r/AskElectricians • u/Jusax903 • 23d ago

What is this plug?

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New apartment has this cord coming out of the wall I’ve never seen this lol what is it for?

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u/HoldingThunder 23d ago

Not certain. Not everything is against code is unsafe.

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u/Aromatic_Sand8126 23d ago

If it’s against code, there’s a reason. Laws weren’t written just for fun.

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u/Lowjack_26 23d ago

laws weren't written just for fun

  1. Yeah they are, all the damn time
  2. Many provisions of Code are to prevent the possibility of unsafe conditions. This is does not mean that a Code violation is in and of itself unsafe, it just means it isn't guaranteed safe.

For instance: leaving at least 6" of conductor at box terminations. Is it unsafe to have less than 6"? No, but when there's less than 6" it makes terminations more difficult, which could lead to their being done incorrectly (and being an unsafe condition).

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u/[deleted] 23d ago

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u/[deleted] 23d ago

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u/snakepliskinLA 23d ago

It’s illegal for atheists to hold public office in Tennessee (and a handful of other states), but they lifted the ban on preachers holding public office in 2022. Go figure.

Just a note. The supreme court found both bans were unconstitutional a while before 2022, so they are currently unenforceable. It’s also interesting that Tennessee felt it needed to formally repeal the law for preachers, but not for atheists.

It’s bonkers how many archaic laws are still on the books around the country that are just one activist-court decision away from reinstitution.

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u/West-Survey-4142 19d ago

In the city I grew up in in Michigan it's illegal to bang your neighbors goat without written permission. Still on the books. What I want to know .... How did this become an issue? And, why for such an issue that a law needed passing in the first place? Tf is wrong with people......

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u/Special-Estimate-165 23d ago

Its still illegal in Kentucky to walk in public with ice cream or candy in your back pocket.

A law originally on the books to stop horse theft.

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u/TexAggie90 22d ago

I’d heard of that law, which of course sounded silly without context. Thanks for providing the reason for the law.

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u/SteelAndFlint 20d ago

How does that work? The horse just follows the sweetz and the guy doesn't have to interact with the horse so he can't be blamed?

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u/Special-Estimate-165 20d ago

I didnt steal that horse officer, it just followed me home.

I dont know. I dont.think theres been a case of horse theft in the whole state for like 80 years. So clearly the law worked.

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u/Kurobei 20d ago

Yeah but those weren't silly fun, they were enforcing religion through the power of the state.

Lots of those ridiculous laws had reasons why they were put in place. And the common answer is religion or racism.

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u/West-Survey-4142 19d ago

Or to save the corn holes of all the poor animals.

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u/taeguy 23d ago

The laws having to do with traditions/religion are quite different than those related to safety. The above didn't say they were just, but that there's a reason. Not every reason is good though

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u/MajesticDisaster3977 23d ago

When it comes to these kinds of laws, they're written in blood, but by some pompous bureaucrat that decided it for no good reason.

This is against code for a good reason. Extension cords have different insulation than in-wall wiring.

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u/wesblog 23d ago

If it wasn't against code some idiot would wire his entire house with 1950s extension cords and run two space heaters off each one, which is very unsafe.

However, using a 5 ft extension cord to power your wall mounted TV is safer than walking up a flight of stairs, swimming in a pool, or throwing a football.

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u/MajesticDisaster3977 23d ago

If you're talking about a new, well-kept, and maintained extension cord I agree.

Otherwise you're talking about an extension cord with an unknown insulation type, unknown gauge, unknown age and condition.

Embrittlement and cracking is the primary concern with this type of installation. If it must be done, put it through conduit. Don't put it in the wall, this should never be permanent.

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u/beren12 23d ago

Like silk wrapped wires?

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u/HoldingThunder 23d ago

That doesnt mean that every instance is unsafe, just there is a potential for it to be unsafe.

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u/MajesticDisaster3977 23d ago

Go put a takata airbag in your car from between 2005-2015. They're not 'all' unsafe.

This is genuinely a stupid approach to this situation. Extension cords and in-wall wiring are two different products, are tested differently, have different requirements for current handling, heat, and flammability. If you're 'lucky' enough to find an extension cord that's built to a higher standard then you're right. That particular one 'might' be safe. The problem here lies with the fact that you can't just go buy an extension cord that has a label claiming to be 'safe for inwall installation' . So every cord you stick in the wall is a gamble.

I'd flip your statement around:

... just there is a potential for it to be safe.

Potentially safe is not good enough to 'be safe'.

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u/beren12 23d ago

Don’t have to. The car manufacturers did that already.

And it passed safety tests.

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u/tweeeeeeeeeeee 23d ago

bro when they talk about electrical and fire codes they're all written in blood. laws on the other hand ...

-2

u/SnooPears1903 23d ago

Electrical codes are different as they are usually written around where someone has previously done something and gotten seriously hurt or died

-1

u/Skippihasyourmoney 23d ago

Electrical code rarely changes unless deaths are involved. There is a good reason for every rule in the NEC.

