DC plugs and outlets [RE-wrenches]

[Matt Tritt]

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  Back in the olde daze it was common practice for my crowd to use high amp 
rated AC plugs but we color-coded them; red for 24 and blue for 12. All 
wiring, however, was stranded, not romex (installed in conduit). We made 
cutsie little labels as well to warn the inhabitants at each outlet. Whew. 
What a lot of work!

  Matt T
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: "Doug Pratt" <dmpratt at sbcglobal.net>
  To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
  Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 2004 9:53 PM
  Subject: RE: DC plugs and outlets [RE-wrenches]




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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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