Make:

Nice concept, how much?

Reply to this comment

So when you *really* trip over a cord (or hook a rolling piece of equipment on one) it rips the whole outlet box and wiring out instead of just unplugging the device? Clever!

Reply to this comment

Should be a tutorial on how to make an electro magnet.. and just think about stubbing your eg on it OUCH, but is cool

Reply to this comment

I guess I'll pile on too...while I don't think the electromagnet issue is a huge one, I do think the sharp corners (metal!) are hazardous. Not only to people's legs if they happen to brush by, but also to the cords, which could get sliced open/apart while you're wrapping or unwrapping them. ZAP!

The ends should be semicircles instead of orthogonal, and the edges should be hemmed or rolled, or made of wood or plastic, or something.

Anyway, cool idea.

Reply to this comment

there's only 1 small screw holding this in place.

Reply to this comment

I find it amusing how this big hunk of metal is held on by just a tiny screw in the middle..

Reply to this comment

It will also lead to painting your walls a couple times a year rather than the usual once every 5 or more years.

Reply to this comment

...that holds the outlet cover to the outlet, and then two screws that hold the outlet to the box, which is in turn fatened to the stud in the wall, not to mention the six inches of excess wiring that's fastened where it enters the box.

Meanwhile, the other end of the cord is held into the device by a little lip of plastic and the solder connections to the power supply.

Which one will give first, I wonder?

Reply to this comment

Not a good idea for high current or maximum rated applications, or coiling the excess cable on a fully loaded power strip. Those loops can get pretty hot as you've basically created an inductor.

Reply to this comment

I older homes with ungrounded electrical systems, this is just a stupid idea. A hot wire could energize the plate and you would never know until it was too late.

Modern recepticles do not have fully threaded metal holes for the cover plate screw; just a little spring device. This design facilitates trimming out new homes where electricians have to install many plates. All they have to do now is push the screw in. This will never hold if you trip over a cord. Not to mention the problems of leaving sharp corners if someone fabs these things in their basements.

A similar device, properly fastened next to the outlet would make a boat-load more sense.

Reply to this comment

Interesting concept, though I have some reservations about the execution. A regular rope cleat could probably do the same job more safely.

Reply to this comment

isn't the fact that it's METAL a bit scary? METAL + ELECTRICITY? i dunno, maybe it's just me...

Reply to this comment

So we can all agree that we're going to redesign it:

Model 1 will be an extrusion molded polyethylene
Model 2 will be made of metal

Both will have rounded edges/corner and a round body (think garden hose holder) for the cord to wind up on.

Since, this replaces the original cover then we'll drill two holes in the plate and attach it to the electrical box through the existing outlet. This will give it added strength and prevent the user from using the single outlet cover hole (which provides little to no holding strength)

And for the super heavy duty model the holes will be offset so that the cord wrap will attach to the same stud the outlet box is attached to.

Finally, we'll also give the option of a grounding point.

Reply to this comment

2 points. It's still a bad idea to coil an energized mains cable because as I said before, you're creating an inductor in the line and basically increasing resistance at the point where the cable is coiled. Those cables will get hot, try an experiment with a fully loaded outlet strip on a long extension cord. Secondly the fact that now the plug won't come away from the wall will probably increase the likelihood of equipment damage, or accident injuries. The best way to avoid tripping over a cable is to use an appropriate length cable and use a trip guard or cover over it.

Reply to this comment

all concern about creating an inductor and the issue with it being constructed of metal, it's not a horrible idea. so many people are complaining that people might trip over the cords, but what if the outlet concerned is in a non-accessible area (i.e. behind your computer desk). still, though, the addition of one or more rope cleats might get the job done for my ethernet cables and what not.

Reply to this comment