DC plugs and outlets [RE-wrenches]

Doug Pratt dmpratt at sbcglobal.net
Wed Nov 17 21:53:54 PST 2004


 

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Funny...I was just proofreading John Wiles "NEC Suggested Practices" on
this very subject this afternoon. What you're suggesting works okay, but
be aware the Code specifically prohibits both the dual voltage on one
plug scheme, and using the bare ground wire as the common negative. 10/3
would cure the negative on bare wire problem, but the dual voltage in a
single outlet seems like an accident waiting to happen. If different
voltage plugs fit the same outlet, it's inevitable. (I'd use two
different oddball outlets if a house has both 12 & 24v outlets.)

Cheers,
Doug  

-----Original Message-----
From: Kurt Nelson [mailto:sunwise at cheqnet.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 2004 8:35 AM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: DC plugs and outlets [RE-wrenches]


Greetings all,

I do primarily off-grid systems that are rarely inspected.  Many of my
systems have some DC stuff, perhaps a light or two for if the inverter
is down, maybe a stereo and perhaps a ceiling fan.

The cigarette lighter socket is a very poor design and is (un)suitable
for 12 volt DC only.  I usually use 240V 15 A outlets and plugs.  I have
also done a number of houses that have both 24 and 12 VDC in the home.

QUESTION -- Is the ground of such outlets capable of carrying rated
current??  It seems like it should be.  I'd like to start using the 240,
15 A, outlet for both 12 and 24 volt outlets, using the ground as the
negative and one of the horizontal plugs for 24 volt and the other for
12.  I'd maybe even pull 10/3 Romex to these outlets and wire them for
both voltages at the get-go (most homes I do only have two or three DC
outlets).

Thoughts appreciated -- Kurt Nelson

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