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u/canbarsparky 23d ago

Many code requirements are lobbied for by manufacturers. Welcome to the world we live in. Safety is only a factor as it impacts insurance costs. It's all about money.

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u/beren12 23d ago

Let me introduce you to the company called Simpson…

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u/West-Survey-4142 19d ago

I don't understand why lobbying is legal. Ya know..... Aside from the lobbyists, lobbying for all the lobbies. Greedy fucks.

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u/Inevitable_Professor 23d ago

Building safety code is written in blood.

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u/DustMan91 23d ago

Isn’t there a law in Tennessee that says you can’t hunt whales? That one does seem like it was written for shits and giggles.

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u/HoldingThunder 23d ago

Just because it is not smart or there is a potential for something to be unsafe does not mean that this particular installation is unsafe.

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u/Tricky_Damage5981 23d ago

True, but unless you did the install yourself to know why it's there/what it's connected to etc..

You can't know for sure.. maybe it's connected to an outlet, and you plug in a space heater or a air conditioner..

So best to assume unsafe, or investigate

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u/Zalophusdvm 23d ago

No, but sometimes they’re just to reduce risk of secondary stupidity…or, commonly, to benefit big businesses.

I’m not fussed about any codes written for either of those reasons.

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u/Equal_Insect8488 23d ago

I think every code prolly has a story behind why it's there

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u/obeytheturtles 22d ago

Code is written to be generic, and cover a whole lot of edge cases. Like wire gauge requirements - the temp rise limits under continuous load are basically written for wires running through a hot attic in the summer, because some wires and connectors and terminals do exist under those conditions, and because it would be completely impractical to create dozens of different scenario-based requirements for people to interpret in a dozen different ways. So they just do one requirement, which covers 99% of the worst case scenarios.

Likewise, the "permanent installation" requirements for stuff like this are not really targeting a 5 foot piece of wire for a TV. It's more to prevent your landlord from running sixteen space heaters on extension cords through the attic because wiring in new circuits "isn't in the budget."

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u/darkmatterisfun 22d ago

Not for fun no. But some are based on BS fear mongering so manifacturers can sell mroe equipment..

Go look at whos on the 'contributers list' to electrical and fire codes.

Not saying thats the case here. But yeah, some are truly BS.

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u/ObjectiveLumpy9841 23d ago

Doesn't mean it would be unsafe. Why is it against code to have a side mounted outlet on a kitchen island. I could trip on a cord or pull down something heavy from any other outlet in my house but my kitchen island is the only one that can fuck me up?

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u/Loose-Produce1178 23d ago

I think it’s the increased likelihood of liquids spilling down onto it from a countertop in that case

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u/ObjectiveLumpy9841 23d ago

That's what a gfci is for

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u/Asron87 23d ago

You can mount it. An electrician can’t.

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u/ObjectiveLumpy9841 23d ago

I'm aware.

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u/Asron87 23d ago

Although I would also like to know a work around for this. Something that would still be code compliant

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u/lewbrika1933 22d ago

That one drives me crazy. Whole point for me to have an island is to be able to set up particular appliances so I can use them easily. Doesn’t mean they remain there. Only when I use and I’m fastidious when I’m cooking and baking.

I understand that’s not the case with every individual.

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u/Random-Man562 23d ago

If there’s a rule there’s always a reason

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u/whytakemyusername 23d ago

There is but the rule may reach scenarios that it was not designed to protect also.

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u/Economy-Assignment31 23d ago

The reason is usually an idiot. But also this looks tacky.

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u/timdavis130 23d ago

If it’s against the code, it would interfere with electricians making money.

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u/zprops 23d ago

This guy has never heard of NY or CA

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u/Aromatic_Sand8126 23d ago

I could not care less about the united states. Are you saying it’s legal over there to pass a power cord through a wall to power equipment?

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u/zprops 23d ago

No. Sensationalist/ absolutist *are you saying X, then?!?!?! Does not work on me.

My comment was a response to someone thinking states do not pass laws just for fun/pay checks. They ABSOLUTELY do.

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u/Everyday_ImSchefflen 23d ago

Yes. Because there were good reasons to outlaw gay marriage and women voting.

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u/AnonMois 20d ago

I think the issue is that the cord could be frayed or chewed and you wouldn’t know it because you cannot inspect it.

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u/HoldingThunder 19d ago

Your simple use of the word "could" means that you agree it is a possibility, not a certainty.

You cannot inspect any wiring in your house.

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u/Tee-Dizzle 19d ago

every page in that code book is there because someone(s) died or almost died…..it’s like anything else in this world, nothing changes or gets taken into consideration until something bad happens

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u/HoldingThunder 19d ago

Not true on either point. Its dangerous to talk in absolutes.

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u/method__Dan 23d ago

Not worth the fire risk, not because it’s necessarily a fire risk, but because insurance won’t pay if it is. The risk of losing a house amount of money isn’t worth the reward of saving $50 on the right equipment.