I just have to confirm that it would work with the right angle plug that's on our cord on the freezer.

@Qaanaaq-Qaalaaq is right....WTF is way better than a home improvement store when it comes to getting information....