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Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Question:

Can metal electrical boxes be mounted on portable tool carts and if so can these metal electrical boxes be powered by flexible power cords? I have seen a portable tool cart by Kobalt with the electrical box or power strip flush-mounted on the top or side of the Kobalt cart, but I also run across mechanics with old Snap-On portable tool carts where they screwed or bolted-on a metal electrical box they picked up at Home Depot on to the top or side of their portable tool cart (not flush-mounted, but protruding out from the attached surface) and then ran a flexible power cord into the metal box to power one or two duplex receptacles. Can you help explain the specific NEC Codes that address these situations?

Thanks, Ed Porter
A

Answer:

Hey Ed thanks for your question. It is up to the AHJ to determine if the method you are describing is allowed based on their interpretation of 400.10 and 400.12. The box must be supported as stated in 314.23 but FS boxes are commonly used this way mounded on tool boxes in facilities for construction and maintenance purposes.

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