Electrical ???

[sp_343]

Let's say I build a box and put a couple wall outlets in the sides.  Is there a way that I could wire those outlets to an extension cord and make the box mobile?  I want to make a display box for my wife.  She needs the box to have outlets on it for power.  The box needs to be able to be set up at a trade show and then plug the box into another wall outlet to get power to the outlets that I would have installed on the box.  At the end of the show...unplug the box and head home.

She would put a lighted object on the box that would need power to "display" it at a trade show.  So the object would plug into the outlet on the display box and then need power from another source to get it to work. 

Any idea how this can be done???

[BilltheDiver]

You could certainly do it with wall outlets and electrical boxes mounted inside the box, but you might want to consider simply building the box and mounting one of those multi-outlet surge protector strips to one side of the box.  That would offer you several outlets, a switch, surge protection, and eliminate the need to do any wiring.  Many of them come with mounting holes on the back so you can simply put a couple of screws into your box and hang the strip from the screws.

[Rapid Roger]

I agree with BilltheDiver. I have done the 'power strip' thing on several projects.
I have built a 'charging station' for my cordless tool batterys, a charging station for my cell phones and camera batterys and installed two power strips on my mobil work bench for sanders, router, jig saw, etc.
It works like a charm and you only plug into one outlet to do it!


Rog

[sp_343]

Then you just drill a hole from the outside of the box for the power cord from your "item" that will be on the outside of the box?  Then run the cord through the hole, plug into a power strip and your good to go?

[BilltheDiver]

You could do it that way, or just mount the power strip on the outside of the box and no drilling is needed.

[GrayBeard]

Yes, you could do it with a '4 square' metal box, 2 receptacles, 1 metal 2 gang receptacle cover. some wire and an old extension cord.
Let me know if you would like me to draw you a 'schematic'.
It could either be mounted on the outside back of the box or inside.

~~~GB~~~

[Russ C]

I think the power strip is the way to go. No wiring just attach it to the box.  

[sp_343]

GB- that is what I want to do.  I want outlets in the box display.  Could you sketch something for me?  I do a much better job if I can see what I am doing.  Thanks in advance for your help. 

How would you wire together multiple outlets in different locations in the display and still have just one "male" end coming out the back of the box, so my wife can just have one cord to deal with?

[GrayBeard]

OK, Trooper friend....
I will work something up in the morning and email it to you.

A '2 gang' metal box would give you 4 receptacles inside the box with a single lead three prong extension cord.

~~~GB~~~

[sp_343]

GB...Thanks for the help.  I sat up last night and got it figured out with the help of an electrician friend of mine.  Got a diagram drawn up, so I am good to go.

Thanks again for the help GB.

[GrayBeard]

Not really that hard, is it?

Always good to have a 'friend' who knows something you need help with!

Glad you got the info.

Post pix as you make it up for others to see....

~~~GB~~~

[Marcellarius]

Did you think about mounting the display on a small (folding) trolley?
This way you can just pull the thing behind you when leaving