Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Everything Else => Topic started by: SavannahLion on August 08, 2011, 03:46:55 pm
-
I'm finally annoyed enough about this that I'm going to do something about it.
I have, what is effectively, an open ended box. AKA a box with only five sides or a cubby hole. I want to mount a wall socket inside the box with the power cord running off it behind the box. Space and discreetness are what I'm after so those wall boxes or those power strips are kind of out.
An extension cord with ears on the female end to allow me to mount it with as small a footprint as possible would be silver. Having the female bent at 90 degrees with those ears would be gold.
Any ideas?
-
How thick is the box walls?
Aside from regular old two prong extension cords or "flat cords" you need to go down your electrical isle at your local hardware store.
There are components for building your own electical cable and you should be able to find some interesting things there including a 90 degree bend.
There are also "flat" outlet boxes that are significantly smaller.
And of course you need to look at the other side of the equation. Will it be a generic outlet or is it destined to power one specific thing? Because you can buy the connectors that wall warts plug into and there are even sockets for a regular cord. (See the back of a dreamcast).
-
Generic outlet...
I did take a trip but nothing I saw jumped out. Though I missed the "flat" electrical boxes. I'll check Google to see what they look like. There's quite a few options for non-powered lines, but not the same kind of stuff for power. Most people seem satisfied with "pig-tailing" it.
I'm not home but IIRC it's about 1/2 inch thick. Maybe more but I don't think it's 3/4".
-
If it's 3/4 then you should probably find something to work with, but 1/2 is going to be a little tight.
-
"pancake" electrical boxes are available everywhere, however they are round and are for mounting lights. They are not deep enough for any receptacle to be mounted in. the various clearances and volumes required are limited by building codes. In your application I would get a plastic grommet route the extension cord through. Maximum clearance and flexibility.