NEC required space for the electrical circuit breaker panel

Well said Tom. I've commented many times here on the forum about the subject. In my years as an electrical contractor I've seen some very creative ways to bury panels- none met code of course.

Along the same lines, watch your clearances around boilers, water heaters, furnaces, and air handlers.

Bob

I could have a much larger layout in my basement but I don't. The big reason is that it would block things like the furnace, water heater, and electrical panel if I did. So I live with a smaller layout, and the ability to remove the furnace without dismantling a part of the layout.

Keep it safe - be knowledgeable about what you’re doing. With caution, care and knowledge this can be a safe hobby. I cringe every time I hear about overheated, melted, unprotected wire - a disaster averted!!!

What do folks do when an extension cord is required to get power to the layout? That’s my situation.

Layout is in the middle of a basement room away from wall outlets all the way around and I run an extension cord across the floor to power up the layout.  Three ZW’s several wall worts and 120 volt accessories(blogs, etc) are all powered from a single outlet via a power strip.

Am I safe or looking for a disaster???

Personally, I'd probably either consider some sort of cover for the cord so you won't trip and/or it won't get damaged.  You could also run a wire across the ceiling and drop the power down at the layout.

@Geojr posted:

What do folks do when an extension cord is required to get power to the layout? That’s my situation.

Layout is in the middle of a basement room away from wall outlets all the way around and I run an extension cord across the floor to power up the layout.  Three ZW’s several wall worts and 120 volt accessories(blogs, etc) are all powered from a single outlet via a power strip.

Am I safe or looking for a disaster???

If it isn't otherwise blowing the breaker you likely are okay. If there are multiple circuits in the basement (on different breakers) then you may want to split it up, but you should be okay.

What kind of extension cord are you using? And how long is the run length? To be safe, I would use a super heavy duty extension cord (the ones rated for appliances or industrrial), the heaviest gauge you can find, 12 gauge is good (they usually are gray in color). Even if all your outlets are on the same branch circuit, you could split the load on the cords by running them from 2 different outlets and have a power strip at the end. I think 1 heavy duty will be fine, but 2 from 2 different outlets will keep the load on each cord smaller (it obviously doesn't help with load on the circuit the outlets are on, obviously, but they have a breaker if the load gets too strong).

If you are using power strips to distribute the load, buy heavy duty, better made ones, the typical strips you find in a store are light duty. Among other things, heavier duty one have better breakers in them and better surge protection as well.

If you run them on the floor, GRJ is right, you should cover them. They sell rubber panels that are designed just for this, they are sloped on the sides (to allow the cord to pass underneath without being pinched) and you can walk over it without pinching it.

I like the idea of the rubber panels to cover the cord although the part of the layout that it crosses is hard to access. But it sounds like a good idea.

Here are the covers. They are available in various colors and lengths. They help to protect the cord from physical damage too.

If the circuit you are plugged into is fed by a 15 amp breaker, then the cords and power strips would be fine at the same rating. Typically a good extension cord or power strip with 14/3 SJOW cable is fine.  Flexible cords cannot be run concealed in ceilings/ walls by code. Stringing it along the ceiling is acceptable as long as its visible.

Splitting the load on two different receptacles and cords is not a bad idea either.

You also cannot plug one power strip into another to daisy chain them.

Bob

Down below: supplied by pair 0f #12w/grd straight up 6' from Service Entrance panel in Garage right below. Safest plumbing in the house.

Remember, if you decide to use two branch circuits, and they're on opposite sides of the 230v feed, any polarized transformers like bricks or other modern transformers will be out of phase with each other!

@RSJB18 posted:

Here are the covers. They are available in various colors and lengths. They help to protect the cord from physical damage too.

If the circuit you are plugged into is fed by a 15 amp breaker, then the cords and power strips would be fine at the same rating. Typically a good extension cord or power strip with 14/3 SJOW cable is fine.  Flexible cords cannot be run concealed in ceilings/ walls by code. Stringing it along the ceiling is acceptable as long as its visible.

Splitting the load on two different receptacles and cords is not a bad idea either.

You also cannot plug one power strip into another to daisy chain them.

Bob

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