Question about using a wired power strip to the electrical panel in home

[alindefaugh]

Because I have no wall outlet grounded anywhere in the house, I asked an electrician to help and the solution that didn't involved destroying the walls was to wire a power strip directly into the electrical panel (i got one right where the entrance is, I don't know the exact name but every wiring in the house comes from it )
Now the question I have for you specialists, is that power strip any different to a wall outlet if the wiring was done properly (meaning the cable of the power strip was cut, all three wires were connected in a free slot in the electrical panel)?
Power strip cable is 7 meters long, 6 sockets, 3500 W, 16 A, 50 Hz, 3x1.5 mmp and from what I see it has no other specifications like surge protection etc
So is one socket just like one wall-outlet? I want to connect just one UPS in this power strip (only grounded location i have) and go from the ups with the rest of connectors for PC and monitor. I won't be connecting anything else in this power strip.
Does this sound safe and reasonable to you or am I missing something (I have no clue about this domain)

 

[Lucien Nunes]

Functionally, yes it is equivalent to a wall outlet. However it might not meet code, as the safety approvals of the two kinds of product probably differ, and the method of installation with a flexible cord might not be acceptable. Using the power strip is probably better than an ungrounded wall outlet but I wouldn't really consider it a permanent solution.

 

[alindefaugh]

Functionally, yes it is equivalent to a wall outlet. However it might not meet code, as the safety approvals of the two kinds of product probably differ, and the method of installation with a flexible cord might not be acceptable. Using the power strip is probably better than an ungrounded wall outlet but I wouldn't really consider it a permanent solution.

Are you saying this from a perspective of being legal?

Do you think I am clear from a functional /safety perspective or should I call the person again? I mean can we replace this with something that is safer without actually breaking the wall to replace the wires that are underground?

If we replace the power strip, I would still end up with a external cable going from the panel and a electrical box installed on the wall that would contain 2 outlets or something (I imagine). Would that be of any benefit, is the power strip less safe than a electrical outlet? I looked on the model I currently have and I see similar attributes, 10/16 A max and 3680 W for the outlet and the power strip is 16 A, 3500 W max

This is the UPS I am expecting CP1300EPFCLCD - Backup UPS Systems | CyberPower - https://www.cyberpower.com/eu/en/product/sku/cp1300epfclcd

I really don't want to do something stupid like connecting a UPS to a power strip and everything explodes or something. The guy that installed this said the power strip is basically acting as a electrical outlet but if there are other options I could easily replace it, it's just that I assume I would still buy a cable that is similar with the one the power strip has + a outlet that would have to be external and placed where the power strip is now.

 

[pc1966]

I don't know the rules where you are, but in the UK there is a distinction between "fixed wiring" which is part of the property installation, and accessories such as power strips, etc, that are not. They have very different rules and approval processes. Certainly here we would never wire a typical domestic strip directly to a board!

For the professional style of power strip in data centres it might be hard-wired but to an isolation switch, but never directly to the board (i.e. relying on the panel breaker as the sole means of power control). Typically that sort of power strip also have local breakers as well, for example:

5 Way 19" 2U Horizontal 10A Schuko DP Circuit Breaker Rack Mount PDU - Olson Direct

Part No. 2602 • A robust mild steel construction with light grey RAL 7035 paint finish• Internal wiring 4mm² - rated 32A• 2U High x 45mm deep• 20A double pole MCB with shroud (MCB brands may vary)• 3m 4mm² 3 core PVC cable (no plug)• Earth bonded with external M5 earth stud with 250mm long earth...

olsondirect.co.uk

I think most folk here would advise that you plug your power strip in to a grounded outlet. If you are looking at a cable route to your panel it seems odd that you can't have a socket put in (even a surface-mounted box if it is a wall you can't/won't cut a hole in to). At the very least simply have a socket outlet put in next to your panel and then plug in to that.

 

[alindefaugh]

I don't know the rules where you are, but in the UK there is a distinction between "fixed wiring" which is part of the property installation, and accessories such as power strips, etc, that are not. They have very different rules and approval processes. Certainly here we would never wire a typical domestic strip directly to a board!

For the professional style of power strip in data centres it might be hard-wired but to an isolation switch, but never directly to the board (i.e. relying on the panel breaker as the sole means of power control). Typically that sort of power strip also have local breakers as well, for example:

5 Way 19" 2U Horizontal 10A Schuko DP Circuit Breaker Rack Mount PDU - Olson Direct

Part No. 2602 • A robust mild steel construction with light grey RAL 7035 paint finish• Internal wiring 4mm² - rated 32A• 2U High x 45mm deep• 20A double pole MCB with shroud (MCB brands may vary)• 3m 4mm² 3 core PVC cable (no plug)• Earth bonded with external M5 earth stud with 250mm long earth...

olsondirect.co.uk

I think most folk here would advise that you plug your power strip in to a grounded outlet. If you are looking at a cable route to your panel it seems odd that you can't have a socket put in (even a surface-mounted box if it is a wall you can't/won't cut a hole in to). At the very least simply have a socket outlet put in next to your panel and then plug in to that.

I need to plug an UPS.

If I go the route you suggest I would have 2 connections instead of one (the connection has to be made in a room that is far from the panel; right now the power strip goes directly into the room, the cable is long enough). I know an UPS should be connected directly to an wall outlet and not go the route of additional power strips. The power strip acts right now as a direct outlet right? I am not sure what the issue is, is it not safe? It's grounded and I am using only out of the 6 sockets on the power strip. Is there an inherent difference between a powers strip rated 6500 W and a wall socket, granted both are correctly wired into the electrical panel? Don't they have the same 3 wires?

This is the power strip, sorry it's not in english but the attributes are distinguishable I hope

Dedeman Prelungitor Hoff Line 6 prize, 7 m, 3500W, 3 x 1.5 mmp, intrerupator - Dedicat planurilor tale

Prelungitor Hoff Line 6 prize, 7 m, 3500W, 3 x 1.5 mmp, intrerupator la Dedeman.ro. Aflati informatii despre pret si disponibilitate pentru Prelungitoare cu cablu pe site.

www.dedeman.ro

I guess I could remove it and replace the setup with a long cable going into the room, then placing a outlet box as you suggested connected directly to the electrical panel, but I am not sure there's any difference because I still end up with a long cable and an outlet in the room

 

[Lucien Nunes]

As we have said, it will function correctly.
But the power strip is unlikely to have been made and approved to the same standards of durability as a normal wall outlet, nor is a cord run from room to room code-compliant as part of the permanent wiring system. Here on an electricians' forum, we can hardly recommend deliberate code violations when the alternative of a properly installed grounded outlet exists.

 

[alindefaugh]

As we have said, it will function correctly.
But the power strip is unlikely to have been made and approved to the same standards of durability as a normal wall outlet, nor is a cord run from room to room code-compliant as part of the permanent wiring system. Here on an electricians' forum, we can hardly recommend deliberate code violations when the alternative of a properly installed grounded outlet exists.

I understand what you are saying. Was just thinking that the old wiring in the entire home is probably worse than this power strip cable giving that is not grounded (not even one of them, we test all of them) and really old. Btw I said in a previous post 6500 W instead of 3500 W, this is what the power strip is rated

 

[BenCos18]

I wouldn't connect a extension lead into a fuseboard even if it's a very high quality one tbh
(Is it hard to get a cable to go to a proper socket at the end)

 

[alindefaugh]

I wouldn't connect a extension lead into a fuseboard even if it's a very high quality one tbh
(Is it hard to get a cable to go to a proper socket at the end)

I conceptually see no difference between a extension lead and a socket but again I am clueless. Maybe I'm missing something, is it because there's more wires to go to more sockets as opposed to only 3 wires serving one socket? Is the cable at least solid, can I count on it or would I have to change that as well or it's enough to just cut the end of the extension lead and connect the remaining cable to a socket that would have to be secured on the wall somewhere

The issue is that if the cable is no good that would mean reconnecting another cable to the fuseboard, sounds like a nightmare but if there's an inherent risk of course I would do it

This will ever only power a UPS that serves a PC + monitor that's it, only one socket in use all the time

And you mean the issue would be if there's an unexpected electrical event and the extension lead would fail or it's not proper for general daily use because something I am unaware of?

 

[Lucien Nunes]

As I stated earlier, functionally the power strip does the same job as a normal wall outlet and its flexible cord does the same job as Romex. But because it is not intended to be used as part of a permanent fixed wiring system it will not have been made and tested to the same standards of durability, fire resistance etc that are required for code compliance.

For comparison would you prefer to fly in a plane fitted with incorrect parts that seem to work OK but were not certified and approved for aerospace use, or genuine Boeing parts installed and tested to Boeing specifications?

 

[naylorpd]

So you are using a flexible cable and a power strip, all surface-mounted - but it isn't "fixed wiring" so you shouldn't connect it directly into the panel. Can you change the flexible cable for a proper fixed cable (in the UK it would be type 6242Y, 2.5mm), inside trunking, with a surface-mounted wall-socket on the end? If you only need to plug in a UPS, you only need a single socket.

I think that might then qualify as fixed wiring, so be technically OK to wire into the panel. Also I think the construction of a power strip is definitely not as good as a regular wall socket